The Newest Tops

Thank you all in that great magic organization, the SAM, for all the work and for the wonderful convention you produced in a great facility. There are naysayers and such but anyone who went has to report a fun time. The dealer room was spacious with tables for play. Richard Turner absolutely blew me away and we reminisced about Vernon, who was his best man and a great mentor of mine. If you ever have a chance to see him, up close as we did, get all you can from this one of a kind, never to be seen again master.

Losander with his magical art was dealing and demonstrating real magic and Whit Hayden had the cool cool stuff and many others who I have read about were there and the old stand bys too, namely Bob Little who made the dealer room especially enjoyable. The break out rooms were on the same floor, The Main Showroom had professional risers and all the stagecraft by Bruce Chadwick to make the shows a success. Hats off to his tech helpers. I especially love to see the eager young magicians and their cards and sleights. I enjoyed the Thursday evening contest show with great flash magic. Visual magic is where it’s at for me. I too am working on a new 7 minute act, no Skilldini, more flash and show off. So once again thank you all who made this a great time.

I will add one note that I feel needs attention in our craft. It has to do with the job of a Master of Ceremony. When an artist comes to you with a prepared introduction, typed, spaced, sized correctly to read and encased in plastic, it might be a good idea to follow the artist request and perform the intro. My introduction has taken me time to write and sets up my character act. When I hear it I am reminded of who I am for the next 10 minutes and what I am trying to do. If you ad-lib you affect my performance. My intro is as follows.

Our next performer has worked for the crowned heads of Europe, the jeweled heads of the Far East and the bone heads in Washington. A man who was summoned to the death bed of the King of Prussia, a man who has worked every contiguous state in our country criss crossing the nation bringing glee to the multitudes, having graced all 9 continents. Truly someone special who you’ll remember to the longest day of your life, a man’s man, and a woman’s lady, ladies and gentlemen, for your entertainment, the magical stylings of Skilldini.

For my introduction in Atlanta the first line was used and it got a nice big laugh. Then the MC used 3 old condescending jokes about how many letters I wrote to be there, how the magic community has waited for a special act, and when it arrives we will present it and so on.

But this is the general rule. MC’s seem unable to understand what my intro is for and and make it up. Poorly too. To protect myself in the future I guess I will need to record the intro and have the MC simply say, “here is our next act” and then my pre-recored intro will begin. Call me a prima donna. Paul Emmick in Gatlingburg read it flawlessly at the Winter Carnival. And what a great voice he has. He is a professional broadcaster and appreciates written material and does not edit on the spot. OK enough said, see you in Colon and let’s watch Paul MC Friday night, he may predict the weather too.

-Skilldini