Valenti Govantes/ Staff Writer
Typically, magic and illusions are best enjoyed as live theatre. Nevertheless, magician Tom Pesce made full creative use of the Zoom platform in order to translate his production into a virtual format.
Placing the audience into the show as if they were the magicians, the interactive magic show presented by the FIU I-75 campus took place on Oct. 6th as part of the commencement of Homecoming festivities.
Appearing in a video parodying Back to the Future, Pesce began his virtual show by telling the audience he wants to put them in control as he attempted to start a new time travel business.
30 participants of the FIU community were visible through the virtual meeting, most of the webcam views showed small children in attendance.
“Magic is appealing to all ages because it allows us to suspend belief–as adults, this is difficult for us to do. It is easy for kids to believe in the impossible but as we get older, that belief in magic is taught out of us,” said Pesce.
Pesce expressed the idea that witnessing magic tricks allows a person to feel as if they were a child again.
“However, when we see something that is unexplainable and stirs emotions inside us, it brings back the feeling of wonder and awe that we all experience as children,” he said.
Pesce began his first trick by revealing tape is wrapped around his mouth and communicating through cards as he had an audience member select what kind of playing card they wanted.
The tape was then removed and he took out a small bag in his mouth containing the card they wanted.
Pesce introduced himself and acknowledged the challenges of 2020 and how we should embrace them, as he punched holes into a playing card and then caused them to mysteriously move around.
The next trick began by choosing another member of the audience and bringing out photos of his own family.
Questions were asked to them concerning where they wanted playing cards to be placed right next to each of the five photos.
The playing cards were revealed to have the exact same images contained in each of the photos. Pesce tied this magic trick to the moments that happen in time that are important to everyone.
The third trick involved asking the audience to pick a number from 1 to 100. He showed his phone which had different lists such as a bucket list, grocery list, and celebrity list from 1 to 100.
Members of the audience read the fourth option of each list which were climbing Mt. Everest, cheap sunglasses, and Bono. The culmination of this was the reveal of a photo on his Instagram account of Bono wearing cheap sunglasses on Mt. Everest.
His last magic act connected to the video from the beginning when he said he wanted to send a video to the television series Shark Tank to pitch his Delorean Time Machine to them.
After playing a mixture of both disparaging and encouraging video messages from Shark Tank judges, Pesce remained determined to parlay his time traveling into a viable business and turned to his audience for help.
The audience was asked to think of a date that he can go to, a place he can go to, and money he can have when he’s there.
Another video was played when he travels to the future and returns with a hoverboard. Each of the selected audience members reveal they wanted him to go to the year 3040, in Jamaica, with $10,000 dollars.
In response, Pesce revealed his box contained a meal from the future and a journal with a story addressed to FIU of his visit to Jamaica in 3040 with $10,000 dollars.
Pesce’ virtual magic show demonstrated the capabilities of the Zoom format for not just communication but for compelling, interactive forms of entertainment.
“What I loved about the Homecoming show we did online was how the virtual medium allows it to be interactive so not only are you watching something amazing but you at home are choosing the outcome of what can happen,” said Pesce.
You can follow the magician through his Instagram, @tompescemagic or website. For more information regarding Homecoming events, visit here.
About Post Author
