Pictures – Page 29 – MagicShow.Tips

Vanishing Birdcage Instructions!

I have a fairly large collection of vanishing birdcages, and one of the things that I don’t have are a lot of instructions. I’ve rarely come across cages with the original instructions.

I recently came across a few sets of instructions from some older vanishing birdcages to add to my collection!

The set on the left are instructions for the Secondus vanishing birdcage that was put out by Harry Stanley’s Unique Magic in England! This cage was made by YIMKA, and I have one in my collection, so it’s great to pair those two up!

The set of instructions on the right belong to an unknown (to me) cage.

I’m happy to have these in my collection!

-Louie

People Love ACAAN!

A few days ago I was at a booking event and Chubby Checker was there. He’s 82 years old and been in showbiz for over 60 years!

I was chit chatting with his manager and she told me that Chubby loves magic and asked if I could show him a trick. I went over and did Any Card at Any Number for him and he loved it. He bugged me the whole event to do it again and I did and each time he was more amazed.

Magicians who have never done a pure ACAAN where it’s simply “name a card, name a number” and their card is at their number don’t understand how good of a card trick it is. It’s an impossible trick.

Many magicians say that audiences don’t like it and it’s a trick for magicians are totally wrong. I think there are so many bad tricks that pretend to be an ACCAN, but aren’t and dilute the effect. Once you get dice, your phone or convoluted processes into the trick to make it easier, the trick isn’t as clear or nearly as impossible.

Doing ACAAN correctly where there’s no process, or additional props, just a card, number and a deck of cards isn’t easy to do. It’s out of range of the average performer as you need to improvise a lot and have a huge toolbox card magic knowledge to draw from.

It’s totally worth learning to do correctly, it’s an incredible trick that audience do like!

If you’re interested in doing ACAAN, I recommend tracking down the book Any Card by Alain Nu. It’s a great overview of how to work ACAAN.

– Louie

Staging for Video Projection

In yesterday’s post I mentioned using a Hollyland Mars 400s Pro II for video projection in my show. I forgot to include a picture of my simple set up with it.

Hollyland Mars 400s Pro II for magic show video projection

It’s just an old iPhone with an HDMI adapter that goes to the Hollyland Mars 400s Pro II. The iPhone has a physical shutter that I 3d printed to block the camera when not in use.

That’s it! Easy peasey, nothing to crazy.

-Louie

Magic Advent Calendar!

This month there’s a really cool magic advent calendar where you get a cool magic trick each day in December leading up to Christmas…and it’s FREE

advent calendar for magicians with magic tricks

It’s not too late to sign up for it to learn some great magic. Simply go to: https://mysteryarts.christmas/ and there’s a link at the top of the page to sign up.

-Louie

Wireless Video Projection

A while ago I started using video projection in my magic shows. My camera set up is pretty simple, I was doing it with an HDMI cord that went direct from the camera to TV or projector. This worked, but it’s not always possible to do because of where the input is located and how much cord I travel with.

I recently bought a Hollyland Mars 400s Pro II, which is an wireless video transmitter. You plug the HDMI from the camera into the transmitter and the HDMI from the receiver to the TV or projector. Now if the HDMI input for the project is across the room, or in an AV room it’s not a problem. I don’t need to run cord or travel with more than a couple of short lengths of HDMI cord.

I’ve used this twice since I got them and both times the production guy at the event commented that Hollyland makes good stuff. In fact the second time I used them the venue was also using them!

So far, I’m a fan of them!

-Louie

Soo Much Trash

One of the questions that I get asked a lot by magician who see my show is “how much does it cost you to do your show?” My show has a lot of disposables, here’s what is thrown away after the show:

When I do my full show, it cost me about $10 to do my show. Sure that adds up over time, but at $10 it’s not that much when you consider everything else it costs to do a show, like travel or hotel.

If your vision for your show costs money each show, but it will help you achieve your artistic vision for the show, then $10 is nothing. If it cost me hundreds each show I may reconsider some stuff, but ten bucks I’m totally fine with.

-Louie

All American Magic Theater

A couple of weeks ago I performed in a show at the All American Magic Theater in Portland OR. It’s a fun little theater in a magic shop inside of a mall.

It’s always fun to perform in a variety show! One of the challenges for me since I’m used to doing 45-70 mins is doing a shorter 15 min set. A 15 min set is structured very differently than a longer full show. As an act, your opener is less of a “warm up” and you kinda need to get right into the act.

It’s fun to flex that different show length muscle!
-Louie

Making Remote Control Chattering Teeth!

I just finished up making a batch of Remote Control Chattering Teeth. There were two reasons for this batch, the first is that I was out and needed more in stock. The second reason, which to me is the more important reason, I wanted to make a new version of them. I made a batch of six sets of Remote Control Chattering Teeth: Four normal and two experimental!

The thing I’m going to start to test is having them run by an ankle/magnetic switch, instead of a traditional push button remote control.

I’ve already learned a huge lesson when making these teeth. The magnet switches that I had on hand were cased in glass and they broke fairly easily while assembling them. I just ordered a batch of plastic cased magnet switched and will give them a try and see if they work as well as the glass ones!

I’ll be using these in my family/kid shows in December to see how they hold up. If they work well, I’ll probably offer these as an option.

-Louie
PS: If you’re interested in the standard Remote Control Chattering Teeth, you can get them here: https://www.magicshow.tips/remote-control-chattering-teeth/

Magic at Powell’s Books!

Powell’s Books legendary bookstore in Portland Oregon. They have a huge selection of new and more importantly used books. You never know what you’ll find there. I frequently pop in and take a peek at their magic section.

There are a ton of legit magic books there, from Card College, to Max Maven’s PRISM! Since these are used books selling on the normal used book market, there are some deals to be had!

For me the greatest thing was in the shelf there was a magic coloring book!

This was being sold as a magic book, there was not context for it and no instructions. I wonder how many people picked it up and and were confused by it…or possibly amazed if they flipped though it and it was blank. Then wondered why it was blank, and flipped again and it had pictures!

If you visit the Portland OR area, visiting Powell’s books is worth a stop!

-Louie

Portland SAM #59

Last week I visited the Society of American Magicians Assembly #59 in Portland, OR. I love magic clubs, and it’s time for me to formally join this one. I’m currently not a member of the national Society of American Magicians, so I need to do that before I can be a member of the local assembly.

I think that of the barriers to entry with magic clubs is having to join the national and the local magic club. It looks like national SAM dues are $65 and the local club is $35, so it’s $100 to get involved. That’s a lot of money for someone who is just starting out in magic. However I do understand why the money is needed, and there is value to the $100. If someone starting in magic actually read the magazines and went to the meetings there’s more than $100 in value.

Society of American Magicians Assembly #59 in Portland, OR

After the magic club meeting, a few of us went down the street for a beer to keep magic jamming!

I’m a HUGE supporter of magic clubs as they helped me a lot growing up and I want to help them succeed. You should support your local magic club!

-Louie