MagicShow.Tips – Page 60 – A daily blog about magic by Louie Foxx

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

The Moisture Festival Podcast – Michael Harrison

On this Episode we welcome in Ventriloquist Michael Harrison. He tells us about how he got started in show business and how he eventually decided to become a full time ventriloquist.

He tells us about his Grandfather’s performing career and his 25 year search to find his grandad’s long lost puppet. We dive into what goes into developing a vent act and how there has been a recent explosion in the genre. We also discuss his passion for Coca Cola collectibles and which bottles are the most sought after. An awesome conversation with a very unique act.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Coolest and Smartest Merch Display!

One day at the Ohio State Fair last week I performed with a bluegrass group and their fiddle player had the best merch display! When closed it’s like a small ATA case, then it quickly and easily pops open and it ready go to.

Here it is open:

The record slides into the case and that flips down and locks in at the merch in the lid. Everything in the base lays flat and he’s set up and packed up in about 90 seconds and it looks great!

Here’s some other views of it:

Did you notice the two arms on the back that slide out to the sides to display more stuff if needed?

It’s a really cool set up!

-Louie

Nick Trost’s Grave Location

If you read this blog, you know I like playing with old packet tricks. I’m currently at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio and noticed that Nick Trost lived here when he was alive and putting out packet tricks.

I did a little bit of research and found out that he was buried in St Joseph Cemetery in Lockbourne, OH. I drove out there to try to find his grave and the cemetery was gigantic, so I asked the office for help.

The gave me a map to the location of his grave in the very back of the cemetery. That map saved me hours (days?) of searching and I found him really quick!

It was a nice drive out there and gave me something to do that morning before my shows at the Ohio State Fair.

-Louie