WOW, I have been performing magic full time for 17 years now. It really is hard to believe, time just flies. When I first got started in magic I felt as though I was alone on my magical journey. Yeah there were some magic books in my local library, but learning from a real magician or attending a magic lecture or visiting a magic shop all of these things were out of the question. You see I lived in a suburb of Charlottesville, Va and as a kid I thumbed through catalogs drooling over the newest magic items for sale. Also in these catalogs were ads for magic conventions or magic camps & even the Magic Castle. The closest magic shop was over 100 miles from me when I was growing up, but it didn’t matter my parents weren’t going to drive that far to buy tricks anyway. Once I got into high school I stumbled upon a magic shop that had just opened up in Waynesboro, Va called Shenandoah Magic. The owner was a little different but he was nice to me and encouraged me with my magic and I remember just sitting in there for hours looking at all those shelves loaded with apparatus and books and cards and feeling more at home than I ever had before. I used to drive over to that magic shop on weekends when I could and spend every penny I had wanting to know everything about magic. Just a little while after finding the magic shop in Waynesboro a new magic shop opened in Charlottesville called Magic Tricks. It was 30 minutes closer to my house and had even more inventory than the other location. This became my hang out during high school. While other kids were going to parties, I was practicing my magic. I can’t even begin to tell you how much time I spent in this shop, I even started getting my hair cut at the salon next door to it so I could just be close to it. After high school, while attending college, I started working at the magic shop and practically the only time I was not in the shop was when I was at school or at a gig performing. I learned a lot there not only about magic, but about business and dealing with all types of people. I met scam artists, carnies, professional magicians, jugglers, comedians, super talented sideshow performers and more. My eyes were opened to a whole new world. Well this was all going on about the same time the new world wide web thing was starting to become more and more popular. Each month in the magic magazines you would read stories about “brick and mortar magic shops” (that’s what magic shops were being called now) closing due to the fact that people were buying online instead of at their favorite magic shop. That is exactly what happened to the two magic shops near me, both closed due to fewer magicians buying from them and rent going higher each time they would sign a lease. Since then the internet has grown at a rate I don’t even think anyone could have imagined and just last year I attended a magic convention in my magic room in my home via an iPad were I got to see approx 37 of the best magicians in the world perform, then teach their magic and I could ask questions live as if I was in the room with them. It was an amazing experience! Things change. When I was a kid New York or LA seemed like they may as well have been on the other side of the earth, but nowadays we can talk to someone anywhere in the world via email, facebook, skype and more with just a click of a button. I know you kids are reading this thinking I am old, but it really is amazing how far we have come along.Tuesday, September 24, 2013
New age in magic
WOW, I have been performing magic full time for 17 years now. It really is hard to believe, time just flies. When I first got started in magic I felt as though I was alone on my magical journey. Yeah there were some magic books in my local library, but learning from a real magician or attending a magic lecture or visiting a magic shop all of these things were out of the question. You see I lived in a suburb of Charlottesville, Va and as a kid I thumbed through catalogs drooling over the newest magic items for sale. Also in these catalogs were ads for magic conventions or magic camps & even the Magic Castle. The closest magic shop was over 100 miles from me when I was growing up, but it didn’t matter my parents weren’t going to drive that far to buy tricks anyway. Once I got into high school I stumbled upon a magic shop that had just opened up in Waynesboro, Va called Shenandoah Magic. The owner was a little different but he was nice to me and encouraged me with my magic and I remember just sitting in there for hours looking at all those shelves loaded with apparatus and books and cards and feeling more at home than I ever had before. I used to drive over to that magic shop on weekends when I could and spend every penny I had wanting to know everything about magic. Just a little while after finding the magic shop in Waynesboro a new magic shop opened in Charlottesville called Magic Tricks. It was 30 minutes closer to my house and had even more inventory than the other location. This became my hang out during high school. While other kids were going to parties, I was practicing my magic. I can’t even begin to tell you how much time I spent in this shop, I even started getting my hair cut at the salon next door to it so I could just be close to it. After high school, while attending college, I started working at the magic shop and practically the only time I was not in the shop was when I was at school or at a gig performing. I learned a lot there not only about magic, but about business and dealing with all types of people. I met scam artists, carnies, professional magicians, jugglers, comedians, super talented sideshow performers and more. My eyes were opened to a whole new world. Well this was all going on about the same time the new world wide web thing was starting to become more and more popular. Each month in the magic magazines you would read stories about “brick and mortar magic shops” (that’s what magic shops were being called now) closing due to the fact that people were buying online instead of at their favorite magic shop. That is exactly what happened to the two magic shops near me, both closed due to fewer magicians buying from them and rent going higher each time they would sign a lease. Since then the internet has grown at a rate I don’t even think anyone could have imagined and just last year I attended a magic convention in my magic room in my home via an iPad were I got to see approx 37 of the best magicians in the world perform, then teach their magic and I could ask questions live as if I was in the room with them. It was an amazing experience! Things change. When I was a kid New York or LA seemed like they may as well have been on the other side of the earth, but nowadays we can talk to someone anywhere in the world via email, facebook, skype and more with just a click of a button. I know you kids are reading this thinking I am old, but it really is amazing how far we have come along.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
What the FCM has done for me
In case you were wondering, the FCM is “The Fellowship of Christian Magicians.” It is one of the many magic fraternities in which I belong. Since joining the FCM I have learned a lot more about my relationship with God. I was honored to have been asked to headline the FCM convention this year in Ohio and as a writer and contributor to their bi-monthly magazine I am known all over the world by other members of the FCM. Natalie and I joke about how popular I am in Germany due to the fact I get several emails each month from over there from guys who read my newsletter and column, who buy my magic products, and also ask for help with their magic or routines from time to time.
I have created several Christian themed magic effects such as Love story, & 7 Deadly sins. Both are card effects that are meant to entertain and educate at the same time on truths from the bible. I also created a magic kit called Miracles of the Bible which includes five magical effects you can perform that illustrate miracles from the Bible.
Since becoming a member of the FCM I have become a husband, a father, and author, and I have come to know some of the most wonderful Christian magicians from all over the world that I may never have met if it were not for the FCM.
Who would have thought that by joining another magic club so many good things would come to me, “God does work in mysterious ways!”
I have created several Christian themed magic effects such as Love story, & 7 Deadly sins. Both are card effects that are meant to entertain and educate at the same time on truths from the bible. I also created a magic kit called Miracles of the Bible which includes five magical effects you can perform that illustrate miracles from the Bible.
Since becoming a member of the FCM I have become a husband, a father, and author, and I have come to know some of the most wonderful Christian magicians from all over the world that I may never have met if it were not for the FCM.
Who would have thought that by joining another magic club so many good things would come to me, “God does work in mysterious ways!”
Lana's Caretakers
Our little girl Lana is growing up fast while being on the road with mom and dad. She has traveled all over Virginia, Maryland, and even Ohio. During our smaller shows Natalie & I alone take care of her while we are performing, but during our bigger shows that involve big box illusions we hire extra help just to watch Lana. For over a year my uncle Freddy traveled with us to our resorts and other illusion shows to take care of Lana, but last month he got a new job that made it so he was unable to take off work to help us like he used to be able to. Luckily as stars lined up in our favor two girls from church (Caitlin & Jessica Hopkinson) had just said a couple weeks before Freddy left “we would love to baby sit anytime”. 
When Natalie & I have her, we pass her back & forth like clockwork. Since we average 400 shows a year we are used to the juggling now. In between shows we take her to malls, parks, pet shops and just about any other place you can think of to stretch her legs after being in the car all day. I knew having a baby on the road was going to be a lot of work, but the alternative would be sticking her in daycare and we really wouldn’t see her so we will just keep juggling because although it is a lot of work she is worth it…
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Deaf magicians and Deaf Audiences
Over 10 years ago I was asked to perform at UVA for a group of people who had just received a revolutionary hearing device called a cochlear implant. This hearing device was snapped to a fastener in their skull.
I was happy to do this show as I knew magic was universal, even though there would be lots of deaf folks in the audience it would be fine because magic is a visual art. This was my first experience with deaf audiences and since then I have performed for them on several occasions.
At this year’s National Society of American Magicians Convention they even had a special show dedicated to Silent magic. They even asked that instead of clapping that the audience hold their hands in the air and shake them as that is sign language for applause. I was told the music for this event was crazy loud which makes sense if the performers were deaf that they needed to feel the music to make sure they hit their marks.
Silent acts in magic have been around for as long as magic itself, but it is usually not because the performer is deaf it is because that way they won’t need a script and they may just want the magic to speak for itself .
My friend Kyle Peron is a deaf performer in the Philly area. Here is a short excerpt from him: As most folks know...or maybe do not know....I am a deaf magician. I started losing my hearing at age 8 and it got worse as the years rolled on. I am now about 60-65% deaf in both ears. I lip read to understand what people say and I tend to feel music more than hear it. There are many magicians out there who have various disabilities. I commend them for never giving up or giving in. Magic for me was a saving grace. It brought me out of my shyness and helped me to learn to communicate better and focus more. In a way magic was a healing art for me. If you are reading this and have a disability (or know someone interested in magic that has one) I hope that it inspires you to go out there and get involved in the art. We do not have to stop doing what we love simply because it may be harder for us. What we must do is have a desire to go above and beyond and push ourselves to simply adapt. Magic and performing magic was a challenge for me and still is in some degrees. That does not mean I have to stop doing it. It does not mean I have to settle for second best. If the desire is there, work hard to come up with a means in which to accomplish what you want to accomplish. There is always a way to make it work for you.
I was happy to do this show as I knew magic was universal, even though there would be lots of deaf folks in the audience it would be fine because magic is a visual art. This was my first experience with deaf audiences and since then I have performed for them on several occasions.
At this year’s National Society of American Magicians Convention they even had a special show dedicated to Silent magic. They even asked that instead of clapping that the audience hold their hands in the air and shake them as that is sign language for applause. I was told the music for this event was crazy loud which makes sense if the performers were deaf that they needed to feel the music to make sure they hit their marks.Silent acts in magic have been around for as long as magic itself, but it is usually not because the performer is deaf it is because that way they won’t need a script and they may just want the magic to speak for itself .
My friend Kyle Peron is a deaf performer in the Philly area. Here is a short excerpt from him: As most folks know...or maybe do not know....I am a deaf magician. I started losing my hearing at age 8 and it got worse as the years rolled on. I am now about 60-65% deaf in both ears. I lip read to understand what people say and I tend to feel music more than hear it. There are many magicians out there who have various disabilities. I commend them for never giving up or giving in. Magic for me was a saving grace. It brought me out of my shyness and helped me to learn to communicate better and focus more. In a way magic was a healing art for me. If you are reading this and have a disability (or know someone interested in magic that has one) I hope that it inspires you to go out there and get involved in the art. We do not have to stop doing what we love simply because it may be harder for us. What we must do is have a desire to go above and beyond and push ourselves to simply adapt. Magic and performing magic was a challenge for me and still is in some degrees. That does not mean I have to stop doing it. It does not mean I have to settle for second best. If the desire is there, work hard to come up with a means in which to accomplish what you want to accomplish. There is always a way to make it work for you.
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