My Secret Before Every Magic Show? It Isn't a New Trick. It's a Clothes Steamer Handheld.
What I fear most in every performance isn't forgetting my lines.
Many people, when they meet me for the first time, ask the same question.
Is being a magician really cool?
I usually just nod.
After all, who would tell someone on their first meeting that they had just been sitting in a hotel room, steaming a suit for five minutes?
But this is the real work.
Last month, I performed in Seattle. The flight was delayed and the driver took a wrong route, so by the time I arrived at the hotel, there were only twenty minutes left before the show started.
I took the suit out of the suitcase.
Hmm...
It looks like someone slept in it.
At that moment, there was only one sentence in my mind.
Today, either the suit wins, or I do.
The Hotel iron? I've given up hope.
I wonder if I'm the only one like this.
Now that I'm staying at a hotel, I no longer bother looking for a coffee maker first.
I'll open the closet first.
I check if there's an iron.
If there is,
I check to see if it still works.
One time, it was even worse.
I picked up the iron and just placed it on the shirt when suddenly a yellow liquid squirted out from inside.
I looked at that white shirt.
It looked at me.
At that moment, we both fell silent.
From then on, I decided to bring my own handheld clothes steamer.
Not because it's particularly sophisticated.
Just because I finally don't have to leave my luck to the hotel.
There's a little habit in the background that nobody knows about.
It was especially quiet ten minutes before the performance.
The host is rehearsing the script.
The photographer is changing lenses.
The lighting technician is adjusting the colors.
And I usually hang up my suit.
Anyone passing by would tease.
Here we go again?
Hmm.
Still the same blue suit today?
Yes. It's not in a good condition today.
Sounds like I'm talking to a suit.
Actually, it really is.
After so many years of performing, I've come to realize that clothes are also my partner.
It has flown with me to dozens of cities.
Also stood with me on hundreds of stages.
Taking care of it isn't about ceremony.
Just respect the work.
Why am I using the traditional iron less and less?
The biggest reason?
I'm too lazy.
If something requires you to take out the iron, wait for it to heat up, and worry about whether the temperature is too high...
I've probably already given up.
My friends always say I'm a hot-tempered person.
They were right.
So I like things that can quickly solve problems.
Hang it up.
Fill the water tank.
A few seconds.
Start steaming.
Done.
The whole process didn't even take as long as it would to order a cup of coffee.
Once, I almost ruined my wife's shirt.
This thing is still a joke in our family to this day.
She said before leaving, "Iron this for me."
I'm especially confident.
No problem.
Ten minutes later.
That silk shirt has officially retired.
Later, she simply put the iron away at home.
After that, we switched to using a steamer.
Even today, she still reminds me of that.
Stay away from my clothes.
To be honest.
She was right.
Some clothes are simply not suitable for direct high-temperature pressing.
I realized that the handheld clothes steamer is more than just for ironing clothes.
At a wedding once.
The host walked over.
Can you help me out?
I thought he'd lost the ring.
He said, "The backdrop is too wrinkled."
So I stood by the stage and spent a few minutes tidying up the entire backdrop.
The photographer gave me a thumbs up.
He said, "Thanks. Now I have dozens fewer photos to fix tonight."
Later I realized.
I have more things organized than clothes.
Hotel curtains.
Suit.
Dresses.
Tablecloth.
Sometimes even my friends' coats.
When it comes to brands, my criteria are actually quite simple.
Someone always likes to ask me.
How is Nesugar?
I usually don't answer directly.
Because everyone has different habits when it comes to using things.
I'll just look at a few questions.
Is it light enough?
Does putting it in the suitcase take up too much space?
Is the steam stable?
Will it let me down when I'm in a hurry?
If the answer to all of those is yes,
then it's a reliable tool.
As for what it's called, that's actually not so important.
Finally, let's talk about something unrelated to magic.
Over the years, I've noticed something quite interesting.
Audiences rarely remember what brand you're wearing.
They remember how you carry yourself.
Your energy.
Whether you look polished.
Your confidence.
This actually has little to do with whether the suit is expensive or not.
It actually has a lot to do with whether it has pleats or not.
So even today, every time I go out for a performance, I still pack that handheld clothes steamer in my suitcase.
It won't help me conjure up playing cards.
Nor will it make the audience applaud.
But at least, when the spotlight shines, I don't have to worry about people's first glance being on the creases in my clothes.
