Awesome People Talking

In this episode of Awesome People Talking, I speak with Hayden Childress about adding music into your magic and pondering on what originality means.

Morgan and West join me to talk about scripting and character building. While they have some great magic tricks, they maintain that tricks do not make the performer, but the performance makes the performer. Listen to get some tips and tricks on how to not only become a better magician, but a better performer. ------------------------------ Morgan and West met whilst studying at Oxford in the late nineteenth century. It was in that most reclining of seats of learning that the duo’s love of deception and legerdemain was born, and they would have been joined at the hip ever since, were it not for the vast discrepancy in the height of their pelvises. In the intervening centuries these time travelling tricksters have performed their unique brand of magic, wit and whimsy on stages all over the UK, and indeed all around the world. Anywhere there are boards to be trodden, crowds to be wowed or tea to be drunk Morgan & West will be there with miracles in tow*. Eagle eyed magic fans (magic fans who are eagle eyed that is, not fans of eagle eyed magic) will have spotted Morgan & West on their television/computer/tablet/phone/phablet/smart watch/smart kettle screens in recent years on shows such as Penn & Teller: Fools Us, The Slammer and The Next Great Magician.

Pop Haydn and I talk about character development in magic. We also talk about performing on the streets and on the stage. Come join us to hear some wonderful insights from Pop about magic!

Josh and I talk about creating magic and pizza!

Bill Herz does hundreds of shows each year for corporate and private events. When he's not managing shows, he's managing talent such as David Copperfield, Lance Burton, Derren Brown, and more! Bill sits down with me and talks about how to do magic in a way that will get you booked, and some pranks he likes to pull on other magicians.

Brian Brushwood is one of the best teachers of magic on the internet. Brian started at open mic nights, made his way to comedy clubs and YouTube, and was seen on Penn and Teller: Fool Us. Along with Scam School, Brian has created many popular IP’s over the years including The Modern Rogue, Night Attack, Hacking the System on the National Geographic channel, and so many more. Brian literally has a degree in magic. How many other magicians can say that? It was a blast getting to sit down and talk with him, and he has a really interesting view on secrecy in magic.

He is strange. And then wonderful. Puzzling. Empathetic. Engaging. Talented. And, get ready for, all of these in quick succession: mysterious, hilarious, and always unexpected. He is a three-time Magician of the Year award winner at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. There’s probably more “theatre” in the wonderfully strange Zabrecky magic act than in most Broadway shows—more surprises, musicality, and character.

Mac King and I discuss audience management, choosing volunteers, creating a show, and making small tricks play big!

Shin Lim joins us today to talk about all things magic. We talk about how practice doesn't necessarily make perfect and how to create your own magic.

At 19 Benjamin Zabin has done more than a lot of magicians hope to do. He’s been on TV, performed hundreds of shows across the country, is the recipient of over a dozen international awards and honors, and is a published author. He wrote the book AbracaDAMMIT after appearing on Fool Us where he dropped host Alyson Hannigan’s phone. It was that experience that inspired him to compile a list of “uh-oh” moments of top magicians. That inspired me to, with Ben’s permission, compile this book. In addition to being a great magician, he’s also a good guy to know.