Transforming Interactive Magic Into A Virtual Magic Show
“My first experience with interactive magic changed my life. I sat alone in my room with a deck of cards in total disbelief, shock, and delight as I questioned reality. I was reading a book by a great magician when he asked me, the reader, to get a deck of cards and I obliged. I sat there following his instructions and acting with the freedom he permitted. I could shuffle, I could cut, I could mix the cards the way I wanted… but no matter what choices I made the magic still happened. It was impossible. It was wonderful. I knew then, in that moment, that I must find a way to share this idea, this concept, this style with my audiences…”
- Mahdi Gilbert
HOW INTERACTIVE MAGIC GAVE BIRTH TO MAGIC IN YOUR HANDS, MAHDI GILBERT’S VIRTUAL MAGIC SHOW
Mahdi Gilbert began performing magic in your hands when he would be invited to be interviewed by radio stations. He would perform magic for the hosts but there was a disconnection from the audience who was listening at home, in their cars, or in the office. The audience could hear the drama unfolding in the radio studios but could only imagine the magic that was taking place…
Until…
Mahdi would speak directly to the listeners at home.
“Find a coin and place it in front of you…
Take a sheet of paper and tear it into many pieces...
If you have a deck of cards, go and find it,
We will all do something together.”
From there the legend was born. Radio stations would be flooded with calls, emails, and letters. Listeners would passionately describe the magic that took place in their homes in their hands. No one listening had ever experienced anything like this before and could not believe it.
“I was listening to you on the radio and following along with my cards. When the magic happened I fell out of my chair! I told my whole family but no one believed me!”
“When the magic happened in my hands I began screaming! It was so overwhelming that tears began pouring from my eyes! I never believed in magic but this is real magic!”
When the pandemic resulted in many companies, schools, and organizations looking for virtual entertainment options Mahdi began to adapt all he had learnt and worked on into a virtual magic show he calls Magic In Your Hands. Combining his beautiful sleight of hand magic he breaks through the screen and makes the magic happen in your hands at home.
