October 2025 – Page 2 – MagicShow.Tips

New Sound System for my Magic Show

After probably more than a decade I finally upgraded my sound system. I used to use the Roland Street Cube EX, which is great and after about 10 years it still works great! What I liked about this system is that is has all the inputs that I need, so I don’t need to add a mixer to it. It also runs on AA batteries, so if there is a low battery issue, I just throw new ones into it.

I’m switching to the Bose S1 Pro. The main reason I’m switching to it is for a tour I’m doing in the spring of 2026, and the Bose speaker is much smaller than the Roland Street Cube EX. The Bose S1 Pro also has better sound, but both speakers have enough sound for what I need.

I also bought a carrying case for the Bose speaker.

This case has plenty of pockets and holds all my audio gear, eliminating the need for another case.

I’ve done a few shows with the Bose S1 Pro so far, and it works great!

-Louie

Pay vs Pain Ratio

The Pay vs Pain (in the butt) ratio is a factor in determining if a gig is worth doing. A while ago I was asked to perform in a variety show at a huge event. The pay was basically non existent, what it would cost for me to do the gig in travel expenses exceeded the pay. Why would I take the gig…well I like the people in the show, so it’s an excuse to hang out. That’s a -1 in the pay index. Also I’m not getting paid the day of the show, so that’s another -1 in the pay index.

Now that the pay isn’t the reason to take the gig, the reason to not take the gig is the pain in the butt factor. When I accepted the gig I was told we would get parking passes. Well, that changed and as a 15 person variety show, they only gave us 3 passes. That adds a +1 in the pain in the butt index.

When they scheduled me, asked me to sign up on their website so that they had my details. I went to create an account, which was a pain because it’s primarily a music event and none of the check boxes applied to me, and none had an “other” option. That’s a +1 in the pain in the butt index. What I ended up doing was just checking whatever box, but then the site needed to verify my email by sending me an email to continue to add my personal info. I never got that email, and was never able to complete their registration. That’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index. I had to reach out and argue with them to let me give them my info over the phone because their website didn’t work. that’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index.

Next they said we’d have to check in across the event grounds which are huge and it will be crowded. Why we can’t just have one person check us in as a group instead of everyone individually checking in, I don’t know. That adds another +1 to the pain in the butt index.

The morning of the event one of the producers of the show asked if I could bring my own audio. I said no, that’s not what I agreed to, and that this is a large event who I submitted my tech to weeks ago. If they were unable to accommodate a handheld microphone, they shouldn’t have booked me. That’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index.

So let’s look at the Pay vs Pain results.
Pay -2
Pain +6
That’s not a good ratio.

Shows that are low on pay should be very low on the pain in the butt. Ideally the pay should be at a 0 and the pain should be at a 0 if it’s a gig you’re not doing for the money.

-Louie

Magic Show Tax?

In Washington State where I live they just passed a tax on “live presentations”. The way the new tax is described it’s unclear as to whether I’m supposed to start charging sales tax. Previously, service businesses didn’t have to charge sales tax.

Here’s what the rule looks like on their state’s website:

The state has an email address that you can use to get an official ruling as to what you’re supposed to do. I sent them a question asking them if I have to start charging sales tax and here’s what the state had to say:

That’s great news, as the new rule took effect on 10/1/25, and I had shows scheduled with “all inclusive” pricing long before this new tax was announced. Those shows I’d lose 10% on, so I’m glad that magic shows are exempt (for now) from this new tax!

If you’re in Washington State and do magic shows, you should email the Department of Revenue and get an official, binding ruling for your business.

-Louie

Getting Around With A Magic Show

For my summer gigs that I flew to, I tried to rent cars less this year. It’s mostly because they just kinda sit there all week while I’m performing. Most places I stay within a couple of miles of the venue. That means I can walk or use things like the Lime eScooters to get around.

Normally I’ll take an uber/lyft to load in and out of the venue. However the last fair I did, it the ride share wait time was a lot and was super busy when I left, so I tried putting my case on the lift and zipping up the road to the hotel. Much to my surprise it worked!

I’m going to say that it’s probably fairly dangerous to do this, however in a pinch it worked for me. With that said, DO NOT DO THIS!

-Louie

Portland Juggling Festival

Last week I popped by the Portland Juggling Festival’s public show. The show was a mix of different levels of performing experience, and lots of styles. Like a magic convention there are a lot of acts that were really arty and not really real world acts. They’re acts that I can’t imagine building a show out of, but could work in a variety show. Then there were the working acts, and you could really tell the difference between them and the acts that aren’t out there performing all the time. It’s a tightness in the show that I notice.

The headliner of the show was Jay Gilligan. He did an amazing act that solved what I think is one of the problems with a juggling act. That problem is that most juggling patterns really look the same to someone who doesn’t know juggling. Jay basically juggled 3 balls (he did more than that), but did them in very novel ways there were very different looking, even when it was just a basic 3 ball cascade.

His closer was juggling three balls in a cascade slowly and it was amazing! I don’t want to ruin the ending for you. It an amazing ending!

What Jay did was take something very standard and figure out a way to make it look very different. How can you do that with magic? They guy who invented the sponge bunnies did it when he turned balls into bunnies. Jonathan Burns did it with his cheese card trick. There’s a lot of room out there to reimagine standard magic. Go and do it!

-Louie

Great Advice for a Magic Show!

In a box of used magic I found an almost 30 year old letter from an established professional magician to a newer magician. It’s notes on the newer magician’s show, you can read them below:

The notes are pretty spot on, and great advice. I love that the older magician took the time to write up the advice so that it’s easier for the newer magician to implement the suggestions!

Personally I love helping magicians be better, and I think it’s something we all should do!

-Louie

The Moisture Festival Podcast – Salamandir

On this episode of the Moisture Festival Podcast we welcome in Salamandir (yes. That’s his real name). Salamandir talks with us about growing up playing music and how his exposure at a young age allows him to pick up any instrument and play it.

We discuss his abilities to fix instruments, his love of incense and even get insights into the first Moisture Festival. A great conversation with a fascinating person.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Teaching Stage Etiquette

Over the summer I worked at a fair with a hypnotist and some other acts. One night during the hypnotist’s show, the drummer from the band that was next onstage started bringing his drum kit onstage and setting it up! This is a huge breach of etiquette when you are sharing a stage with another act.

The thing is when you perform at fairs there are really two types of acts, acts that are professionals and acts that aren’t. The community acts are typically acts that are newer and just haven’t ever shared a stage with another act and don’t know the rules.

While it’s annoying a hell when someone tries to set up during your show, it’s also a teachable moment as they obviously don’t know that they shouldn’t do it. When it happens during my show, I simply mute my mic and firmly say, “This is an active stage and you need to get off of it right now.“

No discussion, just that said firmly.

Then after my show, if they don’t apologize to me, which they will about 90% of the time, then I explain to them during someone else’s show 100% of the stage is theirs…unless other arrangements have been made. I usually ask/mention how they would feel if I went onstage and started setting up while they were performing.

Educate them!

-Louie

Dell O’Dell Promo!

When I was going through a box of old magic stuff, I found this envelope and 1/3 page flyer from Dell O’Dell. What I love about this is how fun it is. There’s little jokes, like having someone pull off the stamp.

Then in the lower left corner it says to touch the bell with a cigarette. When held up to to the light you can see that her signature it attached to the bell. I’m guessing that the when heated the signature will burn or become darker.

It’s a fun piece of promo to find!

-Louie

The Porter Case!

Last spring I picked up a Porter Case. This is carry on luggage that converts to a luggage dolly. I haven’t needed to use it, until my recent trip to Canada to get on a cruise ship.

Here’s the case in its three positions:

After using it to get from home to the airport, the airport to the hotel, and the hotel to the cruise ship, I’ve decided I like it! Since they haven’t made these in a long time, the challenge will be to find another one as a backup.

-Louie