magic show tips – Page 10

Carry the $10 Adapter

I was working at a fair and there was a local dance group that showed up without any audio equipment. I understand not bringing a PA, but they didn’t bring an adapter to get their phone’s music to the PA. That’s literally a $10 part that’s super tiny and easy to travel with. Because they didn’t have that, they had to do this for their music:

It sounded like garbage and when the dance group is trying to get new students as part of their show, it doesn’t look good.

Personally I travel with all the XLR cords and adapters I need to plug into a standard sound system. Sure there’s the odd time when I run into an unusual sound system that’s really a consumer (back yard) type of speaker and not intended for professional live sound. Those will typically run on 1/4 or 1/8 inch plugs, which I usually have as well.

I should mention that I did have the adapter that they needed, but didn’t let them use mine. I’m not mean, but the first and last time I let a dance group use mine, they took it! That then affected my ability to do my show by helping them do their show. I’ll never let anyone I don’t know borrow things that I need to do my show.

The moral of the story is that if a $10 part is why your show sounds like crap, buy that and carry it with you.

-Louie

Out of Town Shipping Notice

The Daily blog will continue to be updated below this pinned post**

This is a quick heads up that I’m out of town now (9/4)through September 15th 2025

No orders will ship during that period or work on products will happen while I’m away. In stock items will ship on 9/16/25.

**The daily blog will continue to be updated below this pinned post**

Buying a Mentalism Show

I was chatting with a hypnotist friend of mine, who is also a good magician about the new wave of mentalists. These are people who see mentalism as way to “fame” or at least gigs. Many of them are from non-magic styles of performance (like burlesque, or actors) that think they can simply buy some props and do a mentalism show. The sad thing is that they pretty much can and will do fine…until something goes wrong. Their show is literally controlled by a computer chip

I’ve worked with a many of these acts and what they lack is that they’re not passionate about magic or mentalism. They’re not passionate about magic/mentalism, they just know the prop they bought. When that electronic prop doesn’t work, they’re screwed. They don’t have a back up plan.

Someone who loves magic/mentalism knows four different ways to get out of an electronic trick when the gimmick fails or has planned for failure with back up methods.

A good example of this is when I used to do the lottery prediction using Ceseral CUPP. My prediction was two phase, the first was a decent trick and the kicker was the lottery ticket. The reason it was two phase was that when doing the trick if the lottery ticket didn’t print or was a misprint, I simply stopped after the first phase. No one knew the lottery ticket was going to happen, so if I didn’t do that part, it felt like the trick was complete. The first phase of the trick was bullet proof, and really couldn’t fail.

This is where being a student of whatever art you’re doing makes a huge difference! Put the time in!

-Louie

Remote Control Chattering Teeth UPGRADE!

Last year I added an ankle switch to a set of my remote control chattering teeth. That allows hands free operation of the teeth. I’ve used them all summer and they’re working great!

Here’s a quick demo of them:

@louiefoxx I put an ankle switch into a set of Chattering Teeth! #magic #joke #dentist ♬ original sound Louie Foxx

When my summer season ends in a late September, I plan on making a batch of them for sale. Keep an eye out for them!

-Louie

Stock Magic Jokes and Gags

Social media has created lazy performers. They crowdsource their research without doing the most basic research first, or worst they crowdsource their show!

Here’s an example of a post recently in a magic group:

First of all…pulling a condom from the ear????? Without context that wouldn’t fly in the USA.

Now let’s get to the meat of what they are saying, they want to put together a list of bits that magicians use. Here’s what’s wrong with that, most of the bits magicians consider “stock” are simply lines that have been stolen over and over again and no one thought to look for the joke originator for permission.

Here’s a publicly posted video from the magician that made that post’s FB page:

Do you think he wrote that joke?

No, he heard someone else say it and he put it into his act. I know the defense is that “it’s so old, no one knows who came up with it“. That’s not true, with a little bit of research the history of that specific joke can be found, it’s a little murky as it has evolved, but some of the history is out there.

That’s all for today, I’ll get off my soapbox.

-Louie

Circus Rings around Russia

I just finished the book Circus Rings around Russia. This book is about how the circus was run in Russia when it was written in the early 1980’s along with some historical context. One thing that I found interesting was that the government used the circus as propaganda, yet there were acts (usually clowns) that would sneak in other political views into their shows. Some of these acts when caught would stick to their message and be fired, others would change.

Also in these circuses the importance of the clown is highlighted and according to the author they were really the star. The book also talks about the difference between American and Russian circuses, which is interesting.

One of the things the book mentions several times is how magicians were looked down upon. I think part of this is that you have high skill or risk act and then a magician, usually someone who does illusions. The magicians was considered a low skill/risk act when doing big box illusions. It’s not that it is low skill, it’s was perceived as that by other acts and show producers.

When I work with circus act, the difference shows in the amount of time warming up. I’ll share a green/dressing/warm up room with them and an aerialist will spend an hour stretching for a 3 minute act, where my warm up is maybe run a few new lines verbally. I can see why a circus act would consider a magician low skilled.

Overall the book was OK, and if you can find it for a few bucks and are into the circus it’s worth a read.

-Louie

Themed Magic Show

One thing I don’t really do are themed magic shows, I will do a show on a topic, but not really a themed show. The reason is that compared to some people like my friend Ace, the bar is really high!

The are so many shows where the performing wears a costume and that’s where the theming ends. Not for Ace, the who show is related to his character and theme. If you want a pirate magic show, you want Ace, not someone in a cheap Spirit Halloween costume.

If you’re going to do a themed show, do it fully!!!

-Louie

A Routine in Spanish?

I want to use more Spanish in my show, however it’s challenging. One idea I had the other day was to have a a “live translation” thru Google Translate on my phone.

An idea I like was to have an audio track play and someone from the audience who spoke Spanish could translate it for me. My first idea for the frame work would be Card Under Seat with the repeat after me style presentation. I’m not 100% sure this will play how I hope it would, but I may write up something and give it a try.

Another idea is to use cue cards that are in Spanish and have the person read them.

All of these ideas would incorporate Spanish and be more inclusive to Spanish speakers without me having to be better at Spanish. Yes, I’m still working on being a better Spanish speaker, but it’s just another way to get Spanish into the show.

-Louie

Rainy Day Show

I do my best to not cancel shows at fairs due to rain. Yes, there are times to not do the show, like if the stage isn’t covered and my gear is getting rained on. It’s important to look down the road, and if my show props get damaged today and I can’t work next week, that’s a problem.

Last week I was at a fair and it was the morning show, so it was slower and it was raining. Normally what I would do is stand on stage and work on jokes or routines that don’t involve spectators. But I’m on stage and on mic the for my time slot. I just happened to have my crank organ with me, so I put it onstage and played some music!

@louiefoxx Playing the organ because my magic show got rained out! #vanhalen #jump #organ #music #rainyday ♬ original sound – Louie Foxx

After a couple of songs it drew about 8 people over, I gave them chairs onstage so they weren’t on the rain. Then I did a close up magic show for them. It was fun and the show still happened!

Don’t just cancel shows, try to make something happen! It’s fun and takes you out of your normal routine!

-Louie

The Crated Coin by Mark Strivings

Recently I came across The Crated Coin by Mark Strivings. This is a coin flip routine where you play “heads and tails” with the whole audience.

I’ve been playing with this premise as part of a larger routine. I’ve played with several other versions of the trick, however the main problem I have is dropping the coin. Mark’s solution, which he says is based on a Gaeton Bloom thing is to have the token put in a case and shaken. That makes it incredibly difficult to drop the coin. You are in 100% control of the result of the flip.

This also has the bonus of the sound factor of the token being shook inside the case. I’m a fan of this method!

-Louie