Chicken or the Egg?

“What came first—your repertoire or your personal style?” Did you know your personal style from the beginning and only select effects that fit? Or did you start by building your repertoire based on a more ambiguous ‘what feels right,’ which resulted in a list of favorite effects that, over time, defined your style. 

Either way, I believe the important thing is to be authentic (when our inner self matches what people see). To help deepen your authenticity, follow your gut. Continue doing what feels right. Perform effects that you love, and that can be executed with passion and ease. In the end, that's your personal style in action. That's your personal brand. Now, be sure to make future choices consistent with your brand. And certainly, go market the hell out of your brand.

Surpassing Expectations

Surpassing Expectations. Two simple words—with many powerful layers. It's a goal I continually aspire to, both in my magic and in other areas of my life. The phrase is more than just a devotional "feel good" slogan. First, it involves making the effort to understand what the expectations are in the first place—what is it that you want, and what is it that your audience hopes for? This is your target! Now, what can you do to surpass what is expected? Peel back another layer, and the phrase means respecting your audience's intelligence. They know that some sort of method is at work, so weaving their "gears at work" into your presentation is a great way to connect with them—and move beyond logic toward something much more extraordinary.