2025 – A Magical Year
When you run your own business, the end of the year is a great time to plan for the following year, but also a great time to look back upon the great achievements. 2025 was a magical year.
Teaching Other Magicians
The art of magic continually evolves according to changes in society, technology and the economy. Magicians are a group of people that are always looking for new ways to entertain their audiences. In January, the beginning of a magical year, I had the privilege of returning to Toronto to present a lecture for the Hat and Rabbit magic club. They are one of the oldest clubs in North America and have one of the largest magic club memberships in all of Canada. This was the second time I was invited to share my tricks and knowledge. I presented some of the new tricks that I invented since the first time I lectured seven years ago.
One aspect that I really enjoy about giving a lecture to other magicians, is that it is fantastic being able to share details about the inner workings of tricks. Magicians can appreciate the level of detail that goes into making a successful presentation. In the confines of a club, secrets are shared freely. Having lectured in Canada, the States and China, I find I also learn from the questions and ideas of those magicians attending.
On Tour
In early April, I toured in Newfoundland and Labrador with my friend and fellow magician, Michael Conway. Michael is originally from St. John’s and arranged the tour through the provincial touring organization. We spent two weeks performing at 6 theatres throughout the province. The people in Newfoundland and Labrador are so friendly. In St. John’s we stayed with Michael’s parents and I had some of the local cuisine. There is a lot of effort required to tour, but meeting new people and indulging in some of the local culture more than makes up for the preparation.
Magic Conventions
At the end of April, I attend a four-day magic convention in Buffalo, NY. Meeting other magicians at magic conventions always adds to a magical year. This convention is by invitation only and is limited to 200 of the top magicians in the world. Every new attendee is expected to perform before their peers. That’s what’s known as working under pressure. Since I went the first time 10 years ago, I’ve performed 5 times.
This year was different. There is one afternoon devoted to talks that are similar to TED talks. Last year I spoke with the organizer and suggested a talk about design and magic. Having graduated from Industrial Design from Carleton University, in Ottawa, I thought it would be informative to give magicians an idea about how to design products that are meant for magicians. Over a few weeks I put together a power point presentation and some examples of tricks I’ve designed. The presentation went really well, which was a relief because I was more nervous giving the talk than I was previously performing in the shows.
A Magical Year includes Cruise Ship Shows
From May through October, I perform just over 30 shows each season on the Canadian Empress. It is a small cruise ship that has capacity for 62 passengers. They have overnight cruises that run from 4-7 days long and they travel between Kingston and Quebec City on the St. Lawrence river. All the guests are adults, usually 50+. My show for this company is a 90-minute stand-up show. Once I set the show at the beginning of each season, it stays the same for all of the shows. The crew and audiences are great and I’m already looking forward to the 2026 season!
Halloween Magic
When the cruise season is over in mid-October, Halloween is just around the corner. One of my clients is the Cumberland Heritage Village Museum. It is a historic village with original old buildings. Every Halloween, guest arrive to see the village, get some candy and see some amazing displays. For three years, I’ve been onsite to show smaller magic to smaller groups. Over the weekend, I’ll entertain hundreds of guests. The kids and parents are all dressed in costumes and it is fantastic to see their creativity. I’m already hired for next year and I know it’ll be just as fantastic.
Christmas Shows in 2025 – A Magical Year
Today I finished the last show of the year. It was a birthday party for an adult. These parties are so much fun. I also had lots of office parties. Companies that have entertainment at the holiday parties are great to work for because it shows how much they care about their staff. Many times the food at a party will be forgotten, but not the entertainment. It is the icing on the cake.
The End of 2025 – A Magical Year
At the end of the 2025 – a magical year, I have a bit of time to relax and reflect upon what I’ve done over the last 365 days. I wake up every morning, excited about what the day holds and the new dreams that will be turned into reality. I’ve already got some great plans for the new year. Those plans plus the interesting projects that will magically appear are sure to make for anther amazing year. 2026, I’m sure, will also be a magical year!