EPISODE · Aug 4, 2026 · 1H 12M
983: MAGIC Live! 2026 - Days One and Two
from The Magic Word Podcast · host Scott Wells
<figure class=" sqs-block-image-figure intrinsic " > ScheduleSunday, August 2nd 24 hours Bicycle Lounge, St. Charles 10:00 a.m. Registration, Bienville G (10:00p)10:00 a.m. Photo Badges, Dauphine F (10:00p) Live Tonight!7:30 – 11:00 p.m. - The Zombie Ball, Esplanade 7:30 – 11:00 p.m. - The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras 11:00 – 11:30 p.m. - Grand Prize Giveaway & Costume Awards, Esplanade Monday, August 3rd24 hours Bicycle Lounge, St. Charles9:00 a.m. Information Booth, Kiosk (9:00p)10:00 a.m. General Sessions, Showroom, (Noon)10:00 a.m. Focus Sessions (11:00a)11:00 a.m. The MAGIC Shop, Mardi Gras, (6:00p)11:15 a.m. Focus Sessions (12:15p)11:30 a.m. Cafe Live!, Esplanade K/L (2:00p)12:15 p.m. Lunch Break (2:15p)2:15 p.m. General Session, Showroom (4:15p)2:15 p.m. Focus Sessions (3:15p)3:30 p.m. Focus Sessions (4:30p) Live Tonight!6:00, 8:00, 10:15 p.m. - Comedy Live!, Showroom12:30, 5:45, 7:10, 9:00, 10:20 p.m. - The Close-up Experience, Bienville G6:15, 8:00, 10:00 p.m. - In Concert: Dani Daortiz, French Quarter7:00 p.m. – Midnight Bicycle Lounge Cash Bar, St. Charles <a data-title="Breakfast with Banachek" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787894890-BPGGC8NHKBWDUSP55L8K/20260801_090231.jpg" role="button" aria-label="Breakfast with Banachek" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787894328-9PO6RQTKDGBW0U8FMKG5/1000040817.jpg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Jason and Nick Altieri" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787903199-7T6IW7NPDQIYOG46SEJ3/1000040819.jpg" role="button" aria-label="Jason and Nick Altieri" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Registration Line" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787902068-XG9GNWFT3S0SP4XH5UC4/1000040818.jpg" role="button" aria-label="Registration Line" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785788470138-PWPK1P79OVZT1RAOBSXR/20260803_131540.jpg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Dealer Room Layout" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785788470929-IDPFH9MUUGPR1XD45O7I/20260803_131726.jpg" role="button" aria-label="Dealer Room Layout" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Julie Eng at the Genii Booth" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787329963-OGL0126WTNORG4ANB9ZH/IMG_5591.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="Julie Eng at the Genii Booth" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Dealers' Room" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787329352-KL0NQQP8EYYEBIY4YB39/IMG_5593.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="Dealers' Room" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Bruce Gold ("The Zombie") and Gregory Wilson" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787338370-7WE2DI622SHUQDK3U1NH/IMG_5596.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="Bruce Gold ("The Zombie") and Gregory Wilson" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Jeff Scanlan" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787340087-S4PPZZ7DTTAKSBMGOIDV/IMG_5601.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="Jeff Scanlan" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787342685-BN5VN8MEPPHTUYRVL7TZ/IMG_5603.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="What was in your Mystery Box?" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785787890278-B9RTVYBM3NTKSK0PLX3X/20260802_203300.jpg" role="button" aria-label="What was in your Mystery Box?" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Brenda Lamont Dunagan as "Zombie" Celeste Evans" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785789140577-LJT9KLW7RHCP1YJPQUMG/IMG_5599.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="Brenda Lamont Dunagan as "Zombie" Celeste Evans" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="Charlie Randall, Bill Flanagan, John McLaughlin and Bruce Averbook" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785789138360-UJFJ6JYKB3WNKJOSODMD/IMG_5600.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="Charlie Randall, Bill Flanagan, John McLaughlin and Bruce Averbook" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785829578172-PNPMBJNVTIHXCASZUCHO/IMG_5605.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785829578221-P28B9EKCEL84C09CL0H0/IMG_5607.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785829589204-1KNFLZAQ7N2NA4CYHL59/IMG_5608.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785829589998-62WDIIH1C0HUNIUOGIVZ/IMG_5609.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785829620493-9MURY7H2XLH8NWX4PIYE/20260803_213329.jpg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785829598529-HR40YEK77SBBPTXYJHX1/IMG_5611.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785829596998-QSWU1AEKMAFDIJ1DD4A4/IMG_5615.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize <a data-title="" data-description="" data-lightbox-theme="dark" href="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/514e3e26e4b023ca28fd5cc8/1785829603735-I2KS2NRR7PJ970PU61UA/IMG_5616.jpeg" role="button" aria-label="" class=" image-slide-anchor js-gallery-lightbox-opener content-fill " > View fullsize Time stamps and guest names for this episode:00:00:26 – At the Austin airport and preparing to depart on the red-eye for Las Vegas. Join us as we have a cup of coffee and get excited about the upcoming convention.00:05:12 – The first registrants I ran into were Nick and Jason Altieri, brothers from Boston. This was Jason’s first MAGIC Live! convention.00:09:26 – the opening night party had a zombie theme. Everyone was encouraged to dress as a zombie. To Stan Allen’s surprise, many more dressed appropriately than he expected. The first couple we chatted with was Meadow Perry who was dressed as Glenda the Good Witch from “The Wizard of Oz” and Michael Dardant, who was the Wicked Witch. Okay…maybe not everyone kept the “zombie” theme.00:15:53 – Harrison Greenbaum has a whole separate agenda when he visits Las Vegas. Many come and see shows. He comes and performs in the shows as a “one off.” Harrison will also be the host of the Tuesday night comedy show for MAGIC Live!00:21:02 – we get some different convention perspectives over breakfast with Charlie Randall, Bill Flanagan, John McLaughlin, and Bruce Averbook.00:31:50 – one of the dealers, Jeff Scanlan (Impossible Bottle) tells us how the convention is going from the perspective of a dealer. Spoiler alert: it’s going very well.00:35:54 – one of the organizers, Rory Johnson, opens the first morning General Session with an overview of what this year’s convention theme. (BTW, this was an authorized recording even though we were not allowed any video nor audio recording of the convention.)00:40:01 – Jeff Sobell is a regular attendee and tells us why he returns year after year.00:46:29 – Co-producer of Monday Night Magic in New York City, Michael Chaut is always on the prowl looking for talent to book for his show. We chat about the Focus Session we just attended.00:54:42 – My friend from St. Louis, Missouri, Karl Grice, has attended every one of the MAGIC Live! conventions and here he shares why he returns year after year plus some of his favorite highlights from previous years.01:00:28 – From China, Bruce Liu, traveled all the way to the U.S. just to attend this convention then return home immediately afterwards. He tells us what kind of magic he does and what inspires him.01:05:26 – Paul Gertner was one of the people who appeared on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show and was on the panel in the General Session. Paul has some great personal stories about his time on the Tonight Show plus visiting Johnny in his home and teaching him some coin tricks.01:09:31 – We caught up with Chris Kenner late at night as he and David Copperfield were leaving the building. Chis tells us a bit about what he’s working on with Theory 11. MAGIC Live Days 1 and 2 Report Scott Wells with Altieri, Perry, Dardant, Greenbaum, McLaughlin, Averbook, Randall, Flanagan, Scanlan, Johnson, Sobell, Chaut, Grice, Liu, Gertner, and Kenner Download Download this podcast in an MP3 file by Clicking Here and then right click to save the file. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed by Clicking Here. You can download or listen to the podcast through Pandora and SiriusXM (formerly Stitcher) by Clicking Here or through FeedPress by Clicking Here or through Tunein.com by Clicking Here or through iHeart Radio by Clicking Here. If you have a Spotify account, then you can also hear us through that app, too. You can also listen through your Amazon Alexa and Google Home devices. Remember, you can download it through the iTunes store, too. See the preview page by Clicking Here.
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983: MAGIC Live! 2026 - Days One and Two
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