Magic At The Beach Beautiful, sunny day today in Myrtle Beach.
Temps will be low to mid-50's F.
Doors open at 3:00PM, Dealer's Room open at 4:00PM.
6:00PM doors open for food and drinks in the Houdini Lounge for the
Seaside Sideshow, featuring Coney Island Chris.
After Show Dealer’s Room Open until Midnight ...

Day 1:
The hotel is very nice. The weather is very nice. Everyone has been very nice.

Registration was very easy and the swag bag is impressive. A ton of tricks, Ring on rope, Bone Cracker, Melt down etc, plus a book on Fortune Telling, a very cool poster, and the best thing was the MOTB magazine, chock full of essays and tricks by the professional performers. This is very, very nice.

The convention opens with a meal. The room was set up very nice with posters and stage, it looked fun. The food was OK...not great but the company was fantastic. The only hiccup was the line for the buffet was a little tiresome, I think that could have had a better set up.(perhaps I am being a bit picky) Each table had a professional magician sitting with everyone and we had a blast at our table. I talked with at least 6 different pros and they were all very nice.

After the meal John Tudor and company did a super nice sword basket. I mean this was impressive. Great music and movement, one of the best sword baskets I have seen.

Then Coney Island Chris, did a whole act that is hard to describe, like a parody of a sideshow act..but it was funny..very funny.

Afterwards we all retired to the dealers room where Kozmo will kill you with his wit and Losander will stun you with his floating table and Thumb TXX work. Then to the Jam room...finally to bed.

So far so good..having a great time.

Clear, blue sky, light breeze, nice sunny day here at the beach.

Schedule today is:

Friday, January 21, 2010
8:30 AM Registration Open
9:00 AM Dealer’s Room Open
9:00 AM Lecture - Chris Capehart
10:30 AM Lecture - Christian and Katalina
Noon Lunch - Available in the Dealer’s Room
1:30 PM Lecture - Charlie Frye
3:00 PM Close-up Contests
4:30 PM Lecture - Topas
6:00 PM Dealer’s Room Closes - Dinner Break
6:00 - 8:00 Junior Magicians - Pizza Party with the Stars!
8:00 PM Cabaret Show - Christian and Katalina, Brandon Wagster,
Chris Capehart, Nathan Kranzo, Levent, and Topas.
After Show the Dealer’s Room Open until Midnight
10:00 PM Lecture - Levent

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I don't have time to post a complete review right now, but I just want to say, these guys out here, Mike H, Roman D, and Dave T do an AWESOME job with this convention. Top notch, and I think they have surpassed last year. Great job, guys!
Here is a great write up from the local paper.
http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/01/20/193......dom.html

Day 2:
Wow...it was like three days of fun in one day.

First was Chris Capehart's lecture. He is such a fun guy and high energy, witty, fun. The lecture was about performing on the street but he gives you many ideas that you can adapt to normal shows. He will sit and teach you anything...it makes being at the convention a blast!!

Next was Christian and Katalina. Wow..fast and amazing. Their lecture was stunning. The information, the stories, the show. They are so fast and funny. I already have their book but to see them perform the stuff is a great learning experience in showmanship.

Next was Charlie Frye, professional and crazy..he is a joy to watch. What else can you say.

I went to take a nap during the competitions..I wanted to watch but after lunch..I got sleepy.

Next was the Topas lecture. It started a little slow...heavy on theory..as the lecture continued it got better and better and I definitely took away some important concepts about performing.

The Cabaret show: Really, Really fun. My only complaint I will put up front was that the stage was not as well lit as I would have liked. It seemed that there was some problems with the lighting. Other than that it rocked.

A new young manipulator Brandon Wagster started us out and he will be one to watch. For a young guy about 20... he was smooth and solid.
Next was Chris Capehart...he is funny without even trying. I loved watching him work and the audience loves him. Nathan Kanzo followed. Comedy stuff..he dressed like a comedy club worker...his material was a bit sophomoric but fun. Levent was next and did his cruise ship act. He had some funny lines and some solid manipulation skills. Christian and Catalina were next they destroyed me with their first trick, then did a funny parody of a manip act and then did a mind reading bit that had a guy next to me cussing under his breath about how they could be doing this. It ended with Topaz and I don't even know if I can explain his act..very original and hip...I would have liked to see more of his stuff...and tomorrow I will at the big Gala.

The night ended with Levent's lecture. He is a very intelligent thinker and some of his ideas are very very clever. I'm not sure if he really connected with the audience but you will learn by watching how he thinks. It was also getting late and it could be that I am tired.

I hung out in the dealer room where you can get a few minutes with the pros and get in a little jamming.

This is an excellent convention.

Overcast and cooler today. Full schedule of events.

Schedule today is:

Saturday, January 22, 2010

8:30 AM Registration Open
9:00 AM Dealer’s Room Open
9:00 AM Close-up Show - Charlie Frye, Nathan Kranzo, Christian, Topas, Jay Sankey, Shoot Ogawa
10:30 AM Lecture - Nathan Kranzo
Noon Lunch - Available in the Dealer’s Room
1:00 PM Stage Contests
3:00 PM Lecture - Jay Sankey
4:30 PM Lecture - Shoot Ogawa
6:00 PM Dealer’s Room Closes - Last Chance to Shop!
6:00 PM Dinner
7:30 PM Gala Show - Chris Capehart, Brandon Wagster, Charlie Frye & Co.,
Christian & Katalina, Levent, Topas

After Show Farewell Party

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Great show tonight - all acts were fabulous.

Brandon & Hannah opened with their tight illusion act,
Chris Capehart introduced Christian & Katalina, nice, fun folks, solid act,
Master of Ceremonies, Chris Capehart took a turn and had fun with the crowd,
with Charlie Frye & Sherry closing the first half the show with his juggling act.
Awesome.
After intermission Charlie returned to the stage and performed his magic set.
This act is always an audience favorite.
Levent did his very funny routine and Topas closed the show.

Farewell Party, I think, is the only thing all weekend that ran late ...

See you next year,

here at,

Magic At The Beach 2011

Mike Heidtman
Director, MATB2011
Myrtle Beach, SC

Thanks to :

Dave Tanner, Roman LePree, Michelle Householder, Matt McCoy
and other staff and crew added as necessary
and who kindly volunteered their services.


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Nice job! Missed being there.
Ken

Magic at the Beach was a blast.

Shoot Ogowa is a Ninja. Slight of hand is too simplistic to describe what he does with coins. Amazing.
Loved Levent - funny, funny funny, and very generous with his time and ideas.
And Charlie Frye... what a wonderful human being. Incredible performer, how can he be so good at so many things?

Thanks to everyone who helped put on a great weekend. Very professionally done. Can't wait to see the lineup next year.

Magic At The Beach Close-up contest winners:
2nd place, Ron Conley, Myrtle Beach, SC,
1st place, Joe Jesse, Myrtle Beach, SC

Stage Contest winners:
2nd place, Steve Owens, Torrence, CA,
1st place, Joe Jesse, Myrtle Beach, SC

Great convention weekend !! We hope everyone enjoyed it as much as we did.

Here are some links to some local promo we received.

http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/01/20/193......dom.html
From the weekly “Surge”

http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/01/21/193......eum.html
From the ‘Kicks!’ insert to the Sun News

http://www2.scnow.com/news/2011/jan/20/m......1364781/
Article and video from SCNow.com

http://www.carolinalive.com/news/story.a......b07a23de
Article and video from Carolinalive.com

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I heard it was another Great Covention! Congrats to Joe Jesse winning both! I just got back from Alabama yesterday had catch up on my sleep. Man, doing trade show work sure is hard. I am glad that people keep me in touch with what was going on. I even heard Thee "Michael Bairefoot" was in attendence (Trois) LOL! Hope to see you next year!

Bairefoot

WOW, what a great weekend we had at MATB!

Kudos to Dave, Roman, Mike, Michelle, Matt and the entire MATB crew for sweating all the details so nicely. You all should be really proud of this convention...One of the best around!

Time to rest a bit now from all of your hard work. Thanks for everything!

Jeff Provost

Yes Michael it was another great convention and nice to know you were there in spirit, LOL.

Thank you Jeff for your kind words and we are proud of our event. It's something pleasantly different from other events, I hope you'll agree. Now rest up and know that we appreciate you and everyone else who attended this past weekend.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhVMqUIBwdQ

Now here is a little slideshow I made with some pictures I took, enjoy. Many other photos and comments are being shared on our Facebook site.

Until we meet again,
Yours in Magic,

Mike

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Great convention. I really enjoyed myself and the willingness of the crew to listen to suggestions. I don't care how old a convention is, there is always a time to tweak things here and there.

I must admit I saw little other than the two night shows. Seems like I was always tied up talking with people when things took place. But that is a big part of why I go and enjoy the smaller conventions. I really wanted to see Levent's lecture but it was not meant to be.

The Saturday night show was in an awesome location with an abundance of real people watching the magic. That always helps the show. The acts were all tightly rehearsed and blocked for a seamless production.

I will be back as this is way conventions should be run.

Richard

It was a terrific convention Ken,

I was looking forward to meeting you in-person there. No Japanese food at 1am for me this time!

Have you seen the latest in THE MAGAZINE RACK section here on the Café?

Guys are saying really good things about the feature story on you in January's MAGIC magazine.

I need to go find a copy to see what all the fuss is about!

How cool !!

I was just told that we are the feature story on the IBM website.

See http://www.magician.org to read all about how Magic At The Beach came to be.

Thanks to local writer Roger Yale for his fine story.

We truly appreciate all the kind words and reviews from you folks who attended.

Know that we are working hard on improving the little things to make MATB2012 even better !!

Keep those cards and letters coming !!

Yours in Magic,

Mike Heidtman
Director, Magic At The Beach
Myrtle Beach, SC

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What a great bunch of guys (and girls). You guys know how to put on a show. MATB has to be the best bargain for your convention dollar. I had a blast. Probably could have sold my swag bag for the price of the registration

Here is another write up about us by Obie Obrien (US)

Magic At the Beach Jan. 20-22

I wasn't going to attend this small convention but a friend
called me Thursday morning who had an extra Registration so I
decided to go. I am really glad I did as it was one of the best I
have been to in a long time.

David Tanner and Roman Lapree went all out for the 180 people
that attended. The opening Thursday night show was different and
the food they supplied made for a wonderful evening.
I won't tell you everything as Mike Heitman will probably cover
the convention later.

The talent was excellent. Topas from Germany did 3 performances,
so did Charlie Frye, you might say he did 4, as he performed
twice on Sat. night.

Other performers that were there, Chris Capehart, Christian and
Katalina, Levent, (all doing 3 performances), Nathan Kranzo, Jay
Sankey,Shoot Ogawa and Coney Island Chris, plus a few others who
I can't remember. All were excellent.

The theater was super and a big crowd for the Saturday night show
in the Dolly Pardon theater. What impressed me the most was the
hotel? Imagine rooms at $49 a night on the Beach. Great dealers
room etc. Restaurants close by at good prices.

The Sat. night final party with finger food back at the hotel was
a great closing party.
Those of you who missed this convention should plan on it for
2012 as it will be bigger and better. I hope to see you there.
OBIE

Mr. Jeffo,

Received your clubs newsletter PDF file today and I wanted to thank you for your review of the MATB convention.

Your newsletter is very nicely done.

I hope that other members from your club up there in CT will choose to come down next January to visit us.

Thanks again,

Cap'n Mike
MATB2011
Myrtle Beach, SC

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