Magic Live 2024: A Journey Filled with Magic, Friends, and Unforgettable Moments

Magic Live 2024: A Journey Filled with Magic, Friends, and Unforgettable Moments

Magic Live is over for another year, and what a convention it was! This year’s event was nothing short of spectacular, filled with exciting new releases, incredible performances, and, most importantly, the chance to connect with our amazing AlakaFam. Let me take you through our journey to Las Vegas and give you a behind-the-scenes look at the magic that made this year’s convention one for the books.

The Journey Begins: Heathrow to Las Vegas

On Wednesday, July 31st, Harry and I set off for the magic capital of the world, Las Vegas. Our adventure began at Heathrow Airport, where we boarded a ten-hour flight to the neon-lit city. While a ten-hour flight might seem daunting, we found that time flies (no pun intended) when you're catching up on movies and sneaking in a few power naps. Before we knew it, we were descending into the city of lights, where we landed at around 9 p.m. Despite the late hour, the temperature was still a balmy 85-90°F, reminding us that we were indeed in the desert.

Settling in at The Orleans

The Magic Live convention is held at The Orleans Hotel, located just off the famous Las Vegas Strip. With a couple of days to spare before the convention officially kicked off, Harry and I decided to make the most of our time and explore the city. The following day, we teamed up with our good friends Noel Qualter and Roddy McGhie for a day of filming for the Alakazam Vlog. Our adventures took us to the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, where we couldn’t resist taking on the Hot Wings Challenge for our "Dad vs. Lad" series.

Now, if you know Harry and me, you’ll know that we can handle our hot food pretty well. So, it quickly became a fiery showdown between us and Noel and Roddy. I won't spoil the outcome for you, but let’s just say things got spicy! You can catch the full challenge on The Vlog—it’s one you won’t want to miss.

Magic Live Begins: Showcasing the Best of Alakazam

The convention officially started on Sunday at 7 p.m., and that’s when the real magic began. This was the moment we had been waiting for—the chance to showcase our upcoming releases to the global magic community. I’m thrilled to report that our new products were met with enthusiastic praise and excitement.

This year, we were joined at our stand by the incredibly talented Eric Stevens, who is set to release three fantastic effects through Alakazam. One of these, STIXX, became the talk of the convention. STIXX is the most up-to-date and comprehensive Hot Rod set ever created, and I’m proud to say that it was a complete sell-out at Magic Live. Many attendees even declared it the trick of the convention!

But STIXX wasn’t the only showstopper. Our exclusive pre-release, Loki, also received a tremendous amount of attention. In fact, it was so popular that it sold out by the second day of the convention! We can’t wait to officially launch Loki later this year, and we’re confident it will continue to dazzle magicians around the world.

Rubbing Shoulders with Magic's Elite

One of the perks of attending a convention in Las Vegas is the opportunity to meet some of the biggest names in magic. This year was no exception. Throughout the event, we had the privilege of chatting with magic legends like David Copperfield, Michael Ammar, John Bannon, and Chris Kenner, to name just a few. These encounters are always inspiring, and it’s amazing to see how much passion and dedication these icons have for the art of magic.

But as much as we love meeting the superstars, the best part of any convention for us is connecting with our customers. It’s incredible to see how our USA AlakaFam is growing, and we were thrilled to meet so many of you in person. Your support means the world to us, and we loved hearing your feedback, sharing laughs, and making memories together.

A Special Thanks to Chico and the AlakaFam

I want to give a special shoutout to Chico, one of our AlakaFam members who went above and beyond to make our time at Magic Live extra special. Chico made sure we were well-fed behind the stand by delivering the most amazing Mexican food—trust me, it was a lifesaver during those long convention hours! Chico, your kindness and generosity truly embody what the AlakaFam is all about, and we can’t thank you enough.

Reflecting on Magic Live 2023

As we wrap up another incredible year at Magic Live, I can’t help but reflect on how far we’ve come. From our humble beginnings to becoming a staple at one of the world’s biggest magic conventions, it’s been an extraordinary journey. This year’s convention was a resounding success, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of the Magic Live team. They did an outstanding job organizing the event, and we’re already counting down the days until we can return next year.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Alakazam?

While Magic Live 2024 may be behind us, the excitement is far from over. We have so many exciting projects in the pipeline, and we can’t wait to share them with you. From new releases to exclusive events, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming months.

One of the things we’re most excited about is continuing to grow our AlakaFam community. Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’re just discovering Alakazam, we’re so grateful to have you with us on this magical journey. Your passion, enthusiasm, and support inspire us every day, and we’re committed to bringing you the best magic has to offer.

As we look ahead to the future, we promise to keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in magic. We’re dedicated to creating innovative effects, hosting unforgettable events, and, most importantly, staying connected with all of you.

A Final Word

Thank you to everyone who made Magic Live 2024 such a memorable experience. Whether you visited our stand, joined us for a chat, or simply followed along online, your involvement made all the difference. We can’t wait to see what the next year brings, and we’re excited to share every step of the journey with you.

Until then, keep the magic alive, and we’ll see you at the next convention!

—Peter Nardi