There is one close-up gala show scheduled each day and will feature Marc Paul, Nathan Kranzo, Chris Priest and Kostya Kimlat. The shows will be an ideal opportunity to sit back and appreciate four of the best close-up magicians demonstrating their presentation and magical skill..

Each magician offers a different style, technique and personality which suits their individuality and will ensure these shows are not to be missed during this year’s Northern Magic Circle Convention weekend.

Tickets offer fantastic value for money at just £50 for the whole weekend which will feature lectures, competitions, Saturday late show, history of mystery talk, exclusive Northern Junior masterclass with the stars of the convention, twelve dealers all offering varied products, junior showtime, free masterclass (if you are a lucky winner) and all culminating on the Sunday evening with an all star gala show, a full line up and more details can be found at www.northernmagic.co.uk or by emailing alan@northernmagic.co.uk

When booking, if you mention Magic Convention Guide then you will be entered into the draw for an exclusive Masterclass with Kostya, there will be 12 lucky winners and the draw will be made on the Saturday morning of the convention.

You can follow all our news and updates for the Northern Magic Circle Convention by clicking here

The European FISM Championships of Magic will run alongside all of the existing lectures, shows and mammoth 125 magic dealer showcase, making the convention an even bigger experience, and attracting those wishing to see the FISM European Championships.

The competitions will be split across two theatre venues. The Grand Theatre (which is situated 100 yards away from the Winter Gardens complex) will host the Close Up Competitions, whilst the Opera House (within the Winter Gardens itself) will host the Stage Competitions.

The full cost of registration is just £85.00 and every member of a FISM associated magical society will automatically qualify for a free book ‘The World’s Most Ingenious Magical Apparatus’.

In a change to previous years, there will be no Day Tickets or VIP Tickets and no After Gala Party.

Early registration is recommended for the World’s Largest Magic Convention! Registration forms can be downloaded from www.blackpoolmagic.com

We will be covering the FISM European Championships and Blackpool Magic Convention 2011 in detail during the run up to the event next year. Just check our FISM European Championship coverage and our Blackpool Magic Convention 2011 coverage right here.

The Blackpool Magic Convention takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday 18th, 19th & 20th February 2011 at the Opera House and Winter Gardens and Grand Theatre, Church Street, Blackpool, Lancashire, England. Full details can be found at www.blackpoolmagic.com, and follow all our updates, interviews and extra information here

You can also check out our Blackpool Guide and our Hotel Guide for Blackpool, which we’ll update during the run up to next year.

Desired by the ladies, admired by the gentlemen, they have always occupied a special place among variety artists. Jeton, who is today probably the only specimen of this elegant breed, takes the trappings of high society and incorporates them into his unconventional performances.

Walking cane, coin, cigar and billiard cues - even a large mirror glides through the air and is caught and balanced in a most extraordinary fashion. The remarkable dexterity with which he juggles balls and top hats proves just how rich and varied a juggler’s repertoire can be.

The sensational climax of his act is the ultimate balancing feat - Jeton is the only juggler in the world who balances billiard cues and a billiard ball on his chin. As the discerning eye will recognise: a minor masterpiece.

Jeton will join Lennart Green (Lecture, Friday Gala Show and Master Class), Joshua Quinn (Lecture, Saturday Gala Show and Master Class), Brad Manuel (Lecture and Saturday Gala Show), Wayne Dobson (Lecture and Friday Gala Show), Simon Drake (Live Video Interview, Lecture via Skype), Tim Sonefelt (Lecture and Master Class), and Richard McDougall (Lecture and Friday Gala Show)

As well as our own news and reporting on the run up, You can get more information, including a full list of events and how to book, please visit www.southtyneside.info/magicfestival. You can also check out our Guide and Room Booking section, and if you want to see what you missed last year check our live coverage from the 2009 convention

Thom will be lecturing, performing Stage and Closeup and will also have a dealer stand at the convention.

Thoms performance has been sponsored in memory of the late Wallace Blair - long term society member and previous convention organiser.

For further details see www.online-usm.com/Convention.html

Frank will be presenting a lecture on bizarre magic and performing on the Close-up show courtesy of Kaymar Magic who have just released his new DVD.

He joins other lecturers Steve Dela, John Kimmons and Paul Gordon and additional performances from Neil Henry, Lee Hathaway and local prize-winners Caolan McBride and Nicola.

Registration Details can be found at www.online-usm.com

The 2011 Blackpool Magic Convention starts at 9am on Friday 18th February 2011, and will include the first European FISM Championships, featuring 30 close up performers and 60 stage performers!

Tickets and information can be obtained through the Blackpool Magicians Site, and you can follow all our updates on Blackpool 2011 here on our site.

We also caught up with The Magic Circle, and Equity, who both had stands at Blackpool, to talk about why the organisations are important to magicians, and what they can offer members.

Click below to listen.

The 2011 Blackpool Magic Convention takes place 18th, 19th and 20th February 2011, and you can check out all the photo’s we took this year below

All of our reporting from the weekend can be found on The Blackpool Magic Convention 2010 reports

The convention takes place each year in the Riga Congress Palace (Latvia), and this year it will take place Friday 28 and Saturday 29 May 2010.

The main goal of the event is to promote the art of magic in Latvia, with names including Lee Alex, Rob Ziekman, Joachim Solberg, Jeff McBride, Angelo Stagnaro, and Gala show appearances from Enrico & Dace Pezzoli (brinum-x), Jeff McBribe, Aaron Crow, Mantas, Bastrakov, Brando & Silvana, and Joachim Solberg

Full details - http://www.abra-kadabra.lv

They have announced that they will be featuring one of the greatest convention ideas in years - Midway of Curiosities and Mysteries.

You’ll be able to play the games, see the side show exhibits, be entertained, bamboozled and flat out cheated by the greatest group of con artists ever to appear at an S. A. M. Convention!

There is always something new at S. A. M. conventions. New acts you’ve never seen before; new lectures and close-up performers; new young stars of tomorrow; and this year a full carnival-style midway of sideshows, games, exhibits and cons. You’ll meet ‘Bigfoot’ Morris, ‘Leadfoot’ Apperson, con man Bruce ‘Houndog’ Walsted , ‘Captain’ Andy Dallas, the ‘Devious Dean’ plus a few surprises, gifts and a special appearance by Marshall ‘Wizzo’ Brodein all in new starring roles on the ‘Midway’ in Atlanta. Hurry Hurry Hurry. One Day Only - at the 2010 S A M Convention. Register now!

Full details at the S.A.M web site www.magicsam.com

The line up is starting to be announced, with acts booked so far including Charlie Frye and Company from the USA, Rich Bloch from the USA Black Fingers - a new shadow act from France, Martin Eisle from Germany, Richard Foget from Canada, Wayne Dobson from the UK, Cyril Harvey from France, Ian Keable from the UK, Matt Johnson from Canada, Manuel Muerte from Germany, Flip from Holland, and Richard Cadell & Sooty from the UK

The IBM British ring convention takes place in Eastbourne 22nd - 26th September 2010, you can follow all our updates here and get further information at the official British Ring website

This year’s event, which takes place in South Shields from March 12 to 14, looks set to be one of the best attended yet with delegates coming from around the UK as well as other parts of Europe, including the convention’s first Icelandic attendee.

Performers leading masterclasses include Swedish magician Lennart Green, humourist Tim Sonefelt and American mentalist Joshua Quinn, who will be appearing in the UK for the very first time. There will also be a very special appearance by Simon Drake, star of The Secret Cabaret and creator of the London-based House of Magic, who will be answering questions from the audience via video link.

Ticket holders for the convention also receive reserved seating at two Gala Shows which are being held as part of the wider South Tyneside International Magic Festival on Friday March 12 and Saturday March 13, as well as admission and transportation to a special Midnight Show on Friday, March 12.

The line-up for these shows includes all three of the convention’s masterclass leaders, as well as world-record breaking escapologist Shahid Malik, and comedian Brad Manuel who is making his appearance in the UK to compere Friday’s Gala Show.

Award-winning British magician Richard McDougall will also be taking to the Customs House stage on March 13 for a short talk on the state of the international magic industry, while Michael J Fitch, star of Channel 4’s Freaky Magic and the BBC show Sorcerer’s Apprentice, will present an audience with legendary magician Wayne Dobson.

The South Tyneside International Magic Festival is organised by South Tyneside Council with help from former President of the Newcastle Magic Circle, Martin Duffy.

Tickets for the three-day convention, which is supported by The Customs House theatre and sponsored by Newcastle-based retailer MagicBox, are priced at £65 per person, with an additional charge for anyone wishing to attend a master class session.

Councillor Tracey Dixon, South Tyneside Council’s Lead Member Culture and Wellbeing said: “The Magic Festival is always well attended and this year we are delighted to be welcoming performers and magic fans from around the world, who I’m sure will make the most of what the convention and the region has to offer.”

As well as our own news and reporting on the run up, You can get more information, including a full list of events and how to book, please visit www.southtyneside.info/magicfestival. You can also check out our Guide and Room Booking section, and if you want to see what you missed last year check our live coverage from the 2009 convention