Society of American Magicians #94
Magicians from all over the San Francisco Bay Area meet
in Palo Alto, California. We're a local assembly of the international Society
of American Magicians. Our club offers a monthly meeting for magicians -- those
who are trained (or who are training) in the performing art of prestidigitation.
This is an "unofficial" web site for SAM94, but you will find things here about SAM94 and Bay Area Magic that you won't find anywhere else...
A weekly lunch for magicians in or visiting the Bay Area... still going strong!
SAM94 officers: President, Kim Silverman; Vice President, Guy Philips; Secretary, Joe Caffall; and Treasurer, Blaine Garst.
We meet the Second Monday of each month... Our next meeting is:
Monday, 8 July 2009
Meetings start at 7:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto, CA
Regular meetings are preceeded
by a Learners' Workshop
at 6:30 p.m.
not just for beginners
No idea what will be happening for this month's meeting... but join in!
The Learners' Workshop will continue to work on the basic and extended handling of a magical effect.
The Learners' Workshop continues to be successful, and so we want to remind people about it and invite beginners. All skill levels are invited, but people are reminded that this is a participatory workshop: everybody who comes actually tries out and performs the material. There are no passive observers. Each Learners' Workshop is a hands-on, practical training session that offers participants the chance to learn a complete effect, including all the "moves" as well as tips on presentation.
Our regular monthly meetings are held at the First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto, CA
Recent Meetings
In June, Phil Ackerly gave us an excellent presentation and led discussion on making magic entertaining. Phil used several of his own examples to illustrate his points.
2007's Annual "Pizza and a Show"
In November, we held our Annual Pizza and a Show Night, with
perhaps the biggest turnout ever. Before and during dinner, Jeff Chiou and
Joe Caffall performed strolling table magic, while Nancy Ward made enchanting
balloon sculptures. After salad, pizza, and dessert, the show began.
To start the show, our MC, Jeff Haas, introduced David Hirata. David performed
his "Rope Factory" routine, a series of effects with a length of
rope: two ends - no maybe three or four ends, or maybe no ends - and a middle
or two, as well. He also performed an elegant silent Linking Ring
routine he calls "The Ambiguity of Light." John Bodine began by
spinning a cigarette paper on his finger tip, like a propeller. He swallowed
a length of thread, apparently just for the fun of it, then took us through an
interesting series of definitions stemming from the word “magic.” From
a deck of cards, he had each of three spectators remove and remember a card,
then return it to the deck. John took the four Threes, had one of the spectators
throw the deck, and caught all of the selected cards among the Threes. And
then he pulled the string he had swallowed out of his belly, right through
the skin just above his waist. Jeff Haas performed a cute and funny Sponge
Ball routine with Scott Emo's young daughter Lauren. "Professional
Showoff" Trey Cromwell warmed up with some impossible stretching
and contortions with a broom, then exhibited his Knife Juggling skills. Bill
Goldman closed the show with an act ranging from a balloon that would not
stop squeeking even when it was completely out of air to having a card
thought of by one spectator match one previously selected by another. He
found cards picked by two other members of the audience. Along the way, he
swallowed a huge pill. He had a chosen card appear in a picture that had
been assembled and held by spectator.
Huge thanks to Julie Silverman for organizing the food; to Rosel and
Irv Barowsky, Paul Hastings, Blaine Garst, and John Signa for setting up
the room; to our performers; and to everyone else who helped make this a
great, fun event!
Directions to our regular meeting place the First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto, CA
Click here to see what happened some other previous club meetings
Look at some pictures from 2001's banquet
Check out some pictures from our 1998 banquet! (Wow, that's an oldie!)
SAM 94 meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto, CA (at the corner of Homer and Webster). Click here for directions and a map.
Who can attend?
Our meetings are usually open to all magicians (or serious students of magic) -- visiting magicians are encouraged to attend. Except for special events (e.g. lectures) there is no charge to attend our meetings while you decided if you want to join our club -- or if you are a magician visiting the area. When we have guest lectures (we've had Lee Earle, Dan Garrett, Docc Hilford, Guy Hollingworth, Loren Christopher Michaels, and David Roth to name a few) non-members are required to pay to attend.
What are the meetings like?
Some of our past meetings from years ago have been: November was our annual banquet with a few performances by some members; September's theme was Halloween and Haunted Houses; July was a special lecture by Mitch Williams; April's theme was RINGS; the February meeting was a special lecture by Jerry Andrus; and the January 1997 meeting was our annual flea market and auction.
Click here to see some pictures from our meetings.
Or click here to find out about some of our past lectures.
How about a lunch for magicians... every Saturday?
There is also a lunch every Saturday for magicians to just get-together, talk, show, and share -- not affiliated with any club, no membership needed... just be a magician, show up, and pay for your own lunch (not affiliated with SAM 94). We've been doing this weekly lunch for over twelve years!
Yes, it really is still going on every saturday after all these years... Sometimes 2 people show up, sometimes 6 or 8 show up. Here it is... May 2007 and these weekly lunches are still going!
In the PAST there was Glenn's Calendar of Magic! Let's see if he'll get the calendar up and running again...???? Will he? or won't he? I think he won't...