Kyle Hudson has taken not only his act on the road, but an entire speakeasy-style close-up room. The magician has refurbished a 1967 Airstream Overlander into a 14-seat mobile close-up theater that he can drive to an event near you, if you happen to live in the greater metro Detroit area.
The idea to refurbish the Airstream came from his wife, Julia. The couple had been renovating Airstreams into tiny mobile homes as a business, and after a trip to Nashville in 2023, decided to take a hand at converting one into a magic lounge.
“Once Julia pitched the idea, in my brain I was thinking of places like House of Cards in Nashville, The Chicago Magic Lounge… places we’ve been to, and how we can make that similar vibe, but just in a trailer,” Kyle told THE EYE.
The two named their mobile magic lounge experience Sleights & Spirits, and it’s replete with black-and-white tile flooring, vintage posters, a bar, and, of course, a close-up table. “I love how it’s like a speakeasy,” said Julia. “You walk in and you just forget that real life exists. You’re just in this tunnel and you’re experiencing amazing mind-blowing things, and it’s so intimate.”
Kyle also shared that some of that decor has a dual purpose. “We have a bunch of different built-ins with certain magic props and effects staged in there that are decor, but also I reach back and open the glass case and use certain things throughout the show, which makes it unique, and it’s very customizable.”
Sleights & Spirits hit the road in June 2025 and has traveled to corporate events and private parties around Michigan. Sometimes Kyle does a longer show with an intermission if the guest count is smaller, and sometimes he rotates people through shorter 30-minute sets if the event has a larger number of guests.
The mobile magic lounge is also Kyle’s first foray into performing professionally, though he has been practicing magic for 15 years. “Right now I’m just dedicating all my time to this and hopefully growing the Airstream, but also getting more experience,” he said.
Photos courtesy of Heritage Production Co.