The Magic Industry Changed. Did You?

In 2019 I was finally getting over a long burnout from magic. It happened to be one of my worst years in general. Among other things that happened, my car got stolen that November and it had all my money making props in it. I was a full time birthday performer and all at once, I was out of business. Because I wasn’t completely through with my burnout I gave serious thought to quitting magic and getting a job. The community I live in didn’t let me do that and neither did the magic community. I’ll be forever grateful to both. As soon as my props were replaced, the shutdown happened. My parents asked me to move in with them and I really didn’t have a choice. I’m glad I got to spend the last 2 years with my dad. A friend that owns a hot tub store gave me a job and I did a few shows on the side but started delivering hot tubs for a living.

My big goal was to make a good living like I used to in magic. To work hot tubs for no more than 5 years and go full time magic again. I put in my resignation in last year but it was refused. I still pick up a hot tub shift now and then when they need extra help.

My goal these days is to make a better living with magic. I make more than I did with hot tubs but it’s just not enough to survive at the moment. This has been a very slow year. With that said, it’s also a foundation building year. I have more shows available for more situations. Not just birthday parties. Next year is going to rock!

I’m standing in my own way to get to my goals. My long burnout literally almost killed me and part of me is working hard not to burn out again. That, however, is keeping me from doing the things I know I need to do to be where I need to be.

Ellisionist can help me by continuing to produce great products.

1) I’ve been employed with the same job since 2013 my career is in law enforcement here in NYC I started getting into magic after watching penn and Teller fool us(funny you mention them lol) and thought to myself why can’t I do it too. So I started learning magic as a hobby.
2) my main goal at the time was just learn some tricks to fool and impress my friends and family and improve my social skills since I’m more of an introvert. My ultimate goal was to build up enough skills so that I could eventually perform for others.
3) I’m still at the same job I’ve had since 2013 however this year I actually started performing my first paid gigs in magic!
4) i still consider myself a beginner but my goal now is to keep gaining experience and make improvements to my act and performance.
5) I still work full time and have two young children at home. Time management has always been a struggle for me. I can’t find enough time to practice or watch videos and when I finally do have the time I get distracted by something else going on in my life.
6) I need help with more of the subtleties of magic that aren’t talked about as much. Such as how to manage an audience and spectators when they interrupt. So far in my experience performing I’ve had a few spectators do unexpected things I didn’t practice for! How to develop an act that’s not a bunch of random tricks strung together. I feel that beginners need more direction when getting started. Its very easy to get lost in this hobby and feel like you aren’t making any progress. I almost fell into this trap and became frustrated because I wasn’t fooling my family but i realized I wasn’t putting in enough work. I focused on a few effects i liked most and mastered them before showing anybody.
Please pick me to win the gift card I have my eye on quiver plus!

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
I was a sales man in a big company
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
Just learn it for fun and fool some friends
3. What do you do for work now?
I still work for the same company but now I’m a manager and I sometimes use Magic during meetings to catch attention.
4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
Keep it entertaining and maybe develop a form of animation that holds and leads attention of the audience.
5. What’s standing in your way right now?
Just the time to do it
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
Sharing feedback of person who’ve been there done that. Maybe push me. Some products that may help me to find my way…

Thanks !

Back in 2019 before the pandemic actually happend I was performing full time makeing more then most peoples normal salary at the time life was good I learned a lot in that time one of the things I learned was to never give up on dream the other thing I keep in the back of my mind was when you rise you must be prepared for the fall and that what happend no one could have perdicted the pandemic at that time or around that time I fell and I fell hard I had about 450,000 in my bank enough to ride out for a bit but when I was performing I was just going to whatever I could get took every performance buy the horns I failed only in one direction at that time I never got a permanent spot some where I was never under contract to a hotel ect that was my down fall and what ended me up back a a dread 9 to 5 which iv been at for the last 4 years but trust me when I say this im building my way back up to the top this time armed with a better approach more carful then last time but precise about my move and no I have to land something yet but my time is comeing again also I leave this as an inspiration to team E and everyone who works here you guys have saved my life more then you actually know iv been with you guys since I think back in 2012 or 2014 if it was not for ellusionist I would not be the performer I am to day I thank everyone at team it past and present Brad jen madison Justin Miller danile gracey cody Adam wilber Peter turner the list gos on ellusionist has ben a stapel in my life growing up I hope you guys stay here for ever cuz I litteraly would not know what to do with out you guys I grew up in a pritty bad home life my mom was my only support she was the one that started buying from you guys to help my dreams I used magic to cure my depression I have autism and struggle every day iv always wanted to meet you guys in person meet Brad meet the team but I cant cuz I live in arizona and most meet up were in NY city somewhere i could not go I always wanted to sit down with the team and just talk and pick there brain about magic and how they do what they do to answer your question I almost gave up on magic a few years back till I made a promise to a dying grandfather that id never

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
Head of Strategy and Corporate Development for Global Payments a very large payments provider, I spoke all over the world on technologies like Payments, Blockchain, Crypto, AI, Quantum computing..
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
To incorporate and add several magic tricks to my speaking presentations so people will remember them and make them more entertaining. Have some tricks for all the dinners and after parties at conferences.
3. What do you do for work now?
I founded my own GenAI company, amotivv.com, and I also get an honorarium now for speaking with brands like Master Card, Equifax, NVIDIA, and Oracle.
4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
Still the same, add a few tricks that make my speaking engagements memorable. Remember, I’m not doing magic shows, I’m speaking on technology. It’s there to help.
5. What’s standing in your way right now?
Coming up with the right sets for the environment
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
We could partner together. It would be interesting to start catering to these types of venues, which are very non-traditional, not magic shows, but everyday presentations with a few tricks added. It’s a new TAM.