I.B.M. Ring 362
Dr. James William Elliott Ring
Bangor, Maine

Minutes of Executive Meeting
April 23, 2006

A meeting of the Board was held on April 23, 2006, at the Sebasticook Valley Community Center prior to the regular club meeting. In attendance were:

• President: Alan Drew
• Vice President: Wes Booth
• Secretary: Paul Szauter
• Treasurer: Randy Von Smith
• Sergeant-At-Arms: Geoffrey Miller

The first item was the ratification of the minutes of the Executive Meeting of February 11, 2006. The minutes were ratified without amendment. An email account of a meeting to discuss the Fourth of July Show held on April 8, 2006, attended by Alan Drew, Geoffrey Miller and Paul Szauter was ratified as an accurate account of that meeting, and is included in these minutes immediately below.

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Summary of meeting of April 8, 2006 to discuss Fourth of July Show. Attending: Alan Drew, Geoffrey Miller, Paul Szauter.

We have heard from the following people interested in performing or helping out in other ways: Alan, Wes, Geoff, Paul, Randy, Stan. Alan thought that it was important for Wes to put out a second general call giving a cut-off date beyond which no more performers will be accepted, and to follow this up with individual calls or emails to particular people who might be good prospects for the show.

We discussed having a program, and selling ads to offset the cost of the program. Performers and other Ring members helping out would get free ads. We discussed the only significant promotional expense, a poster. Not very many copies are needed, as the target audience will all be in town that day. It will be necessary to put something together for the parade as well.

We spent most of our time talking about the structure of the show and the kinds of performances that might be needed to give variety to the show. The show is to be approximately 90 minutes in duration with an intermission about halfway through.

Paul proposed a non-talking opening sequence to open:

Dr. Wilson, Ladder of Swords (six minute to music, in front of curtain)
Professor Miller, Rings (six minute to music, in front of curtain)
Eostara Dancers (six minutes, full stage)

This opening sequence would be followed by a talking act, in one, giving a chance to set props on stage.

Middle of show - almost everything else goes here.

Next-to-last act: Eostara Dancers (six minutes, full stage)

Closer: This is an act out of Fitzke's showmanship book, modified by our discussion. All performers appear on full stage. To music, they begin small acts of magic. A magician produces a silk. The magician next to him grabs it and changes its color. A third magician vanishes the silk. The tempo picks up as each performer does more and more magic, finally ending in a riot of flower productions, streamers, flags, confetti launchers, everything in the book. As the magic riot reaches its peak, Alan blows a coach's whistle, and four of the performers march off to return with the side panels of an illusion that is assembled on stage. The box is opened, revealing a girl. All advance downstage to take bows, show's over.

We need in the middle a wide range in tempo and scale. We would very much like to see Alan's levitation in action, and Wes volunteered a lady to float. We agreed that Alan should do the comedy sawing, and that Wes should do the Temple of Benares. Paul offered an escape if necessary, perhaps a straitjacket. Geoff would like to perform a Snowstorm if possible.

Alan would like to see magicians work the line, and Geoff and Paul offered to do this.

We are not counting on getting very many more Ring members involved, and agreed that the people who have volunteered so far can carry a 90-minute show.

It is important for Randy and Geoff to have access to the Criterion soon to make a technical assessment.

So far, only Randy and Paul have talked about titles for the show, and there were no strong feelings about this. We have thought about an Art Deco look to the posters, and a title that might have been at home in the 1930's. Possible titles are of the type:

Cavalcade of Magic
Magic Revue
Magical Revue
Fourth of July Magic Show

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April 23, 2006 (continued). Randy Von Smith obtained a physical address from Alan Drew, the last step necessary prior to incorporation as a nonprofit. Randy is to proceed with incorporation as soon as possible.

We discussed planning for the Fourth of July Show, now titled the All-Star Magical Revue.

Paul reported that 200 black-and-white posters on stiff white paper 11" x 17" would cost about $27 plus shipping. Paul will donate the artwork and design. Geoff offered to donate the cost of printing. Paul will use an idea from Randy regarding discount coupons. These will allow free admission to a child 12 or under (normally $5) with the purchase of an adult ticket ($8). Several hundred of these coupons will be distributed during the parade through Bar Harbor, and possibly at selected events prior to the parade.

Geoff reported that he and Randy will have access to the the Criterion Theatre soon for a technical assessment.

Randy proposed renting a truck to hold the larger props before and immediately after the show. Traffic in and out of Bar Harbor is difficult on the Fourth of July; this would allow an early entry to set up, and the truck could be parked overnight or moved well after the fireworks on the Fourth.

Wes suggested scheduling the public show at the Sebasticook Valley Community Center on a Saturday in September. Possible dates suggested were September 9, 16, and 23. The Common Ground Fair is September 23, so we should avoid that date. Wes thought that Spetember 9 was too close to the beginning of school, and that it would be difficult to promote the show amidst the chaos. Pending approval of the members and the SVCC, we decided on September 16.

Additional discussion of the Fourth of July Show was deferred to the business meeting.