Justin Willman
Like a Magician. But Cooler.Justin Willman is a magician known for multiple appearances on The Tonight Show, Ellen, Conan, and @Midnight. He's performed live at the White House for the Obama Family, his online videos have racked up over 50 million views, and his new series Magic for Humans recently premiered on Netflix to rave reviews.
Playboy dubbed him “the freshest and funniest magician working today."
In September 2018, Willman began performing a headline show produced by theory11 at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, California, titled The Magic Show at The Roosevelt. The show was an immediate hit, with a full year of continuously sold out shows since. For tickets and details, check the official show website.
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Who are some of your inspirations in magic?
Mac King, David Williamson, Penn & Teller, Lance Burton, David Copperfield, Harry Anderson, Michael Ammar.
What was the first paid performance you ever did?
I got a gig doing a 20 minute magic show every weekend at the local roller skating rink. The only catch was that I had to do an hour-and-a-half of face painting first. I was terrible. Very often I had to wipe the kids face clean with a towel and start over... it was embarrassing.
After a while they had me just stick to the magic. Entertaining kids on roller skates was quite the experience. Volunteers would constantly fall down mid-trick... or just skate away when they were bored. I worked hard for that $45 a week.
You are one of the hardest working magicians in the industry, what are the best and worst aspects of your busy lifestyle?
The best part is that I get to go up in front of a new audience almost every night and do what I love to do. It's what makes me happiest in the world. The hard part is the rental cars, hotels, and airports in between. It takes careful balance and moderation to stay sane, and I still lose my mind from time to time.
What is your favorite effect?
Close up: David Williamson's Torn and Restored Transpo. Simply the best card trick I know, and will fool 'em anywhere, anytime.
Stage: David Williamson's Ring and Rope routine. Been doing it the longest, and it's the effect I think best establishes my character. Hmmm, David Williamson seems to be a theme here...
What advice would you have for amateur magicians who want to bridge the gap into the professional realm?
Perform as much as you can in all types of settings for all types of audiences. The reason I'm successful is not because I'm the greatest magician, because I am definitely not. It's because I busted my ass for years performing my show in all types of settings: living rooms, church basements, skating rinks, soccer fields, porches, classrooms, cafeterias, closets... you name it.
In the sun, in the rain, in the snow, I've learned to make the show play anywhere, anytime. And in the end that's what separates the amateurs from the pros: the ability to make it work.
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Justin Willman
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