Fair magic shows entertain audiences

What's it like to be in a traveling magic show? That's what we asked John Bloom of the show Grand Illusions by the Blooms, which is one of the featured acts all week at the Huron County Fair. "We try to do eight to ten fairs a year and we have a Halloween show," said John Bloom, the father of the act. He said his family loves what they do. "It's kind of like a working vacation," Bloom said. Sometimes when they are on the road, they get to stop and experience the sites, if they don't have too many shows booked. Previously they played in Montana and Wyoming and Bloom said his family loved site seeing and visiting ghost towns and national parks out west. "I think one of my favorite things is to meet people in the audience," Bloom said, adding his family does not disappear after shows. Rather, they spend time talking with those who came to see their performances. "We've made friends all over the country - that's the fun part." Bloom has been doing magic since 1989. He started in his career with music, but went to see a magic show in Chicago. That's when he changed his direction. "I thought it was fascinating," Bloom said. "I thought it would be a good direction to go." Bloom said performing on the road can be difficult if event organizers don't know how much space the group needs. "We're bringing big stage illusions," Bloom said. "A lot of fairs do not have the stage space that we need and that's the real struggle." He also said the Blooms rarely play shows in back to back years. The show changes a little bit every year, Bloom said, but not enough for the group to play in the same venues year after year. Joining John Bloom in his show are his wife Christine along with his daughters Isabella, Elizabeth, and Sophia. He has an older daughter who used to perform with the family, but has since started her own kettle corn business.