Filmed by Bob Hamilton at The Session 2011, Peter Wardell gave a 15 minute talk we think you’d like to watch

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After a short night of sleep, day two of The Session 2011 convention was about to begin. Denis Behr captivated everybody with his faro shuffles and showed maintaining and getting into stacks. The mathematics behind is really remarkable and it was great to how it was explained by an expert.

Around noon everybody came in to listen to Joshua Jay. He explained a very cool effect utilizing a watch (which I’m going to use) and his any card at any page number with all the little convincers. Next up was the ‘not scheduled to appear but did’ Danish magician Rune Klan. Last year he was one of my highlights and it was great to see him perform his variation of B’wave and thimble magic. Trust me, it looks better than it reads.

Then was Ben Earl‘s lecture which was about his approach to card magic. Besides doing his ‘Fool Us’ television performance and gambling sleights he talked about allowing yourself to flow, jazz and improvisation.

Back by popular demand was Danny Buckler. Last year’s talk was very inspiring and he did not fail to do it again. Straight after Mr. Buckler’s talk it was Darwin Ortiz‘ time to inspire the room. Every magician who read Strong Magic and Designing Miracles knows how intelligent and analytical he is. Hosted by Michael Vincent we were allowed to pick his brain. A unique oppurtiny for all of us. The most important question he asked was: “Why can’t magician see magic through the eyes of lay people?” Two aspects to this were projected guilt and theory of the mind. Other topics were making magic meaningful and the internet and mentoring.

One of the other events was a workshop with Justin Higham. If you wanted to know know more about palming, shuffles and passes this was the place be. A lot people of took this rare opportunity to learn from one of the best. Pit Hartling filled the last slot of the lecture. He demonstrated three effects from his wonderful book “Card Fictions”. A very funny memory demonstration, sensing cards through the table and a gambling demonstration were needed to captivate the magicians. (more…)

Luke Jermay’s lecture was the first ever mentalism lecture that has appeared at The Session. I really liked his fake memory demonstrations and it was fantastic to see and listen to him doing his stuff.

Then we had enough time for sessioning, drinks and food before the last event of Saturday started. ‘Viva Las Session’ where all gambling themed performances:

Ben Earl showed some excellent dice switches and a two deck shuffle were at the end he predicted each person’s hand.

Denis Behr introduced Herbert the magic rubberband. He would find different cards in a visual fashion. Then Denis went into a fabulous oil and water routine where at one point the oil and water cards were stapled. To close, he did a funny gambling routine. Five players would receive a royal flush and he ended up with 32 aces.

Pit Hartling showed again amazing routines. One was about a German card game where he and a spectator both had a hand of cards and he knew exactly which cards the spectator was holding. To conclude, he dealt a named poker hand with some weird formula.

Overall, I thought the performers were very entertaining. Then we were treated with some serious card skills by Darwin Ortiz. You have to see to actual believe what he was doing! Fantastic performance.

Also, the lounge was transformed into a casino. People could actually have a gamble, takes pictures with massive illusions or one might want to session.

Fritz with a Z performs everywhere in The Netherlands with his interactive amazement. From weddings to communions, from birthday parties to corporate shows. You can find out more about Fritz with a Z at www.fritzmagic.nl

The Session 2011 started off with a performance of Peter Wardell. He began with a coin routine with a charming presentation about his daughter, her tooth and the tooth fairy. Mr. Wardell made coins vanish and appear. To close he did a multiple location routine. I thought it was great beginning of the convention.

Then was the lecture of Darwin Ortiz. I consider him one of favourite sleight of hand artists. Routines that Mr. Ortiz did were triumphs, cutting and naming cards, memorized deck work and a four a kind transposition. To see Darwin Ortiz work was a real pleasure to see.

The great thing about the Session is that Andi Gladwin and Joshua Jay try to include new events. One of which are the workshops. Andi Gladwin started teaching his master pushoff, Joshua Jay explained Caleb Wiles “ReSwindled” (one of my personal favourites), Mark Elsdon taught us a great a named card in envelope, and Tyler Wilson showed a great but bold peek. It was an intimate setting and all who attended thought it was great!

Denis Behr and Pit Hartling gave a talk on the memorized deck. It is really amazing to see the possibilities of a mem deck into action. Those Germans fooled me big time! Mr. Behr demonstrated a four of kind production while Mr. Hartling taught us an ingenious pick-a-card trick where he found the card under impossible conditions.

Peter Wardell talked about magic state of my mind. No tricks, just a sermon on making make personal. Personally, I thought his insights were very useful.

Fritz with a Z performs everywhere in The Netherlands with his interactive amazement. From weddings to communions, from birthday parties to corporate shows. You can find out more about Fritz with a Z at www.fritzmagic.nl

The Session 2011 schedule has been released. You can check the full schedule on the website at http://www.sessionconvention.com/itinerary

The timings are subject to change, but here’s a good idea of the schedule for The Session 2011.

Registration opens at 10am on Saturday and the dealers are open between 9am and 7pm on the Sunday only. (more…)

The Session 2011 have now announced that it’s Surprise Guest will be none other than International Man of Mystery David Berglas, and he will be appearing at the convention in Gloucester on 15 – 16 January 2011.

“David retired from performing when we were both quite young so magicians of our generation would have never had the opportunity to see this amazing performer,” organisers Andi Gladwin and Joshua Jay say, “He’s one of magic’s greatest legends and we’ve finally to talk about his magic, exclusively at The Session. This is an event not to be missed. It’ll never be repeated and is an incredibly rare opportunity to meet the man behind the mystery. It’s going to be an amazing event with plenty of surprises. We’re not sure how we’ll ever top this!”

With a month to go, tickets are already extremely limited to secure your place today – The Session 2011

We’ll be bringing you all the news and updates from The Session Convention, you can also check out our Guide to The Session as well as the main Session Convention Website