Yes, it’s been many days since the end of the 2010 Gathering but it’s taken me that long to recover – It was that good.
Attendance was in record numbers this year and the attendees were of the highest caliber – Thanks to all who participated and worked to make this year’s Gathering a smashing success.
PHOTOS and VIDEOS
There are many of you with images and video from the Gathering and we’d love to see what you shot and share it with the world. If you have video or images to share, please email me directly, I’m steve@grandillusions.com. We’ll take YouTube video, Flickr galleries, raw images and video and just about anything else you’d care to share.
Show the world a little part of what you experienced by sharing your memories on this site and those of our media partners as well.
Did you know that you can find coverage of the 2010 Golden Gate Gathering on a number of different websites? Check out the media from this year:
Late night and worth every hour of lost sleep. Breakfast in the hotel restaurant and it’s time to learn from master coin magician, Mike Gallo and, in the other room, sophisticate, Norman Beck.
After two excellent lectures we broke for lunch and went to raise our blood sugar levels and contemplate the knowledge we’d been given.
Back to the hotel lobby lounge, the home of most of the action at the Gathering, people are starting to sit and session, cards and coins are hitting the tables and laughter fills the atrium.
This is our last night at the Golden Gate Gathering and we’ve no intention of going gently. If last night was any indicator for tonight, we’ll be here till they close us out in the wee hours, then we’ll move to the Precursor Suite. We’re low on sleep but high on energy and the party is just starting…All over again. Stay tuned and hang on our every post!
Apparently word is out about how great the Gathering is because it’s much larger this year than ever before. A much bigger turnout meant a change in format was necessary and now, during lectures, we’re two groups and two lectures occur at the same time. This morning featured Jason England and Paul Vigil followed later by Allan Ackerman. Our worlds were rocked, naturally.
Jason is an expert at gambling sleights, Allan might just know more card effects than half the gathering combined and Paul…Well, Paul is a unique experience.
We session, laugh and gasp in amazement. We attend classes to have our heads handed to us and then filled with the knowledge of how to take the heads of others. We sometimes find time to eat.
We’re not quite halfway through.
Time to head to to the Precursor Suite. We’ll let you know what happens tomorrow. In the mean time, take a look at this video of Allan Ackerman in the hotel lounge:
Arriving at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City is always exciting. The glass doors open smoothly and silently as we approach and on the other side we’re greeted by Kent Gunn performing his famous, “Fun Shop Cups and Balls”. What a great way to start out the 2010 Gathering!
Kent Gunn performs his famous "Fun Shop Cups and Balls"
A quick look around the lobby lounge reveals a number of familiar faces; Tony and Rosie Miller (RFA Productions) who will be running the parties this year, Steve Ehlers, Curtis Kam – All appearances say that this is going to be a hardcore convention.
We check in, drop our stuff off in our rooms and hit the lobby to session with our friends – people we rarely, if ever get to see except here at the GGG.
At 7:00 the party in the hotel pub started up and the group moves out of the lobby and into the club. Details of the resulting merriment will not be discussed or disclosed in these pages. What happens at the Golden Gate Gathering…
What we CAN tell you is that at the same time a private, seven seat, no-limit Texas Holdem game began. At the table were Steve Brooks (Magic Cafe), Tony Miller (RFA Productions), R. Paul Wilson (Shade), Tom Cutts (AM/PM Magazine), Tom Frame (Genii reviewer) , Jason England (Foundations) and Lee Asher (CardStar). Ultimately, Paul Wilson was the winner and took all.
Close to 10:00 the party moves upstairs to the Precurser suite run by Tony and Rosie Miller. Here is Kent Gunn reading the rules of the party:
Registration starts at 10:00 AM on Thursday. Kent or one of his evil minions will be at a desk in the lobby. It’ll be the table with all the magic tricks goin’ on.
Thursday at 7:00 PM we’ll have a meet and greet in the lounge we have reserved. Maps, etc. are on the back of your badges, stinkin’ badges.
Friday: Lectures Abound
11:00 AM | 3:00 PM | 7:00 PM
Saturdays More Lectures
11:00 AM | 3:00 PM
Who is lecturing when . . . That’s complicated. We’re trying to hang on to the small sense of the convention. Our success has changed the venue. Each of our lecturers will give their presentation twice. You get to go to one of the two. You won’t miss anything, I promise.
The back of your badge will direct you to the proper room and time. It’s enchanted!
The big day approaches fast and this year is going to fill to maximum. Our block of discounted rooms are exhausted – There are still rooms available for attendees but not at the GGG discounted rate.
Want to save a buck? Get a roommate! I’m keeping a list and will do my best to put folks in contact with each other who might be looking to share the hotel expense. Just email steve@grandillusions.com with your name, email address, sexual preference and days staying at Crowne Plaza and I’ll do what I can to find someone compatible. (GGG-Harmony)
By the way there are more than a few “names” attending the Gathering this year: Curtis Kam, Jack Carpenter, Howard Hamburg, Lee Asher, Mike Feldman, Steve Mayhew and Aaron Fisher just to drop a few. Not to lecture, just because, the GGG is that cool.
For the first time you can own a limited run Golden Gate Gathering IV, 2010 collectible tee-shirt!
Luis Solorzano, the artist who designed the previous three year’s incredible posters, which we’ve all come to treasure, has once again created a stunning work that this time is wearable.
At only $20, you should buy more than one.
Choose your sizes and click the PayPal button below to have your shirts waiting for you at the Gathering.
PS: Can’t make it to the gathering? Don’t miss out on a collectible: email steve@grandillusions.com to arrange shipping to anywhere…really.
Sadly, John Thompson was forced to cancel his appearance at the Golden Gate Gathering this year in order to take on a major theatrical project. We’ll miss you this year, Johnny, we wish you the best of success with your endeavor and we hope to see you next time.
Get a discount on your room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel! Use the rate code GGT when making reservations or BETTER STILL use this link: https://resweb.passkey.com/go/GGT
The Golden Gate Gathering is very pleased to announce a sixth lecturer: Mr. Allan Ackerman will be joining the 2010 lineup. Registration is now available: Visit www.bamagic.com for more information and registration.
Live from the Gathering, News and Info | Steve Johnson | 
August 20, 2010 12:28 pm | 
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