Every year I post this trick on Thanksgiving. It’s a good example of adding a theme to a trick that already exists.
The idea for this trick is in a Jim Steinmeyer book. For holidays, look at what you already do and look for logical connections then make the trick!
Another great book with math principles for things like this is Body Mentalism by Juan Pablo Ibañez.
-Louie
Recently I was in a show with sideshow performer who did glass eating, and that inspired me to write a routine for glass (lightbulb) eating. I should say that I’ve seen this act many times, so I may have accidentally written a line that’s existed before and a couple of the lines are pretty obvious, so might be used by other performers. With that in mind, as far as I know this is an original script for someone eating a light bulb.
To set the scene, let’s the the performer just did a dangerous stunt before this.
That was intense! Let’s do something lighter.
Bring out lightbulb
I’m going to eat this lightbulb and poop out a chandelier! This is a 40 watt bulb, I used to do 100 watt, but I’m on a diet!
Take out spray bottle of glass cleaner and give it a spray and wipe it off with a paper towel.
If anyone wants some after the show, I brought a doggie bag.
Take out paper bag and put the lightbulb into it.
Ladies and gentlepeople, it’s hammer time!
Take out hammer, and break the bulb through the bag.
Mozel Tov!
I remember the first time I did this, I was a kid in my friends basement, listening to ACDC.
What were you expecting me to say…the Electric Light Orchestra?
Take out piece of glass and show it to the audience. Put it into your mouth and dramatically eat it.
Squirt the glass cleaner into your mouth, pause and look at the bottle. Open the bottle of glass cleaner and chug it!
Show your mouth to show it empty!
**DO NOT DRINK REAL GLASS CLEANER** use a safe blue liquid in the spray bottle.
***DO NOT DO THIS ROUTINE, IT’S DANGEROUS*** This was written as a writing exercise for me.
So that’s the routine, it should have a few laughs. It was fun to write and something I’ll never do. I don’t know why, but things like these that aren’t my show are way easier to write for than my actual show.
-Louie
With all of the specialty decks and different cuts or finishes on cards that are available to magicians now, what’s your favorite deck of cards?
For me, the best will always be a deck of Bicycle playing cards from the Cincinnati factory! You can’t beat them, they’re the best! Unfortunately they moved to Kentucky in 2009, so it’s been 15 years since these were made. You can still find them, and I actively seek them out when I travel.
What I love about the Cincinnati made cards is that they last a lot longer than the current cards. A deck of the current Bicycle cards will last me about an hour, where the older stock will last me days!
I’ve quietly amassed a large box of them. If they’re still sealed, then 98% of the time they’re perfect! Occasionally a sealed box will have some sort of moisture issue, but that’s rare.
I never pay more than $3 a box when I find them in out there in the wild (aka a junk shop). You can find these decks on ebay for about $5 a deck plus shipping, which I think is way to much.
If you find a deck, buy them and you’ll remember why these cards were soo great!
-Louie
Over on TikTok I post vintage magic tricks and a recent one that I did was Nick Trost’s Gemini Cards. Also, if you’re not following me over there please do, I’m at: https://www.tiktok.com/@louiefoxx
Gemini Cards is an Out of This World style of card trick. Here’s what it looks like:
@louiefoxx Will the cards match? #cardtrick #magictrick #cardmagic #shuffle #match #vintagemagic #nicktrost ♬ original sound – Louie Foxx
The trick is great, and a fooler. I was trying to think of what it could be done with that aren’t playing cards. Here are some ideas:
Cards with pictures of:
-Red/Black socks
-Cats and dogs
However I don’t want to use things that are pictures drawn on playing cards. So other objects that are “card like” in their natural state.
Here are some ideas:
-paint swatches
-number flash cards: evens and odds match each other
-photographs (maybe of my dog and cat)
-postcards: I have custom made “postcards from home” that I use for a torn and restored postcard routine. I could use those and postcards from exotic places.
I think that the Gemini Cards definitely has potential, just not sure how to use it!
-Louie
While I was a hotel, I accidentally discovered you can split a coffee creamer lid!
How would I use this?
Essentially you could reseal something inside the creamer pod and keep the integrity of the original seal.
Do what you want with this new found knowledge!
-Louie
When I was at the a booking conference last week, I took a coupe of pictures of a music duo that was playing. The guy in the center was playing way too far forward, and was in the dark.
In the picture it looks better than it did in person, in person he was totally in the dark! You can see the difference in the next picture when he took a few steps backwards.
Being in the “hot” area makes a huge difference. Many years ago comedian Jim Wiggins (RIP) gave me a talk about making sure that I was in the light and how much of a difference it makes. I do my best to try to stay in the light, and it always helps if there’s an act before you that you can watch were they’re lit and where they’re in the dark!
Stay in the light!
-Louie
Last night I got home from another booking conference and saw some amazing acts!
One of the helpful things about going to these conferences and seeing all the other acts showcase is that you kinda know where you are in the pack. You can gauge whether you’re a top tier act, or whatever.
It’s also inspiring to see people do their best 15 minutes of material! I totally recommend checking one of these out if you get a chance, even if it’s just to watch acts!
-Louie
Last week I performed at a comedy club in Wisconsin. I reached out to my opener and offered to trade him something from where I live for something local to the him. He said yes, and here’s what we swapped:
I brought him a couple of bags of Tim’s Cascade chips which are a pacific northwest thing and they make strange flavors and he brought me a couple types of cheese curds from Wisconsin!
If you’re travelling and have a local opener, reach out to them and offer and exchange, it’s a fun ice breaker, but it also get’s you the good version of the local thing!
-Louie
Since I make a Take Up Reel, I’ve become a pseudo expert about reels in general. One of the challenges with reel is that because they can be expensive, it’s hard to know if one is right for you. Today I’m going to show you how to make a simple locking reel. This reel isn’t something that I would use for a show, it has a big flaw, but it’s something you could use as a “proof of concept” to know if you should invest in a better quality locking reel.
Step one: Buy a reel that you can unscrew. This will typically be a “key reel” and not a “badge reel”.
Step two: unscrew it and take it apart.
Step three: Drill a hole in the cover of it and holes on the spindle that match up with the reel.
Step Four: Reassemble the reel.
Step Five: Bend a paperclip to make the “lock”
Step Six: Tape the paper clip in place
Step Seven: Put sponge under the paper clip
Step Eight: Test it!
The design flaw with this reel is the paper clip. Ideally you want a spring steel, however since this is a proof of concept reel, and not something you should use in a show the sponge under the paper clip will work.
There you go, it’s a locking reel that you can make for under about $15!
-Louie
When the travelling Oddities and Curiosities Expo was in town I popped by to check it out. I’ve performed at the expo in the past, and swung by to say hi to some friends.
It was great to see the Three Legged Dog Sideshow do their thing!
Magicians can learn a lot by watching sideshow acts. It’s a very similar build through routines. A magician has to show the box is empty before you can make something appear, and a sword swallower has to show the sword is real before they swallow it.
You really should check out the Oddities and Curiosities Expo when it’s passing through your town, you can learn a lot!
-Louie
