When I was about 14 years old, I was walking through a flea market in Cheektowaga, NY. To my absolute surprise, I stumbled upon a few glass counters filled with magic props. I stared at them for a bit and then asked the man working there how much the Dove Pan was. He answered, “Do you know what that is?”  I said, “Yes.” He said, “Do want a job?” That’s how I met Russ Ballaro  - and how I got my first job selling magic. Russ was one of a kind. A colorful character surrounded by a cast of equally colorful characters.  They were drawn to him like moths to a flame.  I never ..read more

This morning, I'm heading out to the woods to hunt down our Christmas tree. I get knocked sometimes about my love of all things Christmas - especially the music. I'm cool with that. I'm a magician. So, if you think you can rattle me about being lame - then you've got some serious work ahead of you.   I think one of the reasons so many people get tired of Christmas music is the repetition. Sometimes all it takes is a deep dive. In that spirit, here are ten seldom heard Christmas songs that should be added to your playlists. Enjoy (or scroll on, it's your call)….   Joseph, Who Underst ..read more

I never would have guessed when I started the Real Magic Roadshow back in 2013 – that 10 years later we’d still be hitting the road. I’ve written previously about how it was a pretty risky venture and my anxiety about our very first events was high. To quote an earlier post, “I was more than a little the nauseous the morning of that first event. People had serious money on the line – flights, hotel rooms, rental cars. Maybe I should have listened to the doubters. But when we closed the doors that evening – it was a resounding success, and we were clearly on to something. The tour contin ..read more

There’s nothing quite like seeing real magic happen live and in person. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to magic - or David Copperfield. Seeing the impossible happen under real world conditions is something truly special. It’s what the Real Magic Roadshow is all about. No screens, no video demos, no online distractions. You’re there. In person. You’ll see the magic happen live, just the way your audience will. You’ll ask questions in real time, from the actual creator. You’ll discover new and interesting effects, that you can’t find ANYWHERE else. It won’t be long before the Roadshow head ..read more

Pack up the babies And grab the old ladies And everyone goes 'Cause everyone knows… So maybe Neil Diamond wasn’t talking about a bunch of magicians gathering together when he sang those words. But we like to think that the Real Magic Roadshow shares a little energy with good old Brother Love. It’s been well over two years since the Roadshow team packed our bags and headed out to see you. We’ve really missed it – and the truth is we missed you. We hope the feeling is mutual. We’re joining forces again for a select few U.S. cities and if we’re coming your way, we hope you’ll join us. We’re k ..read more

Spent most of last week with several hundred magicians at the IBM Convention in Atlanta, Georgia. Wendy and I had a wonderful time and we are (as always) thankful for all those who stopped by and visited the booth. 2022 marks the 100th anniversary of the organization and while I was there, I thought a lot about how my hometown figured into the birth of that legacy. If you’re a magician born in Buffalo, NY then it’s unlikely the name Gene Gordon is unknown to you. But I’m always a little surprised when the name is new to conventioneers from outside this neck of the woods. If you belong to th ..read more

Recently while reading Jenny Odell’s book How To Do Nothing, I was struck by this passage:   “…what passes for sustained attention is actually a series of successive efforts to bring attention back to the same thing, considering it again and again with unwavering consistency.”   I’ve been thinking a lot about attention lately. Or more accurately – a lack of it. There is a great deal of discussion about the attention economy and who is in charge of what we focus on. This is not a new problem. Aristotle lamented distraction over 300 years before the birth of Christ and we’re still stru ..read more

Back in 2016, I wrote a post that started with a quote from Harper Lee. She said, “Nobody loves breathing.” She was referring to the fact that nobody really appreciates breathing – until they can’t. In the post, I drew the connection between that sentiment and the experience of attending live magic events. I could not have predicted how true those similarities would become in 2020. When we announced the cancellation of our spring tour of the Real Magic Roadshow on March 11th, I had no idea how many cancellations would soon follow. A few weeks ago, I was standing in Blackpool, Engla ..read more

A few months back I was on the road across the Midwest and took a little side trip to the town of Marshall, Michigan. Wikipedia states that Marshall has been referred to by the keeper of the National Register of Historic Places as a "virtual textbook of 19th-Century American architecture."  It is indeed a charming place, filled with lovely historic residences and buildings. It's also home to the American Museum of Magic, founded by the late Robert Lund in 1978 The museum is well kept and brimming with fascinating displays for anyone with an interest in magic. The walls are filled with ..read more

The roaring 20’s are certainly living up to their old name. The New Year has started out with a rush of activity starting with me putting the finishing touches on two new releases. I’m really excited about both of them and I hope I have the chance to share them with you somewhere along my travels this year.   I’ve also updated my current schedule for the year - but it is by no means complete. I’ll add new dates as they come in – and if you want to be the first to find out what’s new and where I’m heading you can sign up to my or stay connected through one of my social media accounts. &nbs ..read more