Summer Magic Shows Off to a Great Start
People are finally hosting events again after two years of postponements and cancellations. This Winter and Spring, I enjoyed a busy season with several Cub Scout events, sports banquets, and corporate after-dinner shows. Now, summer camps are in full swing, along with library summer reading programs, day camps at childcare centers, family reunions, and company picnics.
Some clients still prefer outdoor events as a precaution, while others are comfortable hosting indoors. Either way, it’s fantastic to be performing in person again and moving away from Zoom shows in my basement.
Although many of my performances are for private events, I recently had the chance to perform at the Cardington, Ohio Street Fair and am scheduled to perform at the Waldo, Ohio Summer Festival on July 15th. I also have several private events lined up later this summer at company picnics. It’s been a busy and exciting season!
Client of the Month: YMCA Camp Willson
This summer, I’m thrilled to return to YMCA Camp Willson in Bellefontaine, Ohio. Last summer, I performed three shows there, and this year I’m scheduled for four shows. Since there will likely be different campers each week, I can perform many of the same routines multiple times, which is a great opportunity to perfect them.
I have fond memories of Camp Willson from my childhood. My dad and I camped there for a few years with the Indian Guides (now called Adventure Guides). While we stayed in heated cabins, we also enjoyed activities like ice fishing during winter campouts and row-boating and canoeing in warmer weather.
Camp Willson hosts eight weeks of overnight camps each summer, filled with activities like swimming, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, music, arts and crafts, and, of course, magic shows! It’s wonderful to see kids enjoying the outdoors and making new friends without the distraction of cell phones. It’s a great escape from electronic content and a chance for them to immerse themselves in nature and fun.
Ron Attends Magic-Live Convention with Over 1,600 Magicians
In May, I attended the Magic-Live convention in Las Vegas for the first time. This is likely the largest magicians’ convention in the United States, drawing over 1,600 attendees, including many magic stars who perform nightly in Las Vegas. Even winners of “America’s Got Talent,” like Matt Franco and Shin Lim, were there, happy to take pictures and mingle with everyone.
One of the standout presentations was about a drive-in magic show created in Portugal during the pandemic. The performer transformed a drive-in movie theater into a live magic show venue, with 70 cars attending each night to watch a combination of intelligent video design and signature magic tricks.
Magic-Live is much like a family reunion, with magicians from all walks of life—hobbyists, full-time performers, part-time performers, collectors, and magic enthusiasts—coming together. The convention featured shows, lectures, seminars, and a large “dealers hall” with over 40 magic vendors. It was a fantastic opportunity to catch up with old friends, meet some new ones, and learn new routines to enhance my performances.