Today we’d like to introduce you to David Wills.
Hi David, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My first experience with magic was during a kids’ club event while on vacation when I was 6 or 7 years old. I remember being so mesmerized by him, his lime-green clown costume and all! From there, I got a few beginner magic tricks as prizes from the arcade and started printing off instructions for card tricks from the internet. I started a three-ring binder and carefully put each sheet in the plastic sheet protectors, and the cover sheet had a Clip Art Jolly Roger flag with the words “David’s Magic Tricks – Do Not Read without Permission” in bold AND underlined text. (I took the oath to never reveal my secrets very seriously!) Fun fact: I recently found this binder while going through some old boxes, and I realized that I still use some of the methods today. I didn’t have any official gigs until much later, but I cut my teeth performing for family members at our annual Wills Family Reunion Talent Show.
After some years, I picked magic back up in 2020 when I was looking for ways to fidget with a deck of cards. The rabbit hole on YouTube ran deep, and I quickly found myself learning magic tricks again and reigniting that love I had as a kid. This time with adult money, which meant lots of books, gimmicks, video downloads, and a pretty healthy playing card collection; I’m pretty sure I’ve funded someone’s retirement by now through deck purchases. Another local magician encouraged me to build a website and pick up gigs here and there. These gigs slowly started getting bigger and bigger– I’ve been able to enjoy entertaining people in places ranging from living room shows and backyard parties to sold-out conference centers for multinational companies around the world.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey certainly hasn’t been linear. For starters, I took a 15-year break from the time I first started learning magic until I began performing professionally. Other than that, I would say I wrestle with the same struggles that a lot of small businesses run into while trying to expand. Social media is a wild animal. I’ve struggled in the past to create content, but my wife has taken that role over for me and has made some really creative photos and videos. We even have a thread called “Magic in Places” where I post a video of me doing a magic trick somewhere cool around the world as we travel. So far, I’ve knocked off the Eiffel Tower, Denali, and the Brooklyn Bridge, to name a few. Performing for the camera for reels is awkward for me, but I’m getting better at it because I’m learning the importance of building a better social media presence, sharing my posts, and expanding my network.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My elevator pitch is “I enhance the guest experience at your event by providing interactive entertainment that energizes and relaxes your guests at any point during an event.” No event is too small, or too big for a magician. Like I said earlier, I get hired for events of all sizes, and my show fits in a backyard as well as a large venue with hundreds of guests.
I perform a lot of happy hours, cocktail hours, and welcoming hours for corporate events. I’m able to get the event off on the right foot by moving group to group and breaking the ice, or keep everyone excited after dinner, going into an evening of dancing and mingling to wrap up an already amazing party. I like to tell people that they can make their happy hour happier by hiring me.
For weddings, I typically perform during the transition period between the ceremony and reception, sort of like a gift to the couple’s friends and family that won’t end up in a junk drawer somewhere. I’m able to perform for each group or table individually, under the radar, and ensure nobody is bored waiting for dinner to start.
The intimate living room parties are some of my favorites because I get to tailor what I do either to the theme of the event or the special interest of the guest of honor. Magic is personal, and these parties allow me to connect the most with the spectators. This is truly what sets me apart. I’ve built my show around being able to customize certain routines or stories to center around the guests, creating a truly special and unique performance no other group will get to experience.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
I think the future of magic is very bright. The world is increasingly online, and magic is something that is best experienced in person. The pendulum is swinging, and people want to have less screen time and become more present with each other; a great way to create a lived experience is through live entertainment. Magicians are a very accessible way to provide that. This is particularly true with house parties, as it’s much easier for one person to stand alone in front of the TV with a deck of cards or a ring and rope than it is to have your local 5-piece 80’s tribute band serenade you and your 12 friends. I have shared the room with live bands, acrobats, and even a sushi chef serving omakase-style dinner during my show. I have to say, you haven’t truly performed a magic show until you’ve had to pause so that a lovely, soft-spoken elderly Japanese woman can let the group know that the next course is uni, and you watch as they pass a plate around worth more than your magic library. Having the opportunity to work with a variety of professionals within the hospitality industry has highlighted the importance of not only a great network, but more importantly, the value of human connection. I’m excited to see how magic can lead the charge in elevating the value of personal touch in guests’ experiences.
Pricing:
- Pricing is based on the size of the guest list and duration of performance. I offer packages for parties of any size and length of time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.davidscottwills.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david.scott.wills/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themagicofdavidscottwills
