WORKING -- Jay Leslie

-- Susan McCormack

HE IS

Making magic make-overs

NOT JUST CLOWNING AROUND

For the past year and a half, some might say Jay Leslie has been

clowning around in his first retail management job at the Costa Mesa’s

House of Enchantment Magic Store. But Leslie said that managing a magic

and costume shop requires a certain level of expertise.

“I have a degree in theater,” he explained. “And there have always been

entertainers in my family.”

Leslie’s job demands that he keep current on costume trends, help

develop original magic tricks and become a professional shopper in search

of the most unusual costumes and props around.

One recent key find was a giant orange whale costume that Leslie said

once appeared on the TV show “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.”

“I’ve spent countless hours walking the streets in Los Angeles, where

they make things,” he said. “I also trade things with other costume

makers. I don’t look through catalog.”

COSTUMES GALORE

Leslie said that Halloween is his industry’s busiest time, and the

store has spent several hundred thousand dollars on its stock this year.

Closer to the Oct. 31, store hours get extended from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m to

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. to accommodate the increased demand.

House of Enchantment sells and rents costumes, props, makeup, and more

than 500 different wigs. Costumes run from $40 to $80 to rent and $17 and

$250 to buy. The stores stocks costumes for children and adults, but

there is one request it can’t fill.

“We don’t have animal costumes, for dogs and cats,” Leslie said. “When

people ask for them, I don’t know where to send them.”

ADVICE FROM THE EXPERT

Monica Lewinsky and President Clinton may be out of fashion this

Halloween, but two new figures have taken their places as must-have

costumes: the “Star Wars Episode I” antagonist Darth Maul and British spy

“Austin Powers.” For those with better hygiene practices than Powers, the

store sells fake rotted teeth and groovy glasses.

Leslie advised those wanting a safe bet to stick to the perennial

classics: angels, devils, cats, bunnies and princesses.

Or, for those who might want something a little more elaborate, the

store employs two expert makeup artists who can create specialized looks

for Halloween, Mardi Gras or other events.

“We can do all sorts of special effects for people, like having worms

coming out from their head,” Leslie said.

To create a spooky aura around the house, House of Enchantment stocks

electric “gizmos,” like a talking skull and a device which records

personal messages and can be hidden and set off my motion detectors.

SCARY, BUT IS IT FULFILLING?

Can running a tricks shop provide a sense of professional fulfillment?

Absolutely, Leslie said.

“It’s kind of fun to see somebody who has no idea what they want to be

when they arrive at the store leave the store totally satisfied,” he

said.