magic show – Page 6 – MagicShow.Tips

Street Fair Magic Show

Over the summer I was hired to do a show for a street fair. I’ve done many of these in the past, but this one was a little bit different. When I arrived I was directed to my “stage” which was the middle of the street.

Doing a show in the middle of the street with no defined performing area is not a problem, I’ve done that before. For me the bigger challenge was trying to find a situation where the audience could be in the shade for the 45 min show.

There really wasn’t any shade that wasn’t blocking a business. I didn’t want to tell people to stand under a business’s awning, but I also knew that people would choose the shady spot to watch the show.

Once I started to talk up my show, people immediately filled the shady area directly in front of a business!

As my friend Skip Banks says, if you make the audience area comfortable, they’ll show up. They were a great crowd, and it was a fun show!

-Louie

Pay vs Pain Ratio

The Pay vs Pain (in the butt) ratio is a factor in determining if a gig is worth doing. A while ago I was asked to perform in a variety show at a huge event. The pay was basically non existent, what it would cost for me to do the gig in travel expenses exceeded the pay. Why would I take the gig…well I like the people in the show, so it’s an excuse to hang out. That’s a -1 in the pay index. Also I’m not getting paid the day of the show, so that’s another -1 in the pay index.

Now that the pay isn’t the reason to take the gig, the reason to not take the gig is the pain in the butt factor. When I accepted the gig I was told we would get parking passes. Well, that changed and as a 15 person variety show, they only gave us 3 passes. That adds a +1 in the pain in the butt index.

When they scheduled me, asked me to sign up on their website so that they had my details. I went to create an account, which was a pain because it’s primarily a music event and none of the check boxes applied to me, and none had an “other” option. That’s a +1 in the pain in the butt index. What I ended up doing was just checking whatever box, but then the site needed to verify my email by sending me an email to continue to add my personal info. I never got that email, and was never able to complete their registration. That’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index. I had to reach out and argue with them to let me give them my info over the phone because their website didn’t work. that’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index.

Next they said we’d have to check in across the event grounds which are huge and it will be crowded. Why we can’t just have one person check us in as a group instead of everyone individually checking in, I don’t know. That adds another +1 to the pain in the butt index.

The morning of the event one of the producers of the show asked if I could bring my own audio. I said no, that’s not what I agreed to, and that this is a large event who I submitted my tech to weeks ago. If they were unable to accommodate a handheld microphone, they shouldn’t have booked me. That’s another +1 in the pain in the butt index.

So let’s look at the Pay vs Pain results.
Pay -2
Pain +6
That’s not a good ratio.

Shows that are low on pay should be very low on the pain in the butt. Ideally the pay should be at a 0 and the pain should be at a 0 if it’s a gig you’re not doing for the money.

-Louie

Magic Show Tax?

In Washington State where I live they just passed a tax on “live presentations”. The way the new tax is described it’s unclear as to whether I’m supposed to start charging sales tax. Previously, service businesses didn’t have to charge sales tax.

Here’s what the rule looks like on their state’s website:

The state has an email address that you can use to get an official ruling as to what you’re supposed to do. I sent them a question asking them if I have to start charging sales tax and here’s what the state had to say:

That’s great news, as the new rule took effect on 10/1/25, and I had shows scheduled with “all inclusive” pricing long before this new tax was announced. Those shows I’d lose 10% on, so I’m glad that magic shows are exempt (for now) from this new tax!

If you’re in Washington State and do magic shows, you should email the Department of Revenue and get an official, binding ruling for your business.

-Louie

The 1-2-3-4 Ace Trick

I was playing around with some cards the other night and came up with a very 1980’s feeling packet trick. The effect is you show four aces. The ace of diamonds changes to a two of diamonds. Then the ace of clubs changes to the three of clubs. For the finale, the ace of hearts turns into the four of hearts, giving you a one (ace), two, three and four.

This trick uses a series of Ascanio Spreads. I’m not going to go teach that move here, but you can look it up and find a tutorial for it online.

Here’s the starting order of the cards:

Hold them face up in your left hand in dealing grip. Do an Ascanio Spread to show four aces, putting the four card block on top of the packet .

Do a second Ascanio Spread to show that the ace of diamonds is now a two. Put the four card block top of the spread.

Next do a third Ascanio Spread to show that the ace of clubs is now a three. This time, you will switch places of the middle two cards. I openly displace them, and then put the four card block on top.

Finally, do a fourth Ascenio Spread to show that the ace of hearts is now the four!

That’s it, there’s really not much to this trick, and it feels like it needs an ending. I have played with having the backs change colors and have a method for that, but I’m not really happy with it.

Additionally, I’d be surprised if this sequence had not been created before. It seems fairly obvious that this result can be achieved with just Ascenio Spreads.

-Louie

Replacing Ropes

After a summer of performing, I was doing some prop maintenance and noticed how gross the ropes I use have gotten!

Going through your props a couple times a year to clean them up or replace things that get worn out is a good thing to do. It’ll keep your show looking fresh and not beat up.

-Louie

Handheld Microphone For Magic Shows

The next step in switching to a handheld microphone has happened!

I just bought a Sennheiser handheld microphone that’s compatible with my Sennheiser ew G4 receiver. That saved me having to buy a new receiver. Also I still get the benefits of a smaller and battery operated camera mount receiver, which I prefer of the larger plug in style receivers.

Another advantage of switching to a handheld mic for my main show is that most venues already them, so I don’t need to bring my own for many gigs!

-Louie

Getting to the Gig!

Years ago when I was out there doing comedy one nighters, I learned that we’re really getting paid for the travel.

For example, when I do local gigs I’ve started to charge more if my travel involves rush hour traffic.

I should say that I try to not be in a rush to a gig. If I have a gig that would involve me sitting in traffic, I’ll actually leave a couple hours early and get close to the gig. Then I’ll work out at a gym, or go to a coffee shop and do some work. These are things that I’d normally do during my day, I’m just taking back the 45 minutes I’d be sitting in traffic.

Trying to never be in a rush has really taken a lot of stress out of my life.

-Louie

Visiting Haunted Houses

A few weeks ago when I was in Utah, one of the acts I worked with was the juggler Charles Peachock. He’s into haunted houses and we went to a few of them with some of the other acts at the event.

I think the last time I went to a haunted house was thirty years ago.

We went to two haunted houses over two nights. Here’s what I learned, I preferred the haunted houses where the actors weren’t there to just jump out at you, but they were there to help the story move along.

What does that say about a magic show?

A show with some sort of a story or through line is probably something that I’d prefer over a collection of tricks. Now thinking about my show, there’s not really a through line in the show, but it’s more that a collection of tricks. Each routine tells you a bit more about me, however I’m thinking I need to start thinking of more of a through line for my show.

-Louie

NEW Louie Foxx Lecture Notes!

In a week I’m heading out to the 2025 PCAM convention to do my full show and a lecture. If you can’t make it, you can get the lecture notes from me!

2025 Lecture Notes .pdf $25

These are the lecture notes from the lecture that I will present at the 2025 PCAM magic convention. They focus is on stand up/stage magic. They contain seven tricks/routines and five essays.

Introduction
The Opener Card Routine: The five-minute card routine that Louie does as my warm-up for family audiences!
Developing a Unique Show
Louie Foxx’s Take Out Box (Two Versions!): Turn a Chinese food take-out box into a production box!
Moving the Sponge Ball Down the Field
The Fortune Teller: A folded paper fortune teller becomes a self-contained prediction system!
Process in Magic and Mentalism
The Body Language Book Test: A book test plays BIG!
Can I tell that joke?
The Cracker Card Trick: A card trick using crackers! This was performed by Louie TV’s Masters of Illusion!
Fiat Currency: An opening effect that explains what you do.
Why You Should Hang Out With Magicians
The Stand Up Chop Cup: A chop chop routine that uses no table and no one from the audience!

48 pages
These are a .pdf that will be emailed to you within 24 hours of placing your order.

2025 Lecture Notes .pdf $25

Being Forced to Slow Down…

One of my bad habits is that I talk too fast. I do this on and off stage, but I’m really trying to correct it onstage. A while ago I started a run of shows with a cold. This was a longer run of 10 days and I was already there when I noticed I was getting sick. I did my best to not socialize off stage with the other acts and switched the show to one that really has no contact with the audience.

One thing I immediately noticed was that I slowed my rate of speech a lot. I’m guessing this was due to my breathing being different with a cold. I also noticed that all the jokes were hitting harder. I was giving people just a little bit more time to process the set ups and punchlines.

I need to keep up talking slower, but when it’s my natural way of speaking it’s a challenge. I’m working hard on keeping it slow…

-Louie