i saw lou hilario at a kiddie party more than 5 years back. he's a good magician and i remember him to use live animals in his shows. i think it was a rabbit and a bird at that time. i saw him again a few months ago at a friend's party and his act is more sophisticated now with the illusions he has added. he still uses live birds (i think it was a macau and parrot???), but his other tricks are not so ordinary and within our table alone was unexplainable. i could hear the guys at our table trying to figure out how he did his tricks but it was just too mind boggling for them. like the rotating head, and the little girl in the box with umbrellas being pointed inside. i didn't get to see his levitation act but everyone was amazed. based on what i hear, lou hilario is one of the best magicians, no wonder he is a little on the expensive side, but worth it if you want a great act.