Jason Partin – Magician
This is how to visit The Magic Castle, find a magician, and learn magic yourself.
Follow a manual added link
A bit about
The Magic Castle
Guests must be a member, or have an invitation; I can never keep track of the rules, so I check their website before going.
From what I’ve seen, the dress code is formal: suit and tie or evening dress, with some wiggle-room around non-binary answers. You enter through a secret door behind a sliding bookshelf that opens when you say, “Open Sesame.”
Inside, there’s a top-rated restaurant (or world-class or whatever words imply awesome by most people’s standards) overlooking the lights of downtown Hollywood that were, when The Castle was built, miles of orange orchards. It’s not just a dinner, it’s a trip through time.
Like Doctor Who’s famed Tartus, the inside of The Magic Castle is bigger on the inside than the out, thanks to additions over the decades that built tunnels transporting patrons to eloquent theaters in what was once adjacent buildings and businesses. Inside are several small theaters, intimate bars, and a lifetime of memorabilia to explore.
You could spend a lifetime exploring its secrets; even Harry Potter and other Hogwarts alumni would be impressed by The Magic Castle.
Learn more about Visiting the Magic Castle on their website.
Fine Dining overlooking downtown Hollywood – Photo from https://la.eater.com
One of the many small bars with performing bartenders and wandering magicians – Photo from https://la.eater.com
The trick is
How to Visit
Ask around.
I don’t know how many members there are, but guest passes seem surprisingly available through only a few layers of connection. Just ask, but do so politely and as part of a shared, two-way experience (there’s a video on that in the last section about how to become a magician).
Evenings at The Magic Castle are 21+ only. Weekends include kid-friendly brunches, and a more relaxed dress code during brunch. Shows mingle with guests and members, and it can be one of the most surprising opportunities to see remarkable magicians mixed in with their loved ones.
Every night, there are frequent professional magic shows in small theaters. Those are professional magicians, and worth waiting in line to see. But, my favorite parts of The Magic Castle have always been the moments where a couple of magicians were gathered, and one of them accepts a request to share a personalized, close-up magic session in the many nooks and crannies throughout The Magic Castle’s tiny seating areas.
Photo from https://la.eater.com
No place on Earth is perfect.
Wikipedia changes every minute or so. To put that in perspective, something I once said went viral, and enough people quoted my personal website that Wikipedia changed who was responsible for President Kennedy’s assassination. In other words, please be safe, research the latest news from a trusted source, and have fun wherever you go.
You can bring a magical experience to anywhere you choose. A private party can be made into the most magical experience imaginable, so maybe pooling resources and hosting an event is the best way for you to experience close-up magic. Immersing into an evening and forgetting worries and deadlines while laughing with people is the essence of what I always appreciated about The Magic Castle. Turn off your phone and lean into the evening, and you’re already experiencing a treat that gets even better when shared.
Follow a manual added link
Google, DuckDuckGo, etc.
(Type magician and “near me” to focus on local results.)
A few examples of
Close-up Magicians
Johnny Ace Palmer – Johny is one of the nicest people you’ll meet, and also one of the world’s finest magicians. I saw him lecture when I was a kid and perform at The Magic Castle when I was an adult. Despite being a famous magician and winner of all of the world’s most elite competitions, he was humble and closed his lecture by wishing us success in magic and happiness in life; thirty years later, he appears to have practiced what he taught.
Me (Jason Ian Partin) – I’m mostly retired and don’t market myself, but I still perform for special events when other, traditional performers don’t suit your needs.
Javi Benitez – Penn said, and Teller nodded in agreement, that Javi did “the best sleight of hand we’ve ever seen.” I agree. Javi’s show at the Magic Castle was art, and I felt the same appreciation for what he did that I felt when I was a kid seeing martial art films showcase a true master of their craft. He was an internet design wizard before becoming a professional magician, which is probably why his cards and style add to the artistry. When I saw him at The Magic Castle, I told him Johnny Ace Palmer’s advice, and he beamed and shared a secret, but one that I had already heard: he was one, of if not the last, student of the late Acancio, a revered Spanish artist who was as globally influential as homegrown stars.
Magic is like martial arts; there is a succession of people involved in everyone you meet.
A few examples of
Stage Magicians
Kevin Viner – Based in San Diego and with a vibe softened by 78 miles of beaches and and endless summer, Kevin told me that he’s never worked a day in his life because he’s been a magician since he was a kid. He loves what he does, and his personality radiates as someone who’s successful at what the do and who is happy with life. Kevin love of sharing comes across in his stage presence (which, as I’ll share later, is a skill like any skill and it can be honed), and I can attest to how much audiences appreciate having experienced Kevin’s show.
Me (Jason Partin) – I dabble in groups of 25 to 150 people, but my show is interactive and more similar to a team-building exercise than what you’d expect for a stage event. I used to lead corporate workshops, college courses, and medical device companies the same way. I use magic is a metaphor for envisioning the impossible, then forgetting that it’s impossible and getting to work making it happen; if that sounds like a cheesy line, I may not be the right magician for you, which is why I start by recommending traditional performers for most people.
Danny Ray – is one of the few magicians I’ve seen who does all types of shows equally as well, and his powerful but subtle messages inspires me. And – in full disclosure and only to let you know – he fooled me and practically every magician who saw him at The Magic Castle one week when he was headlining a show. If I were to hire a magician for an event I hosted, I’d gather a group together and see if we could hire Danny Ray.
Follow a manual added link
Watch and Learn
These are Youtube results from “learn” “magic” “magician” ; add words for your interests, like cards, coins, napkins, straws, etc.)
Learn
How to be a magician
Here are a few magical effects you could learn and start practicing today:
Beginner magic
Intermediate magic
- cards
- coins
- shoe string thing (the challenge is how to allow someone to care that you can do it. In other words: your purpose and presentation matters)
- other things
Mental magic
This is a complex topic. Most people call “mentalism” magic of the mind, reading thoughts, listening to the past, or somehow seeing into the future; anything involving the mind depends more on the personalities of people involved and less on secrets, gimmicks, or ways of manipulating someone’s perception of free choice.
Whatever it’s called or what it is, I see mentalism as being more about theatrics, which means you will only be as effective as your intentions and the type of effort you put in to achieve those intentions.
Here are a few places to start:
- I don’t know any beginner mentalism effects
- Three intermediate mentalism predictions
- One advanced mentalism technique
Flourishes
Flourishes aren’t exactly magical effects, but they’re worth looking into no matter who you are. They can strengthen your hand muscles and keep them limber, develop hand-eye coordination, and sometimes “wow!” people and get them – and you – to laugh like a kid again :)))
- Beginner: Roll a coin across your knuckles
- Intermediate: Spin a pen or marker around your thumb
- Advanced: Lennart Green’s “Top Shot” with a deck of cards
There’s a lifetime of flourishes to learn. Secretly, and behind closed doors, I’m woking on these flourishes and cool things to learn.
Secrets are funny things.
I could share a million with you that are already available on the internet on in your public library; but, if a Youtube video has a million views and a book has been read a million times (it could happen…), you won’t be learning anything unique.
To be unique, read a book and use your imagination.
I can’t recommend any one book for you, because I don’t know you yet.
You could a few books at your public library’s Dewey Decimal system number 793.8 (a number I learned when I was a kid researching how to become a magician); or, find a used book shop and peruse magic books and check back every now and then (ask them to keep an eye out for you 🙂 Or, walk into a magic shop and browse their bookshelves.
If you’re in Los Angeles and near The Magic Castle, consider stopping by The Magic Apple, an ancient store (by L.A. standards), with local and visiting magicians swinging through their doors every day. They also offer one-on-one classes, and you can walk out with both a brain and a bag full of interesting things.
If you don’t travel often and don’t have a local magic shop, here are a few online shops to get you going:
Don’s Magic & Books specializes in used magic books, many from estate sales of magicians with fifty or more years collecting books; there but for grace go I, and shopping at Don’s reminds me of the cycle of life. I see Don’s as a way to pass along the good stuff for future magicians.
Vanishing Inc. Magic – A clever name co-founded by what was a kid star in the magic world when I was a young man; good for him!
Iowa Magic Shop – They have a small online footprint, but their Facebook page gives you a brick-and-mortar address with a real person who answers the phone; it’s an example of a local shop that I wish were in every town.
Finally, another level of magic is to create it.
Imagine what seems impossible, then forget that it’s impossible and get to work.
Brainstorm with yourself or others and prototype an idea or two as soon as you can. It’s a cycle: start with intention, then brainstorm, prototype, test, learn, iterate, and keep going until you’re happy with whatever happens. The entire Hindu religion and philosophy is based on effort without attachment to the outcome.
Magic is a metaphor for life: don’t fear failure, have fun, and improve a little bit every day. Spending time with positive people who share similar goals helps; including diverse cultures, thoughts, and ideas makes the outcome better for everyone.
Remember, Jeff McBride told me that if you know one magic effect and are ready with it 24 hours a day, you’re already a magician.
If you’re a magician, you’re already one of the world’s most remarkable people. Celebrate that! You can always learn more tomorrow.
I wish you success with magic and happiness in life :)))
Understand
Thoughts, Theory, and Psychology
My high school wrestling coach, Coach Dale Ketelsen, only gave one piece of advice for when you step on the mat: just wrestle. For the next six minutes, do nothing else but wrestle.
When you’re performing magic in front of someone, do nothing but be there and try your best. Like with wrestling, karate, playing the guitar, or any other skill, the more practice the better the outcome.
Here are links to train your communication skills and improve your presence in front of a group; often, stage presence matters more than the trick, and that’s the magic of performing in a real-world situation.
Stage Presence
- Showmanship for Magicians – a classic book by Dariel Fitzkee that I borrowed from a public library when I was a kid
- Five Points in Magic – a modern classic by a master, Juan Tamariz. Like with heritage forming every magician, jazz player, or martial artist, Juan Tamariz is a focal point who distills down the greats into a five points in magic. Of course, he credits them and their books, so you can start with his and go from there.
Youtube probably has a gazillion videos on stage presence, but I’d still start with a book or two so that you can develop yourself, not copy what you see someone else does. But, simply by thinking about it more often, you’ll probably begin seeing patterns you may not have seen before.
Or, learn by doing in a safe environment: search your community for workshops in improv acting, public speaking, and magic.
Empathy, Active Listening, & The Art of Conversation
If your audience feels respected and is rooting for you to succeed, you’re already doing better than many people including paid performers.
In other words: make magic a shared experience, not just for you or for them, and you’ll do fine. These videos can help:
- Keys to a great conversation – a TED Talk by Celeste Headlee. She sums up the number one key to a great conversation is to just be there; like wrestling and magic and jazz and anything else you’re doing, just be that and nothing else at that moment. You can practice being a magician with any conversation you have.
- 11 Tips for TED Talkers – by a TED coach. To be fair, I haven’t finished watching it; I’m happier in conversations than in talks. If I were invited to give a TED Talk, I’d probably watch this video.
If you want to use the internet to see some great magicians being their best, here are a few Youtube videos I’d recommend:
The Greatest Magician of All Time may have been Mohamed Ali, “The Greatest” Boxer of all time, and maybe the GOAT (Greatest of All Time or The Greatest of All Things) was a magician who fooled Fidel Castro and entertained kids regardless of their status, because he was The Goat.
Former president of The American Academy of Magical Arts, Neil Patrick Harris, performs magic on Vanity Fair, and he has even performed at The Magic Castle.
Seinfeild star Jason Alexander has also performed at The Magic Castle, and he talks about how acting helped him become a better magician on a paid site, and that alone lets you know that there are infinite ways to study how to become a magician.
To learn more, the internet has tons of stories about famous magicians I’ve either seen or knew or read about in books I trust: General “Stormin” Norman Swartzcoff (Allied commander of Desert Shield and Desert Storm), Orson Welles (of Citizen Cane and War of The Worlds fame), Johny Carson (Tonight Show legend), Steve Martin (who, like I do, looks more and more like Orson Welles every day), The Great Cardini, Robert Houdin, Harry Houdini, Harry Anderson, Daryl, Tom Ladshaw, Doctor Z, Slydini, Mr. Samuels, John Rocherbaumer, Cousin Cliff Clavin, Penn and Teller, The Great Thompsoni and Company, Le Grand David and His Spectacular Magic Company, and so many more like them that library shelves abound with their names. For the greats I’ve met, stage presence and how to have a great conversation were the same thing.
To be a good magician, learn one effect and go from there.