Here’s an incredible true tale of a magic experience I’ll never forget. While in Las Vegas celebrating my 30th birthday, AJ (like a typical 5 year old) had one goal in mind: Circus Circus! He remembered the carnival games, circus acts, and arcade prizes from our last trip. Hard to top in AJ’s world, but it was blown away by his first real Vegas show (and mine too): Steve Wyrick’s Real Magic.
One of the professional pics we got taken as we walked into the show.
Housed in the Miracle Mile shops in Planet Hollywood, we had a blast before even getting inside. We had fun walking the beautiful mall with yummy goodies such as Godiva, my favorite. When we checked in to get our tickets, Jet talked to the cashier and mentioned it was my birthday. She surprised us with upgrading our tickets to the fifth row dead center! She was very sweet.
AJ reading the map very seriously as we walked the mall.
Just the day before AJ got a magic wand and his first magic trick at the Houdini shop in Caesar’s Palace. His dad being a natural magician since he was very young, showed him the tricks and taught him the basics of magic. AJ couldn’t get enough and was very excited about the magic show. He made sure to bring his wand. Well actually, he brought that wand everywhere during the whole trip.
Waiting for the show to start - AJ and daddy, very excited.
On our way there, AJ had told us that there would be popcorn at the show. I disagreed and told him, “honey that is at shows like the movies. I don’t think they have that there.” He was certain and said confidently, “yah there is mom. God said.” To my amazement this boy was right! This wasn’t the first time he’s done that.
There's the popcorn. Our other professional shot as we walked in.
The show was amazing. Steve Wyrick is like a big kid with a very big budget. His personality is great and his show is a lot of fun. I had just as much of a good time with his comedy and natural ability to work with the audience as I did watching his incredible magic tricks. He made a huge jet appear out of nowhere, a motorcycle disappear, and had lots of other fun illusions and magic tricks.
On one part of the show, he appeared in the seat right in front of where AJ was seated. As he stood up, he saw AJ’s magic wand and took it. He asked AJ about it and AJ said it was just pretend. So Steve put some real magic in it that will stay there forever and handed it back to AJ. J
Later in the show, he asked for a young helper. He wanted someone with a brown shirt and a magic wand. AJ was pretty much the only person in the audience who didn’t know he was asking for him! We helped enlighten him and told him to that Steve was asking for him!
AJ bravely went up on the stage – all by himself. No wasting time to look back for mom and dad’s help, he was ready. He sat next to Steve on a boat that was part of the set.
Throughout the show, Steve talked about how he got into magic at a young age and how he grew with it. By pulling up a youngster on stage, he was sharing what changed his life – very up close and personal for one lucky kid each show. It was moving in many ways. In this part, Steve recalled his memories of fishing with his dad.
He asked AJ some questions about his trip while sitting on a boat with the fishing line out. AJ answered well in front of the whole audience on stage with the famous magician. I can’t imagine how he felt in that moment, but he was great.
“So have you lost money here?” he asked.
“Yeah,” AJ responded.
“What have you been doing?” he questioned.
“Playing at home,” AJ said.
“Where’s home? Where have you been staying?”
“At the Sahara.”
They went back and forth for several minutes. It was adorable.
They chatted while holding the fishing pole over the stage. Steve reeled it in to check the bait. He baited the hook with a worm. He took a bite of one of the worms and told AJ to do the same. Without a pause, he did. I’m pretty sure he knew they were gummy worms. They chewed them up and then he told AJ to spit it out. I believe he thought AJ wouldn’t want to spit out candy, but AJ did… right into his hand. Steve surprisingly dumped it out of his hand and wiped his hand off on AJ’s shirt. Yuck!
They got a bite after a bit and reeled in the line to see what kind of fish it was. It was a shoe. They unhooked it and then Steve asked AJ to wring it out. He did several times and each time a loud sound effect was played that echoed in the whole theater – and surprised AJ.
Then he asked AJ for water bottle next to him. AJ handed him the glass that was there. So he sarcastically asked AJ for the glass and AJ handed him the water bottle. It was really funny. He poured the water in the glass, did his thing, and made a goldfish appear in the glass!
AJ was amazed. Steve then told AJ to talk with the goldfish. He did and each time a beautiful woman would stand up behind him and respond like she was the goldfish. Before long, they showed AJ their “trick” and showed him that the goldfish wasn’t really talking.
He asked AJ which he'd like to take home: the goldfish or the beautiful girl. AJ excitingly said, “the goldfish!” without a pause. He carried the fish in the glass back to our seat – without spilling, thank God!
AJ had a lot of fun up there and did a great job. I was nervous and did not want to get called up on the stage myself – it was a very intimidating environment – but when AJ was up there, he was a natural. He was unbelievable!
Throughout the show, Steve would check in on AJ. He asked how the fish was doing. He later told AJ to come up and get some fish food for when the fish got hungry. He handed AJ a HUGE (and heavy) fish food bag – as big as AJ! AJ carried it back strongly and handed it to us.
At the end of the show, Steve threw AJ the hat that he wore when he was young in the story. He also gave AJ a lifetime pass to come see Steve’s show for free anytime he wanted!
Happy boy showing off his magic fish and lucky hat.
We stayed after and got his autograph on the hat and some cool pictures that we got from the show. It was an experience we’ll never forget!
Steve Wyrick Memorabilia.
AJ got a lot of attention afterwards and was famous for the evening. People fell in love with his adorable being.
We later playfully asked him why he chose the fish instead of the girl and he said, “ I didn’t want the girl because I really want the gold fish!” The amazing thing is that the night before in our hotel room he told us that he either wants a goldfish or a horse. We agreed goldfish to start. I don’t think a horse would fit in our apartment… and within 24 hours this boy had a magic goldfish with a grand entrance!
What an experience it was going to buy fish food (the large bag was just a prop) and a container at midnight after the show, walking around the next day with a goldfish in our hands after checking out of our room (oh the stares we got), and then driving home five hours with this goldfish. It definitely was a magic fish to make it all that way home through all of that.
Update: Icey K, the magic goldfish, is now living happily in our home with two new buddies, Ang the white gold fish and Jet the sucker fish. All names were hand selected by AJ. The fish call a 1.2 gallon tank home and enjoy daily visits from the up and coming pro-magician. AJ performs “magicals” on them often.
The happy fish tank with the magic fish and his buddies.
Last summer I made some worksheets to keep AJ fresh by practicing his ABC's, numbers, and writing at my "Mommy School". Christmas break is the perfect time to whip them out!
Posts
