Mirage and Miracles of Las Vegas

A mirage is that illusive illusion in the desert which appears to be a reflection of cool clean water, your salvation from the searing heat of the desert sun. When you are just about to give up you see it calling to you. But like that illusionary glimmering water, the Las Vegas mirage is something that will stay beyond your reach, teasing you like a sexy siren each step towards it.  A city of magic, Vegas is an illusion consisting of glittering neon lights, glorious games of chance,  and let’s not forget sensual show girls, all seducing you to sip it’s cool water, and eventually kiss it’s enticing lips. The city of “lost wages” is a monument in and of itself built upon the power and seduction of illusion. 

Known for making fortunes appear and disappear in the blink of an eye, Las Vegas is something of a Mecca for working magicians and wanna-be magicians alike. Much as actors go to Hollywood and New York, magicians arrive in dedicated droves to this desert oasis, usually with not much more than a deck of cards, and a dove up their sleeves. But they do still arrive here in search of the illusive illusionist’s dream. All of us magicians, at one time in our lives, dream  of following the footsteps of Siegfried and Roy, the two German magicians who appeared in the desert and first started the empire of magic. Every magician dreams at one time of having his own show on the Vegas strip, with a huge billboard with his most mysterious pose surrounded by beautiful exotic animals and even more exotic show girls, and of course the flashing neon lights.  

Impossibility is the nature of magic, and some of those magicians are successful in this almost impossible journey. However to be so they need to not only be the best at their craft, they have to have something known to make you successful in Vegas, luck. Names like David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, Lance Burton, The Amazing Jonathan, Rick Thomas, Nathan Burton, Steve Wyric, Mac King, Jeff McBride and Cris Angel have blessed the skyline with their likeness.

The drive from Albuquerque to Vegas is long, but beautiful, filled with amazing scenery. Then as if to announce the coming attractions you finally arrive at Hoover Damn, which creates the energy and somehow prepares you for the awesome grandeur that is Las Vegas. Then when you reach that oasis in the desert you are struck by the very electricity which the magnificent marvel of engineering provides .

Vegas Seductress?

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but there are a few things I can tell you about my visit to this amazing magical place which I’m able to share with you. As I wandered the strip I was struck by the statues all beckoning me to come share the magic. It is as if the Casinos were bastions of the erudite nobles.  A noble venture awaited me I was certain. Then I saw the beautiful woman on a ship, there in the desert, she was the goddess of the water. And somehow she reminded me of a certain model I’d met in Austin. So of course I’ll have another excuse to put another picture of her in my blog. 

Brittnay Lynn

There of course are details of a night or two which will remain secret, as always with Vegas. And of course as a magician, I can keep a secret. I’d probably share that night too, except that I ran into Zach Galifianakis (from THE HANGOVER) on Las Vegas Blvd., and I can’t even remember what happened that night. (yes that’s my story and I’m sticking to it.)

It was a magic life circumstance that I even included Vegas on my journey. You see my original plan was to go straight to Los Angeles from Albuquerque, however my friend whom I planned on staying with, in LA, Jack Span, (more about this later) was going to be out of town at that time. So I decided, that I’d take a little side trip to Vegas. 

Ace Starry and Zach Galifianakis

Why not? I knew that Vegas was filled with magicians and to find one would not be difficult. It’s practically as easy as walking down the street and throwing a deck of cards in the air, you’ll probably hit a magician. I no more than hit the street when I discovered a Magic Show by Baltimore Tom. Magic is everywhere you turn in Vegas. It’s ubiquitous. I even found this machine which made money appear for me. No it wasn’t this slot machine called Magic Wish, it was the ATM. 

Baltimore Tom

However, I did parlay that withdrawal into enough cash to cover my night out by playing my favorite slot, THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE. But we aren’t going to talk about that now are we. Back to how I eventually found my magician. 

I called upon a friend of mine, an amazing magician who lives and works in Vegas, Jeff McBride. Jeff is a master illusionist and teacher of magic, I’ve met on several occasions over the years. Jeff was traveling, so he was unable to give me the interview, but he gave me the introduction to a young magician working there in the Mirage. 

His name is Paul Vigil, (pronounced VeeHill) and Jeff told me that this guy was an up and coming superstar. I was able to meet and talk with Paul as well as witness his amazing magic. I have to agree with McBride, Paul Vigil is a rising star. He is a polished performer and he amazes his audience there in the Ink King Lounge in the Mirage Hotel. Of course I was interested in knowing the real secret. What set him apart from those thousand of other magicians who made the pilgrimage to Nevada? What secrets does he old that enabled him to manifest his reality? ... next time.