Magic Tricks

As someone who is not very technologically-inclined, I did not fully embrace and capitalize on the virtual magic show trend that occurred during the pandemic. Sure, I performed a little for groups via Zoom and watched A LOT of Zoom shows. But, for the most part, I dedicated my time toward other projects and pursuits.

Katrina, however, was not only able to successfully tap into this virtual show market, she was one of the few magical performers to dominate it! Having met Katrina briefly at a past Genii convention, I was aware of her career and throughout the months and even years that COVID negatively affected many working magicians, she was able to consistently book online shows to keep her business going and even thriving as she reached new and different audiences.

Magical Katrina’s Penguin Lecture focuses mainly on performing virtual magic for kids. Although, the routines she performs and teaches are very versatile and throughout she showcases how they can each be adapted, customized, and personalized to different audiences and performing situations. If you are an experienced performer, you may recognize some of the simple magic Katrina uses to engage her audiences such as Pen Through Bill, Floating Dollar, and Ultra Mental / Invisible Deck. It would be easy to dismiss these effects as standard and cliche’. However, Katrina offers some good insight into these more traditional and commercially available tricks including how to adapt them to a virtual platform and highlight their visual impact!

She describes a few signature pieces including “Selection” which was featured on Penn & Teller’s Fool Us. Katrina explains this routine in-depth including its history, construction, and of course how to customize the props to your needs - which is the major theme throughout her lecture that I really appreciate.

Her “Appearing & Vanishing Chocolate Trick”, I admit, did not fit me personally but I certainly can see its appeal to a younger audience - afterall it’s chocolate! Plus, Katrina’s “Photo Mindreading / Mysterious Foreshadowed Envelope” was a fun example of the type of clever construction and handling you can take advantage of while working within virtual environments. It incorporates technology within technology (you’ll have to watch the lecture to see what I mean) and is a seemingly impossible effect that plays very well virtually!

It may seem silly, but one of my best take-aways from this lecture was Katrina’s handling for the tipless bill switch. For years, I’ve used Jarle Leirpol’s handling of this effect from his book/video Pocket Power. Yet, the way in which he flips the bill to show both sides to be ungimmicked always gave me trouble. Katrina’s handling to cleanly show both sides of a bill gave me a useful alternative that I’m sure I’ll be using.

It was clear that Katrina was able to bring a lot of her existing performance experience and business sense into her virtual shows and this Penguin Lecture. The effects were all ones that she obviously has performed countless times. She has a great command & understanding of her audiences, especially when it comes to interacting with children and keeping them engaged as was evident in some of her virtual show footage. Being conscious of your audiences’ age, interests, and life experiences is something that many performers overlook. This is where Katrina excels! And the real value of her lecture is in how to take her magic and the magic you already do and customize it for different audiences and situations.