August 2024 – Page 3 – MagicShow.Tips

Ginóskó by David Kuraya – Partial Review

Way back in early June when I was performing in San Francisco I visited Misdirections Magic Shop. Joe mentioned the book Ginóskó to me and said it was really good. I picked it up and finally started going through the book.

I’m only on the third trick in the book and so far I like all three!

The first trick is called Check Yo’ Self and is a production of a deck of card, which I think is fun, but I don’t really have the pocket space for it.

Blackjack For Brother John is the second trick is a packet trick that I’m having fun learning, but it’s not the style. I love learning packet tricks, but I don’t do them. The trick uses four cards, has a fun little blackjack theme and is pretty easy to do. If you’re into packet tricks, you’ll like this one.

The third trick is High Five and a Handshake is one that I really like and while it probably won’t make it into my main close up set, it’s something that I’ve been doing since I read it and it fits my style and gets great reactions! The effect is really simple, the two jokers are put in the middle of the deck and they jump to the top and bottom. It’s got a clear cut effect and David’s routine for it is fun!

Based on the first three tricks in the book, I would highly recommend this book! And at $25, if the rest of the book is junk, it’s still worth it!

-Louie

Playing BIGGER!

Last week I wrapped up a 12 day gig at the Ohio State Fair. One of the challenges for me was how big the stage was. It was very wide and deep, then the backwall was about 6 feet beyond the end of the stage. That makes a lot of magic hard to focus on. Especially for an act like me that uses handheld props.

Here’s what the stage looks like:

Over the two weeks I learned to play my show BIG using large gestures and working to get bigger reactions out of people onstage. Here’s the highlights of week one:

@louiefoxx Comedy Magic at the Ohio State Fair: Week 1 highlights #ohio #columbus #comedy #magic #statefair #louiefoxx #sizzlereel #familyfun ♬ original sound – Louie Foxx

This stage was a fun challenge!

-Louie

AirDrop for Pics of Your Show

I had an idea to get pics of my show. I told the audience that I’d allow anyone to airdrop me “pictures of my show or their pets” after the show. Here’s what I got:

The first pic is of me that someone ran though a filter to make me old! Then I got a few show pics and two dogs! It was a fun experiment to see if people would send me stuff.

When I do close up I ask people to AirDrop me pictures or video and this is a great way to get those of you doing close up. From a stage context, I’m not sure if it’s as good, but I’ll keep playing with it.

-Louie

Variable 30 minute Magic Show

Recently I wrapped up a twelve day run at a fair. I was doing 30 minute stage magic shows. Here’s what my case and tabletop set up looks like:

The show set list is pretty simple:

ACAAN
Rope Trick
Cup Trick
Drawing Routine
Tape Measure Prediction
Marshmallow, blindfold, or whip and safety pin routines
Hoop and Cup

The second to the end position is a variable spot in the set let. It could be one of three routines based on time, how much of the audience are repeat, and general vibe I’m feeling. That variable is great when there are people who just saw the show, you can have a slightly different show for them!

-Louie

The Thrill of the Hunt!

I’m a huge fan of antique magic, and I think when the current young generation of magicians gets old the antique magic trade will have greatly diminish. The kids coming up in magic over the last decade or so are growing up with downloads, so they aren’t connected as emotionally connected physical props.

I recently found a Merv Taylor Glass Penetration at an auction in Indiana and was the winning bidder!

Looking for auction houses that have some magic stuff is one of my hobbies when I’ve got time between shows. The auction house was only a couple of hours away from where I was performing in Ohio! This was a great find to add to my collection!

-Louie

Think Before Using a US Flag in Your Show

One of the things that drives me nuts are magicians, or any performer that uses a flag in their show and doesn’t understand the US Flag Code. These are rules that define what a US Flag is, how it should be displayed and handled.

You can read the Flag Code here.

Someone recently posted in a magician’s group of their show and the American Flag in the picture being backwards was all that I could see!

There are a couple of flag code violations in the pictures above. First the flag is backwards, and then there are props on top of the flag. This isn’t a huge deal to most people, but it’s like doing a gospel magic show, but all of your crosses are upside down! It takes virtually the same energy to correctly hang a flag as it does to incorrectly display the flag.

If you use a flag, learn to handle it respectfully!

-Louie

Howard Thurston’s Gravesite!

While I was working in Columbus, OH I arranged for the magician’s at the Ohio State Fair to go visit the grave of Howard Thurston!

He’s in the mausoleum at Green Lawn Abbey. This is locked and you need to make an appointment to get into the mausoleum. I sent an email through the website and made an appointment with Kathy.

Howard Thurston Gravesite
billy kidd
david anthony

It was a fun morning trip and Kathy gave a great tour! If you’re in Columbus, you should definitely visit!

-Louie

Sharing a Trailer and Tips!

One of the great things about working with other acts is sharing tips. Not so much “secrets” but like what media players we’re using or why we like certain cases.

I had the pleasure of sharing a green room (trailer) with David Anthony and Ron Diamond. Both of them were insanely generous and open about chatting with things that they use or do that could help me improve my show and my business!

These two people understand that when everyone is doing the best they can, it’s better for everyone! Go out there and share what you know!

-Louie

Vintage Magic Trick – Carnival Cards by Tom Ogden

This vintage packet trick is interesting, as it feels like Emerson and West’s Color Monte, but with four cards. Here’s what Tom Ogden’s Carnival Cards looks like:

@louiefoxx Vintage Magic Trick: Carnival Cards by Tom Ogden #vintage #magictrick #cardtrick #carnival #magic #louiefoxx #cards #gambling #vintagemagic ♬ original sound – Louie Foxx

This uses the same move and the effect is very similar, except for the fourth card on the table. I’m curious what came first, it looks like Color Monte was released in 1974 and the Carnival Cards is undated, but based on the packaging, my guess in late 1970’s to early 1980’s.

Here’s the changes that I would make to the Carnival Cards trick:

It’s strange that Carnival Cards uses gaffed cards, because they aren’t needed. I kinda wonder if they were added to make the trick feel more “different” from Color Monte?

-Louie

Vintage Magic Trick – John Kennedy’s Cigarette Thru Any Coin

This is a fun trick that I remember seeing advertised in the 1990’s. It’s John Kennedy’s Cigarette Thru Any Coin! Here’s what it looks like:

@louiefoxx Vintage Magic Trick! 1990’s CIGARETTE THRU ANY COIN by John Kennedy #magic #johnkennedy #cigarette #cointrick #closeupmagic #louiefoxx #sleightofhand #vintage #antique #seattle ♬ original sound – Louie Foxx

I thing this trick is interested as there are a couple of methods working at the same time to create the illusion of the cigarette going through the coin. I don’t know if this is an improvement over the traditional method with a gimmicked coin. Kennedy’s method would have you have to do a switch of the larger object, which complicates doing the trick with “borrowed” objects, which makes the trick stronger.

Cigarette through coin is a classic bar trick like coin in bottle where the strength of the trick is that is uses borrowed objects and everything can be returned at the end and handled by the audience, so everything feels impromptu. It’s that unplanned feeling of it that makes the trick hit really hard!

-Louie