The magical world of a deaf magician

Several weeks ago I was asked to be a judge for the "World Deaf Magicians Festival 2014" 
The organizer for Festival and President of World Deaf Magicians Society is Matthew Morgan for any questions about the "World Deaf Magicians Festival' here is his contact email. matt@magicmorgan.com

 Matthew as well a the event committee really did an excellent job with putting this whole event together. Great Job!

Post by World Deaf Magicians.

 
This was my first time judging in a magic contest so I was a bit excited to experience how it is on the other side. Usually I'm the one competing. Now I'll be the one observing and scoring. The magic competitions took place at John Hersey High School and the close-up competition at Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club.

The first night I arrived for the judging I could already feel the magic in the air. In front of the theater was about six 7x2 posters of great magicians from past to present. Such as Thurston, Blackstone, David Copperfield. As you walk in the theater you see stage crew, lighting, sound crew scrambling around. The theater is quite. All you see is everyone talking in sign language. Hands moving in all directions of the theater with the occasional sound of a interpreter talking to people like myself that doesn't know sign language. 

The beginning of the show opened up with the Master Of Ceremonies. He was quite funny. He is big on bow-ties and through the six days of the festival he had a different tie for every night. 

The opening day of the competition he wore a pink tie to represent "Breast Cancer Awareness" 

He even had matching socks and the mc would slowly pull up his socks saying

"You see my socks? Do you like them? Don't I look snazzy?" It was a nice running bit he did for the six days that he was hosting as mc.

The first day of the show was amazing. People were literally coming in bus loads. It really didn't take me long to realize that the deaf magicians have a strong community. In the world of magic we have our own community as well, but the deaf magicians have a community within a community. I could really tell how much they loved the magic. It was really different seeing magicians perform with no speaking and most not using any music. Yes behind the strong silence was nothing, but magic.

Sitting there as a judge I was thinking to myself

how appreciate magicians that compete even more. It takes a lot of guts to get up there on stage and perform let alone travel  thousands of miles just to do it. There were men, woman, people from France, Mexico, India, Germany, Russia... It was quite an experience.
I think the hard part for me was the judging. The performers did a great job. Ultimately  you have to really be able to give your best at observing every detail in a competitors act.

At the end of each magic competition. Everyone would board the bus, go back to the hotel and do it all over again the next day. It's a lot of hard work for them I'm sure. Not to mention the time difference.I was also amazed at the audience participation.It seems like for the hearing audiences people are not as anxious to help out the magician if he needs a audience member.  In the deaf  world. If they even have just a little hint that the magician is looking for a helper. hands go up, waving excitedly. It's really a totally different culture. 

The last night of the festival I was asked to open the Saturday evening show. I opened up to my "Room Service" I invented followed by my thimble routine where the opening of my thimble routine I performed yes another effect I invented called "Sew What" I thought this would be a great opportunity to get some new video footage of the effects that I sell and are available at participating magic shops.

Everyone did such a nice performance. I really enjoyed the young magician,  Jayson Serripierri from France. he took 1st place in the magic competition. he did a unique manipulation with his skateboard.
I also really liked the comedy magicians who did a very funny routine themed around a red hanky. They were so entertaining.

I wish I could list all the acts here, but I don't have too much time to write these days. So when I do it's kind of a treat for me.
I also met a couple from Germany. They were illusionists and I really connected with them.

It's amazing how sometimes there is a communication barrier but you can still somewhat communicate. I really had a great time with being part of such a special event. I must say I was a little terry eyed on the last day. Many of these people I had such a quick bond with them and many I will never see again. Thank goodness for the social media so I can keep in touch.
At the end of the Saturday show. The other judges and I were called onto the stage and was given a commemorative plaque for participating on the jury team. I really wasn't expe

cting that, but what a honor it was to receive such a nice plaque.
Thank you to the Deaf Magicians in the World. I really appreciate your dedication and love to the art of magic. Good luck to you all and peace to you all.
-Imaginator-

Here is a list if the winners.


Grand Prix 2014 - Liliana Morgan (America)

Stage
1st Place - Jayson Serripierri (France)
2nd Place - Franz Paulus (Germany)
3rd Place - Preeth Pavithran (India)

Woman Magic
1st Place - Lisa Paulus (Germany)
2nd Place - Sheetal Kimmatkar (India)

Close up Magic
1st Place - Franz Paulus (Germany)
2nd Place - Preeth Pavithran (India)
3rd Place - Nikolay Chaushjan (Russia)

Comedy Magic
1st Place - John Gapp (England)
2nd Place - Maxim Shejnin & Sergey Klepejs (Russia)
3rd place - Preeth Pavithran (India)

Merlin Magic
1st Place - Morty Feldman (America)
2nd Place - Horst Bormann (Germany)
3rd Place - John Gapp (England)

For those of you that would like to know more about the "World Magicians Deaf Festival" 
and what it's all about. Here is a portion of the website "History" page. For more info go to http://www.deafmagic.com/history.html

History

The first International Deaf Magicians Festival took place in Leipzig, East Germany in 1986. Horst Bormann of Leipzig conceived of the idea of establishing this festival. He brought deaf magicians from different countries to gather together in a spirit of camaraderie and competition.
Every two years, the festivals were held at the following sites: 2nd festival in Leipzig, 1988; 3rd in Leipzig, 1990; 4th in Kiev, Ukraine, 1992; 5th in Leipzig, 1994; 6th in Rochester, New York USA, 1996; 7th in London, England, 1998; 8th in Nagpur, India, 2000; 9th in Moscow, Russia, 2002; 10th in Leipzig, Germany, 2004; 11th in St. Petersburg, Russia, 2006; 12th in Riverside, California, USA, 2008, 13th in Cattolica, Italy, 2010,14th in Helsinki, Finland.
And The 15th World Deaf Magicians Festival will take place in Chicago, U.S.A. on 26 October - 2 November 2014. Deaf magicians participate in a number of different competitions featuring stage illusions, comedy magic, micro-magic, and magic for children.
The Society’s mission is to bring all deaf magicians, young and old, amateur and part-time professionals, to participate in the international festivals for many valuable reasons; including the exchange of ideas, improvement in performance skills, solving technical problems, participating in competitions, attending magic lectures learn new tricks with interpreters provided, learning where to purchase magic props, and the promotion of their magic shows to other national deaf clubs and associations in different countries. There are at least 300 deaf magicians around the world. They have a goal of presenting their magic to deaf and hearing children and adults wherever they may live.
The new organization of the “Society of World Deaf Magicians” was formed in 1990. The president, vice-president and secretary-general are elected every two years and have several responsibilities:

• to consult with the next international festival organizers;
• to keep in touch with other magicians;
• to provide a directory of names and addresses of deaf magicians;
• to develop appropriate festival competition rules;
• to keep relationships with hearing magicians’ national and international organizations including the International Brotherhood of Magicians;
• and publicizing the deaf magicians’ achievements in the deaf and hearing worlds.

The Society hopes to accomplish the following goals:

• Encouraging deaf female magicians and deaf young magicians to participate in the festival competitions,
• Helping hearing magic clubs and organizations become aware of deaf magicians’ capabilities and needs for better communication and update information on new magic tricks, especially hiring sign language interpreters to magic lectures at local, national, and international level magic gatherings or conventions,
• Promoting regional deaf magicians festivals, i.e. European Deaf Magicians Festival, U.S./Canadian Deaf Magicians Festival, Asian Deaf Magicians Festival, etc.
• Publishing international newsletters for deaf magicians, and
• Installing closed captions on the videocassettes of hearing magicians’ lectures for deaf and hard of hearing. All deaf magicians from different countries have their unique magic tricks and styles influenced by cultural traditions. Although many of the tricks and illusions are similar, costumes, props, and stage décor may vary. In spite of differences in national sign languages, deaf magicians do not have to say much while performing. They can communicate using a small number of international signs and gestures to thus making their magic universally understood.