The full video of my May 20, 2010 appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Way back in 2002, just a couple of years after starting up my show, CNN correspondent Jeanne Moos came to visit me at the Waldorf. She brought her camera crew and did a feature story about Chamber Magic. The show has changed a lot since then, but it’s fun to see what she found interesting enough to discuss with Anderson Cooper, Jack Cafferty and Paula Zahn, in a roundtable at the end.

The guests who come to Miracles at Midnight always dazzle me. The show has been running for less than two years, but has apparently been whispered about into the right people’s ears. Russian oligarchs, Saudi royals, tech billionaires, and philanthropists have all visited me for an unforgettable night of magic. The Miracles at Midnight audience is limited to only twenty guests. And for that reason, they get to know each other well during the evening. The show has transformed into a networking opportunity for high net-worth individuals.

Guests to Miracles at Midnight usually dress to the hilt, and that extends to their jewelry. If you know me, you know I’m a watch fanatic. Last weekend I was impressed by a very handsome watch worn by a gentleman in the front row. Since we were in such close proximity, I could see the watch peeking out from his sleeve cuff. After the show he allowed me to examine it – an A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwork. I’ve long been an admirer of this German watchmaker, but had never seen a watch quite like this.

I’m excited to announce a completely redesigned website, which pushed “live” today. The URL is the same as my previous site: www.chambermagic.com

The major difference is that it is an HTML site that runs on Wordpress, as opposed to my prior site which ran on Flash. Now, even iPhone and iPad users are able to view the site (since Flash isn’t supported by Apple portable devices), and it’s super fast and much easier to navigate.

Please poke around, and let me know what you think!

Yesterday marked my first site visit to Carnegie Hall, where I am planning to present my new stage show at the end of 2011. This is a major paradigm shift for me – a close-up magician – to appear on the giant stage. Just look at this panorama view that I snapped on my camera [...]

The Making of The Millionaires’ Magician

by Jonathan Fields

Last year, I stumbled upon a fascinating article in The New York Times about Steve Cohen, a magician who offered exclusive shows out of a suite at the Waldorf Astoria and was flown around the world to give private shows for heads of state, captains of industry and celebs.

The story struck me because here was a guy making a serious living doing something very cool that most others would consider a hobby or a side-job. He’s a classic example of a Career Renegade. [...]

A piano with a two-foot cutaway hole stood alone on the mezzanine of MOMA, New York’s Museum of Modern Art. I asked a security guard what the piano was for — he replied, “For performances. Come back later.” My family and I wandered off to enjoy other exhibits, and later rushed back to the mezzanine when we saw a large crowd surrounding the piano.

There was a person standing INSIDE the piano. Right inside the hole.

She was playing the piano and walking around the open floor, rolling the instrument in wide arcs. Her body was bent forward at the waist, at a full ninety degree angle, and her hands were flying up and down at a breakneck pace. [...]

Genii: Why do you call yourself “The Millionaires’ Magician?” Doesn’t that turn some people off? It sounds kind of snooty.

Cohen: Nice way to start the interview!

Genii: It’s my prerogative: I remember teaching you and Mark Sicher how to shave when you were both kids.

Cohen: So you did. To answer your question, an upscale magazine in New York City wrote a feature story about me, and that was the headline: “The Millionaires’ Magician.” I’m at The Waldorf Towers every Friday and Saturday night for my show Chamber Magic. But the other five days of the week I travel around the world to perform at people’s mansions and private islands. They pick me up in luxury cars and put me up in fine hotels in Switzerland, London, Paris, the Caribbean, Boca Raton, Aspen, all over the place.

Genii: You’ve clearly figured out a great niche for yourself.

Cohen: To be honest, there are at least three million millionaires in America, and in my geographic region—New York City—it seems like everyone I know is a millionaire. So when I call myself “The Millionaires’ Magician,” it’s simply a description of my market. Now, I find myself contacted only by people—event planners, corporate groups, and individuals—who can afford my current rates. They kind of know what they’re jumping into when they call me, so there’s no sticker shock when they hear my prices.

Genii: How many shows per year do you perform? [...]

Making Magic
by Liz Gunnison
Originally published Nov 26 2008 on Portfolio.com

Steve Cohen, the “Millionaire’s Magician,” shares some tips for winning over a well-heeled audience, including why you should never wing it and the importance of having backup plans.

Few tasks can cast dread into the heart of an otherwise self-assured executive like delivering a presentation to a room full of power players. Commanding the attention of an important audience—whether they be investors, clients, or your superiors—demands a level of charisma and confidence that not everyone can easily marshal.

Giving presentations to powerful people is what Steve Cohen (not to be confused with hedge-fund billionaire Stevie Cohen) does for a living. [...]

Eight years ago, on February 1 (which also happens to be my birthday), I was a guest on Martha Stewart’s television show, Martha Stewart Living. I’ve just transferred the VHS tape to a digital file, and have decided to include it here on my blog, for historical record.

I look a lot younger (!), and the producers told me to dress casually (not in my typical snazzy suit) to meet the expectations of their target audience.

When this first aired in 2002, I received [...]

For the past twenty five years, I’ve been invited to a friend’s NYC apartment on Central Park West and 72nd Street to enjoy the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Their apartment is on the third floor, in the building right across the street from the Dakota House. The parade balloons pass right in front of us, [...]

Little known fact, I’m not just obsessed with magic, I’m also gaga over chocolate. And, I’ve spent years exploring the NYC chocolate scene, from obscure boutique chocolate crafters to surprisingly luscious imported-cocoas, buried unsuspectingly in the fray of products at some of the largest eateries and stores in New York.

In fact, it’s not unusual for me to slip into one of these purveyors of edible magic after a show for a quick bite of heaven [...]

LEADERS is the only worldwide magazine that deals with the broad range of leadership thoughts and visions of the world’s most influential people.

It is a quarterly forum for those select individuals who, by their position of leadership, exercise inherent influence and commanding authority over the allocation of the world’s human and material resources.

The October/November/December 2010 issue featured an interview with me on page 156, titled Defining Luxury [...]

Due to our mutual interest in magic, I’ve gotten to know legendary talkshow host Dick Cavett over the last several years, thanks to an introduction by Teller. CBS Sunday Morning did a great segment about Dick’s life yesterday, and he even announced that he’s ready to be back on the air with a new Dick [...]

by Graham Reed, MIMC [excerpted from an article in The Magic Circular, November 2010] THINK-A-DRINK – Steve Cohen Several performers have featured ‘Any Drink Called For’ and we have already included Kalanag and his Magic Bar, but Steve Cohen earns his place on our list by offering a unique version of the classic trick. In [...]

The Jewish Museum in New York contacted me several months ago to entertain at a private dinner for their Chairman of the Board, Museum Director, and top donors, following the opening of the museum’s new Houdini exhibition. The dinner was held last night in a Park Avenue duplex apartment on Manhattan’s upper east side. I [...]

by Jonathan Bayme CEO, Theory11.com Magic awards are a dime a dozen. Many of them are handed out by local magic clubs. Some of them are distributed by regional groups. And a select few are handed out by meaningful, multinational organizations. Whenever I hear of a magician getting an award, I ask myself what award [...]

I receive at least one email per month from magicians around the world. Their notes usually begin like this:

Dear Mr. Cohen,

I am a magician in [name of town] trying to build my client base and marketing reach.

I would like to use your idea of doing parlor magic using a high end hotel as a base. Would you object if I used that approach here in [name of town]?

Any advice you can offer would be appreciated. Do I split ticket sales with the hotel? Or, does the hotel pay me a fee and take all ticket profits? Does the hotel supply drinks as a part of the show price? How long should the show be? How much should tickets be? etc. etc.
–
Before I offer an extremely rare rant (not the type of prose you’ve come to expect from me), here is my form-letter response: [...]

I’ve posted several videos here from my National Arts Club award dinner on October 5.

Mark Levy gave a dynamic presentation, telling little-known stories about my private magic shows.

Legendary talk-show host Dick Cavett talked about his life in magic, and his experience with fellow magician and talk-show host, Johnny Carson.

Holly Peppe related how she began working with me 10 years ago. The final video shows National Arts Club president Aldon James presenting the award.

The following text is from Dick Cavett’s introduction at my recent award dinner. I can’t tell you how honored I was to be introduced by this legendary television host. Dick Cavett: I love magic, and when I saw Steve Cohen the first time, it was in front of this building. This fellow came up to [...]

I received a Hollywood welcome when I arrived in Los Angeles last week. Actors Jason Segel (Forgetting Sarah Marshall, How I Met Your Mother) and Chris Williams (“Krazee-Eyez Killah” on Curb Your Enthusiasm) both came out to my show at the Beverly Wilshire hotel, and director Steven Spielberg even bought tickets for himself and his [...]

I will be receiving a special award – The Medal of Honor for Magic -  from the National Arts Club on October 5. Presenters at this exclusive event will include Mark Levy and legendary talk show host Dick Cavett. I hope you’ll be able to join me and my friends on this special evening. Although [...]

The photo leading this post is one of my new favorites. It may look small, but you MUST click it to view an amazing panoramic view of the gorgeous St. James room in Boston’s Fairmont Copley Plaza hotel. It was taken minutes before the doors opened to the public. As you can see, the mahogany walls and soaring window drapery provided the perfect backdrop for a classical magic performance.

Boston Celtics president Danny Ainge brought his whole family to the show, and even [...]

I’m always looking for incredible things to do in NYC, hidden gems and New York attractions that most people don’t know about unless you hear it from “the natives” that I can share with friends and guests of my shows. So, I’ve made a list of some of the coolest, quirkiest things to do in [...]

Siegfried Fischbacher (of Siegfried and Roy fame) came to my Waldorf performance tonight. It was amazing having a Las Vegas legend in the audience. We spoke for ten minutes after the show, and he told me that he envied me. “I envy you,” said Siegfried, “because you present a perfectly elegant, very smart, one-man show. [...]

I will be touring later this month, and hope you can help spread the word. Tickets are now available for Chamber Magic performances in Boston and Los Angeles. The show will be identical to my long-running Waldorf-Astoria show in New York.

I’m excited to announce the following tour dates:

BOSTON:
The Fairmont Copley Plaza
September 17
(2 performances: 7pm and 9:30pm)

LOS ANGELES:
The Beverly Wilshire
September 24 and 25

If you’ve ever worn a custom-tailored suit or dress shirt, you know that they typically embroider your name into the garment. However, have you ever come across a custom hanger with your name on it?

Recently a man came to my show and introduced himself afterward. He said that he has something for me back home (in Montreal) that I’d be sure to like. A couple of weeks later, a package arrived with a heavy black hanger inside. The hanger was printed with gold lettering across the top, with the words:

S. Cohen

I thought to myself, how flattering. This man went out of his way to make a custom hanger for me. Then I read his letter, which explained [...]

I rarely take vacations. When I do, they’re usually short five-day excursions, spanning Sunday through Thursday. Why? Because like Cinderella, I need to rush back to New York in time for my weekend performances. Chamber Magic shows run every Friday and Saturday, and I hardly ever miss a weekend. That goes for summer and winter holidays too.

For a change of pace, however, I’ve been on a two-week summer vacation in Japan with my family. As I write this, I’m aboard a Boeing 777 aircraft on the flight home to New York. We visited my wife’s parents in Osaka, and spent a good deal of time in Tokyo (one of my favorite cities in the world).

As much fun as I had during the past two weeks with my wife, children and local friends, I’m eager to return home to get back to my shows. Call it the “show-biz itch” if you will. The time I feel most alive is [...]

My friend Peter Greenberg, the travel expert for CBS television, created and narrated this Chamber Magic promo video. My 10 year old son said, “It looks like a movie preview!” Have a look, and please leave comments…

I held a fascinating interview with a private jet pilot (↑ that’s the jet he flies), and discovered how to utilize pilots’ Situational Awareness in my work on stage as a performer. If you’ve never heard of Situational Awareness, or the OODA loop, there’s a lot that you can learn from a pilot that could help save your life. It can also help you as a presenter on stage, which I’ll illustrate in this blog post.

According to celebrity reporter Robin Leach: “Steve Cohen is the dictionary definition of ‘amazing,’ ‘unbelievable,’ and ‘baffling.’ There is nobody else in the world doing what he does and it truly is the most remarkable performance I have seen in all my years. I believe that his extraordinary and unique talents far surpass any ordinary [...]

My 5-year-old daughter enjoyed this performance by Groucho Marx, so I’m posting several versions here. The song? “Lydia The Tattooed Lady,” from the Marx Brothers movie At The Circus.

According to Wikipedia, among the items, persons, and scenes tattooed on Lydia’s body are the Battle of Waterloo (on her back), The Wreck of the Hesperus (beside it), the red, white and blue (above them); the cities of Kankakee and “Paree”, Washington Crossing the Delaware, President Andrew Jackson, Niagara Falls, Alcatraz, Buffalo Bill, Captain Spaulding exploring the Amazon, Lady Godiva (with her pajamas on), Grover Whalen, the Trylon, Treasure Island, Nijinsky, a fleet of ships (on her hips), and Lydia’s own Social Security number.

I’ve included a second clip of Groucho singing on the Dick Cavett show later in life, and also a funny version by Kermit the Frog on the Muppet Show.

I am honored to be the recipient of the 2010 National Arts Club Gold Medal of Honor for Magic. The award will be presented at a dinner ceremony on October 5, 2010 at the prestigious National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, NYC.

Tickets to this special event will be available in August, and I’ll post information here when I know more. Distinguished guests and presenters will be in attendance to present my award, and I plan to give a special performance! [...]

To celebrate Father’s Day, I invited my two children, Alex (age 10) and June (age 5) to perform at the Waldorf in Chamber Magic last night. It was their debut performance, and they did an amazing job! In this post, I’ve added a photo-essay and two videos of their world-premiere.

Sharing the stage with my children was, to me, the best Father’s Day present I could ever imagine.

On October 24, 2008, right before the last Presidential election, I was a guest on the radio show Studio 360, a popular program on Public Radio International (PRI) hosted by Kurt Anderson. Due to its timeliness, Anderson raised the question as to whether politicians were similar to magicians. Specifically, he focused on the power of “patter” – a magicians’ term for the words spoken during a magic trick.

Two other magicians, both close friends of mine, Mark Levy and Harry Lorayne also appear in the broadcast. There are a few other very recognizable voices too. Click the play button, and see if you can figure them out!

Cole Porter, the beloved American songwriter, lived in several suites in The Waldorf Towers from 1934 to 1964, eventually settling on room 33A. This spacious and grand suite later became the home of Frank Sinatra. If you’ve ever visited my show in New York City, you’ve had a peek inside the Towers. The Waldorf Towers are the super-luxury, high-security, residential “hotel within a hotel” in the Waldorf-Astoria.

Cole Porter’s piano – a small mahogany Steinway with Louis XVI courtly figures – is on display in the Park Avenue cocktail terrace of The Waldorf-Astoria. If you’re a Cole Porter fan, it’s definitely [...]

A poet named Robert Moyer read my New York Times profile in the Sunday paper several weeks back, and was inspired to write this poem:

Sunday paper

looking up to find

the day has vanished

(May 20, 2010) NEW YORK – A sedan picked me up at my upper west side apartment, and whisked me to the Ed Sullivan Theater on 53rd Street and Broadway. A guard met me at the stage door, and sent me up to my dressing room on the sixth floor. Here’s a picture of me [...]

Here is the video that I referred to in my last blog post. Listen to the way he introduces me. It’s pretty funny. “Number Thursday. I need candy!”

Letterman just read the line-up for next week’s Close-Up Magic Week on the Late Show. When he read my name and called me “the Millionaires’ Magician,” he raised his eyebrows, and stared at the camera for several seconds. The whole studio audience called out “oooohhh.” Letterman then said, “Maybe he can make the national debt [...]

Here’s the line-up for Letterman next week: Mon: Jason Randal, “American Idol” castoff Michael Lynche, Matthew Fox, Zac Brown Band Tue: John Carney, Jonah Hill, Janelle Monae, Top Ten List by Miss USA Wed: Johnny “Ace” Palmer, Russell Brand, Stone Temple Pilots Thu: Steve Cohen, Katherine Heigl, Band of Horses Fri: Michael Ammar, Ashton Kutcher, [...]

Looking like something out of Batman Begins, a Can-Am Spyder RT-S was parked in front of my upper west side apartment. Tell me that this doesn’t look like the Dark Knight’s wheels: Here are some promo photos from the Can-Am website.

Steve Cohen: Is there a basic human need to be deceived? Do people seek out scenarios where they can be willingly deceived? Why would smart and/or successful people who typically are in control of every area of their lives be interested in coming to a “magic show”? Leonard Peikoff: I absolutely disagree that there is [...]

Leonard Peikoff: That leads me to the other part of your question: how can you convince people, and create conviction? I would say that you can create only one kind of conviction, if you’re talking about a rational audience. It’s the conviction of your skill. You could not convince a rational audience that you have [...]

I am currently rereading one of my favorite novels, Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand (pictured above). Near the end of her life, Rand appointed Objectivist philosopher Leonard Peikoff as the legal heir to her estate. He is the world’s foremost authority on Ayn Rand’s philosophy. By a stroke of luck, Dr. Peikoff recently visited my [...]

IT’S A WEEK OF ILLUSIONS ON CBS’s “LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN” AS THE SHOW PRESENTS “CLOSE-UP MAGIC WEEK,” MAY 17 THROUGH MAY 21 Some of the World’s Best Sleight-of-Hand Magicians To Be Featured on the Broadcast It’s a week filled with illusions as The LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN presents “Close-Up Magic Week,” featuring [...]

A photo montage of my thought process, starting with a golden age comic book illustration, then a pencil sketch, followed by a gorgeous hand-painted poster, and finally, an iconic photo. The artist, Gino d’Achille, and the photographer, Clay Patrick McBride, did brilliant jobs [...]

No one knows how much work it takes Or how high the stakes To be a mother. Your wise advice Comes at no small price You push, cajole and exhibit might With hopes that our kids will turn out right. Piano lessons, Japanese school Fencing classes, swimming pool Ballet studio, Chelsea Piers That is how [...]

I like the way this photo shows the utter despair of someone experiencing an impossible moment. Of course I look pretty intense here, too. This shot was taken at an event I did in Switzerland at the ParkHotel Vitznau, located on the shore of Lake Lucerne. It was one of the most luxurious resorts I’ve [...]

Here is a video I made that provides a visual story for Google searching information about Chamber Magic. Learn how you can make your own video, too, for free.

Teller (of Penn & Teller) was kind enough to write an endorsement of my Waldorf-Astoria show. A few years back, he visited together with Dick Cavett. It was a great night. After the show, we talked extensively about Groucho Marx, Richiardi, and Slydini. Teller expertly performed a Slydini coin vanish, making my silver dollar disappear in the purest fashion.

Here is the full text of the quote that Teller [...]

I own four tuxedos. Most people who meet me at a performance will see me dressed up in one.

Here’s a photo of me, in between shows at the Waldorf, wearing my plush bathrobe. I was practicing a card trick.

I’ve never released casual photos like this one before. It feels somewhat obscene. [...]

Yoda visited Chamber Magic at the Waldorf last night.

Andy Nyman, my old friend and a truly wonderful man, brought him along. Of course, Yoda came in the form of his inventor, Frank Oz. He’s also the man behind the Muppets: Cookie Monster, Grover, Fozzie Bear, Bert, and Miss Piggy. After the show, we had drinks together at the Bull & Bear. What a thrill. During our conversation, he grunted in Cookie Monster’s voice for me, but I didn’t ask him to speak like Yoda. It just didn’t feel like the right thing to do.

Frank Oz told me that he once auditioned for [...]

Here’s a whimsical Hermes necktie that I like. I can’t think of an occasion that I’d actually wear it, but I admire the snake-charmer print for some reason. Also in this post, I review a book, “The Rise of the Indian Rope Trick,” which examines a legendary trick from the subcontinent that has never been verified as fact. One of my favorite Alfred Hitchcock photos is [...]

Last night renowned sex therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer visited me at the Waldorf for my late show, Miracles at Midnight. During one part of the show, I magically pass one solid object through another. I call it a penetration effect. Last night, in a moment of inspiration, I asked Dr. Ruth to assist with this trick. I looked at her and asked, “Dr. Ruth, would you please help me with a penetration effect?” She answered, [...]

Guest author Mark Levy: “Why did I tell this story? I told it because, well, it’s a damn good story. It’s got an intriguing premise and action that unfolds on the streets of Brooklyn and New York. It’s also got a big city reporter who’s so affected by the experience that he lies awake in anticipation and nearly starts believing in miracles. What could be better?” [...]

Vanity Fair Daily talked with me about the history of salon magic, the connection between certain tricks and the internet, and where this ancient art might just be headed. This intensive interview took place at [...]

Seth Godin’s wildly popular marketing blog featured an article about me today. Read on, and learn how a professional marketer views my career. I think even I learned a [...]

After a public show, the audience files out and I’m left alone in the empty room. There is no evidence that something extraordinary had taken place. The moment has passed.

There was a stretch of time when I felt a giant disappointment after my performances. The flip side of two high-energy ninety minute shows, back to back, is the inevitable drop back to reality. For three hours, I gave pleasure and excitement to my audiences, brain and body working at full tilt. Yet, at that time, there was little pleasure in it for me.

The painting above resonated with me during this time of my life. [...]

About one year ago, I spotted a gentleman at my show wearing a handsome Hermes necktie. It was royal blue, and decorated with magic rabbits jumping out of top hats. During the show, I complimented the man on his tie. “Appropriate for a magic show,” I mentioned with a wink. After the show was over, I was surprised when he walked up to me, undid the knot, and handed it to me as a gift. [...]

Here is a gallery of some original Chan Canasta paintings. They were for sale through a Belgian art dealer I came across online. There are 21 images in this gallery – enjoy the vivid colors!

According to the National Theater in Washington DC, “The day when everyone dressed formally to go to the theatre has passed.” Despite being a historic theater – one that every U.S. president has attended since 1835 – the National has relaxed its dress code to allow patrons a freer choice. The theater’s website states, “To feel well-groomed, comfortable and good about yourself for a special occasion is really the guiding rule.”

I was upset to read this.

I believe that dressing up to go to the theater is a form of civility that should be resurrected. [...]

The Essential Magic Conference will be held on July 15, 16 and 17, in Portugal. I was asked to participate in one of their “passion videos.” This video just went live today on YouTube.

From time to time, I’ll upload some photos from various resorts I’ve performed at. Here are a few that I particularly loved.

I have not mentioned this in print before, but since the very beginning my goal has always been to perform Chamber Magic for twenty years. There aren’t too many shows that have staying power. Not only magic shows, but theatrical shows in general. Ten years have flown by, and I want to keep Chamber Magic alive for ten more. Maybe I’m crazy, but I love performing this show. I’ve molded my life around it.[...]

(An online review by London mastermind Ian Rowland:) Is this the perfect magic show? If “perfection” means to state a clear aim and then to fulfill that aim with unerring accuracy, then yes, quite possibly, it is. So let us first be clear what the show is all about. “Before the days of radio and television,” runs the official programme for the show, “wealthy patrons would regularly invite entertainers into their homes, to delight small gatherings of family and friends. In those sophisticated, friendly environs, the living room became the stage, and the audience looked gleefully on, mere inches from the show.” Steve Cohen, largely inspired by the “salon” magic of such heroes as Hofzinser and Houdin, aims to re-create this experience for today’s audiences. Bullseye! [...]

(An online review by the erudite Dustin Stinett:) Have you ever wondered what it must have been like to attend an evening of conjuring in Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser’s intimate salon? While I doubt Steve Cohen would ever compare his own performances to that of Hofzinser’s (and we will never know precisely what that experience was like), “Chamber Magic” certainly must have a similar quality: At the very least, it is one of the closest entertainments available today that hails back to those genteel times, when people had no other option but to leave their homes, or invite performers into them, to enjoy an evening of escapism. [...]

I’ve long been a fan of magician John Carney. His latest book, though slim, is a true gem. It’s a love letter to magicians for generations to come. Weighing in at only 91 pages, Magic By Design offers the growing magic student a practical overview of how to grow and improve as a performer. How [...]

Steve Cohen does not have the marquee name of a David Copperfield, David Blaine or Penn & Teller. What he does have, at 39, is Chamber Magic, five shows a weekend at the plush suite in the Waldorf-Astoria where Crown Prince Sultan of Saudi Arabia stays when in town. Mr. Cohen’s specialty is parlor magic, fusing close-up maneuvers and tricks with common objects for small audiences. He models himself after conjurers who entertained the aristocracy in European salons in the 1800s. He does not saw women or make elephants vanish. [...]

George Schindler, the beloved Dean of the Society of American Magicians, wrote a nice column about parlor magic shows in his monthly column in M-U-M magazine. I was delighted to host the Dean and his wife Nina to my show at the Waldorf-Astoria last year, and he wrote a kind review in his column this month (March 2010). Thanks George! [click title to read the review...]

The FedEx telephone agent said, “Sorry, we can’t change the weather.” I retorted, “Yeah, but you’re FedEx! What happened to your guarantee?” [...]

I was surprised to see a mention of my performance on Tuesday night in The Daily Beast website today.

I was invited to entertain 125 guests last night at a private dinner celebrating Comcast’s new ownership of NBC Universal. All the heavy hitters of the two companies were there, including Jeff Zucker (NBC president), Ralph Roberts (Comcast founder), and Brian Roberts (Comcast CEO).

Listen to an audio endorsement from a charming Kentucky businessman who invited me to entertain his group in Louisville. Also, have a look at the personalized Louisville Slugger bat that has my name engraved – what a great gift! Finally, a few words about The Greatest (Muhammad Ali) who hailed from Louisville [...]

NBC television featured a segment this week titled “Meet the Millionaires’ Magician” on their luxury program, LX New York. Have a look.

During my performances, I like to wear shoes that have a tall heel, since it improves the posture and forces you to lift your body frame. I know some male entertainers who wear boots with an extra high heel (like cowboy boots) during their performances, since they feel that it makes them more conscious of their bodies, and therefore they move more gracefully. [more...]

Crains NY ran an article about me today: “Nothing Up His Sleeve.” A lovely article, but I want to clarify one fact: though my uncle did meet Houdini, and was inspired by him, he didn’t actually study with the Master himself. He did, however, inspire me to pursue magic as my life’s work. Read on… [...]

Orson Welles was no stranger to pranks, as we know from his 1938 broadcast of War of the Worlds that drove America into a frenzy. It should be no surprise, then that Welles was also a keen magician and remained fascinated by magic throughout his life. [...]