CHEERS OR JEERS FOR FISM 2012 IN BLACKPOOL? :: BY CRAIG MITCHELL

So - Blackpool officially got the vote with an overwhelming majority at the General Assembly.

But let's analyse what we are getting ourselves in for...

*An ancient convention centre that appears as if its from the 19th century and hasn't seen a spot of paint since.

*Not a single international standard hotel within walking distance ( and ask Richard what he thinks of the supposed 4 star Hilton hotel if you don't believe me )

*A city that is widely regarded as the dump of England. And if you think Fawlty Towers is an exaggeration - you have ZERO idea.

*An event which is taking place a month before the Olympics ( the organisers did not know the dates of the Olympics when asked and announced that they think that this shouldn't be an issue after looking it up. You 'think' it won't be an issue - that's reassuring ) Don't mean to be the bearer of bad news - but watch hotels & airfares skyrocket. And please don't tell us that we will fly into Manchester - 90% of international flights are to Gatwick or London Heathrow.

*An organising committee who cannot spell their own name (http://www.blackpoomagic.comor have any fundamental understanding of how to type a URL "www.fism.2012.org" - is NOT a website. To register for the Blackpool convention - you need to handwrite a registration form and send a fax. This is the 21st century.

*The organisers of the 25th World Championships of Magic did not have enough bid books for the voting delegates ( and many who voted had not even seen the bid book until 5 minutes before voting. How then do you accurately assess the bid ? ) Their bid book has to quite categorically be the worst document I have seen in my life. Does professionalism ever come into the picture ... it was a physical cut and paste color-photocopied booklet ( with the jagged lines of the cut & paste still visible ) looking as if it had been type set in 1970 ( complete with skew text ). If this is how you present your bid to the world - what possible level of committment and professionalism can we expect? But even more scarily is that they are completely oblivious as to just how cheap and nasty Blackpool is - or that the quality of their efforts thus far is simply sub-standard.

Those who point out the usual Blackpool convention as a track record - completely miss the point that Blackpool's success is owed entirely to the fact that it is the cheapest mega magic convention on earth and lasts for 3 days. Those who are happy to stay in a 15 GBP b&b without hot water - are not the ones attending FISM - who are paying 450 - 550 Euros for the privilege of attending an event in a run-down Winter Gardens.

You are dealing with high level international clientele who expect world class facilities. And are paying accordingly.

How can you possibly go from the unbelievable sophistication of FISM China (or Dresden, Den Haag or Stockholm - international cities ) to that of Blackpool, England.

Unfortunately we are all going to have to find out ...