Interviews with Famous Magicians

Magician Jean-Pierre will tour across Canada from August 2011 through September 2012. In all, he will be performing live shows in 93 Canadian cities. Jean-Pierre recently took time out to talk with Magic.About.com.

Magician Charlie Caper recently took home the top prize in television's "Sweden's Got Talent," the regional version of the well known show. Here, Caper talks with Magic.About.com about the challenges of performing on the televised talent show, Swedish attitudes towards magic, his upcoming performance at FISM and more.

Justin Miller is a magician's close-up magician. The well known magic creator has published numerous effects that include: X Marks The Spot and Time and Space. He recently took time out to talk with Magic.About.com.

Gay Blackstone is the producer of "Masters of Illusion," a weekly series that debuts in 2009 on MyNetworkTV. Blackstone is a former President of the Academy of Magical Arts and currently on its Board of Directors and a respected television and stage producer, director, consultant, lecturer and author. She recently took time out to talk with Magic.About.com.

Kozmo, one of the world's top street magicians, was once described by Jon Racherbaumer as "the best I've seen in the trenches, bar none!" Kozmo's new two-disc DVD set, "Tales From the Street," promises to teach the secrets of working and entertaining on the streets to "stop, build and collect." He recently took time out to talk with Magic.About.com.

John George is a well known magician who has won major close-up competitions including first place at the "International Brotherhood of Magicians Gold Cups" and the "Society of American Magicians Close-up." He has received the SAM’s "Silver Medal of Merit" and "Peoples Choice Award." He often performs at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA and is entertaining at Disneyland during the holiday season.

Joe M. Turner is a well known professional magician, speaker and M.C. who is based in Atlanta, Georgia. He specializes in corporate entertainment and creates customized corporate magic presentations for promotional, motivational and entertainment events in the United States and Canada. Joe recently took time out to speak with Magic & Illusion.

Here's a collection of our interviews with famous and notable magicians.

With the opening of his new entertainment complex and show, Wyrick talks about the state of magic in Las Vegas, the inspiration of the Magic Castle, his idea behind the new complex, developing the concept and making it a reality and producing the shows. He also offers some advice for budding magicians.

Eric Mead takes time out to talk about his career and “Tangled Web,” his new book. “I did not sit down and write “Tangled Web” in a traditional way,” says Mead. “It is a collection of tricks and essays I had written over a long period of time and covering various stages of my career as a magician. It's interesting, I think, to be able to look at the evolution and maturation from a cocky "young turk" of a magician into a more serious and thoughtful performer.

Doc Eason is known as the bar magician. After performing for over 27 years at John Denver’s World Famous Comedy Magic Bar and Restaurant in Snowmass, Colorado, he is an authority on the topic, and was honored by the Academy of Magical Arts as the first recipient of its "Bar Magician of the Year" award. Eason took time out to talk with us about his latest projects and new website and DVD.

Joaquin Ayala, Mexico’s famous illusionist, has multiple TV appearances, headlined in Vegas and is now touring in "Magic Passion." He just launched AYALA EFX,” his production company that constructs and designs magical effects. Ayala took time out to talk with Magic & Illusion about his new production company, latest shows and about magic and...

John Lovick, AKA “Handsome Jack,” regularly performs at Hollywood’s Magic Castle and has been nominated each of the past five years as “Parlour Magician of the Year.” We had the opportunity to talk with Lovick about his newest book, “Switch-Unfolding the $100 Bill Change,” a comprehensive guide to the $100 Bill Switch.

Kevin and Cindy Spencer, “The Spencers,” are a highly successful illusion team. Recently, the Spencers released a DVD that presented their 2004 tour through Hong Kong and Taipei. Kevin Spencer recently took time out from his busy schedule to talk with Magic.About.com about the new DVD, illusions and creativity, touring, Healing of Magic and more.

Jay Sankey is among the most prolific creators of powerful close-up magic. His many instructional DVDs and videos have provided solid effects for numerous magicians. We had a chance to talk with Sankey about his latest project, “The Sankey/Skutt Sessions,” and about creativity, business and his projects.

We speak with Criss Angel, star of the Mindfreak television series and recently awarded “Magician of the Year.” In his interview, Angel talks about the challenges of shooting a magic series, his inspirations, the current state of magic and where he plans to take the art.

When you see Chipper Lowell at work, be prepared to laugh...and laugh...and laugh. After watching him perform his brand of comedy and magic, he’s now on my personal list of magic’s “Kings of Comedy” (along with Ed Alonzo, Mac King, Fielding West and Dana Daniels). Recently, we caught up with Lowell after a performance at the Magic Castle to talk shop.

Award-winning magician Brian Ochab is known for his innovative and entertaining close-up routines. What you may not know is that he is an up and coming film and television director who was recently nominated for an Emmy. In this Magic & Illusion exclusive, we talk with Brian about creating and presenting great magic, directing and his upcoming projects.

With his creativity and innovation, and superb manipulation skills, Arthur Trace is advancing the art of magic. He performed at the 2004 World Magic Seminar and the 2004 Society of American Magicians National Convention. Arthur Trace recently took time out to talk with Magic & Illusion’s Wayne Kawamoto to discuss the creative process.

Rich Ferguson is a busy magic pro who has performed corporate shows for major companies and casinos. He is the host and talent for Official Poker, Inc’s Instructional DVD series. He recently took time out to talk with Magic & Illusion about his “Official Poker Chip Tricks DVD" and other projects.

Award-winning magician Diamond Jim Tyler is a true worker and author of the best-selling book and video “Pockets Full of Miracles.” He recently took time out from his busy schedule to talk with Magic & Illusion about “Mirrors,” his newest DVD.

Award-winning magician Diamond Jim Tyler is a true worker and author of the best-selling book and video “Pockets Full of Miracles.” He recently released his new DVD, Mirrors, which we will review in the near future. He recently took time out from his busy schedule to talk with Magic & Illusion.

Illusionist Rick Thomas recently opened his afternoon show at the Stardust Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. We caught up with him to find out more about his latest show.

One of the most innovative new concepts for magicians that I've seen recently is the TKO, the modified topit for those who want to vanish small objects such as coins and cards and don't wear jackets. I recently had the opportunity to talk with Jeff Kaylor, the TKO's creator, who discusses how he came up with the concept and how it's being used. "TKO" stands for "The Kaylor Option."