The Little Helpers I Never Perform Without

By Big Tim — Magician since 1969 & Owner of Big Tim’s Magic Emporium

Magic is full of wonder, mystery, and beautiful moments… but behind the curtain, it’s also full of tiny emergencies, wardrobe malfunctions, slippery fingers, stubborn props, and the occasional “oh crap” moment that every magician eventually faces.

After performing since 1969, I’ve learned that the real secret to a smooth show isn’t just skill — it’s preparation. Over the decades, I’ve built a collection of “little helpers” that live in my magic bag. They’re not tricks. They’re not gimmicks. They’re the quiet tools that keep the magic alive when things go sideways.

Today, I’m sharing them with you. Magician to magician.

🩹 Adhesives & Gaffing — The “Hold-It-Together” Fixes

Magician’s Wax / Cosmetic Beeswax

Perfect for sticking threads, weighting cards, or making quick temporary fixes. A tiny dab can save a routine.

Hollywood Fashion Tape

If you’ve ever had a jacket liner tear or a pocket flap misbehave, this stuff is a lifesaver. It’s invisible, strong, and fast.

Double-Sided Carpet Tape / Topstick

Topstick (toupee tape) is shockingly strong. Great for attaching gimmicks under tables, inside pockets, or anywhere you need a temporary bond that won’t fail.

Roughing Fluid / Repositionable Glue Spray

Krylon 1311 or Aleene’s Tack-It Over & Over can instantly restore worn-out gimmick decks. A must-have for card workers.

Black Gaffer Tape

Unlike duct tape, gaffer tape leaves no residue. It’s perfect for cables, props, and close-up mats. Every magician should own a roll.

High-Grit Sandpaper (Pro Tip!)

This one is a secret most magicians never hear: Glue tiny strips of high‑grit sandpaper to props that require finger pressure — especially pulls. A small piece on each side gives you a rock-solid grip and eliminates the fear of slipping. It’s simple, invisible, and incredibly effective.

🃏 Prop Maintenance & Card Fixes

Fine-Tip Black Sharpie & White Gel Pen

Mask frayed edges, touch up black props, or hide tiny nicks. These two pens have saved countless routines.

X‑Acto Knife or Scalpel

For precise cuts on gimmicks. Scissors are too clumsy — a scalpel gives you surgical accuracy.

Fine Needle-Nose Pliers

Great for bending split rings, tightening coin gimmicks, or fixing jammed props.

High-Grit Sandpaper / Fine Nail File

Smooth rough edges on plastic props or modify surfaces so they slide cleanly.

👔 Wardrobe & Body Prep — The “Flawless Performance” Fixes

Black Safety Pins & Black Thread

Silver pins shine like headlights under stage lights. Black pins disappear completely.

Baking Soda / Baby Powder

If Corn Huskers lotion makes your hands too tacky, baking soda instantly neutralizes it without clumping like chalk.

Rub-a-Dub Laundry Marker

Write on fabric, cover stains, or fix wardrobe marks. It survives multiple washes.

Alcohol Wipes

Clean coins, remove grease, reset gimmicks, sanitize props — essential.

Neodymium Magnets

Tiny magnets can repair a gimmick, secure a pull, or replace a lost magnetic point. Pair them with super glue and activator for instant fixes.

Corn Huskers Lotion (With a Story…)

I’ve had dry hands my entire life. Early in my career, I dropped cards, coins, thumb tips — everything. Then I discovered Corn Huskers Lotion. It’s not greasy, not sticky, just a perfect tack that gives you control.

Let me tell you a story.

About 30 years ago, I was performing at a small venue. I was making a red silk disappear. When I went to steal the silk, my thumb tip fell off — with the silk still inside. I froze. Someone whispered, “Ew, his thumb fell off!”

Luckily the lights were low, and the red silk looked like blood. I picked it up and said, “Dang, that happens all the time.” I secretly transferred it to my other hand, walked to my magic bag, ditched it, grabbed super glue, and pretended to glue my thumb back on.

Then I walked closer to the audience to “prove” it was real.

No one was the wiser.

Corn Huskers has lived in my magic bag ever since.

🔋 Tech & Venue Backups

Spare Flints & Fluid

If you use a Zippo-style lighter, a dead flint can ruin a routine. Always carry extras.

Spare Batteries — And Change Them Before Every Show

This is one of the most important habits a magician can develop. Even if you think the batteries are fresh… change them. Remote gimmicks, light-up props, timers — anything battery-powered should start the show at 100%. It eliminates one of the biggest sources of mid-performance failure.

Lighter

For emergencies, resets, or props that require flame.

🎴 Card Handling Essentials

Fanning Powder

Over time, cards absorb oils unevenly, causing ugly, inconsistent fans. My method:

1. Put fanning powder in a lunch-size paper bag.

2. Toss the cards in.

3. Shake like crazy.

4. Add more powder if needed.

5. Stack and shuffle to remove excess.

Your cards will fan like new. I never perform without powdering my deck first.

🧰 Specialty Tools

Prym Clear Elastic Thread

Perfect for repairing flap cards or anything requiring invisible elasticity.

BLINK — The Blackest Black Ink

For black art work. This ink is unbelievably dark.

Awl

Punch tiny holes in cards for thread work.

Scissors

Always useful.

🧼 Lint Brush

Right before you walk on stage, you will notice lint, cat hair, or dandruff. A lint brush saves your appearance instantly.

😂 The Most Important Tool: A Sense of Humor

Every magician — no matter how skilled — will eventually mess up. A dropped card. A stuck gimmick. A thumb tip that decides to escape.

Don’t take it too seriously.

If you laugh, your audience will laugh. If you act embarrassed, they’ll relate to you. If you shake it off dramatically, they’ll love you even more.

Comedians forget jokes. Magicians drop props. Even Jeff Dunham once used the wrong voice for his puppet — and the puppet asked him what happened. Another time he dropped a puppet, picked it up, and instantly scolded himself in character. The audience roared.

Dani DaOrtiz — one of the greatest card magicians alive — is hilarious. David Copperfield — the most dramatic illusionist of all time — still gets huge laughs.

Humor is your safety net. It’s your parachute. It’s your best friend when things go wrong.

And trust me… things will go wrong.

Closing Thoughts

These tools aren’t glamorous. They’re not tricks. They’re not secrets you’ll find in a magic shop. They’re the quiet helpers that have saved my show more times than I can count.

I’ve been performing since 1969, and I’ve learned these lessons the hard way. I share them so you don’t have to.

If you want more stories, tips, or behind-the-scenes magic wisdom, you can always find me at Big Tim’s Magic Emporium — a place where I share knowledge, not sales pitches.

Here’s to smooth shows, confident performances, and the magic that happens when preparation meets experience.

— Big Tim