74th British Ring IBM Convention
22nd - 26th September 2010, Eastbourne
Update 3, April 2010
Bob Hayden, British Ring PRO

One who requires no introduction to regular British Ring conventioneers is Jimmy Carlo. What an impact he made when he made history in the 1991 stage competition by winning not only the coveted Silver Shield itself but was judged to have performed the Best Comedy act and have had the Most Original Act – the Sumo act.

When did Jimmy start performing Magic? It was in his early teens to youth clubs and small local functions in his hometown of Wolverhampton. But it was not magic that was to be his chosen career on leaving school. He became a professional drummer touring with his group Bulldog. However his passion for magic was nor forgotten as he regularly showed his magical skills to groups who would hang around long after the concert had finished. As a drummer his last summer season was in Skegness with the comedy band Bumper Bundle for it was there he met Ann who was to become known as Crystal to the magical fraternity. On moving back to Wolverhampton they set about working on a comedy act Jimmy Carlo & Crystal and were fortunate enough to secure a 6 month summer season in Jersey performing 2 shows a night in different hotels. This experience allowed them to finely hone their act and by devising a number of new acts to their repertoire for a decade they played various summer seasons, cruised with top class cruise lines and played various roles in pantomimes. Their TV appearances worldwide were numerous and they represented the UK in the United Slapstick Comedy awards on Sat3 TV Germany. In 1999 they were crowned British Champions of Magic.

Seven years ago Jimmy made the decision to stop touring and concentrate on a passion he had retained from his youth, that of entertaining children. Now appearing as Jimbo, through his action packed ‘Jimbo’s Comedy Show’ he has become one of the most sought after and successful Children’s entertainers in the Midlands. Another accolade came Jimmy’s way in 2009, this time in the USA when at the annual KIDabra Convention in Pigeon Forge Tennessee he was the first ever winner of the title ‘KIDabra International Family Entertainer of the Year’. This led to him being booked to appear at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. A little apprehensive to perform before a young American audience, Jimmy was relieved to hear the chant of Jimbo, Jimbo Jimbo before he even entered the room. What a reception he received when he finally finished.

Jimmy Carlo will be lecturing and performing items from his award winning show at Eastbourne together with routines from his Kid-Ability, Games Ability and new Balloon Ability DVD’s. This is a must lecture for all children’s entertainers. You cannot fail to learn from a Grand Master of his craft.

‘He is the man you can’t keep out of your mind!’ This can only be Graham P. Jolley. He is the extremely engaging mind-reader, psychologist and entertainer with a flair for keeping audiences enthralled. His mind-reading ability baffles every audience he meets and gains their instant respect. Graham P. Jolley is regarded as the most outstanding mind-reader of his generation presenting an unforgettable performance with no parallel in show business. What’s more he is very funny, a characteristic rarely associated with or found in mind –readers.

Whatever he does, whether it is a seemingly impossible feat using a telephone directory, reading your mind or predicting your destination and with whom it is done with lively cutting and poignant one-liners throughout the performance with the emphasis being on humour and audience participation in the best possible taste.

Graham P. Jolley has developed his character to perfection. He is a walking object lesson in presentation, a true comedy genius who uses a delivery that completely disarms you.

Here are another two of the Stars of Magic who will be at Eastbourne in September highlighting the diversity of the magic that can be seen at the British Ring Convention. Have you made your registration yet? There is a feeling among the young and even the not so young in the magical fraternity that the Convention is steeped and dominated by the magic of days gone by. The basic principles on which the art of magic are founded cannot be changed, only the techniques involved and their presentation can be developed. Yes we do feature some of the grass root magic of yesteryear but strive to ensure that acts that have raised the standard of our art to suit the tastes of a typical family audience of today are to the fore. The much maligned axiom of ‘it’s not what you do it’s the way that you do it’ is as relevant today as it was at the very first Convention. These developments and new techniques will be seen in performances and explained in the wide range of lectures by the magicians of this generation alongside those with a long established wealth of experience. So come along. You will not be disappointed.