S6E5: Mac King — Vegas Afternoon Magic

Successful Performercast by Kris Sheppard | Successful Performer Cast | Weekly Interviews with Professional Entertainers | Show Business, Showbiz, Performer, Magic, Magician, Juggler, Comedian, Musician

Mac King tells us about his early days performing in comedy clubs and talks about how he keeps things fresh in his show at Harrah's in Vegas.

I probably don’t have to say this, but if you’re a magician and don’t know who Mac King is, I hereby revoke your magician card.

That said, Vegas Headliner Mac King is resident magician at Harrah’s Hotel & Casino and has been there for 15 years. This makes him the longest running magician in Vegas to be working at the same hotel!

He’s appeared on TV in countless shows on a variety of stations and in multiple countries. He also performs at corporate events for a select number of clients each year.

He’s authored and co-authored three books on the subject of magic, wears an awesome couch-plaid suit, and has a Fig Newton complex. Yet, according to his wife and daughter, he is a fine husband, a great dad, and all around swell fellow.

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Success Quote

Big slumps come before big jumps. — Mac's wife

Keeping his show fresh

• He really makes an effort to keep things fresh in his show.

• Keeps a dialogue open with the audience.

• Doesn't just use audience members "as a prop."

• Has a script for structure yet tries to find "little detours" to stray from the script and add variance to his shows.

• Talks a little about burnout and how it's affected him.

• Doesn't really add material, but he finds ways to tighten it.

• Things evolve and change over time.

• How he uses his show to test fly things he'll perform elsewhere, for example the suspension he performed at the Academy of Magical Arts Awards.

• Likes to "feel rushed" right before going on stage. It helps him to think on his feet and discover new things.

Failure Moment

Tells who he ended up vomiting up a goldfish on stage and how the audience seemed none-the-wiser. And the lessons he learned.

Other Topics Covered

• How your brain still works while you sleep and helps you work out problems.

• Tells his journey in magic which included a lot of hard work in comedy clubs.

• Working as a magician and sharing the stage with comedians.

• Laughs-per-minute.

• Recording and listening to your shows to make improvements.

• Emulating what you see other successful performers do.

• Having a beginning, middle, and end to your show.

• Finding his niche in Vegas.

• Tells some of the pitfalls he had to overcome before starting his current residence at Harrah's.

Parting Advice

Do as many shows as you can and be a good listener.

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!

Resources:

Keeping a count of all the props you have in your pockets before you go up on stage.

Be sure to set up a retirement account.

Books:

McComb's Magic by Billy McComb

Learn Magic by Henry Hay

Harpo Speaks by Harpo Marx

Where can we find Mac King?

Mac Performs at Harrah's Casino in Las Vegas every Tuesday thru Saturday at 1 & 3 PM.

Mac King's Official Website

Twitter @MacKingShow | Facebook