(To be totally re-written)

For close to 22 years I’ve been quietly redefining the magic & illusion industry from the inside out. When I started my goal was to advance the art of magic & illusion by designing one-of-a-kind effects with unique methods and unparalleled artistic direction. Today, my work can be seen in a variety of shows across the country and overseas.

For years performers have relied on the expertise of a few select individuals to create illusion concepts and designs for their shows. That process involved hand drawn sketches which eventually turned into scale drawings and blueprints for builders to work from. As I immersed myself more into the industry, I kept seeing performers faced with the same challenges over and over. Those challenges were the inability to “see” how these new concepts would look onstage and moreover what it would take “technically” to present them. Performers would have to invest in having the new illusions made to discover what performance challenges were present and figure out how they could be overcome.

One day I was looking for some new editing software for a video I was working on and I stumbled across a variety of 3-D programs. I was very intrigued by what I saw and ended up downloading trial versions of every program I could find. I had seen engineers use software such as CAD, Photoshop, etc. to create designs but nothing to the level that I was discovering in those 3-D applications. In the end, I was able to take features from a variety of the programs and custom create a 3-D software application that could be used for what I like to call “illusioneering”. (A term that has been since coined industry wide)

My custom program gave me the ability to design illusions in a digital environment, place them on an actual stage, check angles, lighting, floor bounce, etc. all without having to invest a single dollar in fabrication! In addition, I could also show performers what the actual fabricated prop would look like down to a single rivet or piece of aluminum angle. You can see examples by clicking on the photos link or reviewing my case studies. I had finally found the answer I had been looking for.

I’ve spent years honing my skills because in the end it’s so much more than clicking a few buttons on a computer and creating a design. In reality, the 3-D tools are merely icing on the cake and a means to help overcome the challenges that have presented themselves in the past. I’ve taken the time and studied the work of the premiere designers and consultants who came before me. I’ve learned that it takes a full in-depth understanding of the science of illusion, the methods that are employed and the necessary requirements to make it all come together onstage. The process as a whole is very complex and unfortunately very few take the time to truly learn and understand it.

It takes a great team of people to make every project come to life. I’m fortunate to have a great relationship with many of the top builders in the industry today. My clients and I work side by side with these builders in order to maintain and preserve the integrity of the pieces created for their shows. The end results have always been nothing short of amazing. I still get goose bumps every time a piece rolls out of the shop for the first time and I see the look on my client’s face. It’s a very rewarding feeling. In addition to “illusioneering” I also offer services on a variety of other aspects of the business such as graphic design, video editing, music editing, artistic direction, set design, etc. Please visit the services link to learn more about the additional services I’m pleased to offer performers.

Magic has been around for centuries but just like other art forms it has evolved. My goal is to further that evolution by offering a new process and unique designs for professional performers all over the world. I’ve had people tell me that performers and designers are limited because there are only a handful of methods that can be used to create the impossible. While there is some truth to that, I look at it another way. Creating illusions is similar to how musicians make music. There are musicians who are talented enough to arrange music notes to create “hits” and music that people have “never heard before.” Even though there are only a handful of notes to be used it comes down to how you arrange them. The same logic is true for creating magic. By arranging the pieces in a different way my goal is to help magicians create “hit effects” that audiences have “never seen before” that stand apart from the crowd.

I firmly believe that there are some great magic performers out there and each has carved out their own style and niche’. The next generation of magicians will need to do the same exact thing. They will need to discover what makes them different from the rest. Too many newcomers buy illusions just to say they are an illusionist or to have something new for their show. True professionals on the other hand take the time to develop pieces that will help them to define their unique style. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a new ground-breaking illusion. Sometimes it’s simply new artistic direction on a classic of magic and staged in a new way.

I approach every design with a single goal in mind. That goal is to design and create a piece that reflects the performer and compliments them onstage; both in the aesthetic look and in the overall magic being presented. In the end, the prop is nothing more than fabricated materials. It doesn’t do anything on its own. However, with the proper design, direction and performance it can aid the performer in elevating their production to the next level and beyond. I look forward to having the opportunity to work with you on furthering your career in magic.