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2nd Annual Joker Gone Wild Convention
The 2nd Annual Jokers Gone Wild Convention began on Friday, September 24, 2010. All attendees from the Inaugural Jokers Gone Wild Convention returned this year, and we added three new performing friends to the mix. At registration, each magician performed a quick trick to earn their convention button, gaining them full access to the fun and fellowship shared throughout the weekend.
After a brief time in the hospitality room, the magicians proved they will perform for food, enjoying the Joker’s signature Friday night Sloppy Joe dinner.
Ray and Lee Eyler (Edgewater, MD) kicked off the teach-a-trick session, which was rounded out by contributions from our featured lecturers, Tom Craven (just back to Ohio from his gig at the Magic Castle) and Gary Ward who flew in from Houston Texas to support the convention. Decks, coins, and other close-up items were passed among the die-hards until Friday vanished and became Saturday morning.
After enjoying Saturday’s breakfast snacks, the convention moved into high gear with our first of three performing sessio ns. Everyone who attends this convention performs a 5-7 minute routine. The host Joker, Scott Miller, kicked things off with rhyming routine recounting highlights from the 1st Annual Jokers Gone Wild Convention.
Top: Lee Eyler, Gary Ward, Mike Herrick, John Love, Max Eyler, Jack Chancellor
Second: Matt Stanley, Rodger Bucy, Carl Day, Robert Pocius, Ray Eyler
Third: Tom Craven, Group, Dave Davis, Scott Miller
Bottom: Carl Day, Bill Alexander, Craig Morgan, Group
Following the lunch sessions, Scott presented an effect introducing the Jokers Gone Wild Magic Spinning Challenge Coin. The Jokers Gone Wild Magicians carry these individually-numbered coins whenever they are together. When challenged, if a Joker fails to produce his coin he is required to perform a magic effect and then buy the other Jokers a round of drinks.
Tom Craven presented his exclusive Keeper Card lecture, covering effects he developed in over 22 years of using the Keeper Shuffle. Tom is the only magician who has attended all 40 of the FFFF Conventions and all of the Jokers Gone Wild conventions as well.
“The Jokers Gone Wild convention is so much fun that I refuse to miss it next year. I thought the first one was great, but this year it was twice as good! A great value with a lot of magic, a lot of food, but more importantly, great sessions with a lot of good magicians!” tom craven
Gary Ward, a well-known close-up magician and entertainer from Houston, Texas presented a great lecture for the Jokers. Gary is a long-time FFFF attendee and has been published in many periodicals and several books. His lecture featured many of his creative effects, using items ranging from electronics to squeakers.
A popular event is performing strolling magic and a platform show for the local Masonic Lodge  during their spaghetti dinner. This is a great opportunity for our performers to showcase their talents for a lay audience and also to load up on some carbs to get them through the final session in the hospitality suite.
The 3rd Annual Jokers Gone Wild Convention, featuring Robert Bengel and Bob Knigge, will be held from 22-24 September, 2011 near Dayton, Ohio. For more information about the Jokers Gone Wild Convention, or to request an invitation, please visit the website: www.magical1.org. |
