What do 5000 magicians do on three damp, cold February days in Blackpool? No, it’s not the opening line to joke, but a real question. Well, they attend the largest magic convention in the world, of course! And yes, you did read that right – not Las Vegas or New York or Dubai or Johannesburg or Vancouver or Paris, but Blackpool. Over three very long days (and nights!), magicians from all over the world gather to share their secrets, learn from experts, be entertained by the best artists on the planet and ultimately seduced by the latest inventions. The Blackpool Magic Convention, now in its 72nd year, is the biggest event in the magical calendar. Welcome to an insight into my world. Welcome to the world of magic!
The ornate and famous Empress Ballroom (used to hosting international dancing competitions or the World Matchplay Darts); the adjacent balconies and the grand Pavilion accommodate 170 magical dealers, showcasing innovations and selling everything from playing cards with every design and colour you could imagine through to the largest illusions used on the biggest stages. Coins, books, illusions, tricks of every kind, canes, balls, tables, fire products, glitzy jackets, suits and even puppets fill every available space with a cornucopia of desirable items for the impresario stage grandee through to the children’s party entertainer. Eight other venues within the Blackpool Winter Gardens complex stage over 95 events from 75 performers – lectures, talks, shows, competitions and performances. Rooms accommodating between 200 and 1000 delegates burst at the seams in the day with lectures from star magicians on techniques, tricks, methods, ventriloquism, cabaret acts, close-up magic, street performing and sleight of hand. During the evening a different Grand ‘Broadway style’ Gala Show plays twice on each night in the 2812 seat Opera House to a capacity audience. And if you are wanting more, three different spectacular satellite shows play out in the other venues into the small hours each night. Many are ones that are on tour in the UK or Edinburgh Festival, whilst some are headline shows taken straight from the mega-venues on the Las Vegas strip and dropped into the Blackpool mix. And if that is not enough, there is the mecca of The nearby Ruskin Hotel, where nearly everyone flocks afterwards, entertaining one another with their latest purchases into the early hours. Such is the demand for this off-curriculum extravaganza, The Ruskin proprietors have now acquired the three hotels next door and knocked through to maximise floor space and accommodation for this thirsty horde of entertainers.
Magic conventions are big business. Not just for the manufacturers and retailers of magical props and tricks, or the lecturers and performers but the localities and communities in which these conventions take place, with nearly every Blackpool Hotel proudly displaying its ‘No Vacancy’ sign in winter!
For me I have three more to visit this year, all in the USA, where, over 12 days in three cities (Nashville, Houston and Las Vegas) I will meet friends from North America and possibly a magical superstar or two, learning, sharing, perusing and performing. But the one thing that radiates through all such events are the friendships that are formed that remain for a lifetime.
Already people have the date in their diary for next year’s 73rd Blackpool Convention and a reminder on their phone when the tickets go on sale in 8 weeks’ time, but for now it’s time for me to experiment with the new magical goodies I have acquired and reflect on what I learnt from my peers, performers and lecturers – and of course hopefully avoid the inevitable ‘bug’ that attacks those who have got by on four hours sleep a night!
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