Las Vegas
The world's busiest city for stage magic, where resident shows have run for decades and the audience knows it is being fooled.
Practised and told of here
Best time: Any time, though summer is very hot.
Stage magic came to Las Vegas in the 1950s, and long-running shows by Siegfried and Roy, David Copperfield, Penn and Teller and others made it a base. The Magic Castle, a private club in Los Angeles, is the other great hub.
An honest art
Stage magic differs from other topics in this guide because performer and audience agree that it is a trick. The art lies in misdirection and showmanship, and magicians keep methods secret out of respect for the craft.
History
The modern stage show draws on nineteenth-century figures such as Robert-Houdin, Maskelyne and Harry Houdini. Houdini campaigned against fraudulent mediums in the 1920s, and that link of stage craft and scepticism continues.
Visiting
Tickets are sold for each show. Magicians do not usually reveal how effects are done, and audience members should not try to film the methods.
A respectful visit to Las Vegas
Living communities are not a show. Ask before photographing a person or a ceremony, and follow local rules.
- A resident show Book a seat at a stage magic show.
- The Neon Museum See the signs of the city's history.
- Magic shops Browse a dealer's shop for the tools of the trade.
Written by the EveryJaadu desk with AI assistance. Background: "Las Vegas" on Wikipedia. Opening hours, markets and ceremonies change; check locally before travelling. If something is wrong, tell us.
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