The September 2013 issue of The Linking Ring continues coverage of the I.B.M. Annual Convention in Phoenix, July 17-20. The timing of the convention made it very difficult to get full coverage in the August issue, but there still were eleven pages of coverage, including forty-two photos. That coverage continues here, starting with a terrific montage cover by graphic artist Jessica Friend, showing a dozen convention performers -- including special guest of honor, Andre Kole, showing his famous self-levitation. Also in the issue is a special tribute to June Horowitz, upon the occasion of her one hundredth birthday.

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Once again, David Neubauer brings us a valuable service -- an update on the magic magic shows, and magicians in Las Vegas -- The Magic Capital of the World. There are more magicians in Las Vegas than anywhere else in the world. That includes full-fledged magic shows, magic included in other shows, street magicians both on The Strip as well as downtown, on Fremont Street, magicians for hire for parties and conventions, magic clubs, magic classes, etc. Here's what David has found:

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Your I.B.M. Board of Trustees and Member Benefits Committee are pleased to announce a new program which will not only make membership in the I.B.M. even more valuable, but which we believe will also attract new members. After speaking with I.B.M. members for several years, we’ve heard concerns about how busy your lifestyles are, how hard it is to get everything done that needs to get done, and how difficult it is to deal with rising insurance costs, Health Care Reform, health insurance, life insurance, disability income, identity theft, and more.

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William “Bill” Evans
International President 2013-2014

By Bobby Warren

Ask William “Bill” Evans how he rose through the ranks and became poised to serve as the next International President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and he has a simple answer: “I made a call to Eugene Burger in the mid-eighties.”

As with anything involving Burger, there’s a story behind it. So, get comfortable and settle in for a spell.

When Evans was growing up, his father was a big magic fan and taught his son his first card trick. During a family vacation in Florida, he wandered into a local magic shop. Another time, when Bill was about ten years old, the family stopped at the famed Hollywood Magic on their way to Hawaii. A big wooden box with Chinese painted symbols caught the boy’s eye, but the magician behind the counter pointed him in the direction of two books by John Scarne: Scarne on Card Tricks and Scarne on Magic Tricks. “Those books affected the way I looked at magic,” Evans said. “I wish I knew who the magician was so I could thank him. I wanted that red box with the decals so bad and didn’t even know what it did, but it looked cool. Thankfully, the magician steered me toward books, telling me that they were a much better value. I have loved books ever since.”

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The August 2013 issue if The Linking Ring will be posted here on the IBM Web Portal by August 1st -- for reading here or downloading -- and will be in your mailbox in only a few days. Editor Sammy Smith and his staff got most of it ready for the printer before leaving for the I.B.M. Annual Convention, and then scurried around to put together a terrific photo-spread of Michael Messing’s images for this special issue. Featured on the cover is Stan Kramien, who is retiring and auctioning off his entire magic collection. Let’s take a walk through the issue:

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So how do you end the 85th Annual Convention of the largest association of the magical arts in the world -- the International Brotherhood of Magicians? How do you top four previous days for morning-to-night magic, with overlapping programming, crowded vendor aisles, enthusiastic audiences for contests, fascinating lectures is several forms, and tons of old and new friends getting acquainted and reacquainted? Day Five came and went, and suddenly -- it was all over. As I write this at 11 pm Phoenix time Saturday after the final show, the Farewell Party is still going on.  It is 1 am in the Midwest, 2 am on the East Coast, and 8 am Sunday morning in Europe. I want to sleep, but I write on.

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Day Three -- or Day Four or even Five if you count Monday and/or Tuesday as the start -- of the I.B.M’s Eighty-Fifth Annual Convention, was another completely packed day. The day began (thankfully) at 9:30 am -- letting folks sleep a little later -- with Day Two of the Big Three Events. A deep bow to all the participants for performing their acts three times over three days.

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After the Andre Kole Show and Tribute Wednesday night, someone commented to those around him as we left the auditorium, “How is the rest of the convention going to top today and tonight?” Well, at the end of Day Two of the 85th Annual Convention of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, we look back and say, “They did it again!”

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The 85th Annual Convention of the International Brotherhood of Magicians kicked off in fine fashion Wednesday, at the Hyatt Recency Hotel in downtown Phoenix, Arizona. As I.B.M. history and tradition dictates, the convention of the world’s largest organization of the magical arts packed the convention with dawn to dusk activities.

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World-class magicians and illusionists, The Spencers -- Kevin and Cindy -- are currently working on an amazing new documentary about the power of simple magic tricks to make a significant change in the lives of people with disabilities. And you can be part of making it happen. First, start by going to the Website below and reading all the details. Then, please make a donation in the amount of what your heart says. Further, please SHARE this with your Facebook friends and LIKE their new Facebook page (BagOfTricksDocumentary) Please go to: http://igg.me/p/303770/x/2002156

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Since I have an iPhone, recently I was asked to review a new magic trick which uses the iPhone, for "Hocus in Focus," the New Product section in The Linking Ring. I received the package, watched the DVD, have played with the included gimmick, and concluded that this is something that all magicians should have. More on that later. Then I read a conversation on the I.B.M. Group on Linked-in (<www.group-digests@linkedin.com>), and learned about some other uses of the iPhone by magicians. Here is some of that conversation, and my own thoughts:

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What would you say if someone asked you what is magic? What would you say if you were asked to write an article or essay about magic? What would you say if a local civic club invited you to come to their next meeting, not to "perform" magic, but to talk about what this thing called magic is all about? Well, here is help. World class magic performer, teacher, and lecturer Michael Ammar thought about it and shares his ideas here. Thanks, Michael!

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Not so long ago I devoted a column to one-liners which you could adopt for your patter, whether in a show or just to add to your already-quick wit. I simply passed on the list from one of those e-mails which all of us receive. (Scroll down several items under Blogs & Columns if you missed it.) Well, here is ANOTHER list for your repertoire, this time one-liners which are in the form of QUESTIONS -- which have no answers, of course. We can't give credit to the author (or authors) because most of these kinds of e-mails are anonymous. Enjoy and use them -- with only a little guilt. (Disclaimer: some are funnier than others.)

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Last Spring, we asked members of the I.B.M. to help submit information and ideas for several types of stories we were working on and thinking about. Two of those articles -- one on  Magic Summer Camps and another on the Benevolence of Magic -- have been published. The Linking Ring and the I.B.M. Web Portal are both still looking for help in gathering information for several other topics about magic. The following are some of the stories we're still working on, and we would appreciate it if anyone with something to contribute on any or all of them, would get in touch with the person designated.

Anytime you hear an unusual name in the Wonderful World of Magic, you should suspect that it probably is the name of a magician or magic team or a magic act. So when I heard that friend Paul Lelekis had written a feature story about "Windy & Sunny," I concluded it was NOT a weather report. And sure enough, right there in the December issue of The Linking Ring is a nice profile of Russell and Maryellen Douton of Seminole, Florida, who have been making people wonder and laugh for over six decades.

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When Gustavo Populos Meza, 83, of Tampico, Mexico, died May 23, 2012, we learned that -- in addition to being a magician -- he was a respected poet, known as "Mr. Karlo," having written over 300 unpublished poems. One of those poems was entitled "Gentlemen of Magic," and we reprint it here in its entirety for your enjoyment.

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I.B.M. Portal Advertising Manager BJ Hickman has been at it again -- working his magic to give advertisers more BANG for their Bucks -- More SIZZLE for their Steaks. Scroll down to the bottom of this page to see a new concept -- a "Box of Buttons" -- some of our leaders in magic. Click on each ad. To include YOUR ad, contact BJ at advertising@magician.org. 

By Jason Goldberg