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Elijah McBee
Indio, CaI am a magician, cardist, and playing card enthusiast from The Coachella Valley. I live with my sister, my parents, my 3 dogs, and a cat, all of which I love very much (Except for the cat. She can go to hell). For the past few years I have been studying people and the way we connect and relate to various things though magic. Other than that, I am a food critic and food alchemist. Restaurants and fine cuisine is one of the most important things to me in life, and I think a good meal and a drink is the answer to life. One of the few Entertainers.
How did you first get started in magic?
I was at a friend of mine's garage sale and he had a book called "The Practical Encyclopedia Of Magic". His dad gave me the book thinking that I would like it. Little did he know, that book would be the door to a world that I had no idea existed!
Which artists have inspired you the most in your work thus far?
My very favorite and most influential magician/slight of hand freak for me would be Apollo Robins. I love the way he performs and uses magic in phycology. I think him and I relate to magic and slight of hand very similar. You truly learn so much about people and the way we relate to things after doing magic for a while, and I think that is what we both sort of look for and study through magic.
What is your creative process - how do you come up with new effects and ideas?
I come up with new magic effects/tricks by simply thinking "What would be amazing?" or I will pick up a random item at a friends house and say to myself "What could I do with this that would be fun and impressive and magical?". Then I grab my cards and my coins and think of something! As for Flourishes, it is actual a similar process. I pick up a deck of cards and just think "What could I do with this that would be visually impressive, not to just spectators, but even other cardists and magicians?". I haven't been doing cardistry as long as I have been doing magic, but I'm continually practicing and making new material every day, so.
If you could have dinner with any magician, past or present, who would that be and why?
Well it depends on the occasion. If I am having dinner at, lets say In N Out, it would probably be Wayne Houchin. Why? I have no idea. I just think that would be bad-ass! Could you imagine? Chowing down on a Double Double with Wayne? That would be freaking sweet. But if I was having dinner at a nicer place like Grace in Chicago, it would probably be Apollo Robins. I think he would appreciate the classiness and niceness of it. Not to say that Wayne wouldn't! I just think Wayne and I could bond well over a nice batch of fries. But if I was to have a nice romantic dinner, it would be Alix Becle! ;D
Hey, Wayne, Apollo, or Alix. Let me know if you want to take me up on this offer! I'm buying! Except for Grace in Chicago... because that would cost me a flippin' fortune... So let just say instead of Grace we can just go to Outback Steakhouse or something...