How to Travel With Fragile Show Props!

Travelling with show props is a challenge, it’s even more stressful when they’re fragile!

Magician travelling with large props

I’m heading out for a gig with my Vintage Organ, and normally, when I fly to the gig, I ship it there, so it travels independently of me. However I have a gig coming up where shipping it ahead isn’t an option, so I have to fly with it.

The first step in flying with anything unusual is to call the airline. Since it’s technically a musical instrument, there are some exceptions to some rules that could apply. After chatting with the airline, none did. I did learn the parameters of what oversize is and the limits to that. This case fits the definition of oversize without exceeding it to a size that I wouldn’t be able to take. I also learned that I needed to put a fragile sticker on each of the six sides of the case.

The other thing that I did was a suggestion from the person at the airline that I talked to. That was put in step by step instructions on how to unpack and repack it if they need to take it out of the foam to screen it.

busker organ in case for flying

The other thing that I’ve asked about and haven’t gotten a clear answer about is whether I can be present when it’s screened. I’ve seen that you can request it for a musical instrument, but it’s not guaranteed and not an option at every airport. I won’t know until the day of. I’m writing this post from the airport I’ll be flying out with the case in a couple of weeks, and couldn’t get a clear answer.

We’ll see how it plays out…

-Louie

Recording Magic Shows

One of the things that I do to work on my show is record them. Nothing fancy, just a camera in the back of the room. I have a bad habit of almost forgetting to take my camera, so what I do is put a note in my case that simply says “camera now”.

magic-show-camera

When I’m packing up and I get to the note, I stop everything and go grab the camera. It’s a simple little thing that has saved me forgetting my camera many, many times!

-Louie
PS: you can learn more about how I work on my shows here.

When Should I Replace a Close Up Mat?

Not too long ago, I wrote a blog post about how I now consider close-up mats to be a disposable item. I just opened this close up mat and the first group I performed for put two marker dots onto the mat!

close up mat with sharpie marker stain

Well, instead of getting a week or two out of the close up mat, I got 5 minutes. After that group, I ran back to my gear and opened another brand new close up mat.

The nice thing about close up mats is that traveling with two of them isn’t really a big deal. I probably wouldn’t travel with three; I think two is reasonable. If the second one gets stained, I’ll just have to commit to using that one for the rest of the event.

-Louie

Magic Show in Seattle!

On Monday I popped by Magic Monday in Seattle. This monthly magic show has been running for over twenty years! The show is currently run by Jim Earnshaw, and it usually features 3-5 magicians each month. Then in August, they do magic show that’s all young magicians performing.

This week it was Jim Earnshaw, Sven “The World’s Tallest Magician”, Monty Reed, Me and Master Payne.

Magic Monday in Seattle
Magic Monday in Seattle
Magic Monday in Seattle
Magic Monday in Seattle
Magic Monday in Seattle

This is a fun show to do because it’s a fun hangout…and because it’s a fun crowd! Here’s a table of magicians in the back watching the show:

Magicians hanging out at a bookstore

Then after the show we go downstairs to pub and hang out.

Magicians hanging out
magicians doing coin tricks

Whenever I’m in Seattle and this show is happening, I always pop by!

Here’s some posts of visits to Magic Monday:
https://www.magicshow.tips/magic-show-tips/magic-monday-in-seattle-3/
https://www.magicshow.tips/magic-show-tips/magic-monday-in-seattle-2/
https://www.magicshow.tips/magic-show-tips/magic-monday-in-seattle/
https://www.magicshow.tips/magic-show-tips/magic-mondays/

If you’re ever in the Seattle area on the second monday of the month, be sure to check out this show!
Details: Ravenna Third Place Books. 7.00 p.m.

-Louie

Jimothy and How To Create a Card Trick

A couple of days ago I saw a video of a unique looking racoon that that internet has named Jimothy. Here’s the video:

He’s popping up everywhere, and that got me thinking, what magic trick could I do with him.

A Simple First Step To Creating Magic Tricks

The easiest way to create a magic trick quickly is to find the theme, in this case Jimothy and figure out what to do with it. I’m travelling right now, so I’m limited with props, which can be a good thing when trying to create something new. I did have some blank face playing cards, so that gave me a start, it’ll be a card trick, with a picture of Jimothy.

My idea was to do an ace assembly type trick, with Jimothy and things raccoons eat. The challenge was that I didn’t have enough blank face cards to do it in the traditional way with 16 cards. I think this was a good thing, because most ace assemblies are too long and redundant, but you kinda need to have three “traveler” piles because there are four aces. I didn’t have that restraint for this trick.

I’m a huge belivier in creating magic tricks with rules or restraints. It definately makes it easier. You can read about how this applied to a full show that I wrote here!

Here’s what I came up with:

What I like about the format of this card routine is that it can be used for other themed tricks. It’s an easily adaptable format, customizing!

-Louie
PS: You can learn more about how I create magic here!

How to be a Good Opening Act!

Recently, I was the headline act for a stand up comedy show at a casino. The show had three acts, and an MC who did 15 minutes, a feature act that did 30 minutes, and then the headliner (me) who did 60 minutes.

Comedy magic

One of the things that many magicians don’t understand is how to be a good opening act when you’re in a show like this. Magicians think they need to go out there and DESTROY an audience almost with a “try to follow that” attitude, and there are places for that, but as an opener in a comedy show, that’s not your job.

The MC’s job is to warm up the crowd, not to crush. The Opener’s job is to keep the energy going so that the headliner has a hot crowd when they step onstage.

I’m not saying you should intentionally be bad, or not give it your all. The thing is that you’re working within a show and the whole show needs to be successful. If you’re constantly blowing the headliner out of the water, and you’re not moving up to that position, you should look at why you aren’t moving up.

Do you have enough A material to fill the 60 mins?


If not, you should be working on that, and not necessarily doing the stuff you know crushes every time.

Are your first 25 minutes any good?

I’ve worked with tons of acts that have an amazing 5-10 minutes, and they close with that. However, everything before that is pretty bad. They close strong, but don’t move up to headliner because the rest of the show sucks.

Is there some other reason?

Are you hard to work with offstage? Do you follow the rules of the venue? These are all things that can keep you from moving up the ladder to the headline position.

How I Learned The Opener’s Job

Many, many years ago, I had a closing bit that crushed. One day, I was on the phone with my stand up agent, and they told me that they didn’t want me doing that bit as the opening act. It really changed the energy in the room and made it hard for the headliner to follow. The agent then explained to me my role, and once I understood that, it made me work harder as a performer to figure out a more appropriate ending to my show for that venue. More importantly, it made me look at my show and really start working on the steps to move up to the headliner spot.

I should point out that you absolutely should do your best, but sometimes a choice of material that’s better for the show as a whole is the right choice.

-Louie

Buried Treasure Bean Box by Arturo

On my trip to the Bay Area a couple weeks ago, I ended up picking up a great vintage magic prop! It was Buried Treasure Bean Box by Arturo. Here’s what the original ads looked like:

Buried Treasure Bean Box by Arturo
Buried Treasure Bean Box by Arturo

And here’s what mine looks like:

Buried Treasure Bean Box by Arturo

This is a prop that I do plan to use in my show. I have an idea for it, so when the opportunity to buy it popped up, I jumped on it!

I really like the idea of the item being buried in beans (or whatever). The problem with this is visually it’s hard for an audience to see what’s going on because you have to see the beans from the top. With a camera, this would work great!

-Louie

The Moisture Festival Podcast – Paul Magid – PART 1

On this episode of the Moisture fest we welcome in Paul Magid. This is the first part of a three part conversation with this new vaudeville Pioneer. We discuss Paul’s early life and learn about the origins of one of the most successful variety acts ever, The Flying Karamozov Brothers.

The Moisture Festival Podcast - Paul Magid

In this conversation, we discuss the early years of the group and learn a bit about Paul’s writing style. A wonderful conversation with one of the most prolific variety acts ever.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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Why You Should Visit Your Magic Club

Whenever I travel, if the local magic club is meeting, I do my best to swing by and visit. Last week, I was in the area when the Northwest Ring of Fire magic club had their meeting. I think the last time I visited this magic club was about three years ago.

Northwest Ring of Fire magic club

Magic clubs are a great way to speed up learning magic, because you can ask questions, get answers, and see things that you can’t over the internet.

Northwest Ring of Fire magic club
Northwest Ring of Fire magic club
Northwest Ring of Fire magic club
Northwest Ring of Fire magic club

When I was a kid getting seriously into magic, the local magic club was a HUGE resource for me and really helped me grow, being able to see things performed with my own eyes! It helped me learn what styles of performing magic I liked and didn’t like. That’s something that’s hard to do if you want to do a long form, in person show by just watching internet videos.

Go out and visit your local magic club!

-Louie