magic show – MagicShow.Tips

The 1-2-3-4 Ace Trick

I was playing around with some cards the other night and came up with a very 1980’s feeling packet trick. The effect is you show four aces. The ace of diamonds changes to a two of diamonds. Then the ace of clubs changes to the three of clubs. For the finale, the ace of hearts turns into the four of hearts, giving you a one (ace), two, three and four.

This trick uses a series of Ascanio Spreads. I’m not going to go teach that move here, but you can look it up and find a tutorial for it online.

Here’s the starting order of the cards:

Hold them face up in your left hand in dealing grip. Do an Ascanio Spread to show four aces, putting the four card block on top of the packet .

Do a second Ascanio Spread to show that the ace of diamonds is now a two. Put the four card block top of the spread.

Next do a third Ascanio Spread to show that the ace of clubs is now a three. This time, you will switch places of the middle two cards. I openly displace them, and then put the four card block on top.

Finally, do a fourth Ascenio Spread to show that the ace of hearts is now the four!

That’s it, there’s really not much to this trick, and it feels like it needs an ending. I have played with having the backs change colors and have a method for that, but I’m not really happy with it.

Additionally, I’d be surprised if this sequence had not been created before. It seems fairly obvious that this result can be achieved with just Ascenio Spreads.

-Louie

Replacing Ropes

After a summer of performing, I was doing some prop maintenance and noticed how gross the ropes I use have gotten!

Going through your props a couple times a year to clean them up or replace things that get worn out is a good thing to do. It’ll keep your show looking fresh and not beat up.

-Louie

Handheld Microphone For Magic Shows

The next step in switching to a handheld microphone has happened!

I just bought a Sennheiser handheld microphone that’s compatible with my Sennheiser ew G4 receiver. That saved me having to buy a new receiver. Also I still get the benefits of a smaller and battery operated camera mount receiver, which I prefer of the larger plug in style receivers.

Another advantage of switching to a handheld mic for my main show is that most venues already them, so I don’t need to bring my own for many gigs!

-Louie

Getting to the Gig!

Years ago when I was out there doing comedy one nighters, I learned that we’re really getting paid for the travel.

For example, when I do local gigs I’ve started to charge more if my travel involves rush hour traffic.

I should say that I try to not be in a rush to a gig. If I have a gig that would involve me sitting in traffic, I’ll actually leave a couple hours early and get close to the gig. Then I’ll work out at a gym, or go to a coffee shop and do some work. These are things that I’d normally do during my day, I’m just taking back the 45 minutes I’d be sitting in traffic.

Trying to never be in a rush has really taken a lot of stress out of my life.

-Louie

Visiting Haunted Houses

A few weeks ago when I was in Utah, one of the acts I worked with was the juggler Charles Peachock. He’s into haunted houses and we went to a few of them with some of the other acts at the event.

I think the last time I went to a haunted house was thirty years ago.

We went to two haunted houses over two nights. Here’s what I learned, I preferred the haunted houses where the actors weren’t there to just jump out at you, but they were there to help the story move along.

What does that say about a magic show?

A show with some sort of a story or through line is probably something that I’d prefer over a collection of tricks. Now thinking about my show, there’s not really a through line in the show, but it’s more that a collection of tricks. Each routine tells you a bit more about me, however I’m thinking I need to start thinking of more of a through line for my show.

-Louie

NEW Louie Foxx Lecture Notes!

In a week I’m heading out to the 2025 PCAM convention to do my full show and a lecture. If you can’t make it, you can get the lecture notes from me!

2025 Lecture Notes .pdf $25

These are the lecture notes from the lecture that I will present at the 2025 PCAM magic convention. They focus is on stand up/stage magic. They contain seven tricks/routines and five essays.

Introduction
The Opener Card Routine: The five-minute card routine that Louie does as my warm-up for family audiences!
Developing a Unique Show
Louie Foxx’s Take Out Box (Two Versions!): Turn a Chinese food take-out box into a production box!
Moving the Sponge Ball Down the Field
The Fortune Teller: A folded paper fortune teller becomes a self-contained prediction system!
Process in Magic and Mentalism
The Body Language Book Test: A book test plays BIG!
Can I tell that joke?
The Cracker Card Trick: A card trick using crackers! This was performed by Louie TV’s Masters of Illusion!
Fiat Currency: An opening effect that explains what you do.
Why You Should Hang Out With Magicians
The Stand Up Chop Cup: A chop chop routine that uses no table and no one from the audience!

48 pages
These are a .pdf that will be emailed to you within 24 hours of placing your order.

2025 Lecture Notes .pdf $25

Being Forced to Slow Down…

One of my bad habits is that I talk too fast. I do this on and off stage, but I’m really trying to correct it onstage. A while ago I started a run of shows with a cold. This was a longer run of 10 days and I was already there when I noticed I was getting sick. I did my best to not socialize off stage with the other acts and switched the show to one that really has no contact with the audience.

One thing I immediately noticed was that I slowed my rate of speech a lot. I’m guessing this was due to my breathing being different with a cold. I also noticed that all the jokes were hitting harder. I was giving people just a little bit more time to process the set ups and punchlines.

I need to keep up talking slower, but when it’s my natural way of speaking it’s a challenge. I’m working hard on keeping it slow…

-Louie

AI still sucks

A few weeks ago I was on Facebook sharing a post about an event I was performing at. At the bottom of the post was a little prewritten question for Facebook’s AI. The question was “Is Louie Foxx a professional magician?”

Here’s what the answer was:

I find it very interesting that Facebook’s AI couldn’t find any info about me as my Facebook page has my public show schedule on it weekly!

Then the logic of me performing “Magic tricks and comedy” suggests that I’m a local performer doesn’t make any sense. This just another reason why I think AI isn’t quite ready for real life.

-Louie

Spiked Punch!

This morning I had an idea for a trick that I think would be called Spiked Punch.

The effect: You show the audience some art you bought. It’s a cardboard box that has a drawing of a boxing glove and spike going through the box. You pull you the spikes and notice the box is upside down. You flip it right side up and remove a full glass of punch!

The trick’s method would basically be like a sword box, with an added bit which is the gimmick from a Wizzy Dizzy Milk.

I think the addition of flipping the box over adds a layer to the trick. Not sure if an audience will notice or appreciate the flip of the box, but it should make it harder to backtrack to figure out the method.

This is something that I’d like to try to make in the future!

-Louie

What to Expect at a Media Spot

If you’ve never done a media spot to promote an event you’re performing at, it can be stressful. I made a quick little video that explains how these typically go:

The biggest challenge is the amount of time you’re supposed to do. It’s can be very fluid to where they say you have 5 minutes and it ends up being a 5 second little intro and everything in between. Personally I carry a quick flash trick that only takes a couple of seconds, a modular trick that can run about 90 second to about 3 minutes and a one-ish minute trick. Between those three tricks I can cover most of the time options given.

Hope this helps you out!

-Louie