The Magic Industry Changed. Did You?

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019? I was teaching high school Spanish full time and coaching soccer.
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time? I wasn’t performing at that time, so I didn’t really have any magic goals. I’d pull out a deck of cards and do some tricks for friends and family from time to time, but I hadn’t performed any official gigs since college in 2011. I got back into performing magic in 2022, and officially opened my business in October 2023.
3. What do you do for work now? I still teach high school Spanish full time and I own my own magic and entertainment business, Barker Magic STL. I teach magic lessons, run a magic academy in the summer (Young Wizards Magic Academy), collaborate with magicians from around the world, and perform shows all over my region.
4. What’s your goal with magic these days? My current goal is to continue to build exposure for my brand and the services I offer in my region. There are a lot of people who are very interested in magic in my area, and I want them to know that there are opportunities to not just see magic but to also learn it. I’ve worked with around 150 students of all different ages, and I’ve seen firsthand just how beneficial magic can be for the development of the individual. I’ve also learned that the magic community is MUCH stronger when there are more ears and voices at the table. I’m putting a lot of effort into building a strong network in my city, and brand exposure would help a lot with that.
5. What’s standing in your way right now? Honestly, lack of time. No joke. This isn’t one of those “if you care you make time” situations – I’m just swamped with work. I’ll never complain about it (BOTH teaching and magic are a passion, so I do them gladly), but I’m definitely needing to find a balance. Just yesterday I had a day that started at 6 am and ended at 11 pm, and that’s starting to become more of the norm as we approach high season for bookings in my region. I really am working two full-time jobs, and I’m needing to find lots of ways to “work smarter, not harder” when it comes to both my magic and my teaching.
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there? Ellusionist could help me by giving some visibility to my brand and to what I’m trying to accomplish in my region. Increased visibility would give the opportunity to create a stronger network, which in turn opens doors to collaborate and pass certain batons to other magicians. For example, I’d love to offer other magicians the opportunity to lecture to my students at the academy, to be a guest performer at one of my venues, or to just visit and share some drinks while talking performance / business techniques and ideas. All of those options help to save me some time while also giving exposure to other magicians.

I was performing full time in 2019
To keep learning as a performer and artist
Currently a care giver for special needs adults.
All of our belongings were stolen including my shows and magic collection.
Current goal is rebuilding new show( already scripted)
Challenge is time to rehearse properly as we work a lot of hours.
Could help by getting Rubi cup back in stock lol I was adding it to my old show for stage before it all got stolen.

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
I was an Information Operations planner for the DOD. I was lucky to be able to work from home for my job.
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
So I im writing this because honestly, I im not sure where I “sit” in the magic community, and maybe someone will have some advice. IDK, perhaps im responding to achieve catharsis? I didn’t get interested in magic until late 2020. I originally got interested in the magic as a means to improve my skills for my job. I don’t want to go into detail, but planning a military operation in the information environment doesn’t always have a straightforward recipe. Plus, there is no doctrine for some of the stuff I do. I am not trying to make myself sound more special than I am, nor am I breaching any classifications by saying that I got into magic to try to make myself a better planner. I may be one of your few customers who practices magic for defense efforts. However, after reading magic philosophy, I picked up a deck of cards to fidget with in the office and have enjoyed learning techniques and more. A few times now, it has been a conversation starter or to make an impact. I also do it for and with my children, and at my local bar. I am also a hobbyist at this point.
3. What do you do for work now?
I am still living in the same professional forest, but now I am a contractor teaching what I used to do a few years ago. I now use magic as a teaching aid for adult students. I use “Sonora” to keep their attention when teaching Symbolic Interaction Theory, and “On Edge” by Angelo Carbone to explain non-material elements of systemic structures. I also throw in a few stripper deck tricks here and there to keep class participation up. Btw, the shipwreck striper deck is fantastic, I love it and have almost worn one out.
4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
I want to get better at slights, master the pass, the clip shift, the duck pass, and the diagonal palm shift. I also wish to get more magic philosophy that I can apply to planning. Lastly, I want to incorporate more tricks into my instruction because it keeps it fun for both me and the students.
5. What’s standing in your way right now?
For me, it’s time. I can only practice at work so much before people think im going overboard with it or just f-ing around. I also have three children, and my wife likes it when I do tricks, so I don’t have private time to practice.
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
Honestly, Ellusionist has been great so far. Ellusionist is where I started. Honestly, I only purchase from three places unless I absolutely have to: you, Vanishing, and Daniel Madison/Perfectshuffle directly. I have also supported multiple of your kickstarters. Im eager to meet someone I can talk to about the application of magic for what im do. It seems like a unicorn status for sure.

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
- Working as a Senior Software Engineer
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
- To start a side gig where I could perform and make additional income doing something I actually enjoy
3. What do you do for work now?
- Still working as a Senior Software Engineer
4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
- While balancing family life, work and studies I’m still constantly learning new magic and am looking out for those 3 extra special effects to permanently add to my repertoire
5. What’s standing in your way right now?
- Time constraints.
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
- Just keep releasing all the cutting edge magic you guys have been doing so far. One day the right effect(s) will come along and you guys will put a smile on my face because my search will be over. ;-)

1. In 2019 I was retired
2. My magic goals at the time were to do more close up and walk around magic and ventriloquism.
3. I am currently retired.
4. I currently only want to do walk around, close up magic
5. Nothing is really standing in my way. I work when I want to.
6. I like Ellulsionist to give quality magic at reasonable prices.