/**/JSON_CALLBACK({"artists":[{"id":18,"profile":{"birthdate":"1989-03-29T00:00:00-0500","magicdate":"1995-11-30T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"Magician","location":"Las Vegas, Nevada","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EOver the past 10 years, Blake Vogt has created magic for David Copperfield, David Blaine, Dynamo, Troy, and many other top magicians. He\u0027s created visual elements for Avicii, Pharrell, and Kanye West - and lent his expertise to blockbuster movies like Now You See Me 1 \u0026amp; 2 and Marvel\u2019s Ant Man. TV highlights include performing on Penn Teller: Fool Us, Wizard Wars on Syfy, and Fox\u2019s 2015 New Year\u2019s Eve Special. Most recently, Blake trained Daniel Radcliffe, Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, and Dave Franco for NOW YOU SEE ME 2 in London. Blake was a semi-finalist in 2016\u2019s season of America\u2019s Got Talent.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":57342219,"question":"How did you get started performing magic and what are your favorite situations to perform in?","answer":"I started performing magic when I was 8 years old but fell in love with magic in high school, which is when I got serious about magic. I absolutely love performing magic to total strangers while out with friends because its such a fun way to meet new people. I also love performing magic on stage for large groups of people because its an incredible rush.","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342220,"question":"You are a wizard at splitting and manipulating playing cards. What made you start doing this and what advice would you give to people who want to learn the art of card splitting?","answer":"I started splitting cards because I thought it was an area of card magic that was untapped. I love origami, folding paper, and making things with my hands, so splitting them just opened up more avenues to do all of these things. Advice I would give would be: thin side down, learn on newer cards, have lots of patience, and never give up. It gets easier the more you practice..","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342221,"question":"How many things are you allergic to?","answer":"Too many things to mention in this format... Just keep peanuts away from me and we can be friends.","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342222,"question":"What things can we look forward to from you in the next few years?","answer":"Consulting is taking up a lot of my creative time right now and will in the next few years, but I always am working on personal tricks here and there. If any of these become regulars for me to perform I would really hope I have an opportunity to share more of my magic with the magic community.","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"}],"updated_at":"2019-03-22T12:31:31-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/artists\/18\/lzKACIvsTbalSCCM7PEh_vogt.png","firstname":"Blake","lastname":"Vogt","slug":"blake-vogt","payable_to":"Blake Vogt","address_street":"472 Rosecrans Ave","address_street2":"","address_city":"Manhattan Beach","address_state":"CA","address_zip":"90266","address_country":"US","phone":"(317) 450-0682","featured":1,"featured_order":30,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"views_24h":0,"live":1,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:06-0400"},{"id":28,"profile":{"birthdate":"1985-11-04T00:00:00-0500","magicdate":"1996-11-30T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"Mentalist","location":"Canada","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EReferred to as the \u0022smooth talking stud of magic\u0022 by the Montreal Mirror. Spidey has been making a mark in the magic community since his early teenage years. As a performer he has toured Canada, the U.S and the Caribbean, made the finals of Canada\u0027s Got Talent and landed his own on screen show in his hometown. As a creator he has released several top selling DVD\u0027s and collaborated with some of the biggest names in magic such as Richard Sanders, Wayne Houchin and now; theory11. As a licensed hypnotist with a degree in social psychology, Spidey\u0027s biggest ambition is to combine mentalism, hypnosis, and psychology in order to advance his own form of magic which he refers to as social magic. He is also potentially the worst flourisher on the face of the earth and makes cardistry experts wear oven mitts when they hang out. \u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":57342209,"question":"What first attracted you to mentalism specifically - what about mentalism inspired your passion?","answer":"As much as I have always loved magic and still do, my passion for the bizarre comes from the fact that I have always wanted to have super powers. The problem with magic is that sometimes; it\u0027s clearly a trick. Don\u0027t get me wrong, the audience is completely blown away and mystified, however; most people intuitively know that nobody can REALLY make coins teleport or cards regenerate, therefore, they have an intuitive feeling that they are witnessing a beautifully executed \u0022trick.\u0022  Mentalism is different, even the most intelligent audiences believe, with reason, that there is something slightly real taking place, some audiences believe it is entirely real! I never claim to have supernatural abilities, I am against that practice,but I love the idea that when they watch me go, people truly believe I have developed an actual skill that is different than a \u0022trick\u0022. I love connecting with my audience on that level. I also find mentalism to be extremely elegant.","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342210,"question":"Who are some of your inspirations?","answer":"Every single magician, mentalist, hypnotist, juggler, singer, dancer, circus performer and bearded lady I have ever seen have inspired me. I get inspired by performance in general and I can learn something from every performer I see, even if that something is to see what it is I DON\u0027T want to be doing. It would be unfair to all my mentors and inspirations over the years to narrow it down to a list. That being said; Tommy Wonder was a God amongst mortals!","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342211,"question":"Do you think technology (internet) has helped or hurt the art of magic?","answer":"Both! I believe that technology has hurt magic by making it accessible. Laymen can go on YouTube type \u0022bending a spoon\u0022 and half an hour later, they\u0027ll have a very good idea as to how it was done. At the very least the internet will confirm for them that it CAN be done by trickery. Furthermore, it makes us less unique. For example, without the internet, our audiences wouldn\u0027t know that there are literally a hundred other guys out there doing very similar stuff to us. Sure we are all unique in our own way but I kind of liked it when my spectators believed I was one of a kind (tear). That being said I believe that internet helps us connect as magicians, I am in touch with magicians in Europe that I would have never been friends with had it not been for the internet. So I guess it\u0027s really a two sided coin.","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342212,"question":"What is your favorite effect?","answer":"This question is a trap! I\u0027m not doing it! I am not answering! YOU CAN\u0027T MAKE ME! The reason I am saying this is because I might answer this question now, and then you can ask me again in five minutes and my answer will be completely different. It depends, it totally depends on mood, audience, space, moment, so many things come into play. I normally test the waters with a half visual\/ half mental effect and see which of the two the person in front of me responds to more, based on that I will design a close up show specifically for that person, on the spot. I guess the answer is; who cares what my favorite effect is! I\u0027m not the audience, I\u0027m the performer, my job is to figure out what THEIR favorite effect might be and hit them with it. That being said (insert name of my latest release here) is REALLY good!","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"}],"updated_at":"2016-10-11T18:22:09-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/7332\/files\/spidey.jpg?6114016907020237199","firstname":"Bedros","lastname":"Akkelian","company":"Spidey","slug":"bedros-akkelian","payable_to":"Bedros Akkelian","address_street":"1409 St-Clare road","address_street2":"","address_city":"Montreal","address_state":"Qc","address_zip":"H3R 2N6","address_country":"CA","phone":"(514) 582-0493","featured":1,"featured_order":29,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"views_24h":0,"live":1,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:07-0400"},{"id":103,"profile":{"birthdate":"1975-09-16T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"1989-09-16T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"Expert at the Card Table","location":"Las Vegas, NV","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EHe is magic\u0027s leading expert on all things Erdnase - the most influential card magic book of the past century. He is an authority on casino gambling - more specifically, cheating with cards. He has some of magic\u0027s most dangerous hands, able to switch, change, and maneuver cards in the most clandestine manner imaginable. His hands are quicker than your eyes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJason England is a living legend of the conjuring arts. Influenced by Steve Forte, Richard Turner, Dai Vernon, and Darwin Ortiz, Jason is well studied, well rehearsed, and unique. His attention to detail and intense study of original texts make him one of magic\u0027s most sought after historians. But his hands are far more adept at handling cards than turning pages.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJason is based out of Las Vegas, yet travels the world giving lectures on proper card technique, card magic, and advantage gaming. A close friend and confidante to Steve Forte, Chris Kenner, and many other icons of magic, Jason also serves as a writer for MAGIC Magazine, the largest printed periodical of the conjuring arts. In 2009, Jason joined forces with theory11 in an effort to continue progressive, proper education of the next generation of magicians. In 2012 and 2013, Jason hosted the World Game Protection Conference in Las Vegas, NV.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303788,"question":"Who are some of your inspirations in magic?","answer":"My early influences include Brother John Hamman, Dai Vernon, Harry Lorayne and Larry Jennings. I learned almost exclusively from books written either by or about these men. Later came Ed Marlo, Richard Turner, Darwin Ortiz, Martin Nash, and Steve Forte. Again, books were the primary source of information, but in the case of Turner and Forte, their VHS tapes (at that time) were all I had.\r\n\t\tForte eventually would become the single biggest influence in how I handle cards, with Dai Vernon and Richard Turner close seconds. In terms of routining and effects I\u0027m partial to Darwin Ortiz\u0027s card magic and similar performers. Jack Carpenter, Jim Swain, Andrew Wimhurst, etc.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:30-0500"},{"id":5303789,"question":"What are your favorite kind of playing cards?","answer":"I can use just about anything in a pinch, but I prefer a good deck of Bicycle or Tally-Ho cards. Even with some of their consistency problems, Bicycle cards when they\u0027re good - are very good. For gambling demonstrations, or when I don\u0027t need to secretly reverse a card, Bee cards or casino Aristocrats are tough to beat.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:30-0500"},{"id":5303790,"question":"Do you think technology (internet) has helped or hurt the art of magic?","answer":"There is a story, perhaps apocryphal, of Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai being asked by Richard Nixon, during Nixon\u0027s 1971 visit to China, about the historical impact of the French Revolution, which had been fought nearly 200 years earlier. Premier Zhou\u0027s reply? \u0022It\u0027s too early to tell.\u0022\r\n\t\tThat\u0027s how I feel about magic and the internet. If pressed, I\u0027d wager that the internet won\u0027t make or break magic, but will simply change it. Whether it changes magic for the better will depend on the particular circumstances or your particular point of view. Some effects, principles, etc will undoubtedly suffer due to the massive amount of exposure available online, and other technologies and ideas will come about only because of the available technology. Good, bad, and\/or indifferent labels are going to take some time.\r\n\t\t","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:30-0500"},{"id":5303791,"question":"What advice would you give to someone starting out learning magic?","answer":"Well, there are many things I\u0027d like to tell someone just starting out, but I\u0027ll limit myself to just three for the purposes of this response.\r\n\t\t1. Learn from all available sources in these approximate ratios: 85% from books and 15% from videos\/DVDs\/instant downloads. Stay away from YouTube. If you\u0027re an expert, you can navigate those waters, although I don\u0027t see why any sane person would. Beginners will only get themselves in trouble trying to emulate what they see there. If you had access to a good teacher, you could alter that ratio a bit, but it works pretty well for everyone else.\r\n\t\t2. Get a solid grounding in the 20th century classics. It will help you more than any other single thing you can do. If you\u0027re interested in card magic, you need to read, in no particular order:\r\n\t\tThe Royal Road to Card Magic - Hugard and Braue\r\n\t\tExpert Card Technique - Hugard and Braue\r\n\t\tScarne on Card Tricks - John Scarne\r\n\t\tCard Control - Arthur Buckley\r\n\t\tThe Encyclopedia of Card Tricks - Hugard\r\n\t\tThe Expert at the Card Table - S.W. Erdnase\r\n\t\tClose-up Card Magic - Harry Lorayne\r\n\t\tThe Cardician - Ed Marlo\r\n\t\tDai Vernon\u0027s Inner Secrets Trilogy - Lewis Ganson\r\n\t\tDai Vernon\u0027s Ultimate Card Secrets - Lewis Ganson\r\n\t\tThe Card Magic of Paul LePaul - Paul LePaul\r\n\t\tThe Revolutionary Card Technique Series - Ed Marlo\r\n\t\tGreater Magic - Hilliard\r\n\t\tThe Dai Vernon Book of Magic - Lewis Ganson\r\n\t\tStars of Magic - various contributors\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tOnly after you read the books on the list above should you seek out more modern books.\r\n\r\nCard College is an excellent series and one I recommend. The same can be said of the Card College Light series. Any book by Juan Tamariz is also excellent. The books by Darwin Ortiz are must-haves for anyone serious about card magic.\r\n\r\n3. Don\u0027t look horizontally for information, technique or advice. Look vertically. This is something that I first heard from Darwin Ortiz during a discussion I was having with him regarding mentors. Darwin used the phrase \u0022looking horizontally\u0022 versus \u0022looking vertically\u0022 to refer to the peculiar manner in which \u0022internet\u0022 magicians seem to look to their peers for information, when what they should be doing is looking to more experienced performers and established experts.\r\n\r\nYou see this all the time in online forums. Someone has a question, and instead of \u0022looking vertically\u0022 by sending an email or PM to the person that could likely best answer their question, they put it out in front of the entire forum membership. What you wind up with is, at best, an answer by committee. Frequently, the most experienced professionals, with the most insight into the problem or question at hand, don\u0027t even bother to answer. Why should they waste their time composing a good response when it\u0027s likely to simply be drowned out by the herd of incoherent and moronic replies from the non-experts?\r\n\r\nEven more ridiculous, are the idiots that begin their \u0022answer\u0022 with this disclaimer: \u0022I don\u0027t actually use move XYZ, but here\u0027s my take on the matter.\u0022\r\n\r\nIf I still haven\u0027t convinced you, let\u0027s change the subject matter and you can see how ridiculous looking horizontally is. If you had a question about a potentially deadly disease that you think you might have, and you had to use the internet to find out information about it, would you really bother asking your questions on a forum full of first-year medical students and then try and sift through all of their guesses, speculation and nonsense, or would you track down and ask a few recognized, board-certified specialists in the field?\r\n\r\nI think the answer is obvious. If you really want a worthwhile answer to a serious question, look vertically.\r\n","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:30-0500"},{"id":5303792,"question":"What is your favorite effect?","answer":"As a general rule, my all-time favorite effect is Vernon\u0027s Triumph. I rotate other routines in and out of my sets, but Triumph is almost always in there somewhere. I perform essentially his original routine, with the only difference being a Zarrow shuffle versus the block transfer shuffle that Vernon really used (Johnny Thompson tells me that in his actual performances, Vernon did not use the shuffle that was described in Stars of Magic).\r\n\r\nAlthough I use a Zarrow to accomplish the raw method, I don\u0027t believe the basic effect can ever be improved upon, and I never, ever add any \u0022bells and whistles\u0022 to it.\r\n\r\nTo me that\u0027s like trying to \u0022jazz up\u0022 Beethoven\u0027s Ninth. Leave it alone, it was already perfect.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:30-0500"}],"updated_at":"2015-05-06T13:45:12-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/7332\/files\/MG_9417.jpg?2661553179710421047","firstname":"Jason","lastname":"England","company":"","slug":"jason-england","payable_to":"Jason England","address_street":"10211 Audobon Peak Ave","address_street2":"","address_city":"Las Vegas","address_state":"Nevada","address_zip":"89166","address_country":"USA","phone":"","featured":1,"featured_order":28,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:18-0400"},{"id":79,"profile":{"birthdate":"1978-06-04T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"1992-11-30T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"Magician","location":"Paris, France","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EMathieu Bich has created a number of truly original concepts and routines, most of them relying on new methods and principles - or at least, a willingness to cheat like a crazy monkey.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt can get frustrating sometimes, as Mathieu loves to fool you with your own tricks based on different methods. He has frightened and intimidated a lot of knowledgeable and respected magicians. Some of them won\u0027t leave the house now!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMathieu Bich is different. He has an excuse though: he\u0027s been one of Dominique Duvivier\u0027s students since 1996. Or maybe it\u0027s in his genes. In June of 2011, Mathieu Bich performed on Penn and Teller\u0027s \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/media.theory11.com\/5290\u0022\u003E\u0022Fool Us\u0022\u003C\/a\u003E television show in the UK. Watch his (successful!) performance \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/media.theory11.com\/5290\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":57342239,"question":"What\u0027s the last trick you saw that fooled the crap out of you?","answer":"The last one is from Dan \u0026 Dave\u0027s - Trilogy. It\u0027s a \u0022simple\u0022 transposition that killed me. It\u0027s called Tivo 2.0. ","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342240,"question":"What got you into magic?","answer":"At the age of 15, I bought a tape that explained basic card magic.","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342241,"question":"How long have you been performing?","answer":"12 years. I started performing 2 years after I started learning magic. The moves came very easy to me, because I studied piano from the age of 8 to 16. That helped me a lot in mastering the sleights.","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"},{"id":57342242,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":"I love too many magicians to give you only one name, but I will say Dominique Duvivier, Ricky Jay, Michael Weber and David Williamson. All different and amazingly good.","answered_at":"2019-04-04T00:45:19-0400"}],"updated_at":"2015-05-06T16:51:29-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/t11wire.s3.amazonaws.com\/media\/img\/artist\/1314975607-.jpg","firstname":"Mathieu","lastname":"Bich","slug":"mathieu-bich","payable_to":"Mathieu Bich","address_street":"9 rue Frederic Chopin","address_street2":"","address_city":"Draveil","address_state":"","address_zip":"91210","address_country":"France","phone":"123-4567","featured":1,"featured_order":26,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"views_24h":0,"live":1,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:14-0400"},{"id":85,"profile":{"birthdate":"1993-09-16T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"2001-12-13T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"Magician","location":"Las Vegas, Nevada","bio":"\u003Cp\u003ECalen Morelli has taken the magic world by STORM. His magic feels like a breath of fresh air to the magic community.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe is a full-time performer, but first and foremost he is a creator. He has been called the most creative magician of his generation, and his debut effect \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.theory11.com\/tricks\/dresscode-calen-morelli.php\u0022\u003EDRESSCODE\u003C\/a\u003E became a best seller overnight. Since that time, Calen has served as a creative consultant for David Blaine, Dynamo, and David Copperfield.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303392,"question":" How did you get started in magic?","answer":"A friend of mine in high school told me about this magic show that was going to be on TV that night. It ended up being David Blaine\u0027s \u0027Drowned Alive\u0027 special; I was completely blown away. At that moment I knew what I wanted to do.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:57:26-0500"},{"id":5303393,"question":"Who are some of your inspirations?","answer":"David Blaine, Cyril Takayama, and David Copperfield","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:57:26-0500"},{"id":5303394,"question":"Do you have a favorite effect?","answer":"Hmm...one of my favorites to watch is the Matrix Levitation - it just looks sick!","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:57:26-0500"},{"id":5303395,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":"Cyril","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:57:26-0500"},{"id":5303396,"question":"What is the last trick you saw that fooled the crap out of you?","answer":"The car production in Copperfield\u0027s live show. I think I have it figured out now though. ;)","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:57:26-0500"},{"id":5303397,"question":"What is your creative process when formulating a new effect?","answer":"I brainstorm to think of unique visual moments. Once I can see the visual moment in my mind, I start creating. Also, the aesthetics of how objects look together often influence me on what objects I create my magic with. It\u0027s kinda weird but it works for me.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:57:26-0500"},{"id":5303398,"question":"What advice would you give to someone starting out in magic?","answer":"Work hard, be original, and make people care about you as a person. Fail to do so and you will be just like every other guy that does tricks.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:57:26-0500"}],"updated_at":"2016-09-30T20:24:49-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/7332\/files\/calenmorelli.jpg?17384840810114114680","firstname":"Calen","lastname":"Morelli","company":"","slug":"calen-morelli","payable_to":"Calen Morelli","address_street":"5419 W. Tropicana Ave # 1405","address_street2":"","address_city":"Las Vegas","address_state":"NV","address_zip":"89103","address_country":"US","phone":"(123) 456-7890","featured":1,"featured_order":24,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"views_24h":1,"live":0,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:15-0400"},{"id":89,"profile":{"birthdate":"1987-01-28T00:00:00-0500","magicdate":"1991-11-30T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"CEO, theory11","location":"NYC","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EA prodigy, a whiz kid, and one of the hardest working men in magic. Jonathan Bayme\u0027s passion for magic was ignited at age five after watching a performance by David Copperfield in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy 13, he was headlining theatrical performances in the southeast USA to sold out audiences. Bayme finished high school two years early and began producing projects for some of the most respected names in magic. In August of 2007, he founded theory11 alongside eleven of magic\u0027s most influential artists.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe site accelerated to the forefront of the magic community, creating an educational environment that reaches 500,000 members around the world. theory11 has energized and inspired a new generation of magicians, from Marines in uniform to students who use magic as a means to build confidence, self-esteem, and a reputation among peers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBayme serves as CEO of theory11, strategist for The United States Playing Card Company, and a writer and consultant to legendary illusionist David Copperfield.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBayme has consulted and collaborated with JJ Abrams, Neil Patrick Harris, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Benedict Cumberbatch, Eddie Redmayne, Saturday Night Live, Lionsgate, Warner Bros, and NBC. In 2015, Bayme co-created and produced \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.nomadupstairs.com\u0022\u003EThe Magician at The NoMad\u003C\/a\u003E with Dan White in New York. The show has since been featured in Vanity Fair, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and nine times on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon - with the show itself sold out months in advance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn March 2016, Bayme worked alongside David Copperfield, David Blaine, and 9 Congressmen to spearhead and promote \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.hr642.com\u0022\u003EHR642\u003C\/a\u003E, a Congressional Resolution that formally establishes magic as an artform for the first time in history.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn October 2018, Bayme produced \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.themagicshow.com\/\u0022\u003EThe Magic Show at The Roosevelt\u003C\/a\u003E starring Justin Willman in Hollywood, California. The show is currently sold out two months in advance, with early features on Ellen and Good Morning America.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303823,"question":" What got you into magic?","answer":"The first magic I was ever exposed to was David Copperfield; the early nineties on his Dreams and Nightmares tour. I was six or seven. I was blown away. I couldn\u0027t shake the feeling; I was hooked on that feeling I got when I left that theater - I wanted more. I started learning as much as possible. I started reading anything I could get my hands on. Thirteen years later, I still live for that feeling, and the primary objective of theory11 is to spread that feeling to others - and allow others to share in it.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:03:10-0500"},{"id":5303824,"question":"What is theory11?","answer":"theory11 is, above all else, an alliance. theory11 started as a group of eleven of magic\u0027s most innovative performers, creators, and innovators, all united in one place, for one purpose. The goal of this site is to push the envelope within the magic industry. To take things up to the next level. What I find most revolutionary about theory11 is the spectrum of creators we work with. Guys that span the spectrum all the way from Jason England to Chris Kenner to Daniel Garcia to Andrei Jikh, all in one place.\r\n    \r\n    Each member brings their own ideas and perspective to the group; each artist is a different element that, when you add them all together, composes theory11. Everyone has their own styles and areas of expertise, but that\u0027s the beauty of it. We work together for one primary objective - to focus on quality, not quantity.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:03:10-0500"},{"id":5303826,"question":"What do you see as wrong with the industry today?","answer":"The magic industry is historically extremely segmented. I think we need to work together. That\u0027s what theory11 represents. Magic is a niche art form, and as such, to take it to the next level, to keep magic evolving for the better, we need to focus on working together across all levels to keep magic on the cutting edge, topical, unique, and current. This is not to say that magic should be a commercial artform - there\u0027s a way to be everywhere and nowhere at once.\r\n    \r\n    I think that as an industry, if we continue to push hard for evolution, magic will continue to strengthen as it has done in recent years. theory11 exists to champion that cause; to keep a focus on quality, to keep the community in mind, and to work together. And, above all else, we have to respect all of those that respect the art, and have fun with it.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:03:10-0500"},{"id":5303827,"question":"Who are your greatest influences within the magic community?","answer":"I\u0027ve very fortunate to be able to work with people that I admire, respect, and have a great time with. Our senior crew members are individuals at the top of their game - people I look up to and am fortunate to be able to work alongside each and every day. Our focus is on pumping out great products and having a great time doing it. We don\u0027t take ourselves too seriously, but we take our work very seriously.\r\n    \r\nChris Kenner has been a friend and confidant for as far back as I can remember. The first time I met Chris was after a Copperfield show in Charleston, SC when was 13. One of the greatest ingredients within theory11 is the team; we\u0027ve all known eachother for years and years; we know what eachother is thinking without asking; and we have a damn good time.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:03:10-0500"}],"updated_at":"2018-12-19T00:05:59-0500"},"image":"https:\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/artists\/89\/SOUZmRZrSsCl3WbTa0P5_jb-profile.jpg","firstname":"Jonathan","lastname":"Bayme","company":"","slug":"jonathan-bayme","payable_to":"Jonathan Bayme","address_street":"1664 Seignious Drive","address_street2":"","address_city":"Charleston","address_state":"South Carolina","address_zip":"29407","address_country":"US","phone":"843-532-5465","featured":1,"featured_order":23,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"views_24h":0,"live":0,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:15-0400"},{"id":90,"profile":{"birthdate":"1978-09-16T01:34:51-0400","magicdate":"1994-09-16T01:34:51-0400","subtitle":"The Gentlemen Thief","location":"Las Vegas, NV","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EApollo Robbins is a unique combination of performer, speaker and consultant. Robbins first made national news as the man who pick-pocketed the Secret Service while entertaining former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.  Apollo utilizes pick-pocketing and sleight-of-hand to demonstrate proximity manipulation, diversion techniques and attention control. This unique set of skills have led to several academic speaking engagements for the science community, law enforcement and government agencies on human behavior. \u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2006, Robbins founded Whizmob Inc., a brain trust that offers law enforcement officials and ex-cons as subject matter experts on current fraud, theft, and scam trends.  Apollo hosted Tru TV\u0027s reality show, THE REAL HUSTLE, and served as technical advisor on TNT\u0027s series, LEVERAGE.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn January 2013, Apollo was profiled in \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.newyorker.com\/reporting\/2013\/01\/07\/130107fa_fact_green?currentPage=all\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe New Yorker\u003C\/a\u003E in a feature article by Adam Green. On January 16th, 2013, Apollo performed on \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/on.today.com\/WdejgW\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe Today Show\u003C\/a\u003E for Matt Lauer and Ryan Seacrest.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303771,"question":"Who are some of your biggest influences in magic?","answer":"Since magic is both a passion and a career for me, my influences come from many directions.\r\n\r\nFor understanding attitude, naturalness, context and misdirection: Slydini, Tommy Wonder, John Carney \u0026 Cardini.\r\n\r\nFor learning the important balance between show \u0026 business: Bob Kohler, Jon Stetson and my old friend Mark Sparks.\r\n\r\nFor understanding branding \u0026 niche marketing: Derren Brown, Mac King, Marco Tempest \u0026 Kevin King (the double talk expert).","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:07-0500"},{"id":5303772,"question":"What got you into the field of pick-pocketing?","answer":"Besides two nefarious brothers and a blind father... it probably has a lot to do with my preference for effects that are both plausible and border-line possible.  Super skills such as mega memory, card cheating, rapid math, and pickpocketing have always intrigued me.  I\u0027ve never liked asking my audiences to pretend I have super natural powers. I was drawn to pickpocketing because it allows me to create astonishing moments with context.  My audience gets a glimpse into a shadowy underworld world of colorful characters with unusual talents. ","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:07-0500"},{"id":5303773,"question":"Do you have any advice for magicians that would like to learn pick-pocketing techniques?","answer":"Picking pockets is an advanced art form that assumes your technique has become second nature, you have a natural comfort with people, and a sensitivity to how they perceive you. \r\n\r\nIt is becoming very difficult to perform a pickpocket act due to the increased popularity of casual attire and the dangers of performing for a litigious society. But as a skill, pickpocketing \u0026 body loading are a fantastic set of tools for gathering information, hiding predictions, assisting in transportations, etc.\r\n\r\nPractice Tip: Your initial focus should be on loading rather than steals..","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:07-0500"},{"id":5303774,"question":"What is your favorite effect to perform?","answer":"Hard to answer...  There is a precise feeling that I am trying to create for my audience.  It\u0027s hard to always hit it with any one particular effect.\r\n\r\nI can give you some ingredients for my favorite effect; unexpected plot twist, borders on the possible, seductive, final effect is deduced mentally not visually, and plausible ability - so the spectator imagines how such an ability would change their life for the better.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:07-0500"},{"id":5303775,"question":"You perform and travel all over the world, what are the best and worst aspects of your busy lifestyle?","answer":"I am very fortunate that I get paid to do what I enjoy.  It is fulfilling to have an occupation that I am still passionate about after 20 yrs.\r\n\r\nThere are times that I perform in exotic locations and stay at 5 star resorts.  Sounds glamourous... until you realize that often I only see the inside of my hotel and the airport \u0027cause I am off to the next gig. Zig-zagging from Hawaii to the East coast and back to Vegas in the course of a week.  \r\n\r\nWhen I am home, I split my time between researching, consulting and developing new services that I can offer to my regular clients.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:07-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-16T01:34:51-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/apollorobbins.jpg","firstname":"Apollo","lastname":"Robbins","slug":"apollo-robbins","payable_to":"Apollo Robbins","address_street":"PO Box 231921","address_city":"Las Vegas","address_state":"NV","address_zip":"89105","address_country":"United States","phone":"","featured":1,"featured_order":23,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:16-0400"},{"id":92,"profile":{"birthdate":"1014-09-16T00:00:00-0500","magicdate":"1014-09-16T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"Executive Producer, David Copperfield","location":"Las Vegas, NV","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EIn his first career as a close-up magician, although now known more as a comedy magician, Chris Kenner was one of those rare individuals who was not only proficient, but highly influential in both card magic and coin magic. His best-known creations are Threefly (arguably the most influential coin trick of the last 50 years) and the Sybil cut (which helped inspired a generation of card flourish enthusiasts).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis best-selling book Totally Out of Control features over two dozen of his other close-up creations. An additional handful of original routines were featured in his first book, The Right Stuff. Along with his long-time friend, Homer Liwag, he published the ground-breaking periodical Magic Man Examiner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe also produced and starred in the short films Brokeback Magic Mountain and Magic in Jeopardy! For the past sixteen years, Kenner has worked as David Copperfield\u0027s executive producer. He currently lives in Las Vegas, and spends approximately half the year touring the world with David Copperfield.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303399,"question":"What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different?","answer":"theory11 is a place to be able to grow and try new things. it is also the theory between 10 and 12. The best thing about the site is that there is no other magic site in the world that can touch it. It is setting a new mark on the bar for others to try to reach.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:22-0500"},{"id":5303400,"question":"What got you into magic?","answer":"Watching movies. When I was a kid I love the feeling I got sitting in the theatre. At that time it was not a digital world so the thought of making my own movies was out, so I started playing with magic to try to give people that same feeling of wonder I got while watching a movie.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:22-0500"},{"id":5303401,"question":"How long have you been performing?","answer":"Since the time of 8 track tapes. Longer than anyone else with a profile on this site. Maybe longer than any 2 combined. Damn, I am old.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:22-0500"},{"id":5303402,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:22-0500"},{"id":5303403,"question":"Tell us about the first time\/effect you performed.","answer":"I did a milk pitcher and actually poured the milk out into the paper... no s***, I really did. That is the moment I decided I needed to try to be funny.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:22-0500"},{"id":5303404,"question":" What do you see as wrong with the industry today?","answer":"Where do I begin. I think that the biggest problem across the board is that magicians are not self aware. How many times have you seen someone doing illusions that needed to lose at least 30 pounds and had a Mullet, but did not live in Alabama. Or a close-up guy that did Card on Ceiling, Ring Flight, Card to Wallet, Ambitious Card, Card on Forehead, and might have a small twist of a version of Collectors... but tells everyone he is a creative genius.\r\n\r\nAnd there is the comedy magic guy doing Rocky Raccoon, the Baffling Bra trick, and countless other tricks that you can purchase from your local magic shop, that claims to write all his own jokes and bits. I mean, just be what you are. There is nothing wrong with being a normal close-up guy or a standard comedy magician, just be aware that is what you are. This is a very hard thing to admit to yourself, but if we can start right there then progressing becomes a much quicker process. I am going to add something to this section as time goes on, so stay tuned...","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:22-0500"},{"id":5303405,"question":"What\u0027s the last trick that fooled the crap out of you?","answer":"Asi Wind did card under MY watch, and I felt like a little kid again. Then I begged him not to tell everyone that he fooled me so bad.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:22-0500"},{"id":5303406,"question":"What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?","answer":"Remember why you love this stuff and stay true to yourself. ","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:22-0500"}],"updated_at":"2016-09-30T20:24:36-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/7332\/files\/chriskenner.jpg?12535703056552011346","firstname":"Chris","lastname":"Kenner","company":"","slug":"chris-kenner","payable_to":"Chris Kenner","address_street":"5690 Deer Creek Falls Court","address_street2":"","address_city":"Las Vegas","address_state":"NV","address_zip":"89118","address_country":"USA","phone":"(702) 301-3376","featured":1,"featured_order":22,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:16-0400"},{"id":105,"profile":{"birthdate":"1983-09-16T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"1997-09-16T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"Like a Magician. But Cooler.","location":"Hollywood, CA","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EJustin Willman can currently be seen hosting the hit show \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.foodnetwork.com\/cupcake-wars\/index.html\u0022\u003ECupcake Wars\u003C\/a\u003E on the Food Network. He also hosts \u003Cstrong\u003ELast Cake Standing\u003C\/strong\u003E, Hubworld, Win Lose or Draw, and \u003Cb\u003ESCRABBLE\u003C\/b\u003E (he filmed 30 episodes in ONE week). His witty mix of comedy and magic has quickly established him as one of America\u0027s premiere performers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn March of 2012, Justin Willman appeared (not literally) on \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/media.theory11.com\/6407-Justin-Willman-on-Ellen-Show\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe Ellen Degeneres Show\u003C\/a\u003E and received a STANDING OVATION! Watch the video clip \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/media.theory11.com\/6407-Justin-Willman-on-Ellen-Show\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E. He\u0027s appeared over 20-times on the \u0022Rachael Ray\u0022 TV show and can be seen guest-starring as \u0027Armando the Amazing\u0027 on the hit Disney Channel sitcom, \u0022The Suite Life on Deck.\u0022 He was voted College Entertainer of the Year by Campus Activities Magazine for a record-breaking fourth year in a row. In March of 2013 and February of 2014, he appeared on \u003Cstrong\u003EThe Tonight Show\u003C\/strong\u003E with Jay Leno.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJustin began performing at the age of twelve. After breaking both of his arms in a uniquely daring bicycle accident while trying to impress some girls, the young Justin started learning card tricks as an alternative to physical therapy. He officially turned pro when his parents hired him to entertain at his sister Ashley\u0027s fifth birthday party. He bombed, but was not deterred.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303793,"question":"Who are some of your inspirations in magic?","answer":"Mac King, David Williamson, Penn \u0026 Teller, Lance Burton, David Copperfield, Harry Anderson, Michael Ammar.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:35-0500"},{"id":5303794,"question":"What was the first paid performance you ever did?","answer":"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.\r\nAfter 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.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:35-0500"},{"id":5303795,"question":"You are one of the hardest working magicians in the industry, what are the best and worst aspects of your busy lifestyle?","answer":"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\u0027s 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.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:35-0500"},{"id":5303796,"question":"What is your favorite effect?","answer":"Close up: David Williamson\u0027s Torn and Restored Transpo.  Simply the best card trick I know, and will fool \u0027em anywhere, anytime.\r\n\r\nStage: David Williamson\u0027s Ring and Rope routine.  Been doing it the longest, and it\u0027s the effect I think best establishes my character. Hmmm, David Williamson seems to be a theme here...","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:35-0500"},{"id":5303797,"question":"What advice would you have for amateur magicians who want to bridge the gap into the professional realm?","answer":"Perform as much as you can in all types of settings for all types of audiences.  The reason I\u0027m successful is not because I\u0027m the greatest magician, because I am definitely not.  It\u0027s 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.\r\nIn the sun, in the rain, in the snow, I\u0027ve learned to make the show play anywhere, anytime.  And in the end that\u0027s what separates the amateurs from the pros: the ability to make it work.\r\n","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:35-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-24T10:54:52-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/justinkredible.jpg","firstname":"Justin","lastname":"Willman","company":"","slug":"justin-kredible","payable_to":"Justin Kredible LLC","address_street":"PO Box 48065","address_street2":"","address_city":"Los Angeles","address_state":"CA","address_zip":"90048","address_country":"USA","phone":"","featured":1,"featured_order":19,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:18-0400"},{"id":95,"profile":{"birthdate":"1981-07-24T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"1999-09-16T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"The Magician at The NoMad","location":"New York City, NY","bio":"\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.nomadupstairs.com\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 style=\u0022border: 0;padding: 10px 0 0px 12px; display: block;\u0022\u003E\u003Cimg style=\u0022width: 100%; height: auto; border-radius: 4px;\u0022 src=\u0022https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/7332\/files\/magician-banner.jpg?4061733729486898917\u0022 \/\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EDan White is a magician, creator, consultant, and performer. Over the past 20 years, he\u2019s created magic on stage and screen around the world. Most recently, Dan was featured on the Discovery Channel special The Supernaturalist and White Magic on the Travel Channel.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2014, Dan served as a creative consultant to Kanye West, collaborating on iconic, magic visuals for the YEEZUS tour. Prior to that, Dan consulted on-site in Las Vegas with legendary illusionist David Copperfield. Dan is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn 2015, Dan White worked alongside theory11 to create \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.nomadupstairs.com\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe Magician\u003C\/a\u003E - an intimate evening of magic, mystery, and deception at \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.nomadupstairs.com\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EThe NoMad Hotel\u003C\/a\u003E in New York. Dan is the star of the show, performing every weekend for sold out audiences.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ESpecializing in close up magic and mentalism, Dan has been refining his craft since the age of nine. With his Fine Arts background, he adds a new dimension to the art of conjuring, bringing mystery, elegance, and sophistication to each of his performances.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303415,"question":"What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different?","answer":"theory11 is a new way of looking at a classic ideal. A site that raises the standard in magic by giving the art the respect it deserves and emphasizing quality over quantity. Delivering the most creative magic from the best minds in the business, theory11 is giving magicians an alternative to the norm. ","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:59:22-0500"},{"id":5303416,"question":"What got you into magic?","answer":"Like most, a simple magic set given to me one evening by my father lit the fuse. As a child, I had always been intrigued and frightened by magicians and their knowledge of secrets that I knew nothing about.\r\n\r\nAs I grew, I wanted to know these secrets and wanted to be able to harness that level of mystique that had fascinated me. Since then, I have seen how powerful magic can be, and how it can affect people on such a visceral level.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:59:22-0500"},{"id":5303417,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":"Rene Lavand, Chan Canasta, Eugene Burger, David Blaine, David Berglas -- all performers of unequaled elegance and depth.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:59:22-0500"},{"id":5303418,"question":"Tell us about the first time\/effect you performed.","answer":"I remember impressing the girls at school with my Hot Rod a.k.a. Fantastic.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:59:22-0500"},{"id":5303419,"question":"What\u0027s the last trick you saw that fooled the crap out of you?","answer":"I am not at liberty to say.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:59:22-0500"},{"id":5303420,"question":"What do you see as wrong with the industry today?","answer":"Very often it seems that effects are being put out without much thought or audience testing. Too often people come up with an idea and immediately want to market it without ever trying it on real people. This is not fair to the consumer, who expects to actually be able to perform what is promised.\r\n\r\nThe manner and language used in the marketing of effects is also a bit patronizing. theory11 will bring magicians effects that are real, not just over-hyped ideas. They will deliver these effects in an honest and non-condescending manner.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:59:22-0500"},{"id":5303421,"question":"What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?","answer":"Learn the basics. They are the support and foundation of everything else. Learn from the past and use that knowledge to create that which is new. Respect your audience -- they are smarter than you think. \r\n\r\nBelieve in what you are doing. Define what the word \u0022magician\u0022 means to you, and perform and live in that way.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:59:22-0500"}],"updated_at":"2015-05-12T01:32:03-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/artists\/95\/jxcSqkYWQGm2PnqfBXIs_dan-white-magician03.jpg","firstname":"Dan","lastname":"White","company":"","slug":"dan-white","payable_to":"Dan White","address_street":"2135 Walnut Street #1203","address_street2":"","address_city":"Philadelphia","address_state":"PA","address_zip":"19103","address_country":"USA","phone":"","featured":1,"featured_order":18,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:16-0400"},{"id":99,"profile":{"birthdate":"1993-09-16T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"2010-09-16T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"Card Flourisher","location":"Paris, France","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EHe came. He saw. He conquered. Dimitri Arleri appeared on the cardistry scene in 2009 with a breakthrough video entitled \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/media.theory11.com\/2728\u0022\u003EOpera\u003C\/a\u003E. His diligent work and outside the box thinking put cardistry enthusiasts around the world on notice: Dimitri is here, and he means business. His style is unique - involving complex geometric shapes and smooth, fluid movements.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBased in Paris, France, Dimitri has since released multiple follow up presentations to rave reviews. Each presentation demonstrates that same elegance and perfection that Dimitri is known for - constantly raising the bar. Dimitri released Monument, his debut cardistry DVD, in 2013.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303806,"question":"What got you into Cardistry?","answer":"Back in 2007 during high school, a friend shown me some cheating techniques while playing poker, I found it fascinating so I tried to learn a few moves. He gave me Steve Forte\u0027s book and that was what got my started with cards. Only a few weeks later, while I was looking up some magic videos on Youtube, I stumbled upon a cardistry video for the first time. I think it was Void Deck, by Kevin Ho. I was immediately hooked. I did some further research into this new art form and that\u0027s how I came across Decknique. I quickly realized that cardistry suited me a lot better than magic, so I started practicing\u00e2\u0080\u00a6 And the better I got, the more I enjoyed it.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:13-0500"},{"id":5303807,"question":"When did you start creating - not just performing - card flourishes?","answer":"Well, I started right away actually, since it\u0027s the thing I enjoy the most in cardistry. When I think about it now, it is probably not the best idea if you want to become good really fast, but it\u0027s what I enjoy...  So yeah at first I was creating either flourishes that sucked, or stuffs that was already been done before that I never herd about, but then I slowly began to have some more interesting ideas, and that\u0027s when it became really fun !","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:13-0500"},{"id":5303808,"question":"How long do you practice each day?","answer":"It\u0027s really hard to say how much I practice, because it changes everyday. When I first started I practiced a lot, sometimes up to 6 or 8 hours a day. It still happens nowadays, but not very often, I sometimes have a big motivational or creative boost that just pushes me. But most of the time now, I guess it\u0027s somewhere between 1 and 2 hours a day. Of course it happens that I don\u0027t touch a deck for a few days or weeks, but that\u0027s also pretty rare.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:13-0500"},{"id":5303809,"question":"Who are your favorite performer(s) to watch?","answer":"There\u0027s a lot of very talented cardists out there that I love to watch, like Jonas Haglund, Andrei Jikh, Jaspas Deck, Alejandro Portela, Sebastian Skowron, De\u0027vo, Kevin Ho, Dan and Dave and a lot more.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:13-0500"},{"id":5303810,"question":"What advice would you give to those who are just starting cardistry?","answer":"I think that the most important thing to keep in mind is that you should have fun. Don\u0027t try to be the best, and don\u0027t take it too seriously at first. You\u0027ll get better without even noticing if your just having fun. It\u0027s also important that you learn the very basics if you want to be able to create good stuff later on. I didn\u0027t learn the basics at first and it turned out that I had to re-learn a lot of moves, so it felt a little like wasted time, (yeah I learned the one handed shuffle not so long ago).","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:13-0500"},{"id":5303811,"question":"What\u0027s next? What vision do you see for the future of cardistry?","answer":"Well I really hope that more and more people will join the art, so that it doesn\u0027t have to be mostly on the internet, but more in real life. We\u0027re still at a beginning stage so the art will go through a lot of changes in the years to come. I hope to see more people performing live for laymen, more cardists meeting up, and maybe some worldwide cardistry conventions who knows ?!","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:13-0500"},{"id":5303812,"question":"What is your deck of choice to use when practicing and performing?","answer":"Well I don\u0027t pay too much attention to the deck I use, as long as it\u0027s decent. I\u0027m not really a card collector, so I usually have the cheapest \u0022good\u0022 cards... actually, I\u0027ve only bought a single brick of Tally-Ho\u0027s, and less than 10 other decks (for some reason my cards last forever). I had the chance to be given some decks by a few awesome people, so I tried a few different ones, but I think I enjoy the classics the most, so basic Bicycle\u0027s and Tally-Ho\u0027s.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:13-0500"},{"id":5303813,"question":"What can we expect to see in your debut project later this year?","answer":"Well I\u0027ve been creating moves since I started handling cards, and in this dvd I will teach many of my  favorite creations that I have come up with these past 4 years. You will find some new fans, one and two handed cuts, aerials, structures and new concepts; some very easy to learn, and some extremely challenging. Not only I will teach my favorite moves, but I\u0027ll also try to teach HOW to create moves, with all the tips, theories, and ideas that I collected through my journey.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:13-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-18T23:09:18-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0013\/7332\/files\/arleri.jpg?2077267341541239614","firstname":"Dimitri","lastname":"Arleri","company":"","slug":"dimitri-arleri","payable_to":"Dimitri Arleri","address_street":"166 Rue Lafayette ","address_street2":"","address_city":"Paris","address_state":"","address_zip":"75010","address_country":"France","phone":"","featured":1,"featured_order":15,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:17-0400"},{"id":4689,"profile":{"birthdate":"1971-02-01T00:00:00-0500","magicdate":"1977-02-01T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"The Millionaires\u0027 Magician","location":"New York City, New York","bio":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESteve Cohen\u003C\/b\u003E\u0026nbsp;has delighted and mystified audiences all over the world. His long-running weekly show,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003EChamber Magic\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, presented in an elegant suite at the legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel, is consistently reviewed as one of New York\u2019s best kept secrets and must-see theatrical events. His audiences, now totaling more than 400,000 guests, include a who\u2019s-who of celebrities, royalty, and other notables: Woody Allen, William Goldman, Warren Buffett, Stephen Sondheim, the Queen of Morocco\u2014the list goes on.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2012 he starred in\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cb\u003ELost Magic Decoded\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E, a two-hour special on the History Channel, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003ETheater of Wonder\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, a sold-out solo show at Carnegie Hall. His work has been featured on\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003ECBS Sunday Morning\u003C\/i\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003ECNN\u003C\/i\u003E, and\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003ELate Night with David Letterman\u003C\/i\u003E\u0026nbsp;and in numerous publications including\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EThe New York Times\u003C\/i\u003Eand\u0026nbsp;\u003Ci\u003EForbes Magazine\u003C\/i\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECohen earned a psychology degree from Cornell University and studied at Waseda University in Tokyo. He holds the esteemed rank of Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, awarded by The Magic Circle in London. His book,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003EWin the Crowd\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E, in which he explores the power of suggestion and how it can help people in their everyday lives, has been published in seven languages.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/t11.tv\/tycn11\u0022\u003E\u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci\u003E\u003Cu\u003ETycoon Playing Cards\u003C\/u\u003E\u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E are premium, designer playing cards produced in collaboration with Steve Cohen and are the official playing cards of his headline show \u003Cb\u003E\u003Ci style=\u0022\u0022\u003EChamber Magic \u003C\/i\u003E\u003C\/b\u003Eat the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel. \u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":27299496,"question":"What got you started in magic?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EMy uncle was a terrific amateur magician. He was born in 1901, and saw many Golden Age magicians as a boy growing up in New York. When I was six, he began teaching me close-up tricks and card magic. The\u0026nbsp;first card trick he taught me used the Si Stebbins stack. At age nine, I saw Doug Henning on television, and I knew that I needed to pursue my study of magic.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-10-02T22:12:17-0400"},{"id":27299497,"question":"Who are your favorite magicians to watch perform?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EI was lucky to attend the Tannen\u0027s Jubilee conventions when I was a teenager in the 1980s. All of the greats appeared there. I loved watching Albert Goshman and Del Ray. They both did their full shows, and I learned from them how to \u0027hook\u0027 an audience with a well-designed character. Harry Lorayne, a close friend, is also one of my all-time favorites.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-10-02T22:12:35-0400"},{"id":27299902,"question":"Describe one of your favorite moments while performing Chamber Magic at the Waldorf Astoria.","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EI\u0027ve been at the Waldorf for 16 years, so it\u0027s hard to choose just one! In addition to performing for royalty (the Queen of Morocco, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia), I\u0027ve had many of my own personal heroes visit\u0026nbsp;Chamber Magic: Teller, David Copperfield, Juan Tamariz, Derren Brown, Patrick Page. It\u0027s an honor to\u0026nbsp;receive such support from the top members of the magic community. Patrick Page made me blush when he said, \u0022This is a perfect parlour magic show. I honestly cannot suggest anything that would improve it.\u0022\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-10-02T22:22:46-0400"},{"id":27299903,"question":"What was the last magic effect that completely blew you away?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EDavid Regal performed a real fooler at Harry Lorayne\u0027s 90th birthday party, and stumped\u0026nbsp;everyone\u0026nbsp;in the room -- mostly professional magicians -- including Harry. In the effect, a full sheet of postage stamps magically transformed into actual stamps that had Harry Lorayne\u0027s face printed on them. David gave Harry the stamps in a picture frame to hang on his wall at home.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-10-02T22:23:03-0400"},{"id":27299904,"question":"Who are your inspirations?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EMy triumvirate of mentors are: Max Malini, Johann Hofzinser, and Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. I\u0027ve done my best to carry on their work, and to keep the heritage of magic alive for modern audiences. I\u0027ve written extensive articles about each of these heroes, and the lessons I\u0027ve learned from each:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EMalini:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chambermagic.com\/mmm-malini\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.chambermagic.com\/mmm-malini\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EHofzinser:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chambermagic.com\/mmm-hofzinser\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.chambermagic.com\/mmm-hofzinser\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003ERobert-Houdin:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/span\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.chambermagic.com\/mmm-robert-houdin\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(17, 85, 204); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/www.chambermagic.com\/mmm-robert-houdin\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-10-02T22:23:23-0400"},{"id":27299905,"question":"What advice would you give to someone just starting out in magic? ","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003ERemember to practice your sleights in context. Sleights are not standalone moments, but elements of a larger symphony. Learn to \u0022look up\u0022 at your audience instead of solely looking down at your hands. This will aid in both the deceptiveness of your magic, and the communication you must build with your audience. Finally, learn a small set of three tricks that flow together, so you have a brief \u0022show\u0022 that you can perform. The show must reflect your personality - don\u0027t try to be someone you\u0027re not. Audiences can sense when you are being genuine.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-10-02T22:28:59-0400"}],"updated_at":"2016-10-02T22:23:57-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/artists\/4689\/B7DEJlGWToerSnxXjFG4_SteveCohen.jpg","firstname":"Steve","lastname":"Cohen","company":"Steve Cohen","slug":"steve-cohen","payable_to":"Steve Cohen","address_street":"202 West 85th Street #4","address_street2":"","address_city":"New York","address_state":"New York","address_zip":"10024","address_country":"United States","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-09-09T17:57:00-0400"},{"id":94,"profile":{"birthdate":"1014-09-16T00:00:00-0500","magicdate":"1999-09-16T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"Award Winning Anti-Conjuror","location":"Las Vegas, NV","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EWith acclaimed performances all over the world from across North America to Europe and a plethora of top awards and honors including the title of \u0022Most Original Magician\u0022 by The World Magic Awards, 2-time winner of the Award of Merit from the International Brotherhood of Magicians and is the 25 Anniversary Gold Medal Champion of the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas - Dan Sperry proves that in his case magic no longer sucks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDan is one of the youngest magicians to tour Canada with the largest touring magic show: ILLUSIONS, produced by Murray Hatfield and not once but TWICE, Dan was also the youngest magician to be featured in The World\u0027s Greatest Magic Show in Las Vegas for 5 years and he is the youngest non-member magician to not have to audition, but be invited by the president of the Academy of Magical Arts to perform in the Palace of Mystery at the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnly a small number of magicians share this honor, some include the late Doug Henning, Lance Burton, and David Copperfield.  Dan\u0027s live performances include razor blades, deformed babies, tattoo machines, buzz-saws, voo doo, blood, and have been notorious for inducing laughter, shock, and projectile vomiting - we\u0027re not kidding.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303776,"question":"Who are some of your inspirations in magic?","answer":"I have a lot of different inspirations in magic.  Different styles, genres, etc.  So it is hard to choose just one or a few actually.  I have to give credit to DC Money - David Copperfield - he was who I saw as a kid and got me interested.  Neil Foster, Joseph Gabriel, Paul Kozak, Jay Marshall, Don Alan, Cardini, and Marshall Brodien are just a few that come to mind but like I said too many to name.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:13-0500"},{"id":5303777,"question":"You perform both close-up magic and large illusions, which do you enjoy performing more?","answer":"I enjoy performing no matter what.  That is a tough question.  I guess you could say I enjoy performing right in the middle - like a Cabaret style - where I can perform both even if video screens are needed.  My favorite audience size would be between 300-500 people maximum.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:13-0500"},{"id":5303778,"question":"What advice would you give to a magician trying to create and find their character?","answer":"You really do have to be yourself - even if you are trying to come up with a \u0022character.\u0022  It still has to be you, so really be true to who you are.  Don Alan had great advice and he would say stand in front of a mirror naked and take a good brutally honest look at yourself to see who you really are.  Obviously, for example, if you weigh 800lbs you should not be trying to wear tight pants and open shirts performing dramatic illusions.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:13-0500"},{"id":5303779,"question":"Do you have a favorite effect?","answer":"That is a tough question.  I have favorites I like to see performed and I have favorites I enjoy performing myself.  If I had to say and effect I enjoy performing as one of my many favorites it would be my take on the shattered Russian Roulette.  I\u0027ve really put a lot of work and thought into that routine from showing clips of people on YouTube screwing up other Russian Roulettes in various magic shows to throwing a hammer into the audience - so many levels of shock and surprise besides just slamming hands on paper bags.  It is one of the routines I can relax and just have fun performing, put the audience member in an uncomfortable position, and stand back and watch how they deal with it.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:13-0500"},{"id":5303780,"question":"In its current state, what do you see as the biggest problem with magic today?","answer":"Magic is the only talent which you can purchase.  Anybody can go buy a big box, or some invisible thread, and say they\u0027re a magician.  There are too many dillusional people who need to accept the fact they suck and seek out help or give up now and take up stamp collecting.  When people try to be singers and they suck at it - they make themselves look stupid, but it doesn\u0027t hurt the other singers.  But, when somebody sucks at magic - they make themselves look stupid and it hurts us as other magicians.  Does that make sense?","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:13-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-17T23:34:51-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/dansperry.jpg","firstname":"Dan","lastname":"Sperry","company":"","slug":"dan-sperry","payable_to":"Dan Sperry","address_street":"8032 Imperial Treasure Street","address_street2":"","address_city":"Las Vegas","address_state":"NV","address_zip":"89139","address_country":"USA","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:16-0400"},{"id":100,"profile":{"birthdate":"1982-09-16T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"1997-09-16T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"Magician","location":"New York, NY","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EDoug McKenzie is an award-winning magician who has performed professionally since the age of 16. Today he is a renowned entertainer, traveling across the globe to perform at trade shows, conventions, charity fundraisers, dinner banquets, and private parties. Whether he is stealing watches from Paris Hilton and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani\u2019s wrists unnoticed or making Trudie Styler appear from thin air, Doug\u2019s mix of sophisticated magic and witty humor will bring delight to anyone.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAn accomplished and elegant sleight of hand entertainer, Doug has performed on the same bill with the likes of Liza Minelli, Cher, Prince, Dave Matthews, Billy Joel, James Taylor, and David Blaine. He is fluent in English, German and Arabic and can be sure to charm any audience to feel the surreal.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with his live performances, Doug is recognized by his fellow magicians for his creative contributions to the art of magic. In September 2000, Doug was selected to work with David Copperfield to develop magic for his Tornado of Fire television special, an opportunity afforded to only a handful of magicians. Using this experience as a guide, Doug was then selected to consult and produce two seasons of Marco Tempest\u2019s The Virtual Magician television series, a reality magic show that continues to air in over 50 countries. In addition to working on his own television production, Doug currently collaborates with David Blaine on all of his endeavors.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303814,"question":"What got you into magic?","answer":"I went to boarding school at the tender age of 15 and got pretty bored (no pun intended). I picked up a copy of \u0022Now You See it, Now You Don\u0027t\u0022 by Bill Tarr on a school trip to New York, and practiced a french drop in the ride back to school. I  then fooled all my teachers, made cool friends, and dated the hottest girl in school, all overnight; and that\u0027s how i got into magic.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"},{"id":5303815,"question":"Who are some of your biggest influences?","answer":"Chan Canasta, Juan Tamariz, Tarko, Pit Hartling, David Stone, Lennart Green, David Blaine, and Bill Kalush","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"},{"id":5303816,"question":"How did you get involved in working with David Blaine?","answer":"Long story short ... During my time in Business School, I worked as a personal assistant to a New York socialite to earn a little bit of extra cash. Through her crazy circle of friends, I was introduced to David during a night out. I showed David an effect I had been working on that he seemed to like, we exchanged numbers (I actually already had his ... another long story), and we became friends.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"},{"id":5303817,"question":"You\u0027ve been all over the map. Tell us about where you grew up.","answer":"I grew up most of my life in the Middle East (Saudi Arabia and Oman). Western media really portrays a negative image of Arab culture and people, and I couldn\u0027t disagree more. Watch \u0022Control Room\u0022 and \u0022Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden\u0022 and then we\u0027ll talk.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"},{"id":5303818,"question":"What\u0027s your favorite effect to perform?","answer":"I love pick-pocketing. It\u0027s a lot more personal than a card trick, especially if you are only using 21 cards. I also love to perform anything that I\u0027ve come up with (insert shameless plug for \u0022Flicker\u0022 here). It all makes me wish I had invented pick-pocketing though.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"},{"id":5303819,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":"I like to watch different people for different reasons. Chan Canasta, Juan Tamariz, and David Berglas are untouchable in my book for both the magic and the psychology they employ. Homer Liwag has the most beautiful coin technique I have ever seen. David Williamson for making me laugh so hard. Cyril Takayama for the timing and beats he brings from stage magic to close-up magic. James Hydrick for his own self-belief that what he is doing is real. The list goes on.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"},{"id":5303820,"question":"What do you see as being wrong with the industry today?","answer":"There are so many magic products for sale and most of them are crap. It\u0027s difficult to push an art form to new limits when there\u0027s so much crap for people to wade through.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"},{"id":5303821,"question":"What\u0027s the last trick you saw that fooled the crap out of you?","answer":"In London there is a members only club in Mayfair called Tramp. It is a fancy restaurant \/ social meeting place during the day and a debaucherous nightclub later on in the evening. After being introduced to the GM there and showing him a few things, he proceeded to fry me over and over for the entire evening with a very simple trick. He would casually misdirect me to look at him, and as i did, I would feel an unexplainable knocking sensation on the toe part of my shoe. He wasn\u0027t throwing anything, and there were no hidden devices in the floor to tap me (trust me, I checked). I really had no idea. It took me another trip to Tramp to finally catch on to the method, but believe me it is diabolical, extremely well executed, and would fool anybody.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"},{"id":5303822,"question":"What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?","answer":"Buy \u0022Flicker\u0022. It will make all your dreams and wishes come true. JK. There is so much great magic hidden in old books. Only things that were worthy of being published were put out back then. Magic has since changed, but modernizing a classic can go a long way. ","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:02:20-0500"}],"updated_at":"2016-10-11T18:22:30-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/dougmckenzie.jpg","firstname":"Doug","lastname":"McKenzie","company":"","slug":"doug-mckenzie","payable_to":"Doug McKenzie","address_street":"58 Maspeth Avenue","address_street2":"Apartment 3C","address_city":"Brooklyn","address_state":"NY","address_zip":"11211","address_country":"USA","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:17-0400"},{"id":101,"profile":{"birthdate":"1992-09-16T01:37:07-0400","magicdate":"2006-09-16T01:37:07-0400","subtitle":"Card Flourisher","location":"Canada","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EFiery red-headed Ekaterina Dobrokhotova was born in Moscow, but immigrated to Quebec at eight years old. You might have seen her perform in Russia, Lebanon, Canada, NYC, or Las Vegas - where she\u0027s also lectured at the IMX magic convention. According to her, the true secret of magic is not about how good you are, but about how you make people feel.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn addition, Ekaterina graduated from Concordia University, and when she\u0027s not performing, she\u0027s working as a social media consultant for luxury brands in the beauty\/cosmetics industry.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn December of 2011, Ekaterina released her debut cardistry DVD \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.theory11.com\/tricks\/pure-cardistry-ekaterina.php\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EPure\u003C\/a\u003E, featuring 15 unique and challenging flourishes.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303781,"question":"How did you get started in Cardistry?","answer":"I learned my first flourishes from a magic DVD at the age of 16 - the basics like fans, table spreads and one handed cuts. In addition, I started learning productions from Jeff McBride\u0027s material.\r\nAt 17, I discovered card manipulation videos via youtube - an array of videos posted from various people. It blew me away. I have a background in juggling, so it definitely caught my eye. I discovered a ton of ways to make a fan and was introduced to complex cuts. I first learned by copying what I saw in the videos, but soon was equipped with every single Cardistry DVD out there; I was hooked.\r\nEven though I was a typical teen entering college, I didn\u0027t play video games or watch TV for entertainment - instead I practiced card moves. It became a real addiction since time, persistence, and practice made me better. I posted my progress each step of the way via YouTube. I\u0027ve had to remove a few videos since then because they\u0027re a bit embarrassing, but it goes to show that I am not \u0022naturally\u0022 talented.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:24-0500"},{"id":5303782,"question":"Who are some of your inspirations?","answer":"My inspirations change all the time, but if I had to summarize: Jerry Cestkowski and Dan and Dave Buck for complex cuts. Andrei \u0026 Dimitri for style and creativity. Music and various genre artists which help me build a character also inspire me.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:24-0500"},{"id":5303783,"question":"Do you have a favorite flourish?","answer":"I have quite a few habitual flourishes, but I have to say that I love fans and tend to perform them all the time.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:24-0500"},{"id":5303784,"question":"Who is your favorite Cardist to watch?","answer":"I would have to say Dimitri on video and Andrei on stage.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:24-0500"},{"id":5303785,"question":"Do you perform magic?","answer":"Yes, I started as a magician and still am. I score more shows with magic, but always integrate Cardistry. In fact, magic is what gave me enough authority to introduce Cardistry on stage. I would get booked for magic, but squeeze in a card manipulation act. Sometimes though, I get strictly hired for Cardistry.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:24-0500"},{"id":5303786,"question":"What is your creative process?","answer":"Most often, my creative process comes from practice. I would practice so much that sometimes cards slip or an interesting error occurs. I try to reproduce that error and come up with something derived from it. I believe it takes a set of basic skills before attempting to create visually appealing \u0027accidents\u0027. Other times, I challenge myself within set circumstances. For example, in a card manipulation tournament I was supposed to create a table work routine. I was forced with pressure and time. After spending a couple of nights experimenting I came up with an original routine. I find myself more creative at night because I am not a morning person.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:24-0500"},{"id":5303787,"question":"What advice would you give to someone who is starting out in Cardistry?","answer":"The quote I use during my lectures goes as follows: \u0027Anything worth getting is hard to get.\u0027 A lot of magicians have approached me to tell me that what I do is not worth it; a waste of time. my reply to that would be: Why then is it so hard? Why can\u0027t anyone just learn it? Why does it take me 10 times less to learn a sleight or magic trick with cards? The motor skills you acquire with Cardistry will serve you in your magic and give you expertise not many have. Trust me, people will pay to see skill combined with art. My advice is to treat Cardistry as an art form and make it uniquely beautiful and representative of yourself. Don\u0027t copy moves or worry about finger positions...practice and enjoy it. Don\u0027t be afraid to share your passion with others, because you never know how or when you may inspire someone.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:24-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-16T01:37:07-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/ekaterina.jpg","firstname":"Ekaterina","lastname":"Dobrokhotova","company":"Ekaterina","slug":"ekaterina-dobrokhotova","payable_to":"Ekaterina Dobrokhotova","address_street":"273 5e Avenue","address_city":"Deux-Montagnes","address_state":"Quebec","address_zip":"J7R 3E4","address_country":"Canada","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:17-0400"},{"id":108,"profile":{"birthdate":"1989-09-16T01:37:07-0400","magicdate":"2004-09-16T01:37:07-0400","subtitle":"The Real Mentalist","location":"Las Vegas, NV","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EHaving spent the past 3 years headlining on the world famous Las Vegas Strip Jermay is one of the most polished and experienced performers out there! Jermay has consulted, written and directed for the likes of Channel Four\u0027s controversial Derren Brown, A\u0026amp;E\u0027s mega star Criss Angel and Singapore\u0027s house hold name Laurence Kong.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJermay was profiled on the BBC 1 documentary series \u0022The History Of Magic\u0022 in episode 4 titled \u0022The World\u0027s Best Mind Readers\u0022; in which as well as performing demonstrations of mentalism he was described as being \u0022one of the most prolific creators in the industry\u0022 despite at the time being only 19 years of age!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJermay has authored over 20 books aimed at the psychological illusion industry, teaching other performers the tricks of his trade. These concepts, teachings and routines have been adopted the world over.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303549,"question":"What got you into Mentalism?","answer":"I had always been drawn to mentalism, even when performing and\r\nstudying traditional magic.  I suppose my first flash of inspiration\r\ncame from my formative years working as a magic demonstrator in\r\nInternational Magic, London.  While I was a fan of traditional magic\r\nbooks like the 13 Steps to Mentalism and the stories of people like\r\nChan Canasta and Fogel that would come up during the course of the day\r\nhad always caught my attention more strongly than anything else.\r\n\r\nHowever I was also aware via the teachings and stories that mentalism\r\nwas not something that could be performed in a compelling way by a\r\nyounger person.  This lead me to decide to study it, while restrain\r\nmyself from performing it.  I had a slight advantage with this - I\r\nhave always appeared older than I am, so when I was 16 I felt like I\r\nmight be able to begin to present mentalistic material in a way that\r\nseemed believable and in a walk around job I had (A restaurant in\r\nCamden, London where I performed 2 times a week) I started to include\r\nsome simple mentalism sequences.  Very quickly these mentalism\r\nsequences became the main talking points with the spectators and in a\r\nvery organic and almost invisible transition one day I looked back and\r\nrealized that all the material I was performing was mentalism.  The\r\nmagic material just fell away as I continued to perform.  With the\r\nchange of material and getting a bit older the venues changed a\r\nprogression that has continued until this day.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:16-0500"},{"id":5303550,"question":"What advice would you give those that are just starting out in Mentalism?","answer":"Read as much as you can. There is a real trend to shy away from the classic tools and texts that are out there with the assumption (misguided) that these are somehow not worth attention as they are \u0022old.\u0022 The truth is that in reading these classic texts you will be creating a strong and well founded backbone to your continued development as a mentalist.  The more you read, the more you understand, and the more you understand the better you become as a\r\nperformer.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:16-0500"},{"id":5303551,"question":" Who are your biggest influences in magic?","answer":"They change very frequently but the ones that have remained a noted\r\ninfluence in my work are Vernon, Ramsay, Dunninger, Alexander and Max Maven.  Michel Weber has also had a massive impact on not only my material but me as a person as our friendship has grown over the past few years.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:16-0500"},{"id":5303552,"question":"Do you remember the first time you performed in your own theater in\r\nVegas? What was that feeling like?","answer":"It was scary but in the best way possible. Like watching a great horror movie. At the end you want to watch it again. The difference was; I got to do that 2 times a day for a long time.\r\n\r\nIt was an amazing tool to refine performance and material and certainly has been\r\npivotal in the development of the projects I am currently in.  Without this experience there is no way I could begin to undertake the massive performance concepts that are coming up.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:16-0500"},{"id":5303553,"question":"When and where was your first \u0022big\u0022 show?","answer":"It depends on the definition of \u0022big\u0022 every show you perform early in your life seems like the most important. Then for a while you get a little complacent until one day - that feeling comes back. Every show I do feels like it is \u0022the first big show\u0022 and I like that.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:16-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-16T01:37:07-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/lukejermay.jpg","firstname":"Luke","lastname":"Jermay","slug":"luke-jermay","payable_to":"Luke Jermay","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:19-0400"},{"id":111,"profile":{"birthdate":"1988-09-16T01:37:22-0400","magicdate":"2004-09-16T01:37:22-0400","subtitle":"Magician","location":"Los Angeles, CA","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EInspired by a David Blaine special on ABC, theory11 artist Tom Isaacson immediately saw the universal power of magic\u0027 and the rest is history.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303759,"question":" What is theory11 to you?","answer":"theory11 to me represents a platform to improve the art of magic on a mass level. Its a commitment to an ideal that has the potential to guide the next generation of magic in the right direction.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:55-0500"},{"id":5303760,"question":"What got you into magic?","answer":"I was a teenager watching David Blaine\u0027s first TV special on ABC, I found myself totally captivated watching him. I had never seen magic performed close-up, I and remember thinking WOW - what an amazing ability to have with you wherever you go. I immediately saw the universal power of magic. So I begged my mom to take me down to Mr. A\u0027s Magic Shop in West Palm Beach, Florida. I bought the Penny \u0026 Dime trick and a Brainwave deck, and the rest, as they say-- is history. ","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:55-0500"},{"id":5303761,"question":"Do you have a favorite effect?","answer":"Too many to pick one, but I\u0026Otilde;m always one to be constantly looking to seize opportunities to enhance an effect on the spot, elevate its impact.\r\n","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:55-0500"},{"id":5303762,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":"Derren Brown - his ability to transcend tricks and create performance art by emotionally connecting with his audience is incredible. Dan Lacivita - one of my best friends in magic - unfortunately he sold his soul to the corporate gods but in his prime, I\u0027ve never seen such a confident, engaging, and natural performer.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:55-0500"},{"id":5303763,"question":"What do you see as wrong with the industry today?","answer":"Watching most magicians perform is like going to a bad karaoke bar with everyone singing other people\u0027s songs, in a horrible voice and deluding themselves into thinking they are ready for a record deal. Most magicians are nothing more than imitators of another person\u0027s creation. In my opinion, a magician is an artist, and an artist has to CREATE, or enhance something that they perform.\r\n\r\nAs far as the selling of magic, there are too many effects that should never be put on the market. Overall, there is a complete saturation of mediocre effects that are deceptively marketed. If I could sell back all of the bad magic I\u0026Otilde;ve bought in my life, I would have enough money to feed all the starving children in Beverly Hills.\r\n","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:55-0500"},{"id":5303764,"question":"What\u0027s the last trick you saw that fooled the crap out of you? ","answer":"One of my best memories in magic was back at the 2001 IBM in Orlando, Jerry Andrus did his 2 Card Trick for me, and produced 15 Morgan Silver Dollars from 2 cards right into my hands. Considering that he was 83 years old at the time, and the fact that he didn\u0027t flash ONCE, it was one of the coolest things ever.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:55-0500"},{"id":5303765,"question":"What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?","answer":"Aside from practicing the techniques and performances until they become instinctive- command respect from your audiences. Don\u0027t jump and perform every time they ask; performance is an art. I think it was PT Barnum that said that the first rule of show business is to always leave them wanting more. An age old principle that is still universally applicable.\r\n\r\nYou will earn more of a reputation by doing a great effect once, and letting other people buzz about it than you could if you did the same thing 10 times for everyone. Don\u0027t bend to the pressure. Wait for the right opportunity and make your performances a rare treat that they always remember and look forward to again and again.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:00:55-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-16T01:37:22-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/tomisaacson.jpg","firstname":"Tom","lastname":"Isaacson","slug":"tom-isaacson","payable_to":"Tom Isaacson","address_street":"117 Mountain Road","address_city":"North Granby","address_state":"CT","address_zip":"6060","address_country":"USA","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:19-0400"},{"id":112,"profile":{"birthdate":"1984-09-16T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"1997-09-16T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"Magician","location":"Chico, CA","bio":"\u003Cp\u003ENo doubt about it, Wayne Houchin has made a large hand print within the magic community. His unique combination of creativity, presentation, and production has made him one of the most talked about visionaries among magicians world-wide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2003, an underground tape of Wayne\u0027s original work found its way into the hands of Banachek, one of the world\u0027s foremost mentalists. Banachek immediately befriended Wayne, which led to him being brought on board as a consultant for the critically acclaimed A and E television series Criss Angel: Mindfreak.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2006, W:H Entertainment was born and Wayne released his self-produced sophomore effort - following the success of his first project, Sinful: Coin in Soda Can - the groundbreaking DVD Stigmata. The effect, as well as the production quality of the video itself, garnered widespread critical acclaim within the magic community and the DVD became an instant international bestseller. Indecent, Wayne\u0027s third project, was also released later that year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn August of 2014, theory11 produced Wayne\u0027s latest release: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/store.theory11.com\/products\/french-kiss-wayne-houchin\u0022\u003EFrench Kiss\u003C\/a\u003E. It\u0027s been called \u0022the most intimate effect in magic\u0022 - performed around the world by notable magicians like Cyril Takayama, Yif, Joshua Jay, Dynamo, and Dan White.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303766,"question":" What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different? ","answer":"theory11 represents the idea that, if there are 10 theories in magic, THIS is the next evolution - the next step. It is an evolution of our art because it is the first site \/ production team of this size that was built from the ground up by the artists.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:01-0500"},{"id":5303767,"question":"Do you have a favorite effect?","answer":"I have several. Stigmata and Thread are two of them.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:01-0500"},{"id":5303768,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":" Penn \u0026 Teller have the best stage show I\u0027ve ever seen, bar none and if you haven\u0027t seen them in Vegas, you NEED to. However, the only performer to so thoroughly astonish me that I couldn\u0027t sleep for about a week was Guy Hollingworth. I had the pleasure of watching him perform in 2001. He crawled inside my head, rearranged things, and then stood there - looking all English and proper - while I had a very real mental breakdown and I\u0027m still recovering.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:01-0500"},{"id":5303769,"question":"What do you see as wrong with the industry today?","answer":"That is a tough question. Like any industry or any art there are plenty of things that could be better and plenty of things that are just plain wrong and harmful to what we are trying to accomplish. For me, theory11 is a community and a movement that will work together to push and test the boundaries of our art.\r\n\r\nImagine what the magic community could be if we all sat down and read (or re-read) Paul Harris\u0027s essay in The Art of Astonishment titled \u0022Astonishment Is Our Natural State Of Mind.\u0022 The implications of his theory are staggering.\r\n\r\nImagine a community of performers, creators, and hobbyists who genuinely have the desire to push the art of magic to the next level - backed by a state of the art production team that can help present the artists among us and their creations with the respect and quality that they truly deserve. This is what theory11 represents for me.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:01-0500"},{"id":5303770,"question":"What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?","answer":"The single most important piece of advice I can give to someone who is just starting in magic is this: Be a normal person. What I mean by that is don\u0027t try to make yourself into something that you\u0027re not. Plenty of people can learn sleight of hand, but the performers who stand out above the rest do so because of their personality.\r\n\r\nI\u0027m sure that all of us have had the experience of seeing a magician perform while cracking corny jokes and spewing obvious canned lines. It takes an exceptionally gifted actor or actress to pull off a charactar; most magicians just end up making their audience uncomfortable.\r\n\r\nUnless you are trying to create a specific theatrical character in a specific setting, be a normal human when you perform. Treat your audience with respect \u0026 kindness, and DO NOT underestimate their intelligence. I can\u0027t tell you how many magicians I\u0027ve seen perform who talk to their audience as if they were 5-year-olds. ","answered_at":"2014-12-29T17:01:01-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-24T10:52:27-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/waynehouchin.jpg","firstname":"Wayne","lastname":"Houchin","company":"","slug":"wayne-houchin","payable_to":"Wayne Houchin","address_street":"101 Risa Way #88","address_street2":"","address_city":"Chico","address_state":"CA","address_zip":"95973","address_country":"USA","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:43:20-0400"},{"id":2696,"profile":{"birthdate":"1988-09-16T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"1969-12-31T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"Magicians \u0026 Master Flourishers","location":"Los Angeles, CA","bio":"\u003Cp\u003E Dan Buck and Dave Buck, 26, are twin brothers who share an insane ability to manipulate playing cards. Whether you call it magic, sleight of hand or juggling, one thing is for sure - witness them with a deck of cards and you will have a whole new outlook on what is possible.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETheir creative approach has spawned a new generation of fast paced, visual, in-your-face magic as well as an entirely new art form (Cardistry). If you saw the 2007 film, Smokin\u0027 Aces, you witnessed their skill first hand. Recently they were hired to hand double for an entire season of the hit childrens show - LazyTown.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303407,"question":"What is theory11 to you? Why is this site different?","answer":"theory11 to me is something special, as I\/ve had the opportunity to be apart of its conception, in a small way, from day one. The goal behind theory11 is simple, the mission however is not. theory11 will set a new standard of how magic is created, but more importantly it will teach and deliver the methods needed to perform in front of an audience.\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\tBy bringing together the top creatives in the art, theory11 will dominate the industry, as it not only has the talent but the effects... let me say that again - THE EFFECTS. And of course there\u0027s the broad since of history between the artists, who understand the desperate need to advance the art by creating new ideas, concepts, and presentations to allow a new generation of magicians to emerge with an all new insight as to just what this art form is all about.\r\n\r\nWhy is it different? Never before has an army of this stature gotten together with one unison idea in mind. That idea is theory11, and exactly what it means will be different for everyone.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:54-0500"},{"id":5303408,"question":"How many hours a day do you spend practicing?","answer":" In high school probably eight to ten hours. That\u0027s eight hours non-stop practicing. These days I\u0027m lucky to get in two hours but I don\u0027t think it matters as I\u0027m ALWAYS holding a deck of cards.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:54-0500"},{"id":5303409,"question":"What got you into magic?","answer":"At 12 years old, I came across David Copperfield\u0027s Dreams and Nightmares TV special. I was hooked, and eventually collected a fast array of magic props - trunks full. Later a came across David Blaine\u0027s first TV special, Street Magic. As a young boy interested in The X Games, this type of magic appealed to me more so then the illusions. I could do it anywhere and at anytime.\r\n\r\nLong story short, the trunk was soon replaced with playing cards, magic books, and videos. I joined IBM which is where I met Ricky Smith who showed me material by Aaron Fisher, Lee Asher and Chris Kenner. The rest is evident.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:54-0500"},{"id":5303410,"question":"What\u0027s your favorite brand of playing cards?","answer":"I enjoy using White Border Bee cards, Tally-Ho, and Steamboats.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:54-0500"},{"id":5303411,"question":"How long have you been performing?","answer":" I\u0027ve been performing for about as long as I\u0027ve been into magic - 10 years. I should stress that I don\u0027t perform professionally, nor have any intentions of doing so. I just enjoy performing impromptu for small groups with no money involved. That might seem odd considering I could probably make a lot of money performing, but I guess I just like creating and practicing more so than anything. I don\u0027t consider this a job, but rather a hobby with benefits.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:54-0500"},{"id":5303412,"question":"What books would you recommend to someone just starting out?","answer":" The Expert at the Card Table and Royal Road to Card Magic.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:54-0500"},{"id":5303413,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":"Ricky Jay","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:54-0500"},{"id":5303414,"question":"What do you see as wrong with the industry today?","answer":"People, I won\u0027t even call them magicians, have realized that this is a niche industry with a bunch of amateurs willing to buy anything. Everything. Each week dozens of products are released by no-name magicians who will not even be interested in the art in a few years. What sets theory11 apart from the other guys is the collaboration between established, known magicians.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:58:54-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-17T18:28:29-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/artists\/2696\/gYCZBRCeTmn2KoqUcUwJ_dan-and-dave-china-tour-2012-4.jpg","firstname":"Dan","lastname":"Buck","company":"Dan \u0026 Dave","slug":"dan-dave-buck","payable_to":"Dan Buck","address_street":"6735 Yucca St. #106","address_street2":"","address_city":"Hollywood","address_state":"CA","address_zip":"90028-4655","address_country":"US","phone":"(714) 721-4865","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"views_24h":0,"live":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:47:03-0400"},{"id":5549,"profile":{"birthdate":"1989-02-05T00:00:00-0500","magicdate":"1996-07-20T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"Magician, Sword Swallower","location":"Los Angeles","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EOver the past 12 years, Brett Loudermilk has toured the world as a professional sword-swallower. Dubbed a \u0022master showman\u0022 by Neil Patrick Harris, Loudermilk has performed at the prestigious Magic Castle in Hollywood, The Montreal Comedy Festival, Kids Choice Awards, and at Speigelworld\u0027s Vegas Nocturne in Las Vegas. Loudermilk has performed for private events and hosted engagements for Moby, Patrick Stewart, and Paul Reubens. In addition to his own performances, Loudermilk has created and consulted for events on stage and on television around the world\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":24434765,"question":"What got you into sword-swallowing?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen I was very young, I was lucky enough to see it live, in person. It was honestly the most magical thing I had ever seen. I knew then, that it was exactly what I wanted to do, I wanted to share the same feeling I felt seeing it for the first time, with everyone.\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-07-20T17:15:17-0400"},{"id":24434766,"question":"You recently performed on \u0022Penn \u0026 Teller: Fool Us\u0022. Tell us a little bit about your creative process and what goes into creating a new illusion\/effect.\n","answer":"\u003Cp\u003ECreating for me, comes from problems. I was handed the opportunity to perform on the show after one of the executive producers saw me live, at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. The only catch was they wanted magic that was sword swallowing related. I had never mixed magic i.e. something not real, with something that is very, very real.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EI needed to created something that flowed seamlessly and felt like it belonged with the swords, I went through about a dozen ideas before one stuck, and then after some workshopping I had something really different and exciting.\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-07-20T17:15:17-0400"},{"id":24434767,"question":"What do you love the most about performing all around the world?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EFor me, travel is really important and so are people. I think what I love most, even though it\u0027s a bit clich\u00e9 is seeing new places and meeting new people. It\u0027s SO exciting to be able to share a sense of wonder with people that don\u0027t speak the same language or come from completely different backgrounds.\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-07-20T17:15:17-0400"},{"id":24434768,"question":"What advice would you give to those just starting out as a performer?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003ELISTEN! Listen to your audience, listen to people that know better than you and ask for  constructive criticism. The only way to really improve is to know what not to do.\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-07-20T17:15:17-0400"},{"id":24434769,"question":"Tell us about the first time\/effect you performed.","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EI can\u0027t remember exactly what my first effect was, but I clearly remember the first time I got a real reaction from a trick. I was 6 or 7 and had learned how to make it look as if I ripped my Mom\u0027s wallpaper with a post-it note. That for me was a very formative moment.\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-07-20T17:15:17-0400"}],"updated_at":"2016-07-20T19:34:45-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/artists\/5549\/0JHIKu2UQ1KyBbvE2OjR_brett-loudermilk-4.jpg","firstname":"Brett","lastname":"Loudermilk","company":"","slug":"brett-loudermilk","payable_to":"Brett Loudermilk","address_street":"","address_street2":"","address_city":"","address_state":"","address_zip":"","address_country":"","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"pro":0,"created_at":"2016-07-20T17:09:51-0400"},{"id":714,"profile":{"birthdate":"1968-09-16T01:34:51-0400","magicdate":"1990-09-16T01:34:51-0400","subtitle":"The Actor","location":"London, England","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EAndy Nyman has managed to combine his careers as an actor, writer, director and magician. Within the magic world he is probably best known for co-writing and directing the \u003Cb\u003EDerren Brown\u003C\/b\u003E shows, whilst his own creations have been popular with magicians the world over for almost two decades. His book, Bulletproof has become a much sought after modern classic of mentalism. His trademark anchors to the idea that simple methods yield the greatest impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs an actor, his many movie roles include Howard in Frank Oz\u0027s Death at a Funeral, Severance, and the cult TV show Dead Set.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAndy\u0027s first book The Golden Rules of Acting is published by Nick Hern Books this September and should be read by all performers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor all news and information go to www.andynyman.com\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":5303363,"question":"What got you into magic?","answer":"My uncle bought me a magic set when I was twelve. At the same time, a very bold robbery happened at a store in my home town. It was a big news and I was blown away by the chutzpah of the robbers. Somehow I connected that criminal thinking with the art of misdirection in magic tricks. Thank goodness my uncle bought me that set or I believe I may have headed into crime.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:56:21-0500"},{"id":5303364,"question":"Who is your favorite performer to watch?","answer":"There are so many great people, but I would have to say Penn and Teller. I\u0027ve always adored them and always will.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:56:21-0500"},{"id":5303365,"question":"What do you see as wrong with the industry today?","answer":"I would say laziness and a general lack of care for how you represent yourself to the world.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:56:21-0500"},{"id":5303366,"question":"What advice would you give to those that are just starting in magic?","answer":"Take your time. Don\u0027t do magic to become a star, do it because you adore it. ","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:56:21-0500"},{"id":5303367,"question":"What is the difference between a good trick and a GREAT trick?","answer":"Think about what it means to you. Why do you love it? Why are you performing it? How can you communicate that to your audience? So often I watch magicians perform tricks that seem to mean nothing and are just there to fill 5 minutes of their act. Love what you do.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:56:21-0500"},{"id":5303368,"question":"What is the last trick you saw that fooled the crap out of you?","answer":"Akira Fuji\u0027s linking cigarettes. Simply magnificent. Unbearably perfect and fooling.","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:56:21-0500"},{"id":5303369,"question":"What do you think magic, in general, will look like in the next 10 years?","answer":"The same as now. Magic has been properly \u0027cool\u0027 for almost 20 years now. Blaine changed the landscape for a generation. It will continue to stay like that. If it\u0027s profile dies on TV, it\u0027ll keep going online until it resurges again.\r\n\t\tBut look at the advances in technology. The beautiful videos you shoot for theory11 would have cost millions of dollars ten years ago... And now! It\u0027s amazing. ","answered_at":"2014-12-29T16:56:21-0500"}],"updated_at":"2014-09-16T01:34:51-0400"},"image":"\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/v1\/images\/artists\/andy-nyman.jpg","firstname":"Andy","lastname":"Nyman","slug":"andy-nyman","payable_to":"Andy Nyman","address_street":"67 Hammersmith Grove","address_city":"London","address_zip":"W60NE","address_country":"United Kingdom","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:46:14-0400"},{"id":467,"profile":{"birthdate":"1990-09-26T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"1999-12-31T00:00:00-0500","subtitle":"Magician, Astronomer, Host","location":"Los Angeles, CA","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EChristen Gerhart is a magician, astronomer, real life superhero, and host of our weekly webshow. She\u0027s focused her career on analyzing and understanding the magic world and is a long-standing member of the Magic Castle. She also happens to be a telescope operator at Mt. Wilson Observatory and former NASA researcher.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":1276574,"question":"What got you started in magic?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EBack in 1999\/early 2000, there was a show TV called The World\u0027s Greatest Magic. One night I just happened to be watching TV when a marathon of World\u0027s Greatest Magic came on and I was so immediately enamored, I was glued to my TV all night. The was the initial exposure that sparked my interest in magic but it wasn\u2019t until a few years later when I found Volume One of Tarbell\u2019s Course in Magic in a bookstore that I really started to learn and perform. \u003C\/p\u003E"},{"id":1276910,"question":"Who are your favorite magicians to watch perform?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EI don\u2019t believe I have favorite magicians. Especially after being able to watch some of the amazing magicians on Wizard Wars, there are just so many talented magicians out there that I couldn\u2019t possible pick favorites. I will say, however, a few magicians that I\u2019ve had the distinct pleasure of watching perform recently are Rob Zabrecky and Misty Lee. Every time I get to see them perform I\u2019m floored by their imagination, creativity, and talent as magicians and as performers. \u003C\/p\u003E"},{"id":1276919,"question":"Outside of magic, what are your other passions and interests?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EWell, I\u2019m Telescope Operator at Mt. Wilson Observatory and Astronomy is a huge passion of mine. I also like to play roller derby, I\u2019m a very proud Trekkie (and Whovian!), and I\u2019m rather fond of reading Tolkien. Does hanging with my cat Loki count? If so, then that too. \u003C\/p\u003E"},{"id":1276920,"question":"Traditionally, the magic community has been mostly populated by guys. Recently, top female magicians like yourself, Ekaterina, and many others have started to turn that perception around. Why do you think such a gender gap exists in the magic industry?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EThere are probably a lot of factors contributing to the gender gap in magic. I will say though that there are quite a few women in magic today. It could be that we haven\u2019t yet seen a woman achieve the same mainstream status in magic that we\u2019ve seen from male magicians. That could be a reason more women aren\u2019t becoming interested in magic, they haven\u2019t seen a female role model to which they can relate and it can tough to envision oneself in a pioneering role without a role model.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAlso, I think the magician persona is still associated with men so when most people think of a magician they automatically picture a man and that can cause them to view magic narrow-mindedly as a male only field. I think the more the women in magic today can work toward opening minds to incorporate women into the staring magician role, the more people will incorporate that fact into their perception and hopefully it will allow them to see not only how many women there are already in magic but also open more doors and opportunities for women in magic. \u003C\/p\u003E"},{"id":1276921,"question":"What was the last trick you watched that totally, absolutely fooled you?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EThere were two tricks on the last season of Wizard Wars that really got me. One was Ekaterina\u2019s signed card trick with Penn \u0026 Teller and the other was Leon Etienne and Billy Kidd\u2019s signed leaf to maple syrup trick. The tricks were not only simply gorgeous but they were also performed spectacularly well. \u003C\/p\u003E"},{"id":1276922,"question":"What was it like meeting (and working with) Penn \u0026 Teller on the set of Wizard Wars?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EPenn \u0026 Teller are truly amazing. To say it was an honor to sit on a panel with them is putting it lightly. Getting a change to hear their insights and tap into, albeit only slightly, into their vast magic knowledge was invaluable and humbling. They\u2019re both brilliant and remarkable individuals.\u003C\/p\u003E"},{"id":1276923,"question":"What are your top three favorite nicknames for Blake Vogt?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003EI have a rather boring answer to this, sadly. I call him Blakey. I don\u2019t think he knows I call him Blakey which makes this especially awkward.\u003C\/p\u003E"}],"updated_at":"2017-04-28T11:49:53-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/artists\/467\/pCaX8BOQK23wsYI6baUZ_christen-gerhart02.jpg","firstname":"Christen","lastname":"Gerhart","company":"","slug":"christen-gerhart","payable_to":"Christen Gerhart","address_street":"11446 RIVERSIDE DR","address_street2":"","address_city":"Hollywood","address_state":"CA","address_zip":"91602","address_country":"US","phone":"18005119484","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":0,"views_24h":0,"live":0,"pro":0,"created_at":"2014-08-14T16:45:24-0400"},{"id":5595,"profile":{"birthdate":"1997-07-31T00:00:00-0400","magicdate":"2005-07-31T00:00:00-0400","subtitle":"Magician \u0026 Cardist","location":"Los Angeles, California","bio":"\u003Cp\u003EFranco Pascali is Director of Magic at theory11, supervising all magic development within the company. At 20, he\u0027s THE youngest artist on our team - with enormous creativity and over a decade of experience. A prodigy of magic and cardistry, Franco performs often at The Magic Castle and high profile events across the country.\u003C\/p\u003E","questions":[{"id":27214247,"question":"What got you started in magic and cardistry?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EI got started in magic after seeing my first David Blaine special when I was eight. However, throughout most of my childhood I would be interested in magic for short periods of time throughout the years. It wasn\u0027t until I was about 13 that I started my daily practice grind and began my real journey. I then became a member of The Magic Castle when I was 15. That was the first time in my life I was ever surrounded by magicians. It was also the first time I saw people do Cardistry so I started that around then. The rest is history.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-09-30T19:29:52-0400"},{"id":27214248,"question":"Who are your favorite magicians and cardists to watch perform?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EI have too many magicians and cardists to name, but I will list a few. In the world of magic I believe Derren Brown is my favorite performer due to his prevailing skill in theatre alone. Mixing that with fooling mentalism and magic makes me want to bow down to greatness. Other magicians include Juan Tamariz, Helder Guimaraes, Woody Aragon, and Asi Wind. All of these magicians have been influenced by or have created Spanish styles of magic. Spanish style card magic has a special place in my heart. As for cardistry I will give you my top 3 favorite cardists in no order. Aviv, Tobias Levin, and Dimitri Arleri.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-09-30T17:27:21-0400"},{"id":27214249,"question":"Outside of magic and cardistry, what are your other passions and interests?\n","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EMagic is by far my reason for existence, but I\u0027m also absolutely obsessed with music and film. I\u0027m the guy in the friend group who tells everyone what to watch and listen to . If you ask any of my close friends what type of music they listen to they will probably say, \u0022ask Franco\u0022\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-09-30T17:27:56-0400"},{"id":27214250,"question":"What was the last magic effect or cardistry move that completely blew you away?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EI\u0027m blown away my magic and cardistry on a semi weekly basis. I really don\u0027t have an answer to this . I will say that Andrew Avila\u0027s prism was the most mind boggling move to see at the time . I guess there\u0027s a good reason I mentioned him specifically.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-09-30T17:28:21-0400"},{"id":27214251,"question":"Who are your inspirations?","answer":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan style=\u0022color: rgb(34, 34, 34); font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;\u0022\u003EI would rather mention that I am inspired by people who are genuinely great human beings and make a living doing what they love. \u0026nbsp;Being around people like this brighten my mood tremendously.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","answered_at":"2016-09-30T17:28:37-0400"}],"updated_at":"2017-09-05T15:22:07-0400"},"image":"https:\/\/t11media.s3.amazonaws.com\/artists\/5595\/ruv6AoWHRhCwmwLa0bDj_FrancoPascali.jpg","firstname":"Franco","lastname":"Pascali","company":"","slug":"franco-pascali","payable_to":"Franco Pascali","address_street":"","address_street2":"","address_city":"","address_state":"","address_zip":"","address_country":"","phone":"","featured":1,"hidden":0,"bookable":1,"pro":0,"created_at":"2016-09-30T17:22:31-0400"}]});