Celebrities I've had the Honor of Meeting
 
My favorite magician. Larry Taylor does the best manipulation with anything you can imagine. I also think he does the best dove work. I can think of any idea, and Larry can think of a way to turn it into magic. There is nothing Larry can't do. Not only is he a powerful magician but an awesome teacher. He has a lot of patience with his students.
What can I say? How lucky can a kid get? I was sitting on the floor of Jeff McBride's home with some of my idols. Talk about being in heaven. I can't wait to go back. Left to right:
I took the Master Class with Jeff and Eugene Burger. Jeff told us to do our magic around something that we liked. All I could think of was soccer and legos. Then he asked me how I got my name. Mom told him the story, and that sparked the idea of "The Shaman".
Joe Stevens has always been great to me. He always gives me great feedback when I compete. He said I should send in my video to compete in the Teen Competition at Las Vegas' World Magic Seminar even though I was only 10 years old. Little did we know that he was in charge of it. Mr. Stevens said, "You did it on your own. I didn't even have to pull any strings." Mom said "ignorance is bliss". Whatever that means. Anyway, I sent it in and they accepted me. What a great experience
Joan Caesar is one of the nicest people I have ever met. She said she has been watching me grow up since I started competing at 9 years old. She judges me at Magi Fest and always gives me good feedback on things I should work on. One of the best conventions I have ever been to was the CAM convention in Ontario. Joan puts this on. She does a great job on putting together a convention. Obie Obrien says,"Joan has champagne taste on a beer budget." Sorry Obie, hope I didn't get you in trouble.
I met Obie O'Brien at my first convention. He made us feel so welcome. That was really important to us. He has always been very helpful to me, mom and my grandmother. Mr. O'Brien is a past president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. I see him at all the conventions. He really liked my act when he saw me at CAM. Thanks Obie, for being so nice to me. It's means a lot.
Jerry Schnepp is a past President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He is extremely nice and very helpful to me and my family. He also sponsored me into the IBM. Thanks, Mr. Schnepp for everything you do for me.
Hank Moorehouse has given me many wonderful suggestions for my "Shaman" routine. We have used all of his ideas and my routine is more professional because of it. Because Mr. Moorehouse gave the Japanese TV program my name, I was on TV in Japan. Thanks, Mr. Moorehouse.
Dr. Jep Hostetler is in charge of one of the finest Magic Conventions in the world, Magi Fest in Columbus, Ohio. The first time he saw my "Shaman" routine, he ran backstage and said he wanted to hire me. I was on cloud nine for months. Thanks, Dr. Hostetler for believing in me.
 Jack Greenberg is a past President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He also has judged me in competition several times. He gives me great feedback that I use to improve my routine. Thanks, Mr. Greenberg.
I met Mike Stratman at Michigan Magic Days. He said he really liked my routine. He also judged me at the Canadian Association of Magicians Convention. He gave me really great scores. He always has a smile on his face. Mom says she likes him because he always wears cowboy boots. She says all men look great in cowboy boots. Jeesh Mom!!! Mr. Stratman was president of the International Brotherhood of Magicians from 2002-2003.
Anne White has always been one of my best supporters. She videos my performances and does my photo shoot. She's a wonderful artist. Anne also gives me great critiques so I can improve. Love you, Anne.
I think Richard Forget is awesome. He is so smooth. My mom says I will be as tall as him someday. I don't know why he is pointing at the wedding chapel sign. Hey Richard, I really, really like girls. Ha, ha.
I've competed against Dan Sperry ever since I started. He is the nicest person back stage. Very quiet and very helpful. I asked him to critique my "Shaman" routine, and he gave me some great ideas.
Herman and Marcia Carr are so wonderful to me. I am fortunate that I get to see them often. Mr. Carr is in charge of Stage Competition at Magi Fest and Mrs. Carr has judged me many times. She always gives me great critiques so I can improve. I was lucky enough to get to see them do their kid's show at a local mall. Very wonderful.
Dan Garrett is so nice to me. He probably is to everyone though, but he always makes me feel special. He brought me on stage to do one of his pieces of magic. He is a powerful and funny magician.
I met Jonathon Pendragon when I was at Holy Toledo. He came over to our lunch table and talked to me for about an hour. Wow, what an awesome man. I got to watch him rehearse in Vegas. That was really cool to see a famous magician rehearse before a show.
I sat between Lance Burton and Jeff McBride during the teen luncheon at the 2001 World Magic Seminar. I was so nervous, I couldn't eat. Mom said I looked liked I was walking on clouds when I came out of the room. Lance was so nice.
I am so glad I got to see Siegfried and Roy's show when I was in Vegas. I'll never forget it. Mom and I pray that Roy will be able to perform again. I've never seen anything so professional and entertaining.
I met Gay Blackstone when I was in Las Vegas. What a very nice person. I have been fortunate enough to see her speak at several conventions. I hope to be able to talk to her more.
My mentor, Larry Taylor, thinks Shimada is the greatest. I have never seen him perform in person but I watch him on video all the time. I hope I can become as smooth as he is with his doves and manipulation. I am really glad I got to meet him in Vegas.
I met Pavel before I even started competing. I saw him at Abbott's Magic Convention. I was mesmerized at his magic and bought a lot of his magic during his lecture.
Fakini is really cool. Also, very nice. I use Fakini balls in all my acts. There is none better. If you dont use Fakini balls, you're really missing out. I'm trying to save some money to buy another set.
I love to watch Ali Bongo. I met him in Vegas, also. Man, I sure did meet a lot of famous people in Vegas. I can't wait to see Ali Bongo perform again.
The Amazing Bill Shaner and his wife Sandy Shaner. If it weren't for Sandy, I may never have gotten into magic. They own Abracadbra Magic shop in Dayton, Ohio. That's where Mom got my Magic Christmas gifts when I was 8-years-old. Sandy spent a lot of time with Mom helping pick out magic for an 8-year-old. The change bag is what got me hooked. Mr. Shaner does a lot of magic in our community. I love to watch him.
Fred and Millie Witwer do the most beautiful silk magic I have ever seen. They are so beautiful on stage and so professional. They belong to my IBM Ring 324. I'm lucky I get to see them often. Some of the nicest people I have ever had the honor of meeting.
Matt Stanley is a wonderful magician. He belongs to my ring also. Matt always beats me in competition. But that's OK. He also teaches me magic. And he always helps me backstage when we get ready to compete or perform somewhere. He's a great guy and a great magician. I've learned a lot watching him.
How lucky can a guy get? I'm friends with the most beautiful magicians in the world. Shayna Reed, Mandy Reed and Jessica Reed. They belong to my ring too, so I'm extra lucky that I get to see them all the time. We compete and perform with each other all the time. They're are all very nice and very professional magicians (and very beautiful). I've learned a lot from them.
Tom Casper belongs to my ring. He does great coin magic. Whenever I go to my magic lesson with Larry Taylor, he is usually there. I have learned a lot of coin magic by watching him. He's a great guy.
I first saw Greg Frewin on "The World's Greatest Magic". When he came to Cincnnati, I just had to go see him. I love his dove work. Great Show.
Boris Wild is from France. I am so glad I got to see his lecture and his FISM winning act. He gives me something to work for.
 French magician, Jerome Murrat. (Courtesy of Bruno from Belgium) One of the most awesome things I have ever seen. I thought he was a statue sitting in the middle of the hall until he moved. I must have jumped 5 feet.
 |
