The International Brotherhood Of Magicians

What The International Brotherhood Of Magicians does

The International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) is a 103-year-old nonprofit membership organization founded in 1922 and headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri. It serves the global magic community through approximately 8,000 members across 88 countries and six continents, organized through a network of 200+ regional chapters called "Rings." Its core offerings include The Linking Ring magazine (in continuous publication since 1922), the Ask Alexander digital archive (a comprehensive searchable database of magic history), and an annual convention that brings magicians together for performances, contests, and dealer exhibitions.

The I.B.M. has expanded its digital portfolio with Ring 2100, a virtual Ring serving members globally without geographic limitations, and Ring 1221, a youth-focused online club for members aged 7-17, alongside the Lance Burton Teen Seminar and Ring 1100 Club. The organization operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees and relies on a global volunteer officer corps. Revenue is generated through annual membership dues (typically around $75/year for adults and $35 for youth), convention registrations in the $275-$395 range, dealer booth rentals, merchandise sales (including the Modern Magic reprint), contest entry fees, and revenue-share arrangements with the Mealing Library digital content partnership, supplemented by donations including AmazonSmile-eligible contributions.

Name

The International Brotherhood Of Magicians

Legal name

International Brotherhood of Magicians

Website

https://magician.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) is a 103-year-old nonprofit membership organization headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri, serving roughly 8,000 magicians across 88 countries through The Linking Ring magazine, the Ask Alexander digital archive, an annual convention, and a global network of 200+ regional Rings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Charles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees provide recurring revenue. The organization offers various membership tiers including adult, youth (ages 7-17), and life memberships. Members receive access to The Linking Ring magazine, Ask Alexander archive, member resources, local Ring access, and convention benefits.
2. Convention Tickets and Registration: The annual I.B.M. Convention generates significant revenue through registration fees. 2026 St. Louis Convention pricing: Adult Member $395, Life Member $275, Youth Member free (first 40 registrations), Spouse $225, plus additional fees for banquet ($85), Order of Merlin Luncheon ($40), and extra show tickets.
3. Convention Dealer Booths: Magic dealers and vendors pay to have booths in the Dealer Room at the annual convention, creating a marketplace commission-style revenue stream.
4. Product Sales - Books and Merchandise: Sale of the Modern Magic book (limited edition reprint at $65 retail / $50 for members), plus I.B.M. apparel merchandise including t-shirts ($25), sweatshirts ($50), hoodies ($50), and long sleeve tees ($30).
5. The Mealing Library Partnership: Revenue-sharing partnership with Ollie Mealing's Mealing Library. I.B.M. members receive special rate of £20/month (~$26/month) for access to 300+ card magic tutorials, with portions of proceeds going back to support I.B.M. programs.
6. Donations and Scholarships: Donations to Youth Scholarship Fund help young magicians attend the convention by covering registration, travel, and lodging. Endowment and Development Fund supports member services, educational initiatives, and organizational development.
7. Contest and Raffle Fees: Contest entry fees and raffle proceeds from the annual convention contests (I.B.M. Gold Medal Stage and Gold Cups Close-Up) and silent auctions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

The International Brotherhood of Magicians is a nonprofit membership association that sells annual and lifetime memberships (Adult, Youth, Life tiers) granting access to The Linking Ring magazine, the Ask Alexander digital archive, member resources, local Ring participation, and convention benefits. It also operates an annual multi-day convention with paid registration, contests, lectures, and a dealer room, and sells branded merchandise including the Modern Magic book reprint and apparel. The organization runs youth programming (Lance Burton Teen Seminar, Ring 1221 online club) and facilitates virtual and in-person community through 200+ local Rings and Ring 2100.

Product overview

The International Brotherhood of Magicians operates a membership-based organization offering a platform of interconnected products and services centered around fostering the global magic community. The core offerings include The Linking Ring (monthly magazine), the Annual Convention (flagship event), and Local Rings (200+ chapters worldwide). These are supported by youth programs (Lance Burton Teen Seminar, Ring 1221 Online Club, Youth Membership), digital archives (Ink and Paper Collection, Ask Alexander portal, Linking Ring Library), video resources, the I.B.M. Podcast, and merchandise (Modern Magic book, I.B.M. Apparel). The organization also runs prestigious contests (Gold Medal, Gold Cups) and offers special member discounts through partner programs. The product portfolio serves amateur and professional magicians through physical events, digital content, publications, and community building across 88 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Linking Ring: The official monthly magazine of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, featuring magic's top minds, tricks, stories, and insights. Available in digital and print, exclusively for I.B.M. members.
• Ring 2100
• Ring 1221
• I.B.M. Gold Medal and Gold Cups
• Lance Burton Teen Seminar
• Ask Alexander

Products and services

• I.B.M. Membership Annual and lifetime subscription memberships for amateur and professional magicians, available in Adult (age 18+), Youth (ages 7-17), and Life Member tiers. Membership includes The Linking Ring monthly magazine (digital and print), access to the Ask Alexander digital archive, member-only digital resources (Ink and Paper Collection, Video Library), local Ring participation, convention benefits, and exclusive partner discounts.
• I.B.M. Annual Convention Flagship annual multi-day event held in St. Louis for 2026 (July 22-25, with early bird event July 21) at the Marriott St. Louis Hotel Airport. Paid registration categories include Life Member ($275), Adult Member ($395), Spouse ($225), and Youth Member (free for first 40 via Youth Scholarship Fund). Additional add-ons include Grand Banquet ($85) and Order of Merlin Luncheon ($40). Convention features world-class performances, the I.B.M. Gold Medal (Stage) and Gold Cups (Close-Up) contests, lectures, workshops, the dealer room, and the Lance Burton Teen Seminar.
• Modern Magic - A Practical Treatise on the Art of Conjuring Limited-edition hardcover reprint of Professor Hoffmann's 1876 classic magic treatise. Priced at $65 retail for non-members, $50 for I.B.M. members (using promo code MM15 for $15 off), and free for Life Members courtesy of the Endowment and Development Fund (members pay shipping only). Sold through the I.B.M. online book store.
• I.B.M. Apparel Official I.B.M. branded apparel and accessories sold via the Teespring/Creator Spring storefront. Includes the Keep Calm and Perform Magic Comfort Tee ($25), Classic Long Sleeve Tee ($30), Unisex Classic Pullover Hoodie ($50), and sweatshirts ($50), featuring I.B.M. Centennial Anniversary and signature designs.
• I.B.M. Magic Contests Paid competition entries for the annual I.B.M. magic contests, including the I.B.M. Gold Medal (Stage), I.B.M. Gold Cups (Close-Up), and the I.B.M. Youth Contest. Contest entry fees plus silent auction and raffle proceeds generate revenue and provide winners with international recognition, cash prizes, and donated magic prizes from partners including Vanishing Inc. and Fantasma Magic.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ members globally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ollie Mealing / The Mealing LibrarycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRevenue-sharing partnership offering I.B.M. members exclusive access to The Mealing Library at £20/month (~$26/month). Includes 300+ card magic tutorials with 3 new routines added weekly. Portions of revenue go back to I.B.M. to support programs to share and grow the art of magic. Also offered lifetime access promotion through May 31.
• Vanishing Inc.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated prizes for the I.B.M. Youth Contest, including hundreds of downloads. Combined with Fantasma Magic donations to create an 'incredible magical experience' for winners including Disney and Marvel magic products and over $1,000 in Houdini collectables.
• Fantasma MagicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDonated prizes for the I.B.M. Youth Contest including Fantasma, Disney and Marvel magic products. Part of a combined prize package with Vanishing Inc. for contest winners.
• Ask Alexander / Alexander PublishingcoreTechnology or IntegrationExclusive partnership providing I.B.M. members access to the Ask Alexander digital archive - the world's most comprehensive database of magic history, including every issue of The Linking Ring dating back to 1922. Ask Alexander is a powerful searchable research tool integrated into the I.B.M. member portal.
• Academy of Magical Arts / Magic CastleminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSpecial pathway for I.B.M. members to experience the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, a private club usually reserved for Academy of Magical Arts members and their guests. Members can visit without needing a personal invitation.
• David Jonathan MagiccoreGTM or Marketing PartnerExclusive partnership where David Jonathan offers I.B.M. members a sitewide discount on his full line of products. David Jonathan is a renowned creator of original, practical magic used by professionals worldwide.
• Visual Alchemy / Jeff SheridanminorGTM or Marketing PartnerI.B.M. members save $10 on 'Visual Alchemy: The Magic Life of Jeff Sheridan' using promo code LinkingRings.
• MagicAndCards.comminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFree downloadable magic offered to I.B.M. members through MagicAndCards.com partnership.
• McBride Magic & Mystery SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with McBride Magic & Mystery School in the development and delivery of the Lance Burton Teen Seminar. The seminar grew and flourished through this partnership before leadership transitioned to Gabriella Lester.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Magic Circle: The UK's premier magic society, founded in 1905, with membership tiers, a London headquarters, exclusive club facilities, and the Carlton Award system — directly comparable to I.B.M. as a national-equivalent membership organization for magicians, with the Inner Magic Circle (Gold Star) mirroring I.B.M.'s Order of Merlin prestige tier.
• Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.): Founded in 1902, the oldest magic organization in the U.S., with Assembly chapters (analogous to I.B.M. Rings), monthly publications, and assemblies worldwide. Directly competes for U.S. amateur and professional magician memberships alongside I.B.M.
• Academy of Magical Arts (Magic Castle): Private Hollywood club for magicians with membership tiers, awards (Parlour Magician of the Year — which Andrew Goldenhersh won in 2009/2010), and exclusive venue access. Comparable to I.B.M. as a membership-based magic organization with prestige hierarchy, and I.B.M. has a formal partnership offering members access.
• FISM (Fédération Internationale des Sociétés Magiques): The international federation of magic societies, organizing the World Championship of Magic. Comparable to I.B.M. as a global governing body for magic, with overlapping member magicians and contest frameworks (though FISM is a federation of societies rather than individual members).

Regional players

• MurphysMagic: UK-based magic retailer and publisher with a long-running monthly magazine and dealer presence at UK magic conventions. Comparable to I.B.M. as a magic-community publisher and retailer, primarily serving the UK market where I.B.M. has Magic Circle as the dominant national organization.

Broad incumbents

• Penguin Magic: Major online magic retailer and content platform with a large library of penguin-live lecture videos and instructional downloads. Competes with I.B.M. for hobbyist magicians' discretionary spending on learning content and props, with overlapping audience.
• Theory11: High-end playing card and magic prop retailer with a strong community of card magicians. Comparable to I.B.M. as a brand serving the magic community, with overlapping audience of card-magic enthusiasts that I.B.M. courts through the Mealing Library partnership.
• Vanishing Inc. One of the world's largest magic retailers and publishers, run by professional magicians with a podcast, book line, and major YouTube presence. Comparable to I.B.M. as a magic-community brand that monetizes content (ebooks, tutorials, props) and is an active sponsor/partner of I.B.M. youth contests.

Emerging players

• Ellusionist: Playing card and magic prop brand popular with younger card magicians. Comparable to I.B.M. as a youth-skewing magic brand, and a potential competitor for the emerging magician segment that I.B.M. targets through Ring 1221 and the Lance Burton Teen Seminar.
• Genii Magazine: The leading independent magic periodical (founded 1936), with a subscriber base that overlaps The Linking Ring's audience. Comparable to I.B.M. as a long-standing magic content brand, though Genii is a paid subscription magazine rather than a membership organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@internationalbrotherhoodof1173
• Facebookfacebook.com/IBMMAGIC
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibmmagic
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-brotherhood-of-magicians

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The International Brotherhood Of Magicians