I.B.M. Convention_Program_2019-lo

of Magicians awarded him first place in both Stage and
Close-up, making him the only magician in history to win
both world championships; and the Olympics of Magic in
Beijing, China, awarded him the highest award in magic: the
Grand Prix World Champion of Magic in 2009. He served
as International President for the 2014–2015 term of office.
John Ferrentino
JOHN FERRENTINO has appeared on over fifty
television shows on HBO, VH1, Showtime, A&E, and the
Comedy Channel, and was a regular guest on Fox’s Comic
Strip Live for five years. He was the opening act for Crosby,
Stills, & Nash and has performed around the world on every
major cruise line. He is also a regular performer at the worldfamous
Magic Castle in Hollywood. John makes his home
in New York.
Michael Finney
MICHAEL FINNEY is a comedian, magician, philanthropist,
corporate spokesman, motivational speaker, and more.
With an authenticity that disarms audiences almost as soon
as he steps onstage, Michael can squeeze comedy out of what
most would consider nothing. Give him a deck of cards, a
pair of scissors, and some rope, and for the next hour you
will have the time of your life. Many years of performing in
comedy clubs have given Michael a sixth sense about what’s
appropriate for every venue. His confidence and sincerity
transform a simple mixture of character, context, humor, and
magic into something that not only entertains but inspires.
Michael is the 2018–2019 International President of the
I.B.M.
Mike Hammer
MIKE HAMMER worked his way to Las Vegas through
restaurant magic and college shows. He has had a headlining
show in Las Vegas for nine years and is known as the Don
Rickles of comedy magic. Mike is one of the funniest men
around today. Oh, and his magic is great, too. He will be
making his first ever magic convention appearance at the
I.B.M. Convention in Scottsdale. Hammer most recently
appeared on Penn and Teller: Fool Us, and has also appeared
on A&E TV, Bad Ink, and Barry’d Treasure starring Barry
Weiss. He was recognized by Esquire Magazine as a successful
business leader in the Entertainment Capital of the World.
DR. LAWRENCE HASS is a world-renowned magician,
public speaker, magic philosopher, and author. Though not
much interested in magic as a boy, he picked it up in 1994
after finishing his Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University
of Illinois and realized how much magic had been overlooked
Dr. Lawrence Hass by the intelligentsia. Since then, he has found his calling as
a magic performer and educator, performing in theaters and
nightclubs as well as colleges. He regularly performs in Las Vegas and is the associate dean
of the McBride Magic and Mystery School. He has also written a number of books for
9