Scottish Association of Magical Societies
Convention
Below is a write up of the SAMS 2005 Convention in Kilmarnock
Scottish Association of Magical
Societies
54th Annual Convention
Reported by Jim Cuthbert
On
Friday evening the conventioneers were welcomed to Kilmarnock by Provost
Jane Darnbourough. After this President, Allan Duncan, thanked
the Council for their hospitality and declared the convention open.
Throughout the weekend SAMS were honoured with the company of Don and Pam
Bettie President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians
(British Ring 25)
VICE-PRESIDENT'S SHOW:- (organised by Alex
Proctor)
Compere for this show was Alex Proctor who performed some
magic between the acts. First on was Brian Jeffrey with his act,
which included the selection on a holiday resort, which Brian had
previously predicted. This was followed by a Grind a Credit card effect
and finally the Bandana trick with an unusual ending.
This was followed by Patricia Duncan, daughter of our President, who
performed colour changing plumes, magic painting, loose beads to string of
beads and some card effects. The last act on was Helmut Kautz , who came
on dressed as a stage hand, with a large feather in each hand
which changed to canes. He then built a box and proceeded to produce
umbrellas and finally his daughter from the box.
This was a nice
start to the convention.
A DELVE INTO THE PAST
A Delve into The
Past session was a talk which was designed to remind older member of
earlier conventions and informing newer member of the history of SAMS
conventions. Jim Craig, Stuart Leith, Eddie Dawes and Jim Cuthbert
presented this session. Jim Craig has attended all the SAMS convention
since the first in 1952. He told conventioneer how the conventions started
and mentioned some of the early dealers and performers. He described how
Tom Harris had performed his children's act and how this would not be
allowed in today in this P. C. world. He then went on to demonstrate the
first effect he purchased at the convention this was the Kings Crown
Jewels.
The next speaker was Stuart Leith who spoke about seeing
John Ramsay for the first time and how impressed he was with the skills of
John and how willing he had been to share his knowledge. He told of the
film of Jeffrey Buckingham, which was to shown at the convention, this
film arrived after the convention started and George Pigott
had to leave the convention and rush to the Airport and collect the film.
All worked out well in the end.
Eddie Dawes was next and told the
conventioneer of his joining S.C.A. and attended his first SAMS
convention. He went on to tell the conventioneer of his visit to the Isle
of Mann to meet Doctor Sir Alexander Cannon. He described the Mystic Hall
in Cannons house. Eddie told the conventioneer of the many degrees
Cannon had accrued over the years.
Jim Cuthbert ended the session
with a reminder of some of the pranks, which were carried out by John
Geddes and friends at the conventions. This included sticking price tags
on all the cars in the car park. Passers by started to come into the car
park to inspect the cars as the prices were well below the normal asking
price. He told of the woman who agreed to attend a SAMS convention for her
honeymoon and actually took part in the stage competition. He could not
make up his mind if this was true love or just pure stupidity on her part.
Jim ended by playing some restored audiotapes from early
conventions.
The dealer opened at 10 p.m. and soon had many
conventioneers visiting their Aladdin's cave to see their many fantastic
props. The dealers were McLeod Magic, Kaymar Magic and Magical Wonders
SATURDAY
FIRST LECTURE: - Chris Wardle
Chris presented
an interesting lecture, which contained something for everybody. His input
included a colour prediction, find the lady, kings candy, a book test, six
card monty, what's in a name and a coin prediction.
WORKSHOPS
Alex Proctor, Malcolm Wilson, Eddie McColl, Steven Malley.
The
first workshop was hosted by Alex and was all about elastic bands.
The
second was hosted by Malcolm and was all about making balloon figures and
potential problems.
The third workshop was hosted by Eddie and
demonstrated various card moves,
The fourth workshop was hosted by
Steven and gave some good advice on how to make your own props.
All the
workshops went well and were greatly appreciated by the
participants.
CLOSE UP SESSION:-
A fine close up session was
presented by Chris Wardle, Merson Grant, Richard James, Richard Sanders
Neil Stockland and Jim Boyd.
The session started with Merson Grant
demonstrating a ghost house key routine, ring off rope and a card routine.
The next performer was Richard James who presented a selected card
found in the pack and showed that this was the only red backed card in a
blue backed pack. He followed this with a time of day prediction. A
volunteer selected an hour and minutes and when the watch was turned over
for inspection it was noted that both times matched perfectly.
Jim Boyd
was soon in the performers chair and performed a nice ball assembly
routine and a ninja rings effect.
Neil Stockland now took over and
presented a twist the aces routine and ended with a cut and restored card
effect.
It was soon the turn of Chris Wardle to entertain. He started
with a drinks trick and followed with a vanishing dice and identifying the
slips of paper which had drawings made by the audience into the correct
hands.
The final act was Richard Sanders who performed a very
interesting rope routine and a £20.00 note vanish which ended up being
produced from a lemon.
GALA SHOW
Reported in an earlier report
by Fergus Roy
CLOSE UP COMPETITION
First on was Michael McMillan
who performed coin production, elastic band routine, card selection
replaced in into pack and located a ring effect and ended with a ribbon
production.
Alex Proctor started with a card prediction and continued
with the theme to end with a prism prediction.
Andy Field started with
a cup and ball routine followed with a knife through through jacket, and
ended with a ring on rope routine.
Last on was David Deanie who started
with a drink from sleeve followed by a coin production, some card effects
and ended with a ring off bolt.
FAREWELL
LUNCH
President, Alan Duncan and his wife Elizabeth accompanied by
Councillor Thomas Farrell, Honorary Life President of SAMS Eddie and Amy
Dawes, President Elect. Alex Proctor and Ann a to the top table
After the meal Alan thanked the Council for their hospitality, the
visitors, special guests, performers, and friends for taking part in the
weekend events. Councillor Thomas Farrell responded on
behalf of the Council and expressing gratitude that SAMS had chosen
Kilmarnock for their venue and hoped they would return
soon. Don Beatie, President of the International
Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 25, spoke on behalf of the visitors,
thanking everyone for their hospitality and a first class magical
convention.
Kenny Kerr announced the winners of the competitions.
COMPETITION RESULTS
JACK SILVER AWARD (Best dealer's
display):-
Kamar Magic
ANNE WARLOCK CUP (Close-up magic):-
Andy
Field
RAMSAY ROSE BOWL (Best Close-up
effect):-
David Dennie
MURRAY WAND (for
Showmanship):-
Alex Proctor
SIR ALEXANDER CANNON
TROPHY:-
Glasgow Magic Circle
(Scottish club gaining most points throughout the
year)
The JIMMY CRAIG QUAICH
Awarded by the incumbent President to the
person of his choice for his/her contribution to Scottish Magic, either
over the current year, or earlier.
Presented by Alan Duncan
to
Bill McLeod
INSTALLATION
of new SAMS President: - Alex Proctor
All that was now left for Alan to
do was to install the next President by passing the Chain of Office to the
new President, Alex Proctor, and wish him success in his presidential
year. Elizabeth Duncan then passed the Escort's chain to Anna Proctor,
Alex Proctor then presented Alan with his Past-president's badge, declared
the 2005 Convention closed, and invited everyone to meet again on 28th-
30th April, 2006, at Greenock.