International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) is an organization for both professional and amateur magicians, with approximately 15,000 members worldwide. The headquarters is in St. Charles, Missouri. There are over 300 local groups, called Rings, in more than 88 countries, largely concentrated in cities of the United States and Canada. The organization publishes a monthly periodical entitled The Linking Ring, which features tricks, coverage of shows and events in the magic community, and interviews with magicians.

History

The organization was founded February 10, 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba by Len Vintus (stage name of Melvin Justus Given McMullen) of Transcona, Manitoba, which would later amalgamate with Winnipeg. Gene Gordon ( Gordon Avery) of Buffalo, New York, and Don Rogers (a.k.a. Ernest Schieldge). Unlike earlier magic clubs, such as the Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) in the United States and The Magic Circle in England, the I.B.M. was begun by magicians living outside the major cities, who were unable to attend magic club meetings, and who kept in contact by post.

Gene Gordon established the first local group, Ring 1, in Rochester, New York. The original Ring 1 eventually disbanded, and St. Louis, Missouri later assumed the vacated title of Ring 1, which it continues to hold today. Since then, a new club, Ring 4, formed in Rochester.

The I.B.M. holds an annual convention, usually in June or July. Although the S.A.M. and the Magic Circle held banquets as early as 1905, the I.B.M. was the first to hold a magic convention, in Kenton, Ohio, on June 9–10, 1926. The 66th annual convention was held in Orlando, Florida.

Organization

Each international territory has a Territorial Vice President who coordinates with the Rings in that country and other Territorial Vice Presidents.

The International Brotherhood of Magicians has a number of local clubs, located throughout the world, known as Rings. Each Ring was originally numbered in sequence, based on when it received its charter from the I.B.M. Since then, some clubs have dissolved, and newer clubs have assumed some of the vacated ring numbers.

Membership

Membership is open to amateur and professional magicians, as well as those who collect magic apparatus and effects. Active members must be at least 18 years old, and youth members must be 7–17 years of age. Active members must have had an interest in magic for at least two years, or one year for youth members.

Leadership Since 1937, a new International President is elected to the I.B.M. each year. Past presidents include:

Conventions The International Brotherhood of Magicians holds annual conventions, usually in July. In 2008, 2014, and 2017, the I.B.M. and the Society of American Magicians hosted a combined convention. More than 1,900 amateur and professional magicians from around the world attended the gatherings in Louisville, Kentucky, in July 2008, in St. Louis, Missouri, in July 2014, and again in Louisville, Kentucky, in July 2017.

Contest Awards The International Brotherhood of Magicians held the world's first magic convention in 1926. Contests are held, and awards are given in several categories. Below is a listing of the First Place winners as noted in the I.B.M. Official publication, The Linking Ring. The Gold Cups and Gold Medal Awards are highly coveted and not awarded every year. Additional data for years not listed are available online and were published in the 2019 I.B.M. 91st Annual Convention souvenir program.

+ The 2021 I.B.M. Convention was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Contests entries were selected from pre-recorded performance submissions.

Year 1st placeStageAdult 1st placeClose-UpAdult 1st placeStageYouth 1st placeClose-UpYouth People's ChoiceStage People's ChoiceClose-Up Gold CupsAward Gold MedalAward2023Danny KingFarren PoageOlivier HenningNot AwardedOlivier HenningJeffrey WangNot AwardedNot Awarded2022Artem ShchukinMichael BloemekeAnja SteynAnja SteynArtem ShchukinMichael BloemekeNot AwardedArtem Shchukin2021+Ding YangAndy DeemerLeonardo PanettiNot AwardedDing YangNot AwardedNot AwardedNot Awarded2019The Linking Ring. (August 2019). p. 34Maysayo SatoJosep VidalColin EleazerGeno PloegerMaysayo SatoJosep VidalNot AwardedNot Awarded2018The Linking Ring. (August 2018).Red Star SeongErik TaitNot AwardedNot AwardedRed Star SeongErik TaitNot AwardedZhou-Zhou & Yuanyuan 2017The Linking Ring. (August 2017). p. 34 Stuart MacDonald Omar Ferret Not Awarded Not Awarded Stuart MacDonald Jim Vines Not Awarded Not Awarded 2016The Linking Ring. (August 2016). p. 41 Jordan K. Jim Vines Not Awarded Not Awarded Jordan K. Jim Vines Not Awarded Not Awarded 2015The Linking Ring. (August 2015). p. 26 Chris Randall Shin Lim Daniel Hernandez Jolie Dreiling Hannah Kikuchi Shin Lim Not Awarded Not Awarded 2014The Linking Ring. (August 2014). p. 32 Hun Lee Michael Dardant Not Awarded Not Awarded Hun Lee Shin Lim Not Awarded Not Awarded 2013The Linking Ring. (August 2013). p. 34 Ming Ya Liu Alberto Lorenzo Eli Portala Drake Stanton Ming Ya Liu Alberto Lorenzo Not Awarded Not Awarded 2012The Linking Ring. (August 2012). p. 2 Jean Paul Olhaberry Michael Dardant Sebastian Zara Guarano Not Awarded Jean Paul Olhaberry Michael Dardant Not Awarded Not Awarded 2011The Linking Ring. (August 2011). p. 43 Won Kuen Ha Shin Lim Reuben Moreland Reuben Moreland Won Keun Ha Shin Lim Not Awarded Not Awarded 2010The Linking Ring. (August 2010). p. 35 Jason Andrews Ben Jackson Yang Yang John Accardo Jason Andrews Johan Stahl Not Awarded Not Awarded 2009The Linking Ring. (August 2009). p. 35 Richard Forget David Pietras David Mlakar Micah Johnson Jei Min and Hanna Info Not Available Not Awarded Not Awarded

See also Magic conventions

References

External links International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) - official site