Sunday, July 13, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

COLUMN: Mike Weatherford

Succeeding in Vegas is tricky

Magician Joe Devlin was onstage at the Crystal Palace Casino in Nassau, the Bahamas, when a guy in the audience screamed, "You should be in Vegas!"

He took it as a compliment. But he didn't take it seriously.

In the Bahamas, Devlin performs to "a captive audience. It's an island," he says with a smile.

In Las Vegas, magician Dirk Arthur closes shop at the Silverton after today's 7:30 p.m. show.

The Sahara announced recently that Steve Wyrick will leave the hotel Aug. 31. Wyrick says he soon will announce a new location on the Strip; the Sahara hasn't announced a replacement, but it's rumored to be another magic show.

Still, there seemed to be few delusions among the illusionists when the Society of American Magicians met at the Riviera last week: Las Vegas finally has hit the saturation level as a magic mecca.

"There are about 450 magicians living in Las Vegas. And about four of them work," George Schindler, the society's spokesman, says with a laugh.

The convention at least served to remind locals that magicians do live and work beyond the Strip.

"I'm not a celebrity in the public eye, but there are a lot more of us out there than there are up onstage with Lance (Burton)," says Dan Garrett, a Georgian who makes his living from corporate and trade shows.

"I've debated so many times moving out here, but I'm so comfortable where I'm at," says Glen Gerard, who works the Milwaukee area from his home in Germantown, Wis. "Where I live, I have name recognition. I've built up my own little clientele of customers, just as if I were a painter or anyone else with a small business."

Yes, Las Vegas still harbors the dream of the theater with your name on it, and the giant billboards displaying your smiling face.

But those billboards don't come cheap.

"You need money," Devlin says. "From what I hear, you can't four-wall (rent a showroom) in Las Vegas for under $2 million."

Las Vegas may not merely have too many magicians, but too many with the same type of latter-day variety show. This may be mandated by the need for big tricks that can be seen from the back row, but excludes the more innovative stuff done on small stages.

"The perception is that there's nothing in between birthday parties and Siegfried & Roy," says George Sateriale. He likes to work at Michael Chaut's "Monday Night Magic" at the SoHo Playhouse in New York City, a venue that "educates the public to what hip, good magic can really be."

But don't expect grim business realities on the Strip to ever replace the illusion.

"I think a part of every show-business person still wants to play Vegas," Devlin says. "Our heroes work here, and when you idolize someone, you want to be where they are."

Mike Weatherford's entertainment column appears Tuesdays and Sundays.