Once Joseph made his decision
to become a magician, he was
completely focused. Fortunately, he
had the support of his father who
allowed him to be home schooled so
he could pursue his dream. In addition
to continually concocting new ideas,
Joseph also worked hundreds of
children’s birthday parties that were a
fertile testing ground for his technicolor
imagination. Joseph began to tour with
his act at the age of 15. He worked on
perfecting his skills with corporate gigs
for Macy’s, Microsoft, and Costco and
continued to grow, evolve, and develop
his own style. Two of his favorite pieces
of advice while at lunch with famed
Las Vegas performer, Lance Burton at
the age of 20, to his elevating protégé,
“A magician that does the most shows
is the magician that wins,” and “Don’t
worry about the money, just get the
experience and the cash will come.”
The relationship between audience
and illusionist is a precarious one.
There is an unspoken agreement that
there is something going on, a sleight
of hand, a trickery, misdirection, and
deception. The illusionist seeks to
present an effect so adept and cunning
that the audience cannot believe what
they are witnessing, and cannot offer
with any kind of explanation on how it
occurred. The sense of confusion and
bafflement is part of the fun. In turn, the
audience willfully agrees to suspend
their disbelief. The audience trusts
the illusionist not to exploit this and
is one of the few situations in which
people permit themselves to be lied to.
Through pretext, they are thoroughly
regaled…and they love it.
InkSpiredMagazine.com
89