The Most Important Things You Need for Virtual Magic Shows

(So you wanna know what’s the least amount of equipment needed to do a virtual show?)

-FOR MAGICIANS-

Recently I’ve heard from many people who want to perform virtually and do virtual magic shows but are intimidated by the tech that’s involved. It’s true that when doing online magic the technology is extremely important. No matter how engaging and amazing your magic is, it doesn’t matter if your audience has trouble seeing or hearing you. Additionally, there are many magicians who are already performing online who want the flexibility to be able to travel while maintaining the ability to perform virtual magic shows wherever they are. This is what I’ve faced for almost a year and I believe the freedom to travel is one of the most amazing benefits you have when performing virtual magic. When I went to Columbus, Ohio to give my Penguin Live Lecture I also had to do a virtual show in my hotel room right before the lecture; I was able to do this only because I brought everything I needed in a small case. Today I’m going to talk about the minimum equipment and technology needed to perform a virtual magic show so that if you’ve never done it before you can dip your toes into making your own online show or take it on the road. By the end of this article you will have both the confidence and knowledge necessary to perform your virtual show while traveling.

1. For a Virtual Magic Show you need a Laptop computer with a good graphics card

The most important thing you’ll need is a good computer. Unfortunately, you can’t really perform and control the tech during a virtual show with just a phone or tablet. A laptop or desktop computer is needed, but for travel (or just moving your virtual studio around your house) I definitely recommend a laptop due to its portability/ease of transport. As your virtual magic show grows you may want a computer with a higher quality graphics card and lots of processing power. Gaming laptops and computers work best because they are designed to process graphics quickly. This is needed so that your screen doesn't freeze when you’re in the middle of a show. A gaming laptop can cost thousands of dollars, but don’t let that scare you from starting with virtual magic. If all you have is a Macbook that can work  as long as you’re not doing anything too complicated: use less demanding software and your less capable computer won’t freeze. As you perform virtual shows you may find that you love them and want to perform more demanding tricks, with more complicated effects. You can always upgrade your hardware and begin using more taxing software like OBS Studio, which is a free and open-source software suite for recording and live streaming.  It’s just one of many programs that can help you design and build scenes for virtual shows. However, these programs will definitely over heat a low-end computer. That’s why you may want to upgrade sooner than later if you decide to expand your repertoire. Don’t be intimidated though, when you are beginning all you need is a normal computer to be a virtual magician.

2. Camera for a virtual magic show

Most computers come with a built-in camera. They are rarely of the highest quality; your images will appear grainy and suffer as a result. But, never fear!  For only $70-$100 more you can get a very high-quality computer camera/webcam to ramp up the quality of your virtual shows. This is an extremely important component for performing virtual magic shows.  Consider it crucial that your audience be able to clearly see your act.  I recommend the Logitech C922x Pro Stream Webcam (pictured above). It’s compact (and easy to travel with). The video quality is amazing and many magicians use that webcam with great success. The only thing that would be better in terms of image clarity would be a handheld (or tripod mounted) camera that connects to your computer, but that option is more expensive, more complicated, and bulkier too. Although many virtual magicians like to be fancy, with multiple camera angles, when starting you can easily do a 45-minute show with just one camera and one frame. If you’re doing close up virtual magician tricks it’s best to have the camera positioned above you and your table so you can perform while making sure the audience also sees your face clearly. It’s best if you are starting to perform with only one camera to keep your face and hands in frame the entire show. It makes the magic seem more impossible.

Here is an example of framing a performance using one camera:

3. You need a wireless mouse for your virtual magic show

When performing virtual magic shows you’ll need to be in control of the online meeting and be able to do your own tech simultaneously. This sounds daunting, but it’s the same as using your pocket remote to control your sound cues in a live show, or performing sleights while you crack jokes. As magicians we are always having to perform as tech, director, and actor all at the same time. We multitask. When you get comfortable with your tech you will find yourself using your setup seamlessly clicking on people to choose volunteers, spotlighting yourself, or muting/unmuting viewers as necessary. 

In a short amount of time these actions become second nature as a virtual magician. But to do all of these things smoothly you need a mouse. A corded mouse doesn’t usually cut it because to perform magic with one camera you need the computer to be farther away from you than it normally would be to keep your hands and face within the camera frame. I recommend using a wireless mouse and having it on the edge of your table so that you can easily switch between controlling your tech and doing sleights. With a wireless mouse you can be further away from the computer than you normally are, but still be in complete control. A Macbook works with the Apple wireless mouse, with my Razer laptop I now use the wireless option below. All of them are also easy to install; most simply require one USB port free in order to plug in the receiver/transmitter plug that connects the mouse to connect to the computer. 

Other things to think about for your virtual magic show:

These three items are by no means the only ingredients for a virtual show, they are simply some of the essentials if you wish to craft a portable virtual show. Lights, tables, and a good background are important as well, but you don’t have to buy new items or even bring those things with you when you are just starting out (or traveling) to make a visually appealing virtual show. They can easily be improvised using items you already have. Lamps can be moved to create 3-point lighting and depth. Your background can be changed depending on the location. When traveling you can bring a thin cloth and two clamps or small tripods to create a consistent background. Once my car broke down enroute and I had to fly to my live gig and perform a virtual show the next day, as well. All I could do was bring a carry-on (containing the three items I’ve discussed and my close up magic bag) and was still able to do my in-person and virtual shows. In extreme emergency situations you can just take the same things and perform virtually without a hitch on the road. 

I hope these ideas will help inspire you to create a virtual magic show or perhaps experiment with a minimalist approach so you can travel and perform online.