General Post Convention Feelings of FISM, Stockholm 2006

As I wait to board the plane back to London I use modern technology to post these comments.
People who know me will appreciate what a thrill it is to be able to do this.
I love gadgets!

I liked the convention overall and I thank all those people who worked so hard for so long so I could enjoy the Stockholm FISM. If I knew exactly what the convention would be like I still would have come. I must say that at the start otherwise what follows will seem like one long moan.

I spent over nine hours just getting to and from my hotel (The Grand.) For me, who does not usually use public transport, this was a huge waste of time.

I would have liked the opportunity to see all the events. Here you simply couldn't do that. It seems to me that this is the basic requirement of a convention.

I don't care what the so called reasons are...having bloody television people waltzing into a FISM convention and taking over both back stage and front of curtain is OUT OF ORDER. Show me where it said on the adverts that this was to be the case...did it say anywhere that, because a handful of people had decided to "raise the profile of FISM world wide our entertainment " (for which we had paid.) our enjoyment would be compromised. We might have some brilliant mentalists around but how do the TV people KNOW seventy million people will watch the resulting programme (no doubt starting with a load of brightly coloured rabbits, top hats, cards and wands motifs.)

I would have liked the "Banquet Party Night" to have gone on a little later than 11pm. Ok I do get tired sooner these days but even I could have managed a bit more partying...

We plan to fill in many of the "gaps" in this FISM rambling later but please bear in mind I have a huge Genii article to finish as well as the proof reading and tweaking of Topper's book as well as the Bizarre Bath show to do...

Even more Important People and People Important to Me...

Well, Rick Merrill has Opus the wrong way up...


Paul Kieve



















Wolfram (of Junge Junge) with Family



Harold Voit.







Max Maven and Kyoko

The Important Results (to me)

David Sousa was runner up in manipulation, many congratulations...superb..

Rick Merrill is the close up World Champion...this fact makes me very, very happy...he was brilliant.

Jerome Helfenstein from France was totally ignored despite having the most magical hand shadow act I have ever seen. No doubt this was because he didn't have any coloured hankies etc (ie, that old chestnut "not enough magic...") Never mind Jerome, many, many people LOVED your act and it will be booked all over the world...remember, there was a time when Lennart Green was ignored by a FISM jury

The Day After...

Yesterday I went with Luis de Matos, Vanessa, Paulino and Eduardo to visit Topper Martyn's Memorial Park. It was peaceful but in no way morbid...

Discontent amongst the Troops...

Anger amongst the audience who were in the theatre to watch the Close Up Final live (as opposed to us who had to watch it on a big screen in a different part of the convention centre.)

Nothing to do with the result but to do with being used by the television company as an audience and being asked to clap and cheer ect. at the director's command just as they do in television studios. The thing is this isn't a television theatre where people have come (free) to watch them make a programme. This is FISM where people have paid top dollar to be part of the biggest convention of them all. Frankly a disgrace...

The Close Up Winner

After the five finalists repeated their acts (more later) the winner (clearly and without dispute) was

RICK MERRIL from USA

Refreshing, talented, skillful and very, very funny.

Even more Important People and People Important to Me...

A dubious bunch, (Standing, Guy and Chris)
(seated) Derren, JJ, Noel, Paul, James and Angelo.

Johnny Lonn






Bill Walsh get his Opus.












Bill "the Man" Herz.

The Close Up Finalists

I understand the close up/card magic finalists to be...

Shawn (Purple Suit) Farquhar, Canada, Micro Magic.

Martin Eisele, Germany, Micro Magic.

Rick (I was home schooled) Merrill, USA, Micro Magic.

David Stone (even has his own promotional stickers and tee shirts), France, Micro Magic.

Helder Guimaraes, Portugal, Card Magic.

therefore Opus predicts that Helder Guimaraes will win FISM 2006 Card Magic prize.

The Finalists...

I am thrilled and delighted to announce that the favourite act of me and many of the Opus Gang and several others, the totally unknown David Sousa (from Porto, Portugal) has won through to the finals of the stage competiton taking place at 7.30 this evening. If my memory (which is dreadful) serves me right only five acts out of the hundred odd acts got through. They will now repeat their acts in front of as many of the 2800 magicians as can get in (disgracefully not everyone will be able to watch.)

Having lifted my heart with his gentle, classy, original manipulation act I am so very, very pleased for him and the magic world. Acts like these don't come alopng that often. I suspect he won't win the Grand Prix as the modern trend probably points towards the Korean Act...(I have to sign off for two hours now as they are about to shut down the site for two hours for "maintenance"...back later

Breakfast Protest...

No picture of Saturday's breakfast out of protest...no beans again...why not? They had beans on Wednesday...what is up with the Grand Hotel's Management?

But not wanting to upset the thousands of people world wide who are checking on the meal photos, here is a picture of the meal offered to the vegetarian FISM 2006 registrants and the Banquet.

more Important People and People Important to Me

Bob Swadling

Magic Wave, Jasper and Jan

Paul and Marie, The Nardinis

Roberto and Barbara.

Anticipation...

8.15am and about to shower and then head off for the last stage competition entrants.

Three of today's acts are friends so there will be added interest...

Find a Penny, Pick it Up...

Here it is today...

If picking up a dropped penny brings good luck what happens if you do the same with a hundred dollar bill?

Yes I found one on the foyer floor by the lift as I returned to my room after breakfast (pictured here)...that's the sort of clients they get in this hotel...

Of course I handed it in...

some Important People and People Important to me...

Mark Leveridge...

Tom Stone with friend

Tina...

Stan and Mike...

No 1 Driver, Satoshi...

Mama-san

A Quick Taste of the Close Up Contest...

After a visit to the "Card Trick Hotel" last night, no way could I get to the convention in time to see any stage competitors this morning. By the time I got there it was very nearly over for the day. I gave Max Maven a quick verbal assault on the fact that he was still smoking (outside the door) and then wandered around the dealers looking for the "Trick of the Convention." It doesn't seem as if there is one this year. It was going to be the toy car which would follow a line drawn on a piece of paper with a felt tip pen (if done so in permanent marker but not a water based one) until I was told you could buy it much cheaper from Hamleys toy shop. (Anything that can be bought there cheaper must be very overpriced indeed.)

After a couple of acceptable hotdogs I chatted a bit (ok, quite a bit) (I was pleased to be able to tell David Sousa how very much I had enjoyed his manipulation act) and eventually wandered into the viewing room of the close-up competition for the last few acts. It turned out to be a good move as I saw a sample of what I would rate to be the very best and very worst of this branch of magic (with some in between thrown in for good measure.)

Shawn Farquhar from Canada (in a shiny, purple suit) did a strong "signed card in sealed pack" effect (without seemingly knowing he was amongst greatness by doing it on Steve Walker) and a "look, the cups are solid" cups and ball routine. He was more excited about his act than I...

Alex Stone was a, and had a, disaster but won over Opus by shouting out "shit" on dropping something! The judges closed him down...

Kiko from Spain (and well supported) nervously did some good, original card stuff...

Simo "The Bells that get Bigger" Aalto from Finland did a "Coins that get Bigger" act...he should have known better...

Joker Magic from Hungary did an act involving a finger ring which allowed me to nod off...

VIP Magic, a male duo from Holland, unluckily did a "anything you can do I can do better" card act presumably without knowing that Helge Thumm and Topas did one so much better the night before...

Martin Eisele from Germany was brilliantly and originally funny with his "Magic Martin" act...I loved it...

and then...

Rick Merrill from the USA totally stormed it with his "I was home schooled" act with his Coin and Sharpie routine...for me it will have had to be a bloody good act to have beaten this one...but then I only saw these few acts....

...after Rick I headed back to my hotel for S L E E P briefly, on Richard Kaufman's advice, watching some of Jon Armstrong act on the monitor in the hall...I didn't stay for all of it...

A Very Late Night Breakfast...

Late night brekky served in room...fuel to help me put up a bit more of the ramblings...

The Stage Gala Show

Wow.
Wow.
Wow...

Very, very, very nearly the very best Gala Show I have seen.

Gatto unbelieveably, incredibly, hypnotically sen-bloody-sensational...Jeff McBride's water bowls, sound, imagination, emotion...Vik and Fabrini, the ultimate robot act back here and thank you for that...The Evasons, I hate mentalism but this was so much more than mentalism...Marc Metral, ventriloquist extrordinaire...Jerome Murat, original, visual, magical...Marko Karvo, hair neck raising stuff, if anyone can change my mind about live bird acts it would be this one...Peter Marvey, it is traditional to have a big box act finish and this was a big box act...musician Frank Wilson, so much more than a brilliant keyboard player...and then the MC, Helge Thun, (with help from the Flickers,) talented, smooth, personable, original, imaginative, fresh, entertaining, fooling, superb.

So I had a pretty good time...

Thank goodness for my experience of acquiring tickets at the World Cup this summer...I'm going for a ticket for the second show to watch this again...

some Important People and People Important to me...

as I wander around I meet good people...

the one and only Bill Malone

John Archer...

Vanessa Viana...

Nick Nicholas (with WATER)

Jim Cellini...

Bob "the video" Hamilton

Luis de Matos and Martin MacMillan

Reports, Motivation and Character.

Once again my breakfast photo fails to get onto this site...

This is a shame because this morning's picture would cause a bit of a stir in the magic world...the disappearing beans.

Yes...

Yesterday there were good quantities of tomato sauced beans and today...

Nothing...

Still I mustn't complain, unlike complaints against this rambling for not having enough about the acts.

I have a confession.

The moment I was forced, by circumstances beyond my control, to miss the opening day of competition, I lost a bit of motivation. Knowing that I couldn't do a complete report I have reverted to type and will only be able to record snippets.

So when I woke up this morning after four hours of sleep, instead of leaping up and heading for the convention for the early morning competition acts, I rolled over, took another hour's rest, had breakfast (sorry no picture) and then started this post. My revised plan is to wander over to the event...watch what is left of the contests and then come back to the hotel in the afternoon and sleep.

And I won't miss much because, after Tamariz's one man show which ends at three o'clock and the close up contest there is nothing else scheduled for me.

Unless I start queuing yesterday I doubt I'll get anywhere near the Tamariz show and that is the main complaint that I hear from many, many people.

You can't get into see events...there just aren't enough seats.

There are vast chunks of time with nothing on and when events are on you can't get in. Maybe planning repeat performances could have helped?

Important FISM People...

This is Asa Almeby Thorne from the Information Desk. She sells us the wi-fi cards so we can get online.

Day Three...Skeleton Competition Report...

I will hope to eventually expand on this preliminary competiton report but in the interests of speed this is for now...

Matthew Gore from South Africa. Hat Shop set...white face...why? I blame circus schools.

Kyoko from Japan. Hairdressing act...curler manipulations instead of thimbles...good levitation...combs, mirrors and a bit of "Cleaning Lady type coat coming to life." Almost too much. Could be amongst the prizes.

Andreas Axmann from Germany. Cocktails, hats and ties and bits of straw manipulations. Well supported but I ask you...bits of fruit?

Richard Forget from Canada. Not completely bad...I liked the music.

Anton and Landru from Argentina. An Old Woman (man dressed up) watching a tv has to call in the repair man when the telly breaks. Ends up hypnotising him and taking him upstairs. Only at a magic convention!

Ross Mickael et Bethy (et des autres) Illusions. Same question...Why? (except bigger...)

The Magic Of The Nightingale from USA. Opera singing Lady (in different languages) with a big ball bearing...strange...very strange...only at a magic convention. Where's Jeff McBride...?

Mr Avesta from Holland. Strong man act with dog squashing gag. Judges saved us eventually by closing the curtains on him.

Pilou from France. Very well received. Some very strong moments. Moved around a little too much for me.

Hayashi from Germany. He had us in the palms of his hands and then he cruelly dropped us on the floor...

Robert and Emiel from Holland. Rain Man does mentalism...tasteless and uncomfortable viewing.

Xavier Mortimar from France. I blame circus schools, theatre schools and mime schools. In fact I just blame schools.

Jin Seub from Korea (the bit at the bottom.) Manipulations in front of the fireplace. The large cards were "more riveted than the audience."

Sergy Ferdzhulyan from Russia. Minimalist Manipulations. Needs to hang out with his friends more...

Jerome Helfenstein from France. AT LAST...made all the waiting worthwhile...hand shadows PAR EXCELLENCE. Superb, classy, creative and perfectly executed. A prize winner...

The Close Up Show, Tuesday Evening.

Only a quick review 'cos I've got to sleep.

Tim Star...I missed him because I had to eat or die.

Lennart Green...saw the last part of his brillant act...I hadn't seen his comedic matrix before...a total star and a great man.

Bob Sheets...fooled me really, really badly with the bloody numbered blocks!

Michael Vincent...as smooth and confident as ever.

Armando Lucero...spectacular. Learn to do a few things better than anyone else in the world and we'll love you.

Belinda Sinclair...complicated...I liked bits of this well rehearsed but strange set but am the only person I've found so far who did. Why fly an eight person act in and then not have the camera show what is happening?

My second day...

I got here a lot easier today...I just followed all the badges.

I then collected my goody bag, set up a wi-fi spot for twenty-four hours (£10) and tried to get into the competition.

I was reffused as it was in the middle of an act...I wandered over to the closed circuit television and watched it there...

It was Rocco doing something with water bowls...neither of his thumbs lit up. Art Emmerson was heard to say...

"I hope he paid Jeff McBride for that."

I have not got Rocco down as one of my winners.

Now it was in between acts and I was able to enter the theatre and watch the rest of the day's proceedings "live" (assisted by two giant screens on either side of the huge stage.)

One doesn't want to be too cruel given that a lot of the entrants seem to be amateurs but only in a FISM competition could you possibly have such a weird collection of concepts all under the banner "Magic Acts".

I had missed Tatu who apparently stood on stage in a thong and, dare I say it, fiddled with a ball.

Reggie Simon did a "manipulation" act with coins and notes and Brinum-X played with bubbles. Two things stood out for me. Firstly his lady assistant appeared to be considerably higher than him and secondly, to my ignorant ear, the words of the piece of operatic backing music sounded like

"Do get a life, Do get a life, Do get a life..."

I am going to see if I can find out what that music was because it appeared (if that is the correct word) again in the next act which was from Japan and featured very high up on the "cute" scale. A couple of young boys (11 or 12 years old) The Yamagami Brothers did some illusions, a levitation and a kind of sword box/substitution box. The audience loved them...well they were cute.

Vidar Strat from Norway made a promising start to his manipulation act which looked good in ablack and white theme but he lost his way a little in the middle. As I pass comment on these acts I really should remember as one who has competed myself that nerves come into play and can screw things up a bit!

Fernando Arribas from Spain did a mental act where the revelation was "on video" and shown on screen. Nothing much to say here. He predicted ten things and got them all correct. Maybe, only maybe, if it had only been three things I would have enjoyed it more.

Alexandre from France did a "youth" act which, shall we say to be kind, seemed to be highly "inspired" by Magic Wave from Holland. It may be that Alexandre has never seen Jan and Jasper's surf act but I wouldn't be surprised if he has. It was the first time in my life that I have ever seen a "substitution" ruck sack!

And now an act I nearly loved...

Brando and Silvano from Argentina did a "street" style act where he does the cups and balls and she, playing the role of a flower sellar, picks his pockets. The final loads are the items (pocket watch and wallet etc) that we have seen her "steal" from him. I liked this act and with a little tuning I could grow to love it.

Another act I quite liked was Erix from Germany who did a "Rock and Roll" act complete with old fashioned juke box and GREAT music...he was a bit Topas like (the sun glasses being switched for combs)...and I have to say I was the only one of the "group" who did like him.

Next came and act from Spain that I knew Rafael Benatar wanted to see. The Dream Makers (a man and a woman) who did a "night club" act (in so much as it was set in a night club.) She was a glamourous woman and he was trying to "pull" her...I believe he might have had better results if he used conversation and charm rather than magic tricks. But this act did provide an unforgettable moment. Yes, even in 2006, in the World Championships...wait for it....the Bra trick. No I kid you not...Dream Makers performed the Bra trick on stage at FISM, Stockholm.

And now for the act of the day for me...David Sousa from Portugal (and I do not know him) did a beautiful manipulation act with style, skill, charm, imagination and originality. I LOVED it. A very, very famous magician was heard to say..."an act from my country which makes me proud to be Portuguese." I hope to be able to write more of David's act later but I must get this piece finished.

Dion was next and was the best supported act of the day. I HATE nationalism in magic so wasn't best pleased with football like chanting for Holland at the start of this act. With that sort of support you have to be good (Lance Burton in Lausanne) but Dion wasn't. I thought the act was messy...no apparent theme or rationale to it...but I learn he is only 14 years old so is very skillful for his age. My question is...why be so impatient...why not wait a couple of years and then really storm it?

The last act of the day's competition was Latko from Argentina. Talk about theme and rationale...this act had it!

It starts in blackness to the sound track of a road accident. The curtain opens to reveal the wreck of a Harley Davidson and a biker in black leather. To the backing of American style hard rock (but sadly not Metallica) he proceeds to use magic to put his bike back together again. I thought this act was superb fun but I doubt it will win anything (or what about Originality).