Study Stand Up

Watching other live performers can teach you a lot about performing. I was just watching Anthony Jeselnik’s new stand up special on Netflix, and it was very interesting to watch how he moved on stage. Anthony moves very little, but it’s very coordinated. His stillness after he delivers a joke helps let the joke land. … Continue reading “Study Stand Up”

Watching other live performers can teach you a lot about performing. I was just watching Anthony Jeselnik’s new stand up special on Netflix, and it was very interesting to watch how he moved on stage.


Anthony moves very little, but it’s very coordinated. His stillness after he delivers a joke helps let the joke land. He also does a lot with his face, how he’ll move his eyes at a punchline. Magicians can learn a ton by watching stand up comedy.


Stand up is probably the most “pure” of the novelty acts. It’s just a person, their thoughts and a microphone. There is nothing wrong with props and a skill. Stand up is simply about selling your personality.


This is a place a lot of magicians miss the boat. They sell the trick, and not their personality. Don’t get me wrong, if you are a magician, then the trick has to be sold and it has to be good, but you must have some personality in there somewhere.

The $100 Peso Bill Switch…

About a week ago I was thinking about the Hundred Dollar bill Switch and what I didn’t like about was that is all of the folding. Yes, the folding does create a magic moment…which is good for live shows, however for social media content or a sizzle reel, it can be too slow. That got … Continue reading “The $100 Peso Bill Switch…”

About a week ago I was thinking about the Hundred Dollar bill Switch and what I didn’t like about was that is all of the folding. Yes, the folding does create a magic moment…which is good for live shows, however for social media content or a sizzle reel, it can be too slow.


That got me thinking of a way to do it visually for video and here’s what I came up with:

I really like how visual and quick this came out. I think that the double change makes it a little bit more of a “head scratcher” than if it was a single change. Also it changing to a foreign currency in the middle gives makes bill change less subtle than if it was just a American bills.


I think the place this trick has in would be in a stage show, as part of a longer routine. Like while you are asking to borrow a bill, and if you use your own, every thinks it trick. You do the bill changes almost as a gag to fill time, while someone is getting their bill out.

Leave the Path…

Having a great show has a lot to do with living in the moment and being present in your show.  Even if your show is scripted, you need to be on the lookout for real moments where you can venture off script and into what’s actually happening.  This is what makes live entertainment so good, … Continue reading “Leave the Path…”

Having a great show has a lot to do with living in the moment and being present in your show.  Even if your show is scripted, you need to be on the lookout for real moments where you can venture off script and into what’s actually happening.  This is what makes live entertainment so good, is that anything can happen…but if you rein in uplanned moments, you are totally missing the point of doing a show.


Last night in the show the kid that I brought up on stage was really chatty.  I realized this very quickly when I asked him his name and he told me how to spell it.  Then he didn’t know how to spell his last name.  Letting the kid be a kid, he was perfect for the trick and he really rocked it onstage.  Playing with the kid onstage lets the audience see your personality through how you interact with the kid.


I wasn’t in a hurry to get to the next joke, I let it play out with the kid however it does.  Having a script to the show, allows me to get right back into it when it’s time.  It could just naturally segue back into the show, or I may need to guide us back into the show.  There’s no way it runs 100% of the time, however that’s why having a script is so important.  I’m not thinking of the planned routine, I’m just thinking how to get back to it.

One thing you have to do is address the “elephant in the room” when there is one. Last night I did a show with light attendance, which was due to an unusual situation. The show was in a big theater, and it was obvious that it was a light turn out. I opened the show … Continue reading “”

One thing you have to do is address the “elephant in the room” when there is one. Last night I did a show with light attendance, which was due to an unusual situation. The show was in a big theater, and it was obvious that it was a light turn out.


I opened the show with a joke about it and it went over well and the show proceeded to do great. I think that when everyone notices something, you need to say something about it, you can’t pretend it doesn’t exist.


A good example was many years ago I saw the Amazing Kreskin perform. He had a light turn out, and he came out before the show, mentioned it, and invited the balcony to move to the floor. That gave him a more tightly packed audience, and really made the show better for him and the audience.


Whether it’s a light turn out, someone having a heart attack, whatever, if it’s on the audience’s mind, you need to address it.

Take a Risk…

Sometimes you have to do something that’s hard. Where if it fails, you stand to actually lose. I was curious about adding money to the presentation of the 10 card poker deal. The idea of losing real money, even for a sure fire bet was hard to do the first time. Yesterday I put some … Continue reading “Take a Risk…”

Sometimes you have to do something that’s hard. Where if it fails, you stand to actually lose. I was curious about adding money to the presentation of the 10 card poker deal. The idea of losing real money, even for a sure fire bet was hard to do the first time.


Yesterday I put some money out, by the third hand I had over $400 on the line. Personally I don’t like the idea of me giving the person money to bet with. I prefer just betting my money, and letting them risk nothing. I think that if they never had money in their hand, the feeling of loss is lessened.


The main reason I wanted to put real money on the line, is that I wasn’t positive I wanted to have a money aspect of the routine. What I learned was that I don’t, but I never would have known, had there not been a risk element to it.

Make Notes As You Go…

Last night I did two shows and I noticed another spot in the show that could use some “stinger” music.  Unfortunately I notice it as it happened in the show, and didn’t have a chance to add it before the next show.  If you are present in your show and pay attention during it, the … Continue reading “Make Notes As You Go…”

Last night I did two shows and I noticed another spot in the show that could use some “stinger” music.  Unfortunately I notice it as it happened in the show, and didn’t have a chance to add it before the next show.  If you are present in your show and pay attention during it, the show will tell you a lot of things. 

One of the things that I’m trying to do to my show is tighten it up.  There’s a transition in the show where I need to move a table from center stage to stage right.  It’s down time.  It’s only 5 seconds of down time, but it’s down time.  That time could be used better than just moving a table across the stage. 


During the first show I noticed that I could move the table which I don’t need for the trick before I move it as the guy is coming up to the stage for that previous trick.  What I did “dead time” to eliminate dead time a few minutes later.  It worked great, and I think I’m going to do keep it. 



As the say, “the devil is in the details”.  Little things can make a huge difference in the show. You just need to keep on them, and over time they’ll add up!

Doing the Work…

This week I’m trying to be good about actually working on my show. What I’m doing is watching video of my show and writing notes on the video. I’m writing down what I don’t like, and ideas to improve it. When I do this, I write down the time code on the video that the … Continue reading “Doing the Work…”

This week I’m trying to be good about actually working on my show. What I’m doing is watching video of my show and writing notes on the video. I’m writing down what I don’t like, and ideas to improve it.

magic show

When I do this, I write down the time code on the video that the note is relevant to. This really helps if I am trying to make sense of it later. When writing notes you also need to be brutally honest, if you can’t say it to yourself, no one can.

I had one bit in the show where I don’t think the ending got the payoff it deserved. After watching it, I think I figured out why. It needed a music change at the end. I added some “stinger” music and we’ll see how it plays tonight!

Newly Acquired Taste in Card Tricks

One of the books that I’m reading right now is Principia by Harapan Ong.  It’s a card magic book, and while I’m only about 50 pages into it, I think it’s a really good, modern card magic book.  One of the books selling points is that there is internet video of Harapan doing all of … Continue reading “Newly Acquired Taste in Card Tricks”

One of the books that I’m reading right now is Principia by Harapan Ong.  It’s a card magic book, and while I’m only about 50 pages into it, I think it’s a really good, modern card magic book.  One of the books selling points is that there is internet video of Harapan doing all of the material in the book.  Unfortunately I’m in a position where I don’t have internet access fast enough to stream video, so I haven’t watched them.


One thing that surprised me was there was an “elevator” card trick that I actually liked.  I think I was introduced to the elevator plot when I was a teenager reading the big Alex Elmsley books.  I never really liked the plot simply because there always seemed to be either too much process or too much proving.  The Michalevator routine in the book doesn’t have much process and doesn’t over prove…and I like it.


I don’t know if I’ll ever actually use Harapan’s elevator trick in an actual show or not, but it’s been fun to play with.  I’ve said it before, but it’s important to still play with magic.  That’s how we learn, through play. 

Artist vs Craftsman

One thing that I don’t get is the appeal of a coverband to a performer in one.  What I mean by that, is your art is 100% other people’s art.  You are taking something that someone else did the work on and taking credit.  You are relating to the audience through other people’s art, which … Continue reading “Artist vs Craftsman”

One thing that I don’t get is the appeal of a coverband to a performer in one.  What I mean by that, is your art is 100% other people’s art.  You are taking something that someone else did the work on and taking credit.  You are relating to the audience through other people’s art, which makes you a craftsman, not an artist.  I guess if that’s your goal, then that works.


This relates to magic, not just music.  After David Copperfield did his snow routine on TV, and Kevin James started selling the prop, 99% of routines that were presented were about someone “never having seen snow”.  This dumbs down magic.  It gives performers a false feeling that they are artists, but it’s also why a lot of magic isn’t taken seriously.


Magicians say they are unique and this is the problem.  If you say in your promo you have a unique take on magic, or a show unlike any other and you do standard tricks the standard way, you are doing everyone who is an artist a disservice. 




I you are a magician that does tricks the bought and presents them in a way that’s standard, you should bill your show as “classics of magic” or something like that.  I know we’re all guilty of having done standard stuff in the normal way, that’s part of the learning process.  At some point you have to decide if you’re going to be a 1980’s cover band or Bon Jovi.

Practice Time…

Practicing is something that I’m amazed at how few magicians do.  The kinda learn something, then it’s the end.  Or the bigger one is when magicians complain that something is hard.  That’s loser talk, yes somethings may be hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.  Everyone wants to be Shin Lim, but only Shin Lim … Continue reading “Practice Time…”

Practicing is something that I’m amazed at how few magicians do.  The kinda learn something, then it’s the end.  Or the bigger one is when magicians complain that something is hard.  That’s loser talk, yes somethings may be hard, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad.  Everyone wants to be Shin Lim, but only Shin Lim put in the work to be Shin Lim. 


In a broad sense practicing can take many forms.  It could be working on the muscle memory for a sleight, it could be rehearsing an act, it could be writing a bit, it could be watching a video of yourself performing.  There are a lot of ways you can put in the work.  All of those things make you a better performer. 


Personally, I’m writing this today to motivate myself.  I’m in a situation where I have a lot of downtime while travelling to shows. Yesterday was day one of two weeks and at one point I was bored.  I’m not bored, I was being lazy.  There’s nothing wrong with relaxing, but being bored there is.  Once I realized my thought, I picked up a book and started reading, I was practicing being me.  


There’s a henry rollins quote that’s relevant to this: “No such thing as spare time, no such thing as free time, no such thing as down time. All you got is life time. Go.”.  That’s true. I can spend my time wishing I had something to do, OR I can do something.