With so many conventions to choose from these days, this brand new event immediately caught my eye. The Hullusion team consistently promoted the event on their Facebook page, providing regular updates and information to entice customers to buy tickets. Their professionalism and meticulous planning impressed me, so I quickly grabbed an early bird ticket. It was clear they had big plans to deliver the very best event, and the inaugural “Hullusion” was going to be something special. Throughout the planning stage, they actively took on board ideas and feedback, supported by excellent social media and promotion that deliberately encouraged a community environment. Hopefully they will have a website in future, which would be useful.
Hull Location
The venue choice of The Goodfellowship” in Hull was an ideal fit for this convention. It offered good facilities overall, including a food and drinks menu that was advertised and available. There were also plenty of accommodation and food options nearby.
The location was a decent size for the convention. However, be warned that next year will undoubtedly sell out, as it was likely full or close to capacity this year already and many have bought tickets for next year.
The event took place in a large conference room with a stage. Two screens enhanced stage performances, and a selection of cameras captured the event. The time and effort spent on the presentation were amazing, with Hullusion graphics and videos playing on the screens. The organisers also did a fantastic job throughout the day, keeping everything on time and introducing artists.
The room layout was generally excellent. Dealers were positioned around the outskirts, and the stage was set up in a theatre style. The only feedback for the venue was that the lighting around the room and near the dealers could be improved.
This was my first visit to Hull and I was pleased that the event was so popular with a good turnout. And what a great name “HULLusion.”
Line Up/Agenda
The lineup for the day was strong, and I was particularly looking forward to the John Archer and Noel Qualter (Trick Trick Boom) lectures. The announcement only a couple of weeks back that Sam Strange was also performing was also exciting. The agenda was released a couple of weeks before the event, so attendees could see what the day would look like. It was well-planned and nicely paced, with no chance of clashes, which was a relief. I was worried that the pace would not leave enough breaks, especially with so many announcements made in the run-up, but there were no issues at all.
Registration
The welcome was impressive. Those waiting in the bar area before the convention opened were greeted, given wristbands, and their tickets scanned. This proactive approach minimised queues when the doors opened. Kerry greeted us, and we were ready to go straight through into the event at 09:30. Amazing.
Dealers
Discovering the dealers was a joy and a highlight. While I’ve been to larger conventions with fewer dealers, this one had a decent-sized dealer room with 13 present, as per the promotional picture.
I was already sure of what I wanted to buy and I was impressed with all the dealers. Two of my favourites were present, Neo Magic and Tricked Magic. Vinny (Neo Magic) was busy running demos and chatting with everyone, so I picked up a couple of his products (see picture) and identified more I need to buy. Then, at the Tricked Magic stall, I could always buy loads of their stuff. I picked up some Tommy Cooper artwork and paddles.
I could have easily spent a lot of money, as all the dealer stands were excellent. I particularly enjoyed the John Morton “Creative Magic” stand, where I could easily purchase some items. I may do so now that I’ve seen a few things. Macrow Magic also looked amazing, and I’ll definitely be visiting them again soon, this time online.
It was lovely to speak to many of the dealers, and I finally met some like Mark Evan’s Mentalism. The room layout meant the dealers were very busy and they hopefully all did very well.
Welcome / Trick Trick Boom
While most people headed straight for the dealers, I was warmly welcomed and even given a prize I had won during the convention’s promotional campaign. It was a lovely start to the festivities, and the mug which I was given were also on sale.
On the day of the event, after a welcome from the convention team, we enjoyed a very funny lecture and dealer demo by Trick Trick Boom. Noel Qualter and Roddy McGhie explained many effects, including their latest offering, “e:ject.”
While this session did overrun slightly, timekeeping was generally excellent throughout the day. The dealer time between events allowed for a buffer.
Visit Trick Trick Boom here.
John Archer Lecture
While I’ve been lucky enough to see John perform a few times and even been picked on a couple of times during shows, I hadn’t seen him lecture. I was looking forward to this, so I was delighted when it was announced that he was joining the lineup.
His lecture was a hilarious and informative show, a mix of performance and walk-through. It was definitely a highlight of my day, and I couldn’t stop laughing. John is incredibly versatile, and he seized every opportunity to inject humour, some of which being directed at Trick Trick Boom and the audience.
Visit John’s website here.
John concluded with a range of products and lecture notes on sale. One suggestion for the organisers would be to support lectures by providing a payment machine. This would allow lecturers to earn extra card sales, which the organisers could then pay to the artist.
Tom Dobrowolski Lecture
Tom, a magician from the US, gave a very special lecture on card magic. It was a treat for those who love the intricacies of card set pieces. I sat there knowing some magicians who weren’t present who would have loved to have seen it. Tom gave clear and good instruction, and two audience members who witnessed and helped with the action close up were also on stage.
This lecture was further testament to the high calibre artists that Hullusion is already attracting to their events.
Visit his store.
Sam Strange Performance
It was incredible to watch Sam perform. As a fan of stage illusions, I was curious to see what he would do on his own at Hullusion. I’ve seen him perform as part of “Young and Strange”, and I was excited to see his solo work.
Once the stage was ready with some help from John Archer, we quickly discovered Sam was presenting a surprise manipulation act. As well as stage illusions, I do love manipulation. Classic old fashion and skilled magic. While a short set, it was very enjoyable.
As a collector and magic enthusiast, I would have loved to chat with Sam and get a signed card. Unfortunately, I had to leave immediately after his performance to travel home. I did manage to capture a little video for memories sake.
Book Sam.
Chris Cross Talk
This would have been an interesting talk which I understand was about 30 minutes. I’m sure it was very enjoyable. I apologise for not being able to provide more details about this lecture. Chris, of course, was one of the dealers and had a massive stand with new and used magic collectibles and books throughout the day.
Visit his store.
End Of Day
As the day drew to a close, the 2026 event and early bird tickets were announced. Next year, the first headliner is Pete Turner, who even spoke on stage late afternoon to help promote the next 2026 convention.
Final Thoughts
This very special convention was well planned and orchestrated. Tickets for next year are on sale, and early bird tickets are available for a short period. I’ve already purchased tickets for next year, as I definitely plan to attend.
It was lovely to meet so many friends and new contacts/friends. Throughout the day, many people demonstrated great kindness, and I would like to thank them all. In particular, one artist deserves a drink, and I definitely still owe them one. They should know who they are!
I have nothing negative to say about the event or the organisers; all my experiences have been positive. The audio-visual setup, layout, cameras, and planning were amazing. You wouldn’t believe this was the first Hullusion; the event ran like it had been around for years. When the team believed an issue might cause a problem, they acted proactively to nip anything in the bud.
See you next year!
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