Positive: 1. Unique show-something different 2. Very Funny 3. Some great tricks. LOVED the last magic trick! Negative: 1. Kids should be seated in the front row especially when the VIP seats were not sold. There were 4 extra seats and the host gave them to 4 adults instead of the 4 kids/teens in the audience who are not that tall and could have benefitted sitting in the front. 2. In addition, only the first two rows are good seats. My group was in the 3rd row and there were pretty tall people in front of us. I'm only 5'3". Different size chairs would help. Or Ivan could have a taller platform so everyone can see. 3. There should be a way out on both sides of each row. I was really thirsty in the middle of the show but couldn't get out without disturbing everyone because I was next to the wall. It's nice to have some freedom. Also providing this space would give Ivan the opportunity to interact with the audience who are next to the wall too and not just those at the end of the row and in the front row. Overall the experience was good. But definitely there is room for improvement. read more

Great show! Saw it at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in a small room which was a nice intimate setting. Viewing was a bit problematic, but that was more of a venue issue not the performance. I brought my son who loves magic and he loved it as much as I did. I'm still scratching my head wondering how he did what he did. It's great because none of his show is the typical stuff you see. It was all very original and I like how he engaged the audience. A real showman and a fun night out! read more

I went to his Seattle show at The Westin- Ivan is really entertaining- it's a comical show with some parlor magic tricks. It was a 3.5/3.75 experience because I was expecting more magic but overall it was really entertaining (he was funny and witty) and I loved the show/experience. If there aren't any assigned seats at your show I recommend showing up 45-60 minutes early to get 2nd row seats (unless you are willing to pay extra for guaranteed front row seats) read more

Ivan is charming and entertaining. The cellist is wonderful; however, her playing DURING the show is relentlessly annoying (to quote another reviewer). (And the reason this show gets 3.0 stars from me). Perhaps the venue is too small for a live cellist? Whatever the reason, it kept me from truly getting lost in the 'magic' and enjoying the show. The magic isn't mind-blowing (there are a couple tricks that make you go "WHAT?!" :)), but it's mostly entertaining and a fun night out. Tip! If you are seeing the show at the Beverly Wilshire, you can go across to the bar (on the other side) to get a drink and bring it back to the show. :) read more

I gave Ivan amodei's show 1 star simply because I could not give less. What a complete waste of money and time. His 'illusions' were so obvious and transparent, or just plain stupid, that I am just sad for anyone who is impressed by him. The whole performance was laughable. It might impress a group of 6 year olds, maybe...so if that that is your mental capacity....enjoy!! I promise you, if you have any education and common sense, do NOT even contemplate wasting your money on this clown. I was tempted to get up and leave mid- show. Anyone who gave this man a positive review must have absolutely zero expectations in life and no cultural exposure whatsoever. read more

We just saw this show in Richardson TX. We were underwhelmed. We had never seen a live Magic show and where very excited about going. This show was very poor. It was hard to figure out where the illusions where. Ivan's slight of hand was really bad. Every trick was seen before it happened. Not sure if he was trying new stuff out, but none of it worked. Still can't take this off my bucket list. read more

Went to see the show again on Friday and came away even more impressed, amazed and flat-out entertained than the first time around. Ivan's a top-flight magician but he's also a consummate entertainer. The performance space crackles with his nonstop energy. The live cellist is a classy addition, but sometimes the constant playing pulls focus from the tricks (perhaps this is by design...#misdirection). Highly recommended for date nights, puts dinner and a movie to shame. read more

It's a fun night out, but it's not going to blow your mind if you are a magician. Being in the business myself, I was most impressed by the intimate nature of the show. The other reviewers who are saying that he uses stooges/plants are 100% wrong. Having said that, Ivan needs to do a better job of PROVING that they're not plants. In my own show, I do this by throwing a ball into the audience. It then gets tossed around three times. The third person who catches it will help with the routine. Ivan should know that if the audience even THINKS there is a stooge (even if they're wrong), then the illusion is ruined from the start. read more

The magic was incredible and Ivan is a really likable, witty, and talented performer. It's definitely worth it.

I am not quite sure why anyone would consider this good magic, or even a good show, unless one was almost completely unfamiliar with good magic, or good shows. I saw the show in Westlake Village, at the Four Seasons, and could not have been less impressed. Starting as the gruff man of mystery, Amodei morphed to a gangster of love, then to a sweet illusionist (with the aid of a lovely little girl), and ended up as a super patriot, saluting the flag in white gloves (perhaps the silliest and most contrived thing I have ever seen). The magic was occasionally good, the room was anything but intimate, and the accompanying cello was almost relentlessly annoying. If you haven't seen good magic, don't go to this, or you might end up so discouraged that you'll never want to see a magic show again. read more

Ivan's show was definitely entertaining and worth the price of admission. Having the show in the ballroom seems a bit odd until you realize that he puts on an 'intimate illusion' show. His illusions certainly leave you wondering how he pulled off the tricks. Well done. A lot of fun and I recommend the show to anyone who is interested in 'magic.' read more

This experience was one of a kind and I would highly recommend it! It's fun, entertaining, and you won't stop laughing. At the same time, you can enjoy some awesome live cielo music. His tricks are very original and very different than any other magic show I've been to. Especially, the ones in lame vegas! The magician is also very good looking, personable, sweet, funny - and for me this makes it a better time ;0). YOU'LL HAVE A TON OF FUN, TRUST ME! read more

This was just a great show! Ivan does an amazing job as an illusionist and entertainer. He was very charismatic. The room is very intimate which makes it fun, because you feel like the show is strictly for you. He is really funny and is great at engaging with the audience while astonishing them with his skills. I also really enjoyed the cellist Hope as the musical accompaniment for the show. I had a great time, I laughed, I was amazed and it was nice to forget about everything and just be absorbed by the magic. Ivan also meets with the guest after which is a treat. I will be recommending this to friends and family. read more

Awesome show! I loved it! Read a bunch of reviews and some said it wasn't good but I decided to go anyhow. I have to say it was way worth it. Ivan was very entertaining and the "cozy" atmosphere was perfect. Over all me and group I went with loved it. I'll be going back for sure. read more

So there's a lot of "'ditto'ing" going on in these reviews about Ivan Amodei's magic show... and I will be no different. I saw the offer on Living Social and figured this is something fun and different to do. So my husband and I went last night and we had the best time! The setting was intimate (hence the name of the show; Intimate Illusions) and had that mysterious, slightly out of time feeling that I expect magic shows to have. It's at the kitschy Regent Beverly Wilshire and the dress code is suits for guys and cocktail dresses for women. So ladies here's your chance to break out that cute number you bought 2 years ago but you haven't had any place to wear it! Or if you're in the 'industry', and you know who you are, it was really nice to get all gussied up for something other than an 'industry' event. Ivan was simply amazing. Now I have to admit, I do tend to be gullible when it comes to magic and illusion; for one thing, why go to a magic show if you're not going to suspend your belief? The other thing is I really do believe mass can be manipulated. My husband, however, is more of a skeptic, as they can be, and even he was stumped many times with Ivan's 'illusions'. There were many that just blew us away! And Ivan is charming, very funny and he throws in random thoughts about life which were uplifting and inspiring...not preachy. We were still talking about it this morning. It was like we were transported to another time or something. The whole evening was really just lovely. And we did find street parking and magically avoided the $18 valet! All this to say... GO!!! read more

Best magic show ever!! Better than going to the Magic Castle. Go see it now, you won't regret it. Absolutely amazing!! Ivan is the best entertainer of the year in my opinion. read more

This stellar magician entertains the audience (myself included) with a seamless fusion of magic and comedy - captivating audiences with his exemplary talent and skill and complemented by great humor. His demonstrations of magic and illusions are dynamic in nature and extensively varied So I fully recommend his show at the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Beverly Hills. read more

My husband and I and two of our friends really enjoyed the show very much! We found discount tickets on GoldStar Events. I was not bored nor inattentive for one moment, because I was afraid I might miss something. We sat towards the back of the room and it was a little difficult to see everything well, but it was thoroughly enjoyable. The room and hotel are lovely, the magic was fresh, rather unusual and very clever for the most part. Ivan is a very handsome man, who was funny and brilliant and graceful -- the pace was comfortable. He even threw in some inspiring thoughts and concepts and ended on an amazing note that the entire audience could share together. He received a standing ovation! read more

We went last night 3 couples and had a blast! It was fun to get dressed up for the fancy vibe and I thought the illusions were awesome! It's a great gift too :) read more

First off, half these reviews are right and half are wrong. The show is entertaining to say the least. Ivan has a great personality which blends comedy with intrigue. I took my girlfriend to see his show at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, paid extra for frontrow seats, which I found out quickly was the best thing I could have done. The room is small, seats 64 people. The people in rows 3-4 did not have a good view at all - Ivan is short! The magic was fun and interactive. I was a fortunate patron who was pulled out of his seat to assist in the show. The magic is entertaining, although the illusions feel staged and pre-setup. (Spoiler Alert) At one point it was very clear to see Ivan had dumped a shot glass of needles into his jacket, as water spilled when he did it. Also, before he took the shot he didn't cup the glass, but when he raised it to his lips the shot was cuped. Slight of hand master, I would not agree with. Slight of hand skilled, yes. He did the same for the Apple trick. I know I know let yourself get lost in the illusion. Well it's the illusionists responsibility to make me lost, most people who watch magic shows look for the magic. If you look even a little bit you will see Ivan does not let you get lost. His technique is sloppy to say the least. For $75 tickets and a location such as the Beverly Hills Wilshire, I expected a better performance. The comdey was funny and wity A++ for that. That said, some of his tricks were exciting, yet sadly all explainable. The most impressive trick was his soda can trick. I will say that this one I felt lost in. His finale trick which required a calculator and audience participation to feed him numbers seemed impossible, until you consider the fact that the calculations were done on his calculator ipad. I can easily see the calculations being altered to fit what he wanted the outcome to be. Ok, I'm rambling. If you want a nice setting with a fun entertaining magician/comedian, this will be your show. If you want real unexplainable magic go elsewhere. Ivan needs to hone his craft before exposing it to the masses. Worth the price of admission? Not in my opinion, but then I'm tough to please. Hey its magic, not a comedy show! read more

I was just at the Boston show, and it was such a treat! The show was very interactive, and you feel like you are part of it. I was sitting in the front row, and I would certainly recommend it since there is quite a bit of dialog. Ivan is a great entertainer, and it felt like a comedy and magic show in one. It is definitely worth the price. read more

My wife and I have 3 children, ages 10, 8, and 4. They each exclaimed multiple times; "How did he do that!" and "That is not possible!" and "No Way did that just happen!" We were very much entertained and two of my children got to participate in the show, which made it extra special. read more

I took my brother to see him at Omni Parker House in Boston yesterday and we really like him. We were in a ballroom on the top floor and were sitting on the back so it was hard to see his performance. I think the show was great because it's a good combination of comedy and magic, not so much of magic though really. But we were both very entertained by him and the great performance by the violinist. We had very good laughters throughout the entire show. The tricks in the first half was okay, but then they got a lot better toward the end. I think he is very successful in engaging the audience as well. I think he must have got at least 50% of us really involved in his acts. He has really great messages along the way that he shared with the audience too about life, marriage, and success so I thought that was really nice. Overall, pretty solid show. read more

We saw the show tonight at the Beverly wilshire , it was amazing ! His tricks are great , above and beyond the average magician. But his attitude and story telling was even better !!! read more

I like magic shows so I wanted to compare the magic shows I saw in Magic Castle and Ivan Amodei show, I should say for the cost of the ticket is a good deal to attend to this show. Ivan is very energetic, good story teller, you won't get bored at all in the 90 minutes intimate show . He has a lot class plus it is a good excuse to walk around Beverly Hills Hotel. The room is very small , this is another good thing you are just some feet away from him. The day I went to see his show, mostly of the people were nice dress, there is not code dress. He did a magic trick that hasn't been imitated again since Huoudini did it long time ago that one was put in a glass of water with gas a couple of needles and then ate them without affecting any organ after a couple of minutes Ivan threw them out and put them on an apple. It was really creepy but lovely magic trick. read more

I had a blast going to his show for a company party. His setting is very low key and like his show name "Intimate". Very entertaining and funny , and most of all A Fantastic Magic Show. Amazing to say the least. Highly recommended to everyone. read more

I really don't get the bad reviews... The show is AMAZING, we had a fantastic night, Ivan is a first class magician, we liked it so much we decided to change our office holiday party and bring everyone here instead. We are still talking about all his tricks the morning after, trying to figure out how he did them, we got picked as part of the show, so we know we were not plants... Had amazing evening cannot wait to see show again. Thanks a million Ivan! David and Yvette read more

He was so much fun! Charisma and talent! It's very intimate as the advertising says somewhere I'm sure. The room can't be larger than 50ft squared so you get to see all the action. However, I did get second row seating and I can't speak for the short people in the back as it is just a regular room and no stadium style seating. One thing I did have an issue with was the entitlement walking in the door in the form of gaudy women. Otherwise, the show was great. Pay attention, he'll lose you, I tried to figure it out but was so impressed. read more

My wife and I celebrated my birthday tonight by attending our first ever magic show and I have to say that we were extremely pleased and entertained. Ivan did a terrific job with his humor and the magic show. So we were very pleased to have attended this event as it was worth every penny. I also loved the cellist and the music that they were playing in the background. I also loved the small intimate setting in the small room. Beverly Wilshire Hotel is such an amazing place and I am very glad the show took place there. Thank you so much. read more

Had a really fun time watching Ivan! Funny and entertaining. His last trick was especially cool. I'd go again for sure. I definitely recommend for a good night out in LA! read more

This show was amazing !!! Very impressed! Don't know how he did the stuff he did but he did them and what I loved too was his sense of humor and personality...I highly encourage anyone to see him ... I just gotta point out LA J's comment, he clearly is a bitter person full of negativity. I'd like to see LA J perform... now that would be interesting read more

A M A Z I N G !!! OMG , he is not like any other magician you ever see somewhere in your life. Don't expect to see all the regular (and amazing) stuff other magicians are doing usually. He is totally different. He is not real........ He is so unique, that you cannot stop thinking about the show,even few days later. He is also very entertaining. He makes you laugh during the whole show. AMAZING, did i say that.....??? read more

My wife and I went on a date. Night . We saw Ivan on Saturday night . Some of his tricks you could figure out how he did them. . I was chosen To do one in frt on the audience and being up close I saw everything . From the seats I am sure no one knew how it was done . I was not a plant as some posters Might beleive . Ivan makes the night enjoyable , when we left we felt that we saw a magic show and a comedian .... Thanks for a wonderful evening ... We also enjoyed that most of The audience wore dresses or jackets ... I was lucky enough to find parking On the street so we could afford a glass of wine in the bar ...... read more

My wife and attended a show in Dallas. It was very entertaining. Evan as a novice magician with some insight as to how the tricks would be accomplished, I was really entertained. A couple of the illusions were completely amazing. The show is aimed at an older audience (teens and up) and he really engages with the crowd. I would recommend that anyone who enjoys magic attend a show. You won't be disappointed. read more

Fun show at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons. Get front row seats for the best experience. Even an LA audience was impressed with his showmanship and the rapport he created with everyone. There were a number of younger kids at the show (a 10 year old's birthday party) and they were thrilled with the experience, so bring children if you have them. The 90 minutes flew by and it was an enjoyable night out. Yes, some of the "magic" was explainable and a few parts of the act were a bit transparent, but figuring out the tricks made the show more thought provoking. (Personally, I would ditch the iPad tricks due to the obviousness of making the math result be whatever suits the stunt, but...) I think a few of the negative reviewers are over-thinking the experience. Go along with the spirit of things and enjoy! Yes, I'd go see Ivan again and may catch his Santa Barbara appearance at the Lobero Theater in November. read more

I watched Ivan's show in Chicago at the Ritz Carlton. Amazing. His magic is unreal, I'm still wondering how he did each trick! He's also pretty funny and interacts with the audience. I had a great time with a girlfriend and recommend this for everyone. read more

I saw Ivan's show this summer and LOVED it!! He is extremely funny which is perfect for me because i love laughing and having a good time. It was such a fun night!!! He's witty, charming, and pure entertainment. His magic tricks are fantastic and he encourages audience participation which adds to the excitement. I even loved dressing up! I would definitely see his show again and I encourage others to see it. read more

My husband, 13 year old son, and I saw Ivan perform at the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel on 12/26/13. It was a delightful show and a fun evening out for our family. Our son is very interested in magic tricks and knows many tricks himself, and he thought Ivan was great. The water to wine trick, followed by turning bubbles into live goldfish was wonderful. The way he engaged the audience for participation and keeping the audience size small was perfect. read more

I loved it! I went with a large group, and we enjoyed it from start to finish. Ivan was funny, personable, and frankly, super sexy. I loved his adult humor, but kept it clean enough that children would be able to see the show. He was very humble and even stayed after the show and talked to us for 10-15 minutes. His tricks were great, the show moved rapidly, and I hardly noticed how long the show was. Just bring a jacket, it's pretty chilly in the room! read more

We went to the show Saturday night in Atlanta and had so much fun! We're still talking about it. On top of that, I had recently had unexpected surgery on my foot so had to go in a wheelchair and the staff couldn't have been more accommodating and friendly. Great night! read more