Monday, July 18, 2011

Magic and Manners

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A friend of mine asked me to review and edit an article that he wrote for a local magic club's newsletter. The topic was manners and etiquette for magicians. This led me to thinking about my own views on things magicians do to other magicians that irritate me, and the biggest one for me is someone asking "How'd you do that?"

Now with laypeople, usually it's just an immediate response and you can take it as a compliment. However with magicians, it's always an actual request (if not a demand) to know how you accomplished your feat. Now I understand that in magic we all feel like we're insiders and thus are entitled to know the secrets to things. I mean, we already know a lot of secrets about a lot of tricks. However, just because you're a magician, doesn't mean you have any right to know how I did something.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Google Analytics and Why You Should Care

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So while I was on my daily random internet search, I came across a link to a few videos that go into detail on Google Analytics and how you can make it run more efficiently and what you can do with the data.

The website is called AppSumo, and for a short period of time, their $99 Google Analytics videos are completely free. 

Now I went in to this a bit skeptical. What's the big deal about Analytics and can it really help me in a real, tangible way? The answer, as you will find if you watch the vidoe, is absolutely yes! Most of the videos are short with a few that reach ten or eleven minutes, but the content in them is absolutely priceless. The interviewer is very clear and he ensures the entire process goes step by step so even people who get frustrated with things (like your's truly) can follow along while feeling completely at home in new territory.

Some of the things you're going to learn are:
  • How to set up and track goals
  • How to get tangible results with the information you receive
  • How to get Google to look at things that matter to you
  • How to find out which marketing campaign is or isn't working
  • Find out who is sending you the most traffic
  • Find out how many people are hitting your goals
It's easy and the videos take less than an hour to watch, but the information in them is great. So, what are you waiting for? Head over to AppSumo and get started!

~Cameron Rivers

Monday, July 4, 2011

IBM “Legends of Magic & Comedy" Show

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With all of the changes and issues with the 2011 IBM Convention in Dallas, Texas, one of the best things that happened was the closing gala show titled "Legends of Magic & Comedy."

Beginning with Jeff McBride, performing his fantastic mask and card manipulation act, as well as his miser's dream. With his high energy and extremely visual magic, Jeff was a natural choice to start off the show, and he energized the audience immediately.

Next, Michael Ammar and his wife Hannah performed a staple of Hannah's great-grandfather's magic show; the Willard Spirit Cabinet. It was an amazing display and Francis Willard, Hannah's mother and Willard's granddaughter, was visibly moved by the routine.

Walter "Zaney" Blaney introduced his daughter and granddaughter who performed his world famous levitation, an effect that is still as amazing as it is perfect.

Next, Tom Mullica presented his Red Skelton Guzzler's Gin routine to rounds of laughter and applause from the audience.

Johnny and Pam Thompson presented their "Great Tomsoni" routine to a standing ovation.

Another tribute routine had Darren Romeo and Gay Blackstone performing Blacktone Jr's famous floating lightbulb routine.

At the end of the night, everyone left with a feeling of awe and appreciation of those magicians who have come before us, both the performers on stage and those who can no longer be with us. The closing show of the IBM 2011 convention captured the spirit of the convention.

2011 IBM Convention In Review

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The 2011 International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention in Dallas, Texas kicked off with convention chairmen David Sandy and Roger Miller announcing Dallas as the “Reinvention Convention”. What does that mean, what were they re-inventing, and did they pull it off?