This blog has been neglected for several weeks, but for all the right reasons!
I traveled to Orlando to represent ultrasound equipment manufacturer Biosound Esaote at a trade show and conference. This group hired me for a trade show in Ohio last quarter, and as a result of this month’s conference they have already hired me for another event. Yes, we had the biggest crowds at the show, and in fact we had other exhibitors bringing their own customers over to the booth to see what was going on!
I left Orlando to go to San Diego for the midyear board meeting of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. I joined the Executive Committee of this organization last summer and am serving a three-year term. San Diego was beautiful (if still damp from the heavy rains). It was great to see International President Jack White recovering well from his spinal cord stroke last summer. All the meeting attendees were treated to a visit to Jack’s fantastic museum of magic, which houses his amazing collection of props and memorabilia. IBM Ring 76 also put on a fine show to entertain us after dinner. Can’t wait to go back for the convention this summer!
Finally — I start a new gig in the Buckhead district of Atlanta this week. I’m now the resident magical entertainer at Tongue & Groove nightclub and lounge at Lindbergh City Center. Keep an eye on my Facebook status to see what nights I’ll be appearing. (By the way – thanks for helping me get more than 1000 fans on Facebook!)
My first night at T&G is tomorrow, January 28th, from 10pm to midnight. This venue certainly departs from my typical corporate fare… but then again, after December’s fantastic event at the Wynn in Las Vegas, I guess I’m up for the challenge. But don’t bother trying to corrupt me, girls (or boys!) — I’m happily married!
It seems impossible that the first month of 2010 is almost complete, but this January has been one of the busiest ever! This is a welcome continuation of the year-end momentum from 2009.
On the first day of 2010, Family Entertainers of Atlanta named me “Atlanta Magician of the Year” at their annual “Power Training Day.” FEA is an organization comprised of a variety of family-friendly professional entertainers and other business owners in the metro-Atlanta entertainment industry. It was formed about two years ago, but the age of the association doesn’t at all diminish the honor I feel in being singled out for an award by any group of my peers in this wacky industry. Thanks, FEA, for your respect, friendship, and this honor. (I should mention that this is a separate award from the Greater Atlanta Magician of the Year trophy, which is voted on specifically by Atlanta-area magicians, including both professionals and hobbyists. I won that prestigious award in 2000, and am now the first and only performer ever to win both!)
Speaking of that FEA “Power Training Day” — I was tapped by that group to deliver a talk on the art of negotiation for self-employed performers. It was extremely well-received… so much so, in fact, that I was asked to extend the training over the coming year and add more next January. (Perhaps I should compile my notes on the subject and share them more widely – would that be of interest to you, dear reader?)
Chateau Elan sparkles at Christmastime after "The Lighting of the Chateau" event each November.
My 8th annual appearance at the “Lighting of the Chateau” event at Chateau Elan marks the beginning of the holiday season. (See another press release about the event here.) This week kicks it off and it appears to go right through until December 20th this year… three weeks of stacked-up performances at venues ranging from rural Alabama to the Wynn Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas!
Despite a challenging 2009, this December looks to be a record-breaker. I am depending on you, loyal readers and clients, to help carry the momentum into 2010!
I’m already booking events into the summer of next year. Let’s talk about your 2010 trade shows, conferences, and conventions soon, while there is still some flexibility on dates.
Your friendly neighborhood Atlanta magician wishes you all the joy, blessings, and magic of the holiday season! Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!
Last Thursday I appeared on CBS Atlanta News at 11 as part of a story related to the CBS series “The Mentalist.” The idea for the tie-in was to seek out people in Atlanta who shared one or more similar skills with Patrick Jane, the protagonist on the series.
Atlanta Mentalist and Magician Joe M. Turner on CBS Atlanta News
From an interview that lasted 75 minutes and involved several different demonstrations, the final report included only a couple of quotes and a couple of nice visuals. I was introduced during the first part of the segment as a performer specializing in using unusual mental techniques to create psychological effects to surprise and entertain audiences. (There are clips of me performing some word tests and psychokinetically bending a borrowed quarter.) The story then took a turn toward criminal profiling, matching the application of mental techniques represented in the television series. Keith Howard, a certified criminal profiler, was the subject of this portion of the story.
During much of the unaired portion of my lengthy interview, I covered many of the same content points that Howard mentioned, describing the search for non-verbal inconsistencies under some amount of tension as a “tell” — even in an entertainment context.
You can watch the full video report here and read the text here.
As it happened, my short interview and performance clips were used as the basis for all the teasers. I have uploaded a video compilation of the teasers and my portion of the report which you can view here.
(Thanks to Rick Silver, Joseph Daniels, and Max Maven, each of whom contributed to the success of this appearance!)
Atlanta CBS affiliate WGCL-TV 46 will air a special report on Thursday night, November 19. As a tie-in with the CBS series “The Mentalist,” they have scheduled an interview with Atlanta magician and mentalist Joe M. Turner to discuss mentalism as an entertainment phenomenon. Turner will discuss some of the historical and psychological aspects of the art of mentalism, offering a glimpse into the unusual world of mental perception, influence, and illusion.
I recorded this video of a mental-themed illusion* at the request of another magician who was interested in my presentation for this routine. It’s a rough, off-the-cuff presentation but it was fun, so enjoy!
*My good friend Paul Cummins developed this excellent example of card mentalism.
I got back from performing trade show magic in Cleveland and looked at the calendar – the fourth quarter of 2009 kind of snuck up on me. I just finished jobs for NCR (now based near Atlanta) and Subnet Solutions (based in Calgary, Alberta), and other engagements are stacking up in December.
The schedule from now until New Year’s Eve is filling fast, but there are a couple of spots left. If your organization is planning a year-end event where I might be a corporate entertainment resource… call immediately (404 644 6791) to check your date. If I’m already booked, remember that my company also functions as an agency for other talented performers and speakers in various regions of the country. Let’s talk about what we can do for you and your event. (Here’s a fun option: Melody Knighton as Lucy or Dolly!)
I had a day off yesterday – a welcome breather in a week filled with 9 bookings! I took the opportunity to see two other performers “do their thing.” India-based mentalist Pradip Almadi spoke at a conference where I also performed. He’s in the country for a convention next week and happened to have an engagement in Atlanta. I also went over to Kennesaw State University last night to see Brian Brushwood, the ever-popular, freaky-fun magician to the college market.
Some upcoming performances:
October 29 – Judgment Day, Tennessee Temple University, Chattanooga, TN. I’m part of a multi-day festival that is billed as a “Halloween alternative with an inspiring message.” Looking forward to being back in Chattanooga!
November 1 – FBC Prattville, Prattville, AL – Sunday evening I’ll be doing a magic and mentalism show focusing on cult awareness and basic apologetics.
November 4 – Marietta Business Association Expo, Cobb Civic Center, 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. I’ll be entertaining throughout the event as well as doing some MC work.
November 7 – 172nd Airlift Wing, Jackson, MS – A repeat engagement for Family Day for the Mississippi Air National Guard!
As a corporate magician, speaker, and entertainer, most of my presentations are for private audiences at meetings and conferences. I have been asked several times during the past week when I will have some appearances open to the public. Here are a few upcoming opportunities.
September 29 (rescheduled to November 4, see comments) – Marietta Business Association Expo, Cobb Civic Center, 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM. I’ll be entertaining throughout the event as well as doing some MC work.
October 8-11 – Ken Hartley’s “Supernatural,” Abba’s House, Chattanooga, TN, 7:00 PM each night. I’ll be performing close-up magic prior to the show as well as being a guest performer on the stage show.
(POSTPONED) – Shenanigans at Red Clay Theatre, Duluth, GA. This performance has been postponed. If you have already purchased a ticket, contact the box office to obtain a refund or apply your purchase to the rescheduled show.
Meanwhile, don’t forget that I’m now appearing at Paisano’s on Cedarcrest on Saturday nights when I am in town. 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM each Saturday. If you are making a special trip to see me there, call me to confirm that I’m going to be there.
Atlanta Magician Turner Presents Four Magical Ways to Grow Your Business in a Challenging Economy
My presentation today at the Paulding Business Association was on four things I am doing to grow my business. I offered these tips and reminders as much for myself as I did for the audience. What were the points?
Identify and measure more specific audiences and target my marketing to them more effectively. Exactly who am I trying to reach… what are some specific characteristics about them? How can I help other people help me reach them?
Identify new markets by thinking about different ways my services can be used. What’s on the other side of that idea I had… that new commercial I saw… that new promotion I heard about?
Strive to keep my communications with clients and prospects both current and relevant. Is my language appropriate for my audience? Am I presenting my business with professionalism and credibility? Am I using new technology effectively?
Do some unusual, offbeat things to generate and sustain buzz. Where would they least expect me to find their card?
I introduced each of these points with a bit of magic or mentalism — then I expounded on how that experience related to the point and illustrated an idea that they could take away and apply to their own businesses.
The result of all this? A presentation that communicates useful ideas to an audience in an engaging manner, encouraging both retention of the information and immediate action. Information and entertainment, blended into a presentation that is part show, part seminar.
Are you a member of a chamber, business association, or other group that would enjoy and benefit from a presentation like this? Contact me!
JMT outside the Palace of Mystery at the Magic Castle
What happened? Summer zipped by so fast that the blog has been neglected a bit. Make sure you’re on my Facebook fan page or following me on Twitter to get more frequent updates.
Here’s a brief rundown of some of this summer’s highlights.
Taught Abra-CAMP-Dabra, a three-day magic camp for residents of Seven Hills community
Performed at Theater on Main in Acworth — and have already been asked back!
Performed for a group of Latvian kids being hosted by Simple Obedience Ministries, a charity near to my heart
Performed my annual summer illusion show Midsummer Magic! at the Dallas Theater
Delivered my “Memory Mojo!” talk for the Executive Roundtable series at the Georgian Club
Performed a sold-out run at the Black Rose Theater in Brandon, Mississippi
Delivered my “MAGIC of Change” talk for GMMSCA in Savannah, GA
Performed during Burnt Hickory Baptist’s middle school choir mission trip in Jacksonville
Became the first Mississippian and the first Georgia magician to perform in all three showrooms at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA
Served as magic consultant and technical advisor on an episode of Drop Dead Diva for Lifetime television; met guest star Paula Abdul during the taping (right after she got a call from Donald Trump!)
As you can see, it’s been non-stop! That list doesn’t include the logistics of family trips, a hospital stay for my son (now doing fine!), and so many other great appearances that I just can’t list them all.
If you are a member of a professional organization, association or other group that hosts meetings and conventions on a quarterly or annual basis, I’d like to talk to you about connecting with your group’s leadership. In the words of Georgian Club membership director Beverly Huff:
“As a speaker, Joe delivered one of the best Executive Roundtable presentations we’ve ever had at the Club. I also saw him entertaining and serving as the MC at a fundraising event and he was just fantastic. If you want your event to be first class, he’s your man.”
I traveled to Orlando to represent ultrasound equipment manufacturer Biosound Esaote at a trade show and conference. This group hired me for a trade show in Ohio last quarter, and as a result of this month’s conference they have already hired me for another event. Yes, we had the biggest crowds at the show, and in fact we had other exhibitors bringing their own customers over to the booth to see what was going on!
I left Orlando to go to San Diego for the midyear board meeting of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. I joined the Executive Committee of this organization last summer and am serving a three-year term. San Diego was beautiful (if still damp from the heavy rains). It was great to see International President Jack White recovering well from his spinal cord stroke last summer. All the meeting attendees were treated to a visit to Jack’s fantastic museum of magic, which houses his amazing collection of props and memorabilia. IBM Ring 76 also put on a fine show to entertain us after dinner. Can’t wait to go back for the convention this summer!
