People who get to know me, read about me, or come across my website sooner or later ask, "What’s it like to be a magician?" I am flattered they would ask, yet in a way a bit disappointed as well. Most people equate magic with either the sleight of hand or the mystical. It is and it is not. Magic is more than some trickery or mysticism. That is where my disappointment comes from. You have to understand magic is also a quality. While the quality is unique and special, we all have it inside. It is something I have proved over and over through every day of my life.

The magic of celebrity

When we associate the word magician with an individual, unconsciously we deem them as a celebrity. Celebrities are people we look to and they make us smile. I discovered this effect in myself while working for the Shubert Organization the owners of many Broadway theatres. In my job, I encountered many stars of theatre, TV, movies and the sports arenas as well. One day I was walking on 44 th Street in Manhattan , NYC and a man bumped into me. His hat fell off and I bent down to pick it up. As I came up and I handed him his hat. I noticed he man had this red fringe of hair with a thinning top. I thought nothing of it. As we traded apologies, he put on the hat and I smiled. I realized I was talking to Ron Howard, better known as Opie from The Andy Griffith Show or Richie Cunningham from Happy Days at that time. From that day on I noticed every time someone came across a celebrity they would smile. It was magic at work.

Making the magic work for you

I have tried this stunt with both children and adults in acting classes. It works every time for every one of all ages. I take one person aside and I ask them, if I were to teach them how to control an audience would that be magic? Almost always they will say yes. Next, I tell him or her to stand in front of everyone looking at each person and just smile. I instruct them not to say anything and stand there and keep smiling. What happens when they do? Slowly, people start to smile back. Eventually, laughter breaks out. It is a basic fundamental of celebrity. When you smile, you make people feel good. Make people feel good and they will smile back. Anyone can perform this magic every day. Keep in mind, forcing a smile can be detected for what it is. A real smile comes from happiness within you. When you flash it, it becomes infectious.

Want to know how it feels to be a magician?

Just by flashing people your smile as much as you can to feel the sensation. When you make someone smile, you will get the same feeling as I do when I perform. The purpose of performing and smiling are the same. It is all about the magic of bringing happiness to others.