You probably don’t want to come to The Session 2009 if you enjoy sleeping!

Taking Place on the 17th and 18th January 2009 in Gloucester, UK

Full details at www.sessionconvention.com

The atmosphere at The Session is like no other UK magic convention. Everyone who attends is passionate about close-up and card magic and the primary emphasis of the weekend is on the learning and sharing of great magic. Informal sessions go on non stop from early on the Saturday through to very late on Sunday.

The Session is now the only yearly specialist close-up magic convention in the country and is constantly breaking new ground by booking performers who have either never been to the UK or are rarely seen here. In the previous three years we have featured Lee Asher, Allan Ackerman, Paul Cummins, Tyler Wilson, Wayne Houchin, Aaron Fisher, Chad Long, Kostya Kimlat and many others.

If you have never attended a magic convention before, The Session is a fantastic place to start. The fact that we have a limited number of registrants means the convention is a lot friendlier than some of the more established events in the magical calendar.
The Session 2009 performers
Our international performers are exclusive to The Session. You won’t see them anywhere else in the UK during their trip!

Ray Kosby (USA) - only UK lecture
Ray shot to fame after the release of his Impossible Card Magic video. He is known the world over for his incredibly visual close-up magic, including the famous Raise Rise. Ray rarely gives lectures to magicians, but as usual with The Session - we’ve managed to get him for you! You will go home talking about Ray Kosby - we promise!

David Acer (Canada) - only UK lecture
He’s a Canadian magician, stand-up and writer, come television star. His close-up magic is incredibly commercial and his material is performed by many working magicians. David is known for his best-selling books (including Natural Selections 1 and 2 and Random Acts of Magic) and as a monthly columnist for Genii magazine.

John Guastaferro (USA) - only UK lecture
A member of the Academy of Magical Arts, John has been thrilling audiences for 15 years. His close-up magic features a unique combination of finesse, charm and amazing sleight-of-hand. John has earned the praise of magicians world wide for is original ideas and effects, which have been featured in print, video and his lectures. His projects include L&L Publishing’s “Brainstorm” and “Second Storm” DVDs, and his latest lecture notes, “G Notes.”

Noel Qualter (UK)
Noel has always been a member of The Session’s extended family. He works with us behind the scenes (i.e. making the tea) and often helps us pick the right performers for each year’s convention. His interview with Wayne Houchin at The Session 2006 was raved about by many attendees … this time we’re letting him loose with his own magic!

John Archer (UK)
John is a busy comedy magician and mentalist and will bring some light relief to the gala show. But don’t be brought in by his false sense of security - John will fool you with his incredible mentalism.

Also appearing will be:

Will Houstoun (UK), Mark Elsdon (UK), Thom Peterson (USA), Rodney James Piper (Spain), and Craig Petty (UK), Jon Allen, John Van Der Put, and Ben Earl.

Schedule
The Session is a bit more relaxed than other conventions, so things may change a little, but here’s the planned schedule for the weekend:

Saturday schedule

Sunday schedule

You are invited to join the most spectacular magic festival ever on earth. Yes, come to Bali Magic Festival held on 29-31 January 2009 in Bali, an island of Paradise in Indonesia. You will meet Max Maven, the world’s number one mentalist, who will deliver a superb lecture and hundreds of magician world wide. Bring your family and friends to Bali Magic Festival and have a wonderful holiday in one of the most beautiful islands in the world. It’s trully a once of a life time experience you will never forget, See you there….!

GRAND MIRAGE RESORT
Jl. Pratama 74 Tanjung Benoa
PO. Box 43 Nusa Dua 80363, Bali - Indonesia
Tel : +62-361-771888; Fax : +62-361-772148
On the Web : http://www.grandmirage.com
date, 29-31 January 2009.
Info: shierly.jessica@yahoo.com or info@balimagicfestival.com

For further information: visit www.balimagicfestival.com

The first convention of 2009 in the UK, held at The Lakeside Country Club, Frimley Green. Surrey.

Full details at http://www.semagicconvention.com/

Organised by Derek Lever on behalf of BLACKPOOL MAGICIANS CLUB this is the 57th year of the WORLD’S LARGEST MAGIC CONVENTION which takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday 20th, 21st, 22nd February, 2009 at the Opera House and Winter Gardens, Church Street, Blackpool Lancashire, England.

The 2009 Convention has more innovations and is bigger than ever! The full Dealers Super Showcase of 110 Magic Dealers will open on FRIDAY 20th FEBRUARY AT 1.00 p.m. UNTIL 10.00 p.m. in the Empress Ballroom, Empress Ballroom Balcony and The Arena thus providing registrants and Dealers with 9 hours extra trading time.

Rick Merrill, Joshua Jay, Ian Keable, David Penn, Daryl, Dr Sawa, Eugene Burger, Michael Ammar, Etienne Pradier, Marc Oberon, Tony Chapek, An Ha Lim, Jeff McBride, Ken Dodd, Arthur Trace, Ervan, Tony Frebourg, Ian Rowland, Richard Osterlind, James Randi, Obie O’Brien, and Blackpool is in negotiation with Rick Thomas, Jerome Murat, Voronin, Svetlana and more..

Full information and booking information can be found on the Blackpool Magicians Club site. Please let them know you saw the information on the Magic Convention Guide..

We are currently compiling our new guide to booking Blackpool hotels (including ones with Wireless internet) along with a map of the area which will be going up soon…

Held at the The Orleans Hotel & Casino, March 1st - 4th, 2009, Siegfried & Roy Sponsor the 32nd World Magic Seminar, featuring the International Stage Competition fro the $5,000 Gold Lion’s head Award and the $5,000 Siegfried & Roy SARMOTI award

* WMS Teach In
* Sunday Evening Welcome Party
* Opening Stage Show
* International Stage Competition for the Golden Loins Head and the SARMOTI Award
* Teen Stage Contest
* Awards Show
* International Dealers
* Teach In – Lectures – Bowling – Special Events
* Lance Burton Teen Weekend (Ages 13-19)
* and more!

Talent includes Johnny Thompson, Hun Lee, Rafael Benatar, Charles Gauci, Pete Biro, Palmer, Rannie “The Boss” Raymond, Eric Jones, David Kaplan,Han Seol-Hui, Rick Moarcelli, Antonio Romero, Luis Manuel, John Latimer, Rudy Coby and more.

See Rudy Coby’s Exclusive return act, and lecture.

Book now on + 1 703-360-5404 or online at www.theworldmagicseminar.com

South Tyneside International Magic Festival
Friday 13th: Saturday 14th: Sunday 15th March 2009

The Magic Convention Guide will have a guide and ‘get a room’ feature on this soon…

The annual festival, which is now in its sixth year, will run from Monday March 9 to Sunday March 15, taking in venues across the borough.

South Tyneside Council, The Customs House and Martin Duffy, past President of the Newcastle Magic Circle, have conjured up a line-up of top class magicians for this year’s week-long event, sponsored by Magicbox.

Throughout the festival week, magicians will also be performing in schools and residential homes across the borough as part of the popular Magic in the Community programme. School performances will see magic being used to communicate important messages to the children including Stranger Danger, Road Safety, Healthy Eating and the Environment.

The 2009 festival will climax with an in-depth three day Magic Convention, running at the Customs House from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 March and featuring a mix of lectures and close-up sessions.

Tickets for the convention, which attracts magic enthusiasts from around the world, will be priced at £65. They include entry to the two international gala shows, plus a special midnight show at the Sea Hotel featuring renowned character magician Jasper as Russian-esque mentalist character ‘Kockov’ and deranged children’s entertainer, Uncle Al The Kiddie’s Pal.

For those attending the convention who want a closer look at magic Banachek, Bob Sheets and Paul Romhany will also be hosting personal master classes on Sunday 15 March at an additional charge.

The convention will be hosted by the Customs House Theatre in South Shields and the Sea Hotel will again be the venue for the Welcome Evening and the Midnight Show.

Full Details on the entire festival can be found here which the convention specific and booking form here

John Archer UK - Compere

John Archer is the reigning Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year thanks to his outstanding live performances combining mentalism, mystery and comedic timing. He has also written and appeared in several television shows, including Undercover Magic (Sky 1), The Sketch Show (ITV) and Give Us a Clue (BBC1)

Steve Axtell USA – Lecture & Children’s Show – This is his first ever UK appearance

Steve Axtell and his company Axtell Expressions Inc are world leaders in the development of fun innovative puppets and magic items. Their designs have appeared in movies including Planet of The Apes, as well as on television and on stage. Several Axtell puppets will soon feature in the new $100 million dollar contract show by America’s Got Talent Winner Terry Fator at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. Axtell recently released its new Hands-Free Remote Controlled Animatronic Puppets and they are already in use in nearly 20 countries.

Banachek USA - Lecture, Saturday Gala Show & Close Up

Banachek is the only mentalist ever to fool scientists into believing he possessed psychic powers, just to later reveal that he was actually fooling them with illusion. Performers around the world such as Penn & Teller, James Randi and David Blaine seek Banachek’s performing expertise. The multi-award winner is also a proud recipient of the coveted Psychic Entertainers Creativity award for his original contributions and inventions in the world of mental entertainment.

Paul Dabek UK - Saturday Gala Show

Paul Dabek is one of the finest rising stars in the world of magic. He was the Magic Circle’s Young Magician of the Year in 2003, won the prestigious British Shield at the Brotherhood of Magicians convention in 2006 and has appeared on BBC TV and on various stages across the country. For the past two years, Paul has travelled the world as the star performer on Holland America, Saga and Carnival Cruise ships.

Paul Daniels UK - Friday Gala Show

Recently named as the most successful television magician of the 20th century, Paul Daniels is a household name here in the UK and has enjoyed resounding success in countries as far afield as the USA, New Zealand and Japan. In recent years he has performed on stage, on screen and on radio, wowing audiences with his unique comedy style and family friendly magic. The award-winning entertainer has also designed special effects for stage and screen including, Cats and Phantom of the Opera and most recently the English National Ballet’s revival of The Nutcracker.

Jasper UK - Lecture, Children’s Show and Midnight Show

Jasper Blakeley is one of the UK’s most versatile and exciting magic performers. Famed for the outlandish characters he portrays, including Russian-esque mentalist character ‘Kockov’ and sexually ambivalent Fabio Bendi….Balloon Modeller To the Stars, this trained singer, dancer and actor is also a talented children’s entertainer.

Patrick Redford USA - Lecture, Friday Gala Show & Close Up - This is his first ever UK appearance

With his unique Psychological Magic Patrick Redford (aka George Tait) has been bending the minds of audiences across the world for more than ten years. He has performed for a host of famous names including Metallica, Kid Rock, and Ted Nugent, produced magic for other performers worldwide and been involved in directing and writing a variety of theatrical productions.

Paul Romhany USA - Lecture, Friday and Saturday Gala Shows & Master Class - This is his first ever UK appearance.

The award-winning Paul Romhany is an innovative and hilarious performer, wowing audiences the world over. His infamous Charlie Chaplin magic act is regarded as one of the most original and entertaining shows in magic today with illusions such as a floating broom and snowstorm all delivered in the silent film star’s formidable style. Paul is also an accomplished author and acts as a consultant for magicians worldwide.

Bob Sheets USA - Lecture, Friday Gala Show, Close Up, and Master Class

Bob Sheets’ has one of the most diverse work histories in modern magic. His serious credentials, earned in a variety of venues, include circus and side show performer, magic bartender and street magician. Bob also lectures and performs for magicians all over the world including England, Sweden, Italy, Australia and India.

Russ Stevens UK - Saturday Gala Show

Russ Stevens is the UK’s leading stage and television illusionist. His ‘Theatre of Illusion’ show, which features some of magic’s most exciting and dangerous challenges, has broken numerous box office records and been enjoyed by over two million fans across all five continents. In the UK Russ has featured on all major British television networks and has enchanted audiences at several theatres in London’s West End.

Tim Vine UK - Compere

Regularly seen on stage and on screen, Tim Vine is a leading figure on the UK comedy circuit. He recently travelled around the country in his popular ‘Punslinger’ tour and earlier this year released a new DVD, “So I Said to This Bloke…” recorded during a live performance in London. Tim was one of the regular team of comedians to write for and appear in the ITV comedy series The Sketch Show and last year appeared alongside his brother Jeremy on the celebrity version of ITV1’s Who Wants to be a Millionaire.

David Williamson USA - Lecture, Saturday Gala Show & Close Up

David Williamson is one of the world’s most talented magicians. He hosted the acclaimed television series The Magic Comedy Strip in the UK and has created illusions for a variety of commercials and several TV shows, as well as consulting for illusionists David Copperfield and David Blaine on their TV specials. David was the first ever recipient of the prestigious International Brotherhood of Magicians Gold Cups Award for excellence in close-up magic.

Stephen Williams UK - Friday Gala Show & Family Magic Extravaganza

Liverpool’s Stephen Williams was named The Junior World General Magic Champion 2008 and was recently awarded Liverpool Magic Circle Magician of the Year in both the Close-up and Stage Magic categories. He has performed in the Ken Dodd Happiness Show tour across the country, appeared in the BAFTA award winning Tricky TV and was selected by Sony to promote their Bravia products via a TV commercial, filmed and broadcast in Japan. Most recently, Stephen toured with The Stephen Mulhern Show and Tricky TV Live.