For all the nonchalance the mind-bending illusionist David Blaine exudes, he’s not one to mince words about his new In Spades residency at Resorts World.

“My show is pretty f*cking nuts,” he said earlier this month, during an event at Resorts World’s plant-based restaurant Crossroads Kitchen. That admission came shortly after he’d noshed on his preferred hors d’oeuvre—a bowl of nails and a guest’s wine glass, which he so politely emptied before taking the first bite.

During all of this, Blaine amicably professed that he doesn’t drink often. Perhaps it’s to keep him connected to his otherworldly influences as the dark web message boards suggest, or maybe it’s the healthy habit of a stunt artist who swam (in a tuxedo) with great white sharks. But after seeing him do the unthinkable at In Spades, chances are you’ll beeline it for the bar.

Here are some things to expect from his show when it returns on October 28-29.

1. Risky business

Blaine said he lost nearly 30 pounds in preparation for his Las Vegas show, and the culmination of that training is seen at the start of the performance, as he steels himself on a scaffold, overlooking the audience and a pile of cardboard boxes into which he’ll dive from 78 feet up.

The feat is a callback to Blaine’s 2002 special Vertigo, in which he stood on a 100-foot high, 22-inch wide pillar for 35 hours and then jumped. It’s nerve-wracking to see it performed in a venue like Resorts World Theatre, let alone in front of fans who will have to fish him out. In Spades will likely be one of the last times we’ll see Blaine play chicken with death like this. The 49-year-old has said he’ll stop doing dangerous feats like this when he turns 52, the age at which his idol, Harry Houdini, died.

2. Mind games

Prepare for some mental gymnastics once Blaine actually starts doing real magic. The once-in-a-generation illusionist proves throughout this show that he is the real deal. If you don’t believe it, he invites guests to come onstage and see for themselves. Whether he’s having an audience member sew his mouth shut, sticking an ice pick through his arm or coughing up frogs and washing them back down, Blaine will have you second-guessing reality.

3. Celebrity sightings

In one particularly harrowing stunt, Blaine submerges into a vat of water to see how long he can hold his breath (his record is 17 minutes). As an audience, we’re encouraged to join him, and on opening night, the emcee requesting it was none other than Edward Norton, one of Blaine’s good friends. As an esteemed performer, Blaine runs in an incredibly diverse social circle, so it wouldn’t surprise.

4. Staying in the moment

Guests are required to turn off their cell phones for In Spades. This can be controversial, but trust us: Whatever’s happening on TikTok isn’t nearly as fun as David Blaine swimming with a crocodile, so TTYL, group chat.

You’re encouraged to stay sharp for this show, especially for skeptics looking to catch a gaffe in Blaine’s wicked sleight of hand (spoiler: you won’t find one). That’s the fun of it, watching his tricks as closely as possible and still having your mind irrevocably blown.

DAVID BLAINE: IN SPADES October 28-29, December 16-17, 9 p.m., Resorts World Theatre, axs.com.

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