My Philosophy

I want to provide greater context for myself as a student and teacher of magic, and hopefully this self-evaluation helps you reflect on your own developing philosophy. This conversational approach further addresses my attitude and all that forms the guiding principles and thoughts of who I am as a magician. I believe every performer of magic must start from a place of genuinely understanding the five W's (who, what, where, when, and why + how), and it works for me every time.

My philosophy of magic is as follows. I've always admired the magician that is dressed well; for me, that's a nicely tailored tuxedo. This kind of magician is also clean-cut, stylish, fastidious, and polite. Most of all, they are kind and have a warm sense of humor. This combination of qualities is what I strive for in my own style of magical entertainment. What does a magician look like to you? You must take time to develop a vision for yourself to guide you as you evolve. Knowing this helps you pick tricks that are complementary to your brand, and you're better able to make them your own.

I remember reading once that performers should be the best-dressed person in the room. My experience has shown me this to be true. Whether you take a classic approach or you have a unique style, be the best version of it. Most performers have "heroes" they look up to, those who have been mentored by and/or take inspiration from to pattern their own manner of dress or costume. This inspiration can come from other branches of show business as well. So, think about this: who do you look up to for inspiration? What are their qualities that you like? Looking to others is a useful way of figuring out who you want to be. Take notice of how they look, dress, and carry themselves.

Ask yourself, "what magic should I be performing for my audiences?" The answer should always be about stuff that people like to see! It's about them, always. Many classical mysteries in magic work every time, and there's plenty to choose from. In the older literature of magic, magicians gave for publication their "tried and true" professional routines that had been honed to perfection. The classic literature of magic is my recommended place to start, and this website is all about the magic that pleases an audience, my favorite magic! So, what aspect of the magical arts do you like? Illusions, mentalism, escape? Genuinely think about it, and your journey will gain focus.

From there, you can figure out how. I like to perform magic with a lot of humor. Funny remarks delivered during the presentation of the magic trick is how I have always most enjoyed it when I'm in the audience, and it's fun for me too as the performer. Figuring out little gags or jokes that fit in will always help move the mysteries along at an upbeat pace.

But, who are the audiences you like to perform for? What are they looking to see? Each has its own unique nature—the "who" aspect. If you're a hobbyist or amateur magician, your audiences are most likely family and friends, less formal situations. These audiences are usually made up of adults and children, so you'll get a taste of entertaining all ages. Many magicians are the "part-time professional," but in this case, you must follow in the footsteps of a "full-time professional" who also leverages dress, demeanor, and standards of presentation.

When people go through these exploratory stages of becoming a performer, I am often asked, "What can I do to improve myself as a magician?" My answer is quick. Let's talk about the person first, magician second. No matter your style, be well-groomed. Be the best you first, and that involves being neat. Are your hands well taken care of? Do you smell nice? Are you wearing a fitted costume, tailored tuxedo, or suit? This all matters when you're working directly with people. It's distracting to an audience if you're sloppy. Be polite and respectful of others. If you do this first and foremost, you'll be the best version of yourself.

As a performer, my advice on improvement starts with learning how to shave time off your performance. Whatever you do in your performance, try to speed up the show. In other words, if you do 30 minutes of magic, try to get the show in 20 minutes. Many magicians take too long! Check out my post titled, "Get on with it!" Years ago, I read a critic in Variety Magazine who described magicians as a group in the entertainment business who "talk a lot and do very little." Do a lot of magic, do it well, and be very entertaining. Leave them wanting more.

Lastly, I want to encourage self-awareness. I do believe we should take inventory of who we are as people. How do I identify? What comes to me naturally? We need to figure this stuff out, so we can effectively build on who we are to get who we want to be. This is a visual art, so be self-aware and make use of your greatest qualities. For example, if you're a naturally funny person, then comedy will come easier. When you see other performers in magic and show business in general, look to others you closely identify with and learn from them. This can help you create, in you, the performer you want to be. I personally have many mentors and heroes that have greatly influenced me throughout the years, and I am grateful to them. 

I'll leave you with this quote from Magician Jean Hugard: "How do you know if a magician is a good performer? Buy two tickets to any given magicians show—one for you and one for a friend that isn't a magician. Observe your friend during the show. If you find that they are having a great time and they are enjoying themselves, then that's a great magician!"