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!
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!
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!
When I travel I’m always looking for ways to save time in lines at the airport. Little things can make a huge difference. One of the things is to know the weight of your luggage and how heavy it can be without an additional charge before you get to the airport. This saves you having to move stuff from bag to bag while you’re checking in.
Something new I’m trying is an electronic bag tag. Mine is specifically for Alaska Airlines, which is the main airline that I use.
Alaska Airlines has allowed customers to print a bag tag for years, but you need a printer and I don’t always have access to one. The advantage of using the electronic bag tag is that I can update it with my phone. This lets me skip the line where you print your own bag tag and I can proceed direct to the bag drop.
I’ve taken this on two trips and it’s saved me a lot of time! I’m a fan…until it gets ripped off of my luggage. The strap seem secure, but I’m predicting the worst!
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!
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!
When I travel I always try to support local magic shops. Recently I was performing in Kansas City, there’s a Magic Shop that’s website says it’s the only brick and mortar magic shop in the city.
I’m glad I read a bit deeper on their website as it says it’s open by appointment only. That saved me a trip driving out to a place that wasn’t open. However that got me thinking, is a shop that’s only open by appointment really a brick and mortar magic shop?
Technically I guess it is. Based on a quick internet search the criteria is that it offers a place where a customer can interact with the products before buying. However, if you don’t have regular hours, you’re really just an warehouse that people can visit.
I was in town for several days and the owner of the shop was never available for me to visit.
I try to support local magic shops, but sometime they make it impossible to do that. Sure, I could support them by ordering online, but that defeats the purpose of supporting a magic shop in a city I’m visiting. If they’re mailing it to me, I might as well order from my preferred online, family run magic shop that also has a location I can and do visit.
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!
They interview you with prompts that you choose from a list. It was a strange way to be interviewed and I’m not sure if I’m super happy with how it turned out. It’s not bad, but I don’t think it’s great.
