ABOUT PRESTO
I first got interested in magic when I was eight years old and watched my uncle perform magic at a family reunion. After convincing my parents to buy me a magic set, and quickly learning all the tricks, I was performing shows for my neighborhood out of my garage!
When I was 14, I started performing for events in the Seattle area, including the Seattle Children’s Hospital, where I performed with my brother, Evan. I loved watching how laughter took the sadness out of the children’s faces and decided to specialize in children’s shows!
My love of magic has continued to this day, basically I never grew up! I feel honored to perform full-time for children at events throughout the Pacific Northwest. I currently perform for school assemblies, fairs and festivals, birthday parties, libraries, daycares, preschools, and other family events.
When I perform, I always try to combine comedy, amazing magic, excitement, high energy, and audience involvement!
That’s my story, in a nutshell. If you want the whole story, keep reading below!
Okay, so you want to know more about me? Alright, you asked for it. Let’s see, where did it all start?
The first time I remember seeing magic was at a family reunion. My uncle Drew was performing a few tricks as part of the family talent night. A week after the reunion, I was still hooked. I couldn’t get the tricks out of my mind! How did he do that?
After convincing my mom to buy me the cheapest magic set ever, I set about learning the secrets and proceeded to put on shows in my garage. I’d spend days preparing the set, the stage, and music, and convincing my brother and sisters to work as stagehands and assistants. The day of the show, I’d hand out tickets (If I wasn’t able to sell any at $.25 each!) and perform a show in my garage to any other neighborhood children who wanted to come.
As a child, I had several chances to go to Disneyworld (my grandparents lived in New Smyrna Beach, Florida) as well as Disneyland. Most kids would probably go for the rides, but not me. I lived for the moment near the end of the day, after we were worn out from the rides, when we would go to the magic shop on Main Street. (Walt Disney loved magic. In fact, Merlin’s Magic Shop was part of the original Disneyland that opened in 1955.) I could have spent days in that magic shop. No, weeks! No, months! (My wife will tell you I can still spend hours in a magic shop!) I could have been content just to sit there all day, looking at the tricks on the shelves, watching the 15-minute sales pitch show that happened on the hour every hour.
When I was about 10 years old my Dad fueled the fire by taking me to see Harry Blackstone, Jr.. Harry Blackstone was a fabulous showman (as was his father) and it was the first stage show I’d ever seen. It was wonderful! One of the most memorable effects, was, of course, the floating lightbulb, for which he had become so famous. The legendary floating light bulb (which remained lit!) flew out into the audience, around the theater, and finally back onto the stage, under Blackstone’s complete control the entire time. After the show, my dad patiently waited in line so I could get Harry Blackstone’s autograph.
Aside from going to every live magic show I could, I watched every bit of magic aired on TV. Even as a kid, I would scan the TV guide, looking for the word M-A-G-I-C, that would pop up every once in a while. My grandpa would tape the “World’s Greatest Magic” specials that aired 1994-1998. I wore out those video tapes, watching them over and over.
For my 16th birthday my parents bought me tickets to go see David Copperfield. David Copperfield is the most famous magician of our century, hands down, and an idol to me. For years, I had watched his television specials (I can still hear the announcer, “The Magic of David Copperfield!”) and it was a dream come true to see him live! At the State Theater in Seattle Washington, my brother, sister and I went to watch David Copperfield. He did not disappoint! We laughed, we cried, we saw things vanish and reappear on the other side of the theater. His show was inspiring, beautiful, and truly represented everything I felt magic encompassed. David Copperfield always had a great show! From his vignettes in his early shows, to his Broadway musical, to his later TV specials, David Copperfield knew how to move people and present magic as an art.
Throughout high school I performed occasionally with my brother Evan. We volunteered for a while at the Seattle Children’s Hospital, where I saw first hand the power of magic and how it could change children’s lives. There aren’t words to describe the light and life that comes with the smile when a child sees magic. Tears go away, pain is temporarily forgotten, and hope, light, and happiness are brought back.
To make a long story short, I never grew up! I loved reading magic books (I swear I checked out the entire magic section at the library…multiple times!) and I loved making up tricks to perform for family and friends. The time came to go to college, where magic got put on the back burner, but wasn’t forgotten. I still performed occasional shows and stayed involved in the local magic scene. When the time came to choose a career and go out into the real world, nothing seemed to speak to me.
In the end, I chose magic. Not because I get to wear that sparkly red vest. Not because I get to go to magic conventions, clown seminars, or even because I get to be my own boss and work my own hours. I chose magic because of the way it makes people feel. I see in the faces of the children I perform for, the same look I had when I was a kid…that same free-spirited imagination that lets kids dream big and makes their eyes wide. I see the light, the twinkle in the eye that seems to fade with age as we grow into the cages of conformity, like wild animals caged at the zoo.
Somehow, as we grow up, and mature, and become more responsible, somehow we lose that magic. It seems that as our brain grows, they shove out the imagination. So-called logic and reason take the place of wonder, amazement, and dreaming big!
The greatest thing about being Presto the Magician is getting to see the faces of small children as they react to the magic. Laughs and smiles when something silly happens, wide eyes, double-takes, and “Mom, did you see that!”‘s as things disappear, and imaginations come alive. I truly love what I do, and feel blessed that I can make a living bringing happiness to people and working with the little ones of the earth!
Always dream big, live life to the fullest, and never let your inner child die!
- Kevin (aka Presto!)
