It’s always fun to get to test a magic product. I recently got a chance to play with a birdcage that someone is taking to market…or planning to.
This one has a nice action and I gave some notes to the maker. Hopefully it will fill the gap between what’s currently available. Right now for a new cage your options are basically the $40 India cage or $1,500-$2,000 for the cages made by Daniel Summers. There’s really no mid range cage, just cheap or super nice.
-Louie
I’m always hunting out unusual things and recently came across a magic kit without a box. I immediately recognized the style of the props as Der Kleine Zauberer magic set from Germany. This set is from around 1900, so it’s 125 years old!
It has most of the instructions which are written in German, French and English.
This set is almost complete, it’s missing the box and a couple of small props. I really wish it had the box as that’s where the value would be. However the props look cool on a shelf without the box. I’m glad to have rescued this magic set!
-Louie
One of the things that I do when I’m on the road is go to the gym. Besides it being good for me, it gives me something to do. Well, I was minding my own business running on the treadmill when I noticed these two on the TV.
I know both of them, then the shot widened and this was the team they were on:
For the next half an hour my work out was distracted and filled with me texting them!
-Louie
A couple of weeks ago when I was in Hermosa Beach performing at the theater there, I had a night off and I got to finally visit the Comedy and Magic Club!
The night I went was the night they have 10 comics and each does about 10 minutes.
It’s an interesting format, there’s no MC. Each act intros the act after them and when only doing 10 mins, it’s a super punchy show!
The night I was there magician Jason Bishop was performing. I got to know him a little bit when we were recording Masters of Illusion in 2019. Jason’s got a great style that fit well into a show with a bunch of comics. He did a great job addressing the change from comedians telling to jokes to him doing magic. He had a quick remark about it and got into the magic.
He opened with Balance (Joshua Jay) and had a great routine for it. I’d only seen it done on internet videos previously and wasn’t impressed by it. However after seeing it live, I like the trick a lot more. I feel like there was a middle trick, but I don’t remember it. He closed with doing a bit with his dog that began with a few comedy bits with it and ended with the vanish of the dog!
I’m glad I had a night off in Hermosa Beach and spent it at the Comedy and Magic Club!
-Louie
In Seattle there’s a show that’s been running for decades called Magic Monday. It’s a monthly magic show that happens at a bookstore. The shows are really more like a magic open mic. You get all sorts of acts, from beginner magicians, to local professional magician to touring magicians who happen to be in town!
This show in the last couple years has really built out its audience and packs the book store! More than having a great, enthusiastic audience, this is a great place for newer magicians to get flight time in front of a friendly audience or a great place for more experienced magicians to get some flight time!
Seattle is very lucky to have this!
-Louie
I just had my first custom made birdcage arrive! It’s the cage in the middle in the picture below:
It’s the pretty much right in between an Owen Vanishing Birdcage and the Summers/Riser Baby Lindy Vanishing Birdcage.
The middle size is great so far (I’ve only practiced with it). I like that it’s visually larger. I like the size of the Owen cage, however it’s just a tad too long for my sleeve and I need to ditch it really quickly after the vanish. Where the smaller Summers/Riser cage can live in my sleeve for a while. The new middle size is just short enough so I don’t feel like I need to ditch it right away!
I can’t wait to use it for an audience!
-Louie
One of the tricks I’m working on uses a fake lime slice. The one on the left is how I get them. It looks good, however the white rubs off fairly quickly and from a short distance it’s not obviously a lime.
For the one on the right I went to an art store and the lady there helped me pick out a paint to use that should be more permanent. So far the new white paint is holding up a lot better than the original paint.
Sometimes it’s the little things like white paint on a fake lime that makes a huge difference in the trick!
-Louie
One of the things I’m trying to do is carry around less stuff. For example, for a 45 mins show, I used to travel with 60+ mins of material. That’s a habit from when I was younger and the time it took to do routines would vary wildly show to how. With years and thousands of shows under my belt, I’m much more consistent with the minimum time that routines take.
Here’s my set up from a recent show at a comedy club:
In the past, my table top bin would be filled with soo much extra crap that I never used. That’s just extra weight I’m lugging around. Now there are only two extra tricks that I’m travelling with.
Here’s the what my two prop bins look like:
The two extra routines I have are the gypsy thread and my ACAAN with a jumbo deck and I rarely use those. Frequently I’m finding myself cutting a planned routine out of the show because I’m running long!
Having less clutter in my gear is super helpful for reducing set up and tear down times and having less stuff onstage makes everything much more efficient!
-Louie
One type of show that I love doing are shows for seniors! These shows are personally very rewarding to do and I always feel amazing after them. These facilities have tons of activities going on.
It’s a market that NEEDS entertainment! I’ve been working these venues since I was a teenage while they used to be a bigger part of my income, I only do a dozen or two a year. That’s based on my travel schedule, I can only take them on dates that I’m locked into being in a town or at home.
When I was younger I used to tour doing senior shows. I would book 2-5 shows in a town and then drive to the next town. It’s a lot of work, but it was worth it to me!
You can learn more about performing in this market from my book How To Perform For Seniors!
-Louie
| Tips for Travelling With Your Show! My “summer season” started early with a 10 day outdoor fair in Southern California in February. Normally my outdoor season doesn’t start until March or April, so I’m out working on my tan early! Amazon Lockers: Most cities have Amazon lockers and they can be a lifesaver if you’re flying to a gig or staying at an AirBnB. Amazon Lockers are around town at things like gas stations and grocery stores. You can order things to be delivered to them the day before you get into town and everything will be waiting for you. No more running around to stores to get things you don’t fly with. For example, I’m at a 10 day gig, and will use probably 20 decks of cards. I don’t want to fly with them, it’s too much weight, so I simply ordered two bricks of cards to an Amazon Locker and they were there waiting for me. Cash: I always try to have $100 on me at all times for emergencies. That will get me to the next gas station and it’s handy just pay cash for your portion of dinner if you go out with other people. I also try to have five $20’s as it’s more versatile than a single one hundred dollar bill. AirTags: These are GPS trackers that work with iPhones (there’s an Android equivalent). It’s always nice to know that my show that’s checked luggage made it on the plane! |
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| Roadside America: This is an iPhone app and website that has all sorts of quirky and unusual things around the USA (and a little bit of Canada). It’ll help you find cool things in to see or do in the area you’re performing in. Magic Clubs: When I travel to cities I look up local magic clubs and try to visit them. You can find lists of them on the S.A.M and I.B.M. websites. AreoPress: This is a small little gadget that makes great coffee and is easy to travel with! All you need is ground coffee and hot water. No more gross hotel coffee! Hope there’s a tip in there that makes travelling with you show a little more fun! -Louie |
