Next Meeting: March 10, 2026 JAM (Just About Magic)
2026 IBM Ring 398 Monthly Meeting Topics
2026 Ring Meeting Topics
One of the reasons to form a Ring is to provide fun and comradeship for our members, it should also be an opportunity for the members to learn and expand their magical talents.
While our JAM (Just About Magic) will continue its “Anything Goes” tradition for the second Tuesday of the month, we have a new set of themes for our Showcase Session, the fourth Tuesday of the Month
1. Plan your next month’s contribution well in advance of the monthly Showcase Magic Night meeting so we have ample time to prepare our presentations properly. Last-minute preparations often don’t end well and tend to leave us disappointed in our performance.
2. If you don’t have a magic piece that fits the month’s theme, you can go to YouTube and review an endless array of opportunities. There are so many ideas for those of us who wish to take magic more seriously. But it does require a little effort. This is an opportunity to make our Ring meetings a true magical learning experience.
3. The following list includes a wide array of magic. When you come upon a unique routine, save it for the appropriate night. These meetings can include good learning experiences as well as good comradeship. Ring 398 is a very talented group of magicians and should be the standard for other Rings to follow. Why shouldn’t we be the best?
4. It might benefit us, at times, to request constructive feedback from the group. We may not always like what we hear, but it can help us improve our presentations.
January 13 (JAM Session) and 27 (Showcase Session - "Magic I Got For Christmas")
For our Showcase session, bring along something to share that you got for Christmas! If you only got coal - bring something you bought for yourself or received in the past. Or share a story about your favorite Christmas magic gift.
February 10 (JAM Session) and 24 (Showcase Session - Sleight Night)
Share your favorite sleight using any prop - cards, coins, ropes, thimbles, billiard balls, or something unexpected. This is a celebration of technique, timing, and finesse. Demonstrate the move, explain why you love it, and share tips on making it invisible in performance.
March 10 (JAM Session) and 24 (Showcase Session- Not Just Child’s Play)
Dig out an old children’s magic set and rediscover the classics. The challenge is to take a simple “beginner” prop and elevate it with thoughtful presentation, stronger handling, or a creative storyline. Can you transform a toy into a miracle?
April 14 (JAM Session) and 28 (Showcase Session- Fool Us)
Step into the spotlight and attempt to fool the panel of judges. Perform your strongest piece and let the group analyze method, structure, and deception afterward. Whether you fool them or not, everyone will learn from the discussion.
May 12 (JAM Session) and 26 (Showcase Session- Swap Meet)
Bring a magic effect you’re ready to part with and trade for something of equal value. This is a chance to refresh your repertoire, pass along unused treasures, and spark conversations about why certain tricks stay - or go - from our working sets.
June 9 (JAM Session) and 23 (Showcase Session- Magic Under the Microscope)
We’ll watch selected filmed magic performances together and analyze them as magicians. Discussion will focus on structure, audience management, scripting, pacing, and impact - not just method. What makes the magic powerful beyond the secret?
July 14 (JAM Session) and 28 (Showcase Session- Teach-a-Trick Round Table)
Each participating member has 10 minutes to teach a practical, workable effect. Focus on clarity, teachability, and real-world performance value. By the end of the evening, everyone should leave with at least one new routine ready to polish.
August 11 (JAM Session) and 25 (Showcase Session- Accessories & Gimmicks)
Explore the tools that make miracles possible - thumb tips, pulls, reels, specialty decks, holdouts, and more. Members can demonstrate creative uses, clever modifications, or overlooked applications. Sometimes the smallest tool creates the biggest reaction.
September 8 (JAM Session) and 22 (Showcase Session- Book Test)
Dive into the fascinating world of book tests and literary magic. Perform your favorite version, discuss construction principles, or compare commercial versus DIY approaches. What makes a book test feel impossible rather than procedural?
October 13 (JAM Session) and 27 (Showcase Session- Holiday Magic)
Embrace the spirit of the season - Halloween spook shows, bizarre magic, Thanksgiving gratitude themes, or Christmas wonder. Members can perform themed material and share ideas for adapting existing routines to fit seasonal shows.
November 10 (JAM Session) and 24 (Showcase Session- Gift Magic)
Present magic that can be given away or that centers around the idea of a gift. This could include torn-and-restored objects that become souvenirs, routines that end with a keepsake, or effects themed around generosity and gratitude.
December 8 Annual Holiday Party
A celebration of the year’s magic, friendship, and shared growth. Expect performances, food, laughter, and perhaps a surprise or two. It’s a time to reflect on what we’ve learned and look forward to another year of wonder together.
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