Piff the Magic Dragon is a popular Las Vegas entertainer known for his unique and comedic magic show. He rose to fame after appearing on the talent competition television show "America's Got Talent." Piff, whose real name is John van der Put, performs with his trusty dog sidekick, Mr. Piffles, who is often dressed in a dragon costume. Piff's act combines magic tricks, comedy, and deadpan humor. He presents himself as a grumpy and sarcastic dragon who is unimpressed by his own magical abilities.
Piff the Magic Dragon approaches a performance milestone in Las Vegas
Magic was once the realm of wizards and mythical creatures, secrets spells and sorcery. Then Las Vegas sprouted up in the desert and stage illusion productions evolved, with white tigers capturing the public’s imagination. Veteran practitioners of prestidigitation such as Piff the Magic Dragon were forced to shed their skins and conjure new innovations in performing for the masses.
For Piff, who becomes John van der Put offstage, that involved enlisting the aid of Mr. Piffles, a white Chihuahua, and taking audience participation to a new level. He has documented his experience as a magic dragon before moving forward, though, an endeavor that is materializing in hardcover format with the printing of Piff the Magic Book, Volume 1.
The 434-page tome of tricks should be available through online book retailers soon, but look out for it after shows at Piff’s swag table, alongside stuffed toy replicas of the World’s Only Magic Performing Chihuahua, playing cards and pizza clocks. The latter will make sense to anyone who has seen one of Piff’s recent shows, where he descends from the rafters and proceeds to pound a beer before creating a rambunctious rapport with the audience.
“I definitely want to get the audience’s attention from the beginning,” said van der Put after a Sunday night show. “And sort of have them thinking, ‘Oh, wait. He could talk to me at any point. I could be in the show at any point.’ That’s something I want to do from the start, is immediately be talking to people.”
After taunting ticket holders who are still texting after the show begins, he has Mr. Piffles shot onstage from a cannon. A natural for his role, Piffles is unfazed by the explosive entrance and remains so throughout the show. Piffles’ fans, who know him from America’s Got Talent and Penn & Teller: Fool Us, react with a mix of surprise, relief and affection as Piffles takes his place strapped to Piff’s torso.
While Piffles goes with the flow, Piff generates the madcap atmosphere that makes each performance feel fresh, like anything can happen. “With magic, the tricks stay the same, but the audience changes completely,” said van der Put.
Audience members are invited at various points in the show to approach the front of the stage for a direct dragon encounter, with a select few of those invited to come onstage. Sometimes Piff makes a spontaneous decision; sometimes he can tell early on that someone might be perfect for a bit later in the show.
Sometimes they’ll let him know they are partly responsible for the more than 750,000 views his year-old YouTube special, Reptile Dysfunction, has received so far. The special and the book precede the landmark upcoming date of Oct. 21, when Piffles turns 16 and Piff celebrates their 1,500th show as Strip headliners. A TV project starring the two is on the way as well, but for now the best way come under the spell of a magic dragon is to visit Las Vegas.
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Piff the Magic Dragon
He presents himself as a grumpy and sarcastic dragon who is unimpressed by his own magical abilities. Piff's dry wit and clever one-liners have endeared him to audiences around the world. His Las Vegas show, "Piff the Magic Dragon: Live from the Flamingo," has been running since 2015 and is a popular attraction on the Las Vegas Strip.
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Share Tickets: Get TicketsKnown around the world for his appearances on “America’s Got Talent” and “Penn & Teller: Fool Us,” Piff has performed at the Piff the Magic Dragon Theatre at Flamingo for the last five years in one of the Las Vegas Strip’s most popular magic shows, accompanied by his showgirl partner Jade Simone and magic dog Mr. Piffles.
But his show will hit the stage at the larger Flamingo Showroom this month, a room with a normal capacity of around 700. The classic Vegas venue will accommodate audiences of 250 guests per show or less following new state protocols for live entertainment event capacities.
Please check the ticket website for specific showtimes.
Events in Las Vegas get canceled every now and then. It doesn’t hurt checking with the venue to confirm the listing.
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MoviesThe show features Piff's signature blend of magic tricks, hilarious banter, and audience participation. Piff has become a beloved figure in the Las Vegas entertainment scene and has even received rave reviews from celebrities like Penn Jillette of the famous magic duo Penn & Teller. In addition to his live performances, Piff has also appeared on numerous television shows and specials. He has made guest appearances on "Penn & Teller: Fool Us," "AGT: The Champions," and "The Late Late Show with James Corden," among others. Piff's unique persona and comedic timing have made him a sought-after guest in the entertainment industry. Despite his success, Piff remains down-to-earth and grateful for the opportunities he has been given. He continues to perform in Las Vegas and tour across the United States, entertaining audiences with his one-of-a-kind blend of magic and comedy. Piff the Magic Dragon is undoubtedly a Las Vegas icon, bringing laughter and amazement to audiences wherever he goes..
Reviews for "Magic, Comedy, and Dragons Collide: Piff's Las Vegas Show"
1. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I was really excited to see Piff the magic dragon in Las Vegas as I had heard so many great things about his show. However, I was left extremely disappointed. The jokes were not funny and the magic tricks were predictable and lackluster. Piff himself seemed disinterested and bored throughout the whole performance. I would not recommend this show to anyone looking for an entertaining and engaging magic show experience in Las Vegas.
2. Michael - 1/5 stars - Piff the magic dragon's show in Las Vegas was a complete waste of time and money. The jokes were cringe-worthy and the magic tricks were amateurish. I felt like I was watching a high school talent show rather than a professional magic performance. Piff's attempt at humor fell flat, and his interactions with the audience seemed forced and awkward. I left the show feeling cheated and unimpressed.
3. Emily - 2/5 stars - I had high expectations for Piff the magic dragon's show in Las Vegas, but unfortunately, it did not meet them. The comedy was mediocre at best, and the magic tricks were nothing special. Piff's character was not as engaging as I hoped it would be, and it seemed like he was just going through the motions. The show lacked creativity and originality, and I left feeling underwhelmed. Overall, I would not recommend this show to others who are looking for a truly entertaining and impressive magic show experience in Las Vegas.
4. John - 2/5 stars - Piff the magic dragon's show in Las Vegas was quite disappointing. The jokes were stale and the magic tricks were not mind-blowing. It felt like an average performance that lacked the wow factor. Piff's stage presence was lackluster, and the show seemed to drag on without any real excitement. I would not recommend wasting your money on this show when there are much better magic shows available in Las Vegas.