73rd British Ring IBM Convention
23rd - 27th September 2009, Southport
Update 19, September 2009
Bob Hayden, British Ring PRO


This is the last call for you to come to the 73rd Annual Convention of the British Ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians starting in eight days time 23rd September. The President, Officers and Management Committee are all looking forward to meeting and greeting each of you to our annual get together and especially those who are attending for the first time. The memory of your first experience of being part of a national magic convention will remain with you for ever and thank you for choosing this one for your initiation. If they are unknown to you all the Rings Officers will be identified by the position they hold on their registration badges as will be the loyal band of Stewards. They are all there to help and guide you, so please don’t be hesitant to approach them and ask for assistance.

For those of you who have not previously been to the Convention in Southport, the venue is the Southport Theatre and Convention Centre and can be found along the Promenade adjacent to the Marine Lake in the centre of the town. The Promenade runs approx. 300yards to the northwest and parallel to Lord Street, the town’s main shopping centre.

Registrations for the Convention can be made at the Registration desk from 10.30am onwards on 23rd September. The desk will be situated in the Waterfront Suite entrance adjacent to the Ramada Plaza Hotel. This is also the location for you who have pre-registered to pick up your registration pack.

When you just pick up your pack or are registering you will be presented with and asked to complete a simple accommodation form requiring you to state the number of nights you are staying in Southport and at which Hotel. This is very important to the British Ring as when the completed forms are returned to the Southport Authorities it will have a direct bearing on the amount of the subsidy they afford us towards the hire of the Convention facilities we use.

Once you have registered we ask you to prominently display your registration badge at all times when within the Convention Centre. Failure to do so has in the past led to unnecessary confrontation between stewards and security staff.

If you are unable to attend the whole of the Convention a day registration is available for each of the four days at £50 per day, £40 for British Ring members and their partners and £25 for junior magicians 18 years old or under. It should be noted that a day registration for Saturday does not include a ticket for the International Magic Show. Should you wish to see the show tickets will be available from the Southport Theatre Box Office as are tickets for the Children’s Showtime.

One great benefit of being in the newly enlarged and refurbished Convention Centre is that should the weather turn inclement there will be no necessity to leave the building. Hot and cold smacks and drinks are readily available within the complex as are bars for alcoholic beverages.

The organisers of the Stage and Close-up competition, Shirley Ray and Steve Evans respectively each have a full compliment of competitors and both anticipate fiercely contested clashes. For the shield competition there has been an enforced change of Chairman of Judges following the death of its long standing Chairman Ali bongo. His place is being taken by John Palfreyman who for many years was the competitions organiser.

For the first time we have been able to give advance notice of the props and books that will be auctioned in aid of the Welfare Fund. The list appears on the Announcements page in the Members Area of this website. Take a good look at it and if there is something you want be ready to make a bid for it. It is hoped that arrangements can be made for you to be able to view the lots prior to the sale.

Steve Evans reports that his appeal for jokes for him to tell during the running of the stage Competition has been overwhelming and that now he has sufficient. However if to date you have been reluctant to enter the Ali Bongo Micro Magic Marathon and have now had a change of mind and would like to do so, Viv Davies would still be pleased to hear from you on 029 2079 2789.

The Dealer’s Exhibition which has been organised by Jim Boyd opens on Thursday morning and is open daily until Saturday from 9.30am to 5.45pm. It will not be closed on Friday morning when the Ring’s AGM. is in progress. In the exhibition you will find all your magical necessities from large props to small, books, videos, DVDs covering all branches of magic together with those all important accessories that are always required. You will also be able to purchase performing apparel. So don’t pay the Dealers just one visit make several visits throughout the three days and find those new effects that will enhance your shows for the coming season. The Dealers support the Convention by coming so please support the Dealers.

And a last reminder about the Fringe. Fay Presto is nightly putting on a late night show independent of the British Ring in the Southport Arts theatre in Lord Street and it is free for all conventioneers to attend. There is even the Fringe Banquet on Friday evening where you order your own takeaway food have it delivered to the centre, eat it and watch the cabaret at the same time.

All remains is to wish you a safe journey to Southport, enjoy the four days of watching and learning some fabulous magic and socialise with your fellow wizards. See you there!

 

Bob Hayden, British Ring PRO, September 2009. www.britishring.org.uk

 

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