One of the criticism’s of the Vanishing Bird Cage is that it doesn’t look like any bird cage that exists in the real world. Here’s a bird cage I found at a junk shop:
That’s pretty much what the size and shape of a modern vanishing bird cage. So they do exist in the world!
-Louie
A few weeks ago I did a post about working with acts that don’t know or understand backstage etiquette. You can read that post here. In that post I made a graphic about 3 rules to sharing an offstage space with other acts. Well I made that graphic into a reality. I had some cards printed!
These are a great way to passively inform people of how to behave around other people’s gear! If you run into me, I will usually have some one me, if you’d like one, just ask and if I have any, I’ll gladly give you one (or more).
It’s really our job to educate people who don’t know.
-Louie
On this episode we welcome in clown Mick Holsbeke. We talk about growing up in Florida and how his economics teacher in high school introduced him to Harry Levine.
We learn about his cross country journey to the Pacific Northwest and how seeing street performers inspired him to pursue street theatre. We talk about his journey to clown and how that art form has taken him around the world. A great conversation with a fantastic person.
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This morning I had an idea for a trick that I think would be called Spiked Punch.
The effect: You show the audience some art you bought. It’s a cardboard box that has a drawing of a boxing glove and spike going through the box. You pull you the spikes and notice the box is upside down. You flip it right side up and remove a full glass of punch!
The trick’s method would basically be like a sword box, with an added bit which is the gimmick from a Wizzy Dizzy Milk.
I think the addition of flipping the box over adds a layer to the trick. Not sure if an audience will notice or appreciate the flip of the box, but it should make it harder to backtrack to figure out the method.
This is something that I’d like to try to make in the future!
-Louie
I’ve wanted to make a snake basket for a long time. I think it’s from when I was a kid seeing Rich Block demo the Collector’s Workshop Kyber Kobra at a magic convention. This is one of the tricks I could never afford when I was a kid, and I honestly don’t think it’s something I could justify buying now when I can afford it.
As I’m learning to use Arduino, one of the projects that I want to make is a snake basket. I made a post about it here: https://www.magicshow.tips/magic-show-tips/making-a-snake-basket/
Well, I wrote some code and made a layout and it works on an Arduino simulator!
The next step is actually building it, but I’m on the road for another week, so it’ll be at least that long before I can work on it. I have a feeling the moving it from the simulator to a real, physical thing will have some unforeseen challenges!
-Louie
A bit ago Losander was pitching a new floating table in social media magic groups. Here’s his post:
I have a few issues with this. First of all, he’s using an AI generated image to show the table, so it’s not the actual product. Also, he’s showing tables that are 3 different dimensions. After people started asking which table they were getting and asking if the pics were AI generated, Losander finally said that he didn’t have the table yet.
OK, I find it crazy that he’s selling a table that he doesn’t have one to take a picture of. At $2,500 (retail) he really should have one he’s tested and knows it actually works. Sure he may have one that he’s used and not in perfect shape for a picture, but people are asking for video and he hasn’t (as of the time he made that post) shared any video.
The final thing is that he’s taking a presale on this new table. If you read the social media groups, many magicians have posted that he’s taken money and doesn’t deliver the product in a timely fashion. Magicians have to constantly bug him for product that he says he has in stock.
Here’s some people’s reported experiences:
Many magicians in these social media groups give the advice that if you want a table, you need to buy one at a convention that he’s at where you can take the table at the time of purchase. I’ve personally never ordered anything from him, the above are the experiences of people who say they’ve ordered from him, and your experience may be seamless.
-Louie
One thing I try to do is send a handwritten thank you postcard for every gig I do. Well, almost every gig. If it’s a horrible experience and I don’t think it’ll change and don’t want to do it again, they don’t get one.
There’s not much to these, just a simple thank you. That’s all. I used to send a more elaborate thing with a survey, but no longer do that. Just the postcard.
This is just another way to keep your name in front of the booker after the gig.
-Louie
I finally picked up one of Walter Blaney’s Perfect Vanishing Cages!
It’s really well made, and unfortunately when it arrived, I wasn’t in town to really get to try it out. I do use the Summers/Riser Baby Lindy Vanishing Birdcage in one of my shows, so I kinda knew what to expect from the quality of this cage. It’s got a nice smooth action, but will still stand upright on its own!
This cage reminds me of one of my older Owen Vanishing Birdcages from the 1980’s.
-Louie
A few months ago I performed at large event where the headliner was a singer. I don’t know much about him, but he has a pretty big following and the event was well attended it.
After the event he posts this on his social media:
I know a bit about the average pricing/budgets for acts who do events like this. I’m guessing he was paid $40k-$50k for the event, which after everyone and expenses are paid out he pocketed $20k-$25k for the single show.
If you’re making that much, why are you begging for money? It’s not a good look, and how much can the begging really generate? A couple hundred, or thousand dollars? It’s a really short sighted move. If I was the booker and I paid you $40k, and saw you were begging for small donations, I’d think twice about paying you that much as clearly you need money and would be willing to work for a lot less.
At least pitch some merch, so it’s a transaction!
Begging for money doesn’t make you look successful, and when you’re positioning your self as successful it doesn’t help that position.
Something I was told by an agent years ago was that she wants to book acts that are successful, and working. She said to never send her an empty calendar, and if mine was empty to block off some dates to make it look like I was working.
-Louie
My routine with a folded paper fortune teller has been a stage trick for the summer. A couple of weeks ago I made one that’s for close up and I’m using it for a card trick.
One of the things I wanted to do was a multiple revelation of the selected card on the paper fortune teller.
The first revelation is the a basic, “this is your card”:
The second is a little bit bigger:
And the third is even bigger:
Logically if the first prediction hit, the next two are just the same thing, and really don’t add anything. In practice, when you keep revealing that card, the trick hits harder and harder each time. I don’t know why that is, but it works!
I’m having a blast with this trick!
-Louie
