Report/interview

Digital magic in Las Vegas

About a spectacular appearance on the Strip

With his appearance in Las Vegas, Andreas Axmann has fulfilled a long-cherished dream. He has been to the desert city several times to see the “gigantic shows”. He loves the climate and can even imagine living there. For him, Vegas is more of a “show paradise than a gambler’s paradise”. Theoretically, he could even gamble as a magician, he says, but: “I’m less interested in the casinos.” Every now and then he plays roulette.

He has now been allowed to perform his iPad act in Las Vegas. In the historic Hotel Riviera in the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard. Producer Frank Alfter helped him to make this appearance. In mid-July, he saw Axmann’s performance at the World Congress of Magic in Blackpool, England, where 2500 magicians from all over the world gathered, and was thrilled.

You visit Las Vegas at least once a year to see the shows there. Now you’ve made your own appearance in the “gambler’s paradise”, what was it like and how did it come about?

Las Vegas could also be called a “show paradise”. From the former “Sin City” to the “City of Entertainment”. I’m less interested in the casinos. I’m more interested in the unique theaters with their gigantic shows. Every magician probably dreams of performing in Las Vegas one day. Well-known colleagues such as David Copperfield and Siegfried & Roy have made a career there. In mid-July, I was at the World Congress of Magic in Blackpool, England, where I was able to make a contact for a performance in Las Vegas. Around 2500 magicians from all over the world met in England for a week-long World Magic Congress, which takes place every three years. There are competitions, galas, a huge trade fair with magic articles, seminars, workshops and you meet top people from the magic scene.

Has your performance at the Hotel Riviera fulfilled a long-cherished wish and are further shows in Vegas planned?

It was a dream come true for me to finally perform in the famous Mecca of magic in a real casino hotel in the middle of Las Vegas Boulevard. In general, I’ve been enamored with the American lifestyle for a long time and could even imagine living there. Las Vegas has a lot more to offer than just shows and casinos. Who knows what’s still to come.

The Hotel Riviera was opened in 1955 as the first large casino and films such as “Casino” and “Diamond Fever” have been filmed there: can you describe the atmosphere?

Admittedly, the hotel looks as old as it is. It’s getting a bit long in the tooth, but is still very well frequented. In general, “all that glitters is not gold” applies to many things in Las Vegas. Nevertheless, when the thousands of lights come on in the evening, it’s like being in another world full of illusions. Las Vegas is still unique and attracts an incredible number of people from all over the world.

Rabbits and top hats used to be. You perform magic with iPads and smartphones. Can you tell us a trick, maybe even your favorite?

Many viewers have these classic images of a rabbit and a top hat in their heads. So I conjure up an iPad from a top hat, for example, on which a digital rabbit is depicted. For example, the effect from my iPad act where I pour milk into my coffee depicted on the iPad and it disappears from the real glass and reappears in the digital coffee is very well received. Or when I get a real beer from the iPad and toast the audience.

Natalie Miseré, Passauer Neue Presse