The Magic Industry Changed. Did You?

I have been performing professional magic for over 50 years. I have traveled extensively. From 2019 to 2001, I was the resident close-up magician at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino in Vegas.

In 2019, I returned to Minnesota, where I performed at private and corporate events. I was also performing street magic and four stage shows at the MN Renaissance Festival.

My primary goal has always been to stay busy and keep working. The more I worked, the better I got.

Today, I stay busy with private and corporate gigs. Throughout my lifetime career, I have also been an artist; I paint and draw for personal enjoyment as well as additional income. Magic art and visual art have always blended nicely. Each enhances the other. www.stevenpaulcarlsonart.com

My goal for magic today is to enhance my skills in both sleight-of-hand and storytelling. Weaving stories into my magic.
The main obstacle in my path today is minor physical issues. I am 72 years old. Though I am in the best shape of my life, I am feeling the strain of pushing myself hard all my life.

I have been a fan of Ellusionist since the day they opened! Ellusionist has helped me move my personal magic into a new generation. I have witnessed magic change and evolve over the course of my 50-year magical journey. My magic and I have had to change with each new generation. Ellusionist has helped me do that!

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
Working for Cal Poly Humboldt (then Humboldt State University)

2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
As a Hobbyist and Amatuer, my goal was to always create a short little show for halloween, friends, or co-workers. The goal was for the show to be about 10-15 minutes long.

3. What do you do for work now?
I still work for Cal Poly Humboldt

4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
My goal is still mostly the same, except I want the shows to be more Parlor Style shows, and maybe have a small routine for people who want to see “something.”

5. What’s standing in your way right now?
Time. Finding time to practice, create, and to test out ideas. Oh, and having 7 kids in the house that always want your attention.

6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
Aside from moving your headquarters to Humboldt County (It’s beautiful here, and there is plenty of parking) – I like seeing positive online communities where people who love magic enjoy hanging out and talking. Similar to the All Things Magic Facebook community. Finding time is hard, and being able to see what others are doing is great, and being able to comment or ask a question when you have a moment is nice.

I saw this post today and normally don’t respond but, oddly enough today is my 49th birthday and it felt very fitting. I’m in a “golden handcuffs” job that appears to be coming to an end. When I was a kid and fell in love with magic I developed my routine and eventually figured out how to make money doing children’s birthday parties. I stopped preforming when I went to college but within the past 2 years have gotten back into it thanks largely in part to Ellusionist. When talking to my mother about my job this morning she jokingly said well “you could always go back to magic.” This sparked another 20 minute discussion about how I have put some serious thought into polishing up a new routine and figuring out how to market myself for corporate parties. As I turn 49 I find myself thinking more like my 13 year old self. Here’s to the true power of magic.

1. In 2019 I was just in third grade
2. My goal was to go to Tannens magic camp
3. I’m now a freshman in high school
4. To perform regularly
5. Not having enough material
6. I love scrolling through ellusionist and looking for my next magic purchase. The more I collect, the closer I get to performing regular shows

Thank you!

Hey Romy,

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
- on a cruise ship, performing, then Covid hit, the ship I was on, got rejected by 5 countries, finally disembarked, thinking this would be “gone soon” haha! Little did we know…

2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
- to share my magic and my life on social media, ship tours, backstage look at cruise ship life, the ports we visited, the culture, food etc while doing street magic wherever we visited.

3. What do you do for work now?
- Been back on ships since 2022. Still going strong.

4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
- learn new stuff, more theory, ideation and lean more into the “why” behind each effect and continue to build my social media platforms. And doing my own one-man show in Singapore.

5. What’s standing in your way right now?
- Juggling between performing on cruise ships, spending time with family and building a community on social media.

6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
- Good Question. Share Magic with me, so that I can pass that on to my channel members, and let them dive deeper into the art.

Best,
Jeremy Tan
@jeremytanmagic