With over 40 years of experience between the two of them, as well as two strikingly different performance styles and outlooks on the conjuring arts, Bill Wisch and Bobby J. Gallo provide the consummate learning experience. Very few others in the industry can match their credentials. Take a moment to read this page. We think you'll agree, with a staff like this, including our guest instructors, I.C.O.M Online will help you accomplish your goals in magic.

Bill Wisch is a world-class close-up and stage magician specializing in sleight-of hand as an art form.

In 1973 he began studying with the legend, TONY SLYDINI, probably the most influential, pure sleight-of-hand expert and teacher of general magic in the 20th century. In 1976 Bill was sponsored by SLYDINI to lecture nation-wide from his long awaited book, "THE BEST OF SLYDINI AND MORE". He lectured SLYDINI'S methods and techniques, as well as his own, to thousands of magicians in 36 cities, and is the only student ever honored by SLYDINI in this way.

Another national tour followed the publication of the companion volume, "THE MAGICAL WORLD OF SLYDINI" in 1978. Each tour was a resounding success and established Bill as a major performer, inventor, contributor and influence on the world magic scene.

Since then Bill has presented over 400 lectures to his peers with his video's, books, articles and theories about sleight -of-hand being so innovative that literally thousands of magicians on all seven continents have adapted and adopted them.

Almost every magic periodical has had at least one article or effect of Bills's, but the special September 1984 issue of GENII MAGAZINE (tm) was devoted exclusively to Bill and according to the late publisher Bill Larsen, was one of the most requested issues in the entire history of the magazine.

Bill is also the largest manufacturer of hand-crafted card tricks in the world. He is responsible for a number of best selling card tricks including the renewed interest in the classic "PRINCESS CARD TRICK" after creating a new way of manufacturing the complicated cards necessary in 1975. Since then he has handcrafted and sold more than 20,000 sets of this one effect alone! This far surpasses any other hand-crafted card trick in history.

Bill is a long time member of the Society of American Magicians, and a proud member of the ORDER OF MERLIN (over 25 continuous years in the International Brotherhood of Magicians).

It is hard to imagine a magician anywhere in the industry as accomplished as Bobby J. Gallo. Bobby J. consistently performs over 400 hundred shows a year as well as teaching a staggering amount of students the art of magic.

Bobby J. has performed his hilarious and amazing act in just about every city from New York to Las Vegas. He has performed in colleges, on cruise ships, on the showroom stages of the most famous resorts in the world, for fortune 500 companies, at prestigious Washington DC functions for international heads of state, trade shows, comedy clubs and on television. As a matter of fact, there is not a single venue conducive to magic that Bobby J. has not played. Very few performers can make that claim.

Though known primarily in the industry as a "comedy magician" Bobby J. is also an author, lecturer, and instructor of magic. Through his innovative after school programs and summer camp series, Bobby J. has taught literally thousands of young people how to mystify their family and friends and strictly follow the "Magician's Code". This fact alone makes Bobby J. uniquely qualified to direct and instruct for I.C.O.M Online.

Bobby is a long time member of the Society of American Magicians, a member of the Magician's Alliance of Eastern States and a lifetime member of the International Magicians Society through which was released a best selling "International Magic Academy"(tm) video entitled "Stand-Up Close" on trade show magic starring himself. Other Releases include "Commando Magic" an underground best seller, and Ultimate Magic Rap Volume #1 an instructional audio take that has garnered international acclaim.

Lastly, on the cyber-space front, Bobby J. is the critically acclaimed Web-Master for The International Conservatory Of Magic and currently hosts no less than three magic related web-sites on the internet. These are another gathering places for magicians all over the world to share ideas and opinions concerning the magical arts.

The International Conservatory of Magic's resident scholar. Ron is one of the most respected names in magic being known far and wide for his expertise and originality pertaining to the conjuring arts. I.C.O.M Online is proud and excited to have an instructor of Ron Dayton's stature on our roster! His material has appeared in:

• MUM (author of the column "Dayton's Deceptions" for the last decade!)

• The Magic Manuscript

• Magicgram

• Linking Ring

• Abra

• Buff's Leaflets

• Karl Fulves rope volumes

• Books of effects for Neal Prete's Shake Sphere routines

• The New Modern Magi

• The Wisch Purse routines, Aldo Colombini's "On The Ropes" and Chuck Romano's "The Art of Deception".

Ron is also the creator of hundreds of marketed magic effects available nationwide. He is the author of:

Card Magic; Off The Beaten Path, Hung Up On Ropes, Ropes With A Different Twist, U-Neek Rope Magic, Cord-ially Yours, Rope Without End, A Conjuror's Collage, Press-Tidigataion, Legerdemine, Secret Thoughts, Dayton's Delights, Crystal Cups, One of A Kind Magic, Jenny-U-Wan Magic Vols 1-2-3, Visual Fantasies, The Whole Art of Clippo..., Simply Amazing, The Strange Reflections Vol 1-2, The Magic Playground, Renaissance of Rope, Spoof...It's Magic.

THE INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATORY OF MAGIC (I.C.O.M) STAFF OF ONLINE INSTRUCTORS IS PROUD TO INCLUDE OSCAR MUSCARlELLO, B.A. AND M.A., NEW YORK UNIVERSITY; P.D., COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY; PH.D., FORDHAM UNlVERSITY. OSCAR IS BETTER KNOWN TO THE WORLD OF MAGIC AS DR.OM.

Dr. OM, of Closter, New Jersey, has been a member of the faculty of New Jersey City University since 1965. He holds the rank of Full Professor of English, and has served as Chairman of the Department of English, and as Director of Theatre. Included among his many directorial credits are two original one-act plays and an original musical theatre piece. Dr. OM is a published poet, short story writer, author of a science fiction novel, and author of a seance theatre piece. He is a professional guitarist-vocalist, curently performing as house musician and magician at The Peking Duck House, Closter, New Jersey. Dr. OM is Executive Editor of the International Magicians Society's (I.M.S.) Magic Academy Course of Magic Video Catalog. His own VHS tape on Children's Magic comprises volume 40 of the I.M.S. Course.

DR. OM'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE I.C.O.M CURRICULA CONSIST OF A SERIES OF ARTICLES DEVOTED TO STAGECRAFT, ACTING, AND SHOWMANSHIP FOR MAGICIANS; AND HIS NEW WORLD-CLASS COURSE IN MAGIC, BOTH OF WHICH ARE PUBLISHED EXCLUSlVELY FOR THE I.C.O.M MEMBERSHIP.

www .magicschool.com

Mike grew up in Minnesota and moved to NJ after earning his PhD in Organic Chemistry at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It wasn't until the late 70's that he became interested in magic. (although there is a strong rumor that he performed "chemistry set magic" at an early age). [true]

He shortly became VERY involved in local magic groups and eventually became the Regional VP of the Society of American Magicians (North Atlantic Region).

His interests in magic are close up magic (mainly cards) and mentalism (mainly close up). Look for his insightful comments over the coming year.

The International Conservatory of Magic is honored to have material contributed by a man who was respected and well known throughout the magical fraternity, Mr. Gene Poinc.

Mr. Poinc's Credits include:

• Illustrations for GENII Magazine.

• Professional Cold-reader (palmistry, tea leaf, and card reading)

• Studied painting at the Art Students' League.

• Received a paleontology scholarship to the County Museum and curenty posesses a 3,000 year old mummy hand!

• Wrote short stories for men's magazines, eventually scripts for Father Peyton's Family Theatre. One featurette won a bronze medal at an international film festival in Venice, Italy. He also starred in it.

• Made two appearances on the original "You Asked For It" television program. The first billed as: "The Artist Who If He Can't Sell His Paintings -- Eats Them

• Wrote religious television scripts, and a Jesse James segment; a PBS Special for children, and eventually the Katharine Hepburn movie "Olly Olly Oxen Free" and book with the same title.

• Has contributed short stories, cartoons and routines to magic magazines and now the electronic networks -- quite a few of the latter routines rather weird.

Finally, he was actively involved with Bizarre Magick both in his books and on the magic internets. Many magicians have the misconception that Bizarre Magick deals only with demons, ghosties and ghasties and other subjects unfit for decent, god-fearing folks. "Nonsense, of course" Mr. Poinc Says". It is storytelling magic that has substance, that can create love and tears as well as fears, and at at times fun lunacy. Bizarre Magick demands the very best of your thinking -- accept the challenge.