What Is The BEST Magic Show in NYC?
It's the question everyone asks: What is the BEST magic show in NYC?
With so many incredible magic shows to choose from in the largest city in the US, the question is not only understandable, it's inevitable.
But the answer, like so many broad and basic questions, is not a simple one. It all boils down to what kind of experience you want to have... Let's dive in. I'm going to tell you about the magic show that I produce: NYC's favorite family-friendly magic show, the Broadway Magic Hour.
I truly believe it's the best magic show in NYC for families -- because our show was specifically designed for all ages.
What Is the BEST Magic Show in NYC? (Quick Answer for Parents)
If you're looking for a magic show that the entire family will love - from 5-year-olds up through high schoolers, college kids, and even their parents and grandparents, I firmly believe that the show that I produce, the Broadway Magic Hour weekend matinee, is your best bet. The Broadway Magic Hour has received accolades from some of the best critics in the world, including Time Out NY who ranked the show one of the "Best Magic Shows in NYC" as well as one of the "Best Off-Broadway Shows for Kids and Families."
Time Out NY aside, you may be saying to yourself -- "of course Jim Vines is going to tell me his show is the best!" And then maybe you'll even throw in an eye-roll for good measure. And hey, I don't blame you! On Wall Street, they call that "talking your book!"
But look at it another way - of course in Jim's view the Broadway Magic Hour is the best, after all, he's one of the founders and creators of the show!
So, with all that out of the way, let me explain why I think the Broadway Magic Hour is the best magic show in NYC for families, or anyone for that matter!
You see, my performing partner Carl Mercurio and I deliberately set out to create the magic show that we always wanted to experience, and that other families had told us they wanted to go to. It had to be the best in all ways that were important.
1. We wanted the show to tell a story... to have a real beginning, middle and end. It had to be real theater.
2. We wanted the show to be full of amazing, astounding, and outright mind-blowing magic.
3. We wanted the show to contain just the right mix of impossible effects: sleight of hand magic, mind-reading, levitation, animation, one object passing through another, appearances, vanishes, puffs of smoke, mind-reading, transpositions... the list goes on and on. In other words, we didn't want a show full of card tricks!
4. We wanted the show to be funny.
5. We wanted the show to be scripted (and I mean that in a good way.) When you go to a play on Broadway, you don't want the actors making it all up as they go along. You want words with some real thought behind it!
6. We wanted spontaneity. (Doesn't that contradict #5? No! We find those moments in the show to acknowledge the moment we're in, find out about the audience members, and more. Carl especially is amazing with spontaneous crowd-work!
7. We wanted the show to feel like a throwback to an earlier era of NYC entertainment. Not a Disneyfied version of a magic show (nothing against Disney!), but more of a real, authentic show by a couple of dads who have been doing magic all of their lives and finally have the right stage to share it with the world.
8. We wanted it to be affordable. Have you seen NYC live show prices lately? $200 - $400 - $1,500 - where does it stop? We believe that MAGIC IS FOR EVERYONE, and we wanted a price point that everyone can afford.
9. We wanted the show to be 1 hour. We felt like this is the perfect amount of time for everyone to enjoy the show. Let's face it --k kids don't want to sit still for 2 hours. Even 75 minutes is pushing it. We keep it to a tight 60 minutes these days.
10. Finally, we wanted the show to be about the audience. As the NY Daily News put it, at the Broadway Magic Hour, "the audience becomes the real star."
So - for all of these reasons, I firmly believe our show is the best magic show in NYC. Don't think so? Email me at broadwaymagichour@gmail.com and tell me why!
If you've read this far, I truly appreciate you taking this little adventure with me today. We appreciate our audiences so much -- because after all, magic is an art form that cannot exist without an audience.... because the magic happens in the audience's mind.
Be sure to check out all the other amazing magic shows in NYC. We've seen them all, I think, and many of them multiple times. There is truly something for everyone in the amazing world of NYC magic. If you find one that you like better than ours, drop us a line and let us know... we are always learning, and we want to hear from you. Thanks again, and we hope to see you at our show soon!
→ Check out upcoming show dates and book tickets for the Broadway Magic Hour here.
