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
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
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
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
Last week my wife and I went to see a show called Liberace and Liza, Holiday at the Mansion. The premise of the show is that the audience are guests at Liberace’s house at a Chirstmas party that’s hosted by him and Liza Minnelli.
I really had no idea what to expect when I showed up. It was a fun show, and I didn’t expect as much audience involvement as there was in the show. What made it great was there was no “fourth wall” the performers were talking to you, not each other within a scene. This is what a magic show is like, there is no fourth wall (usually) and you are talking directly to the audience.
One of the great things was there were a lot of “call backs” to things that people in the audience did. This makes the show special and unique to the audience at that show. In my magic show, I look for things that I can comment on, then refer back to later in the show. It’s a great technique to create a unique show!
If you’re curious about the show, here’s the promo video for the show:
It was a fun show, and if you pay attention you can learn a lot that will apply to a magic show!
-Louie
Once again I was playing with the Triumph card trick, trying to come up with new sequences. This one uses five shuffles:
@louiefoxx Five flippy shuffles! #cardtrick #shuffletrick #magictrick #magic #shuffle #triumph #cards ♬ Mountain at My Gates – Foals
I think the idea of multiple shuffles has been done many times before, but I like the initial display that I do when I cut the pack into four packets. I think that visually drives home that they will be mixed face up into face down. It’s like Daryl’s Triumph Display, but used before the shuffle instead of after.
-Louie
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
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/
I’ve been playing with a production of three cards, but it really didn’t feel right. There’s hardly ever a reason to produce three cards. One, two and four make sense but three? I guess maybe if you’re trying to wrap up a multiple selection routine, but that would be it.
The solution hit me, have a card picked, then produce the remaining three of that value. Here’s what it looks like:
@louiefoxx Four of a kind! #cardtrick #cardistry #magictrick #aces #cards ♬ Bitter Sweet Symphony – The Peppermint Posse
Here’s how to do it:
Set up: you have an ace at the bottom of the deck and the three other aces in the middle of the deck, with a pinky break below the top ace.
Working: Classic force the ace below the pinky break, and keep the break between the two aces in the middle of the deck. While they are looking at the card, use your left ring finger to pivot the card above the break 90 degrees, so it’s sticking out sideways. This is hidden by your right hand.
Set the selected card (ace) face up on the table with your left hand.
Your right hand does Derek Dingle’s Open Sesame move, with the index finger splitting the deck above the sideways cards and pivoting the card below it 90 degrees as your turn you hand over.
BOOM! You have just produced the three cards of the same value as a selected card in a flourishy way.
-Louie
On this episode we welcome band leader Eben Sprinsock. Eben tells us about some guys he knew in high school that turned into the group The Flying Karamazov Brothers. How that led him to be part of their shows early on and how eventually he went on to pave his own path.
He talks about what goes into backing variety acts and what makes the Moisture Festival so unique. A great conversation with the mastermind behind Doc Sprincock and the Sancapators.
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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
