Magically Sound Magic

One of the things about doing magic tricks is that you can do some amazing things and you can do them fairly easily, but that doesn’t make it good magic. What’s got me thinking about this, is that with the internet, magic is very accessible to people that perform other variety acts, and it’s easy … Continue reading “Magically Sound Magic”

One of the things about doing magic tricks is that you can do some amazing things and you can do them fairly easily, but that doesn’t make it good magic. What’s got me thinking about this, is that with the internet, magic is very accessible to people that perform other variety acts, and it’s easy to add magic to their show and get a good reaction.


Being able to do a trick, and present it is only part of the game if you want to be a magician. It’s OK to do a magic trick in your show, but once you basically start doing a magic show, it’s time to actually learn how to do magic.


I recently saw a card trick where the performer did the trick in the easiest manner. Fine, but watching I could think of 3 better ways to do it. Three better ways that were more deceptive and none of them that much harder than what he was already doing. He wasn’t in a magic show, he was doing a magic trick within a larger show, so he get’s a pass.


TLDR: if you’re going to call yourself a magician, you need to learn to do magic.

Roll With It…

Last week someone tagged me on a Facebook post, saying that my show as great. That’s a nice compliment, however it was on a post for a show in a week, that was never booked. By never booked, I mean they never contacted me. I dug through my email, webform and phone records and there … Continue reading “Roll With It…”

Last week someone tagged me on a Facebook post, saying that my show as great. That’s a nice compliment, however it was on a post for a show in a week, that was never booked. By never booked, I mean they never contacted me. I dug through my email, webform and phone records and there was no contact from the venue, aside from when I did a show there in 2012!


After some investigation I found a text from about 6 months ago from an agent inquiring about availability. That’s it. I contacted the agent, got the info and the gig is good to go!


I could have gotten all upset with the booker or venue, but that doesn’t solve anything. I was available, so the gig is going down today, and it’ll be fun!

Monitor the Situation…

One of the pieces of advice I always give to magicians is to get a microphone and use it. Most magicians don’t realize how quiet their talking voice is. Sure you can yell at the audience and many people do, but that’s only good for up to a couple dozen people if you aren’t in … Continue reading “Monitor the Situation…”

One of the pieces of advice I always give to magicians is to get a microphone and use it. Most magicians don’t realize how quiet their talking voice is. Sure you can yell at the audience and many people do, but that’s only good for up to a couple dozen people if you aren’t in a formal theater situation.


When I drive to gigs I always have a battery powered speaker in my car. It’s saved a ton of gigs. I use a Roland Street Cube EX:

This little speaker has enough power for a school assembly, and it’s nice a small!


Here’s the advantage to having a speaker like this: It’s versatile! What I mean by that is that I can use it as a speaker. However if I need to I can use it as a mixer, and more importantly I can use it as a stage monitor! Many smaller events will rent a sound system, but it’s just two speakers on a stand, which will work in a ballroom, but lacking the monitor, that’s where this speaker comes in!


If you don’t know what a monitor is, basically is a speaker on stage that allows you to hear your self. It keeps you from yelling and it will save you voice! When the sound guy asks always tell them you want some of your voice in the monitor!

No Gig is Worth it…

Right now in Seattle we’re having really bad winter weather. It’s a city that rarely gets snow. Last week I had all of my shows cancel, which isn’t a big deal, and this week I’ve got a corporate gig coming up where I have to cross 2 mountain passed to get to. The question is, … Continue reading “No Gig is Worth it…”

Right now in Seattle we’re having really bad winter weather. It’s a city that rarely gets snow. Last week I had all of my shows cancel, which isn’t a big deal, and this week I’ve got a corporate gig coming up where I have to cross 2 mountain passed to get to.


The question is, how much effort should you put into getting to the gig? I get leaving early, I get being uncomfortable, however when the State Patrol says you shouldn’t be driving and the Governor has declared a “State of Emergency”, does the show have to go on? All of the arena concerts in the area had cancelled, so the show doesn’t have to go on.


Best case scenario, I drive 4+ hours (in normal weather) do the gig, get paid and make it home uneventfully. Worst case scenario aside from a horrible car accident is that I get there after tons of delays, only to have the gig cancel on me, but I didn’t get the message because I was in the mountains and had no cell service and the cancellation is justified because of the weather, and then I get to hopefully make it home in a timely manner.


I have a friend that got severely injured driving to a gig in bad conditions, and she had to give up performing because of it. She will tell anyone that “no gig is worth it”. The young me was a “show must go on” type of person, but as I get older I’m realizing the “no gig is worth it” is a better saying.

Magic For Kids…

Yesterday I visited a magic shop and while I was there a family came in. A magician that was visiting was asked to show the kid in the family a magic trick. This kid was probably 8 years old. After a couple of minutes of “hemming and hawing” he finally chose a trick. His indecision … Continue reading “Magic For Kids…”

Yesterday I visited a magic shop and while I was there a family came in. A magician that was visiting was asked to show the kid in the family a magic trick. This kid was probably 8 years old. After a couple of minutes of “hemming and hawing” he finally chose a trick.


His indecision came from him not knowing any tricks for kids. His thinking, which he said out loud was “kids brains aren’t formed yet, so they don’t understand magic”.


WHAT?!


That’s true for a kid that’s under about 3 years old. The concept of a secret action for young kids is abstract. However choosing a trick to show a kid is easy. Make something happen that shouldn’t. Take a coin, and make it disappear.


Easy.


When he finally started to do the trick he decided was appropriate to show an 8 year old, he did sponge balls. Great trick and it should have worked. However it fell flat.


It fell flat for a couple reasons. First, he just crapped on the kid’s intelligence. Why would the kid be into it right after he called him dumb? Next, his presentation was basically a challenge. He said things like, “I snuck the ball into your hand”. Now that makes it a challenge and the kid took him up and busted him…multiple times.


A better approach would have been to simply pass on the doing a trick OR stall by saying you are trying to think of your best trick. Then don’t do your trick based on a challenge presentation. Challenge is good for middle or end pieces, not stand alone tricks.


Impromptu Show…

I’m still reading John Carney’s book Magic by Design.  I wrote about in previously in this blog post.   I’m really enjoying this book and I like his approach.  In the beginning John say’s that these are his theories and whether you follow them or not, at least they made you think about why you do … Continue reading “Impromptu Show…”

I’m still reading John Carney’s book Magic by Design.  I wrote about in previously in this blog post.  

Magic by Design by John Carney

I’m really enjoying this book and I like his approach.  In the beginning John say’s that these are his theories and whether you follow them or not, at least they made you think about why you do the stuff you do. 

In the book he mentions having an impromptu show you can do.  Not just a few impromptu tricks, but tricks that you’ve practiced and know inside and out.  Material that’s you treat like the stuff that’s in your show, you know the script, you can do the sleight of hand under fire.  

If you’ve hung around me, you know I have a 3 trick show on me at all times.   These are three tricks that live in my wallet and are good go.  I started doing this after I had read Ken Dyne’s book The Impromptu Mystifier.  

You don’t have to do the three tricks just because someone asks,  like some sort of trained monkey.  However when you need them, you’ll be good to go.  My impromptu set will play close up or in a cabaret setting.  


The moral of the story is: you are a magician, you should be able to amaze anytime!

Repeat Engagement…

Last night I performed at a gig that I’ve been performing at for something like 17 of the last 20 years.  It’s now getting to the point where people who were kids when I first started doing this gig are bringing their kids to the show!   While I was setting up the show a kid … Continue reading “Repeat Engagement…”

Last night I performed at a gig that I’ve been performing at for something like 17 of the last 20 years.  It’s now getting to the point where people who were kids when I first started doing this gig are bringing their kids to the show!  

While I was setting up the show a kid that was probably 10 years old comes in and asks if I’m the magician.  I tell her “yes“, then she proceeds to start grabbing all of my props.  I tell her, she can look all she wants, but she can’t touch anything.   Her reply was, “why can’t I touch?”  This is not the first time I’ve played this game with a kid, so I simply say, “There’s a lot of breakable things in my show and if anything gets broken before the show I can’t do the show.”  That answer satisfied her and she left.  

I knew she was going to be someone I’d have to keep an eye on during the show. 

Once showtime hit, this girl wouldn’t shut up.  She was playing with some sort of toy, not directly engaged in the show, but constantly yelling out things.  I’m not going to engage with a kid where there is nothing to be gained.  She wasn’t invested in the show and there really wasn’t anywhere to go with what she was saying.   I chose to ignore her.  

Instead, I decided to focus my energy on the kids who where paying attention.  I let them shine brighter than her.   I also played a lot more and the show went over great.  I think the silver lining to having to deal with her, is it made me be more present in the show and to mine for gold a bit deeper and I found it!

So the moral of the story is keep plugging away!

Magic Clubs and Newer Magicians…

I love magic, and I love supporting magic.  I support magic wherever I go, by going to see shows, visiting magic clubs, visiting with magicians, and doing good magic.  One thing that gets me about magic clubs is a lot of the “old guard” are so set in their ways they can’t see past their … Continue reading “Magic Clubs and Newer Magicians…”

I love magic, and I love supporting magic.  I support magic wherever I go, by going to see shows, visiting magic clubs, visiting with magicians, and doing good magic. 

One thing that gets me about magic clubs is a lot of the “old guard” are so set in their ways they can’t see past their own biases.  This isn’t good for people newer into magic.  Frequently at one of the magic clubs in my area (there are three) when someone does a card trick an older magician will say “oh god, another card trick…” outloud for every one to hear. 


This isn’t good for magic.  People get into magic for a lot of reasons, and to tell them their reason is wrong hurts magic. It makes it less welcoming for new people.  

Also, the advice that is given to newer magicians is horrible.  One of the worst pieces of advice when someone tries something new is, “stick to the classics, they are classics for a reason…”   Whenever I hear that I want to ask them to take out their phone and tell me what kind of music is on it…is it classical?  Do they use a Acomputer…or stone a chisel (the classic method)?   

Jim Steinmeyer wrote an awesome book called, Allow Me To Give You Some Really Awful Advice.  


 This book should be required reading for all leadership and pretty much anyone giving advice about magic at a magic club.  They should also read Joshua Jay’s article from Magic Magazine called What Do Audiences Really Think.    

Jim and Joshua’s writings confirm and back up with data why 90% of advice given at most magic clubs is wrong.  Magicians need to be out there doing what they love, and innovating, not living in the 1970’s.  We also need to be positive to newer magicians and tell them what they are doing right, not what we like or don’t like.  

How to Be a Professional Magician…

Right now we’re deep into the corporate holiday party performing season. Tomorrow being the second Saturday of December which is the most requested day for holiday parties.   That means if you aren’t working tomorrow you should be.  The number one question I get from magicians starting out  is, “How do I get shows?”  The answer … Continue reading “How to Be a Professional Magician…”

Right now we’re deep into the corporate holiday party performing season. Tomorrow being the second Saturday of December which is the most requested day for holiday parties.   That means if you aren’t working tomorrow you should be. 

The number one question I get from magicians starting out  is, “How do I get shows?”  The answer for me was giving to me when I saw Rudy Coby lecture in the late 1990’s was to constantly be working. 

So how do you do that if you don’t have any work?  Simple, look for it and then take it.  Don’t worry about the money, just take the gig.  

I know this flies in the face of what every magician in facebook groups tell you when they say things like, “you must charge at least $xxx.xx”. You need stage time to get good before you can charge money.  

For me when I was about 19 or 20 I started performing in these late night “after hours” shows.  These would be after the bars closed.  You would work for maybe 10 bucks, however I was honing my craft, developing my style, and most importantly failing!

As a performing, especially when starting out, you need to take risks, you need to push some boundries and you need to fall flat on your face.  This is really hard to do at a $2,000 gig, but it’s easy to do for ten bucks.  

Another venue I started performing at when I was first starting out was retirement communities.  I learned that they had a monthly budget for entertainment.  These shows didn’t pay a ton, but there were a lot of them!  

I eventually wrote a book on doing shows at retirement communities. This book covers how to contact them, how to book them and even some tips on doing the gig. You can get more info on this at www.perform4seniors.com.

The key is to simply get out and perform.  When I was starting out the internet didn’t really exist.  Now it’s easier than ever to find an open mic.  A quick search on Craigslist shows several listings looking for performers.  

Go out and do perform!

Louie

Taking it Further

If you’ve ever seen my lecture, the main point of it is how can you take the magic that you do one step further.  That next step could be method, could be presentation, or the look of the trick.  That’s something I try to do with everything I do in my show. It’s this thinking … Continue reading “Taking it Further”

If you’ve ever seen my lecture, the main point of it is how can you take the magic that you do one step further.  That next step could be method, could be presentation, or the look of the trick.  That’s something I try to do with everything I do in my show.

It’s this thinking that’s led to the creation of all of my marketed tricks.  For example in the Evaporation trick, I needed to make some liquid vanish for my liquid in light bulb trick which is marketed under the name Applause Please.  This trick takes the milk in light bulb a step further.

I didn’t like the look of a milk pitcher and went out to search for other solutions.  A “ghost bottle” wasn’t practical for what I was doing.  After many different designs the Evaporation as it is now has created.

How are you going to take whatever you do a step further?

Louie