Ever wanted to be a magician?  Wanted to learn magic tricks?  Sorry, but magicians never reveal the secrets to their tricks.  However, looking beyond doing magic, its just as important to be personable and engaging as a performer.

I wanted to explore on how a person becomes a magician and find out what it is like to be one.

I’ve had a chance to pick the brain of LA’s up-and-comer entertainer Magic Mike, who not only got me passes to the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood but also took the time for this interview.

Ten Questions with Magic Mike

When did you know you wanted to be in this industry and how long have you been doing this?

To be honest, as a kid I was super shy and super awkward – magic really helped me grow out of it. But when I was about 9, I saw a magician at camp where I grew up in LA. Day camp, not sports camp (magician + sports = bad news). After the show, he showed us all how to do a trick. And I performed this trick for every single adult I knew – and they all acted really impressed…but they probably weren’t.  Anyway, I totally loved having the (apparent) power over people that were bigger than me – I was 9, they were 40, and they had no idea what I was doing (and I didn’t have to tell). I’m now 23, so I’ve been into it for about 14 years.

Why did you choose this profession, any objections from parents?

I love magic, but it’s really just a passion. As a side job it’s perfect. Just as an awesome distraction when I can do what I love best in life – make people happy. I have a full time job as a strategist at an awesome ad agency in LA called 72andSunny. Basically I do what I do in magic on a larger scale – figure out how people think, figure out how to engage them most effectively, then use it to our advantage during our campaigns so we can actually affect people. I love it. Magic has been so beneficial in so many aspects of my life, that my parents have always been super supportive.

If someone wants to become magician, what advice would you give?

Focus more of your energy on presentation and engaging people than on the tricks themselves. Tricks can be learned fairly quickly with a good amount of practice, but presentation is the most important part- and you can always be a more effective communicator. And that takes way more practice and refinement.

But in terms of learning the magic itself, focus on the basics first, as opposed to gimmicked decks and props. Get a book like Now You See It, Now You Don’t, or a DVD from Michael Ammar- knowing the fundamentals is really important.

What’s more important, skills or ability to entertain?

DEFINITELY the ability to entertain. I’m a huge believer in that about 70% of magic is the performance, and 30% is the magic itself. As a magician, my goal is to entertain. To make people happy. And sure, good effect can make people happy, but you miss a HUGE opportunity if you’re not engaging people properly. If you can do that, you get a much bigger, better reaction from everyone involved.

What are the skills and requirements to become an magician?

Whatever it takes to engage people and make them happy. It honestly doesn’t matter how you do it- but be honest, and recognize and embrace constructive criticism.

Reviewing your accomplishments, what’s been toughest part of this journey so far?

Probably gaining credibility as a magician who’s under 30. Being a magician in Los Angeles there’s obviously a lot of competition from older magicians with more experience, technically. So on paper, it was hard to justify hiring me over other magicians for a while- I worked (and still work) hard at making people feel comfortable and excited over the phone while relaying my personality, and developing deep client relationships (deeper than just the hey I’m the performer and you’re the client). I generally become friends with the people I work with. I prefer it to be considered working WITH people as opposed to FOR them.

Can you share an experience or a highlight a story as being a magician?

I’d definitely say that performing for Ellen was the highlight of my magic career thus far. Also performing at the Magic Castle for the first time was an amazing (and performing for Anne Hathaway was awesome too).

Who are your mentors and what did you learn from them?

I don’t think most magicians actually have mentors, but I have an amazing one- a guy named Gerry Katzman. He actually does the best stand up comedy classes in Los Angeles, but he also is a magician and actor, and a freaking awesome human being, When I was about 11 or so, I met him at a great hair salon in LA called Transcend Salon- I was enamored by how genuine and funny he was, and innate his ability to talk to people. Of course he taught me tricks, but way more than that, he taught me how to be a good person and a great entertainer. He not only inspired me to engage people better, but to develop a unique persona that’s relatable to people…I guess it’s pretty much just being a good person.

Do you know David Blaine? J/k.  His tricks are boring. haha.  You were recently on the Ellen Show, want to elaborate?

It’s funny- a lot of magicians hate on David Blaine (and of course, Criss Angel). I’m not particularly fond of Angel (too much Ed Hardy for my tastes), but David Blaine sort of changed the magic world. Without him, I wouldn’t be able to look cool as a magician walking into a party. On top of everything else, I just like when magic is in culture. When Blaine or Angel have TV appearances, more people in the world are thinking about magic, and in turn, more people remember that they should have a magician at their party. Then we get hired more.

Can you share a secret, like expose a magic trick to us?

Nope…Then it wouldn’t be magic!?