Had a chance to see John Cassidy and Dana Daniels working at the Erie County Fair yesterday. I’ve seen them both at magic conventions and I’ve always enjoyed their acts. They both did an excellent job and it was a pleasure to see how these two pros handle the conditions of a fair performance.

I’m a long time fan of Dana’s and it was really interesting seeing him work in the real world. He had a particularly difficult setting with considerable crowd noise surrounding his outside stage and a rain soaked audience. He even had to deal with a train whistle that occurred throughout his show! He handled it all like a trouper and show was dynamite. I’ve always believed you can learn more from watching a professional work in the real world than by spending days in a magic lecture. I’m not talking about stealing material! I’m talking about the education you get by watching a pro approach audience management, staging issues, act construction, and more. Watching good performers is like getting a lecture in stage craft and showmanship. That’s why I’m so surprised when I see so few magicians supporting live shows.

Support these acts! It not only demonstrates to producers that there is paying audience for such shows, but it can make you grow as a performer as well. There are lessons to be learned everywhere...