Cannon’s Great Escapes 3rd Annual ConventionInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

This morning, we heard from Mark and Shelia Cannon of the coincidentally named Cannon’s Great Escapes.
The email came in around 5:00 am here in Mystic Hollow, Michigan so
that means it was sent at about 2:30 am in Orange County, California.

They are clearly working the late-nights to make ready for the best escape convention ever staged.

How can we make such a claim? What about the famed Oakbrook Convention of 1913? Wasn’t that a better convention?

After all, it had Houdini and fifteen other performers with names sounding like “Houdini.”

Surely, you’re not saying the Great Escapes Third Annual Convention can top this classic of escape history.

Yes. Yes, we’re saying exactly that.

In his review of the infamous Oakbrook Convention, Hardeen wrote,
“But for my brother, the conclave would have been a waste of entrance
fees.” (Hardeen: What I Thought and Why I Thought It, Magic Rag-Time, June 1913).

Historians have puzzled over this sentence for years. Otto Maxing noted in his treatise, Houdini: Ein Schlag ins Wasser, “Theo (Hardeen) was right, of course. But why would Houdini charge his own brother entrance fees?”

It should also be noted that unlike the Cannon’s Great Escapes, the
Oakbrook Convention of 1913 happened only once. Mark and Shelia Cannon
are preparing for their third annual convention.

Quantity does not equal greatness — we know this to be true.

If it were otherwise, we’d have the greatest collection of magic in the modern world.

Instead, we have 252 boxes (each holding 144 smaller boxes of 12 packages each) of improperly printed sets of the Tree Card Monte
packet trick. Long-time readers will no doubt note our inventory has
decreased just a little (down from 254 boxes in 1998) thanks to our
clever use of our bulk purchasing power to buy hundreds of glue sticks
to turn bad magic tricks into not so bad beer coasters.

(We still have some available on eBay in both the 24-pack and 144-pack economy model).

So the Cannon’s Great Escapes Convention is the greatest not because
it has staying power. It has staying power because it is the greatest.

Today is the last day to take advantage of the $99.00 room-rate.
We’re advised you will still be able to get rooms, but they will be at
a higher rate.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “Why am I still reading this?” Or more
pertinent, “what can I get out of a convention bringing together the
finest escape artists in the world?

I have never performed an Upside Down Underwater Escape, I can
barely pick my teeth after a turkey dinner, much less a Master padlock.
I never practice getting-out of rope-ties. I have a straight jacket but it’s not that kind of straight jacket.”

That’s where your thinking is diseased and wrong.

There will be contests, lectures, shows, dealers, and escape
artists. Chances are you’ll find something to meet your current level
of interest and ability as well as something to encourage your further
development in this great part of our magical culture.

Plus, as you will read below, it is likely the only convention
you’ll attend where you have a…

This morning, we heard from Mark and Shelia Cannon of the coincidentally named Cannon’s Great Escapes.
The email came in around 5:00 am here in Mystic Hollow, Michigan so
that means it was sent at about 2:30 am in Orange County, California.

They are clearly working the late-nights to make ready for the best escape convention ever staged.

How can we make such a claim? What about the famed Oakbrook Convention of 1913? Wasn’t that a better convention?

After all, it had Houdini and fifteen other performers with names sounding like “Houdini.”

Surely, you’re not saying the Great Escapes Third Annual Convention can top this classic of escape history.

Yes. Yes, we’re saying exactly that.

It should also be noted that unlike the Cannon’s Great Escapes, the
Oakbrook Convention of 1913 happened only once. Mark and Shelia Cannon
are preparing for their third annual convention.

Quantity does not equal greatness — we know this to be true.

If it were otherwise, we’d have the greatest collection of magic in the modern world.

(We still have some available on eBay in both the 24-pack and 144-pack economy model).

So the Cannon’s Great Escapes Convention is the greatest not because
it has staying power. It has staying power because it is the greatest.

Today is the last day to take advantage of the $99.00 room-rate.
We’re advised you will still be able to get rooms, but they will be at
a higher rate.

Perhaps you’re thinking, “Why am I still reading this?” Or more
pertinent, “what can I get out of a convention bringing together the
finest escape artists in the world?

That’s where your thinking is diseased and wrong.

Plus, as you will read below, it is likely the only convention
you’ll attend where you have a legitimate chance of winning cash.

“But wait,” you stammer. “I don’t do escapes. I never have. I do kid
shows or church shows. I can’t use escapes in my work.”

Excuse us?

Wasn’t it Houdini himself who wrote, “You don’t have to do a
100-foot rope challenge a kid’s birthday party or Andre Kole’s Table of
Death at your next senior center show to benefit from this convention.”

Actually, we think maybe Houdini didn’t originate the quote — but we can’t put our finger on the reason we think that.

Even if you perform no escape per se in your act, you will
learn so much from watching the professionals teach the proper
presentation of an effect for maximum audience reaction.

Chances are, though, there is a place in your routine for a
thumb-tie or Siberian Chain Escape. Why limit yourself to the bare
minimum presentation of this escape? We have yet to see a professional
escape artist fail to squeeze every ounce of empathy and appreciation
from his or her audience. How do they stage their presentation to make
the audience care about them and the outcome of their trick? How can
you translate these skills into your act?

We have late word from the Cannons that “Joe Fox will now be sharing
his unique Sideshow/Geek magic with us at the informal reception on
Friday evening. Joe is a big hit around the Los Angeles area, as well
as traveling around the country with his Handcuff and Block Head Act.
Joe Fox, aka “Nostrildamus, the man who NOSE.”

Check out the Cannon’s Great Escapes web site for more information
and to see the incredible array of escape literature and equipment.

We recently purchased a set of Smith & Wesson (Gimmicked)Handcuffs from Mr. Cannon and have never seen such fantastic craftsmanship. We’ve inspected his version of the S?ance Cuffs
and were blown away. Mr. and Ms. Cannon know their business, know their
audiences, know their peers, and you should know them.

We can’t say enough about the convention. Forget what the old-timers
say about Oakbrook in 1913. This is the greatest escape convention ever.

Make sure you visit their web site at: http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.net/

Here are the details straight from the Cannons:

Have you registered yet for the convention?

Now is the time! It is of course at the Ontario Airport Doubletree
Hotel in Ontario, California, October 7, 8, and 9. So far we have had a
great convention registration and response, and we do not want you to
miss out.

Also, the reserved hotel rooms are rapidly filling up! Those who
have attended in the past have had a terrific time hanging with fellow
escape artists, magicians, handcuff collectors, dealers, and just plain
friends. and this year is without a doubt the biggest escape convention
ever!

We already have folks registered from the U.K., Canada, Australia,
and of course, all over the USA! Not only a great show and lecture
line-up is planned, but there will be several chances to win money!

Yep, thanks to the generosity of Mr. Bill Shirk, escapist and author
of Modern Day Houdini, this year we are awarding cash prizes to winners
of the talent contest and the padlock, handcuff and strait jacket
escape contests!

What other magic convention offers you several bona fide
opportunities to win money and offset or outright pay for the cost of
attending the convention?

Here is a look at the schedule of events:

Friday, October 7:

6:30 pm– Cannon’s Great Escapes 3rd Annual Escape Artists Convention Officially begins!

Your humble host, Mark Cannon will perform the Upside Down Strait Jacket Escape to kick things off.

7:30 pm– Talent Contest! Winner receives $250 CASH PRIZE!
Celebrity judges include Mr. Escape–Steve Baker, M.U.M. Editor–David
Goodsell, and President of Escape Masters, Thomas Blacke. We have
several contestants, but we are still seeking more!

9:00 pm– Informal Welcome Reception – JOE FOX performs his bizarre magic and escapes!

Saturday, October 8:

8:00 am– Dealer’s Tables Open! Lots of Dealers already registered, but there are still a few available tables left!

10:00 am– Padlock Picking Contest! Fastest-time winner receives $100 CASH PRIZE!

11:00 am– (Special meeting time for those participating in the W.E.A.R. event).

12:00 pm– Lunch Break

1:00 pm– Dealer Tables re-open

2:00 pm– Mr. Escape, STEVE BAKER Lecture! Here’s your chance to learn from one of the greatest escapists of all time!

3:00 pm– Handcuff Picking Contest! Fastest-time winner receives $150 CASH PRIZE!

4:00 pm– Patrick Culliton Lecture! America’s premiere Houdini
Historian and author of “The Tao of Houdini”, Patrick has one of the
largest Houdini Collections in the world!

5:00 pm– Strait
Jacket Contest! Fastest-time winner receives $500 CASH PRIZE! But
wait-that’s not all. Mr. Bill Shirk has also offered ANOTHER $500 if
the winner can also beat Bill’s officially recognized record of 1.68
seconds! In other words, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN $1,000 FOR ESCAPING
FROM AN AUTHENTIC STRAIT JACKET! This should be an exciting contest!

6:00 pm– Dinner break (Dealer tables close)

7:00
pm– SHOWTIME!!! Beginning with the Talent Contest Award, followed by
the Silver Cuffs Presentation to be awarded to a Giant in the field of
Escapes!

Then, this fantastic Gala Show line-up:

* Master of Ceremonies: Robert Baxt. One of the best and funniest in the business!

* Living Illusions own Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson. One of the most exciting magic and escape acts in America!

* MR. ESCAPE — Steve Baker. The man himself– daredevil star of countless Dick Clark and HBO television specials!

* Cannon’s Great Escapes – Mark & Sheila Cannon. Presenting
their 21st Century Escape Act as seen at the Hollywood Magic Castle!

* DEAN GUNNARSON — You’ve seen him hang upside-down BY HIS TOES
over the Hoover Dam on TV’s “World’s Greatest Magic”! Dean specializes
in Daring Escapes! Who knows what he has planned for the finale?

Sunday, October 9:

8:00 am– Dealer Tables Re-open. Last chance to find that must-have handcuff, book, etc.!

11:00 am– Convention ends!

So friends, we want to take this opportunity to encourage those of
you who have been planning on attending the Cannon’s Great Escapes 3rd
Annual Escape Artists Convention to REGISTER and BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOMS
NOW! You have probably already read the ads in M.U.M., MAGIC, GENII,
and ESCAPE MASTERS magazines, or in the Magic Castle and West Coast
Lock Collector’s newsletters, or perhaps you have heard about it on the
Magic Radio Broadcast. The bottom line is that this is going to be BIG!

Several news media outlets are also being notified. If you want to
be part of the most unique magic convention ever, this is it!

To register, book your hotel room, reserve a dealer table, or enter the talent contest, click here http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.com/Conv2005.htm. Major credit cards accepted. (Registration fees increase by $20 after September 1).

For more information, feel free to e-mail magicduo@cannonsgreatescapes.com or call Cannon’s Great Escapes at (909) 797-7456.

See you there!

Mark & Sheila Cannon

www.cannonsgreatescapes.com

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