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Magifest 2023

Name: Magifest magic convention
Start: 2021-09-16T09:30
End: 2021-09-18T23:59
Location: Renaissance, Columbus Downtown

January 26 - 28 2023

Columbus, Ohio, USA

Magifest 2023

We are pleased to open registration for Magifest 2023. For more than three years we’ve been working toward a very, very, very special Guest of Honor, and now it’s confirmed. Our 2023 Guest of Honor is Lance Burton. Lance changed the landscape of magic in Las Vegas and all over the world. And now he’s coming to Magifest.

We’re so pleased to welcome you back for what promises to be the best Magifest we’ve ever organized. You’ll see more shows, more lectures, and more dealers than in previous years. All for the same low price of $350. That’s half the price of other conventions across the country. We sell out every year, and every year we have to tell dozens of magicians that we’re at capacity and that they should have registered earlier. Please, secure your place while they are still available.

Performers & Speakers

Lance Burton

A FISM Grand Prix Winner, Lance Burton was named by MAGIC Magazine as one of the 100 most influential magicians alive. He headlined his own show at the Monte Carlo in an unprecedented production and contract, and his face became synonymous with magic for a generation. This is an opportunity to see Lance Burton in person, seated for a candid interview about his impressive career and material.

Shoot Ogawa

Recently crowned a champion at FISM-Quebec, we're delighted that Shoot will showcase his brand new FISM-act in our gala show. He has garnered a reputation all over the world for his prodigious sleight-of-hand and innovative approach to close-up magic. Ogawa was born in Japan but now makes Los Angeles his home.

Peter Turner

To sit across the table from Peter Turner is to experience something unlike any other mentalist working today. He strives to achieve an extremely realistic, at times chaotic feeling in his performances, and the results are devastating. He works with your cards, and reads your thoughts. Don’t miss him onstage. But you have to experience him up close. That’s why he’ll be at our "bar" theater in the lobby each night.

Margalit Fox

Margalit Fox: Former New York Times senior writer Margalit Fox tells the remarkable story of her latest book, The Confidence Men. Hear the true tale—little known, even to our community—of two P.O.W.'s who escaped from a remote World War I prison camp using … a Ouija board, mentalism and sleight of hand. The Washington Post and NPR named The Confidence Men one of the best books of the year. Margalit will be on hand after her talk to sign copies.

David Gerard

By day David works for a prestigious company in silicon valley, where he brings more than a decade of marketing and advertising experience. By night, he performs his polished mind reading show all over the country for high profile private and corporate clients. His show is filled with the kind of hard-hitting mentalism that has helped David rise to the top of his field.

Paul Gertner

A FISM winner, Paul has dominated the corporate magic scene for decades with such classic effects as "That’s Ridiculous," "Ring on Hourglass," and "Steel Cups and Balls." He will perform several of his classic effects for us, as well as new material in his first Magifest appearance in two decades.

Matt Pritchard

All the way from the UK, Matt Pritchard is a science nerd, who just happens to love optical illusions. You’ve almost certainly seen some of them on social media. He’s made elephants disappear, created impossible illusions and even recreated David Copperfield’s famous Bermuda Triangle illusion. In this one hour lecture, he will be explaining exactly how he did it!

Mark Calabrese

When it comes to mixing incredible chops with astonishing magic, few do it better than Mark Calabrese. Yes, Mark will be lecturing, but also performing Bar Magic for Magifest attendees which will be a huge treat. Get ready to be fooled and fooled badly when you witness what Mark does with a deck of cards.

Charles Greene

A veteran in the corporate magic market, Charles Greene is also the world’s foremost authority on the elusive magic figure, Ionia. She was an iconic stage performer that historians know little about…until now. Charles Greene will deliver a fascinating lecture in which he’s uncovered many until-now completely unknown aspects of her life, and he’ll paint a picture of someone worthy of careful study that most of us have never heard of. Then, he’ll deliver a talk about his pet tricks and how to perform them.

Mortenn Christiansen

Mortenn won first place for comedy at FISM 2022 and for many, he was the hit of the whole competition. When you see him you’ll find out why. He’s an incredibly funny performer, but that’s not just why we booked him. His magic is incredibly strong too. We’re going to be treated to a performance and lecture in which Mortenn will share some of his newest and most exciting ideas.

JunWoo Park

Hailing from Korea, this astonishing magician blew away the Britain’s Got Talent judges and audience with his incredible manipulation act. If you ever feel jaded, or like you’ve seen it all before, JunWoo will make you change your mind. He’ll be performing his amazing act as part of our stellar Gala Show.

Mark James

England's Mark James is, by every definition of the word, a worker. He’s graced the stages of The Magic Castle, The Chicago Magic Lounge and even the Orient Express. For over two decades, Mark has been sharing his unique, entertaining and fooling magic around the world and at Magifest he will be performing a show and a lecture.

Kyle Purnell

When it comes to creative, original card magic, you can’t top Kyle Purnell. Kyle will be treating us to a brand new lecture featuring some of his amazing creations. His magic has been used by Michael Amaar, Dan White, Shin Lim and—after you’ve seen this lecture—you.

Carisa Hendrix

Ever since Carisa performed under her alter ego, Lucy Darling, a few years ago, we've recieved requests to bring her back. So, here she is ... Magifest favorite, Lucy Darling, hosting our gala show!

Michel Huot

Quebec's Michel Huot is the creative genius behind "Socks," one of last year's most popular commercial mentalism effects. Michel's lecture will be full of new and unpublished ideas for the close-up and platform performer. He mixes magic and mentalism and his zany style will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Ruben Vilagrand

FISM-Winner Rubén Vilagrand's unique and modern approach to combining magic with physical comedy has allowed him to develop one of the best silent acts in the world. He has performed around the globe and you may have also seen him on the cover of VANISH Magazine, performing on Penn & Teller: Fool Us or even at the famous Magic Castle. At Magifest, Rubén and his briefcase full of dreams will be joining us all the way from Spain to present a super original and amazing performance unlike anything you've ever seen.

Erik Tait

Erik Tait has appeared on Penn & Teller’s Fool Us!, NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, and the hit tv show Ships Of The Northern Fleet. At FISM Quebec he took 3rd prize in Card Magic, where he became the first American in 20 years to win a prize in that category. We are excited to have him in our gala show presenting his unique blend of outstanding sleight of hand with a delightfully unusual street con.

Renaissance, Columbus Downtown

50 N 3rd St, Columbus, OH 43215, USA

Be sure to ask for the Magifest rate when booking a room. It's currently $112 (plus taxes) per night.

How to book a room

Magifest 2023: What You'll See

Here’s just a glimpse of what you’ll see:

Paul Gertner returns! Paul debuted many of his now-classic routines at Magifest in the early 1980s, and now he’s back with an all-new show and lecture. He will also perform several of his signature routines.

David Gerard Reads Minds! Every year we book a new talent that nobody in the industry is familiar with, and it often happens that this person steals the convention. Remember the name David Gerard, because his mentalism show is a fireworks display of mindreading. He works at breakneck speed with an act he has honed through thousands of performances around the country for high end private and corporate clients. This is going to be the hit of the convention.

Peter Turner causes a scene! On a rare trip to the United States, we’re showcasing a bold, new talent from the UK who will astound you both onstage and at our “bar” theater in the lobby, where he will hold court with fantastic thought-of card material, and mind reading feats unlike anything you’ve ever seen.

In addition, you can expect a full schedule to be published soon, with shows, lectures, and special sessions. Register now to avoid a sellout.

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• Magifest schedule
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2023 Workshops

What many people feel is THE best value at Magifest are the separate, Sunday workshops. This year we've invited two of the finest close-up magicians working today to conduct intensive, three-hour workshops with limited attendance. This is the closest you will ever get to a private lesson with Shoot Ogawa and Mark Calabrese. They will cover a variety of topics but also take requests and allow you, as an attendee, to guide portions of the program. A private lesson with an elite magician like this would likely cost upwards of $400 per hour. This is three hours for just $100. Every year our workshops sell out and attendance is limited due to space in the room, so if you're interested, we suggest you book right away. For your convenience, both Sunday workshops are easily attended together, with a lunch break between for you to enjoy alongside new friends.

Shoot Ogawa (11am - 2pm)

This is THE chance to spend three intimate hours with a FISM Champion. You'll learn routines, drills, and the kind of sleight-of-hand it takes to rise to the top of the field. Shoot will cover some of his greatest routines, and also things that have never been in print. And of course, as with any private lesson, you'll have a hand in requesting what YOU would like to see and work on. Shoot is not only one of our industry's premiere performers, but he is known for his patient, methodical teaching style. This is a lesson that you'll leave feeling inspired, ready to raise your level, and feeling refreshed and in awe of the talent that is...Shoot Ogawa.

Mark Calabrese (3pm - 6pm)

Mark has assembled one of the finest "acts" you can do with a deck of cards, which he honed over years working at New York's most exclusive magic venue: Speakeasy Magic. In this three-hour workshop you'll learn how to take your card tricks and turn them into an "act." You'll also get the real work on card fundamentals from one of our industry's foremost experts: whether it's a silky-smooth double-lift or a bottom deal or anything in between, this will be like taking a private lesson (with other like-minded magicians) from Mark Calabrese.

This workshop lasts 3 hours and is $100.