October shows (for adults)

Over the past two Saturdays, I was privileged to perform two evening magic shows at private residences in the Montreal area. The first one was for a woman's 40th birthday party. The second was for a Halloween party. 

I'm 52. I'm sure I was the oldest person at both parties. I even made light of that at the latter celebration. "Hello, house full of people who are younger than me" was my opening line. It got a laugh, thank God.

Both shows took place in the living rooms. Neither of them were large enough to accommodate everyone, which necessitated some people having to "watch" the show from the kitchen or hallway, not getting the best viewing angles. No matter. I enjoyed both shows. My jokes landed, the magic was appreciated, and everyone had a good time - especially me.

As a magician, most of my business comes from kids and family audiences. I do a lot of school presentations, county fairs, and campgrounds. I enjoy them all for what they are but I have to confess that performing for grownups is a special kind of fun.

And I am encouraged that magic is no longer seen as children's entertainment. There was a time when I would call a prospective client and I'd be dismissed with: "Sounds great, but there's not going to be a lot of kids at the event." Penn and Teller have done their part to remind us all that magic is for everyone.

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As for my Saturday shows, those posed a bit of a challenge when it came to planning my sets. I realized that I was used to performing in larger venues like county fair stages and campground rec halls - doing magic in a living room necessitated smaller more intimate routines.

Some magical guru once said that the most important tricks for a magician are the opening and closing effects, but the most important ones for the audience are the ones in the middle. I think I relate to that. Your opening and closing provide a through-line. As such, my middle effects are not set in stone. I have about a dozen things I can do between point A and point B. Whether or not I present them depends on a number of factors including audience size, sightlines, the general mood of the room, and the time of the evening.

My opener pretty much everywhere is the acrobatic knot. I like it because it's a baffling routine with three "wow" moments that - cliché alert - packs small and plays big. My closing routine is usually a silk to impossible location using the pop gun from Smoky Mountain Magic. But in a smaller environment like a living room, I close with the sympathetic cards. It, too, is a real fooler and I have developed a sentimental presentation that explores the different levels of friendship. I usually dedicate it to the person who hired me or, in the former's case, the birthday celebrant. I like it and, I am pleased to report, that one of my volunteers said it touched her so much that she cried.

The lady celebrating her 40th birthday is a nurse practitioner. The lady who hired me for the Halloween party was dressed as circus ringmaster. In real life, she is an early education student whose passion is working with children with special needs. We had a bonding moment when I told her I am an autism dad and she made a fuss over pictures of my boy, telling me that he looks like such a sweet child. She is right.