We’re looking forward to introducing you to Alan Paoletti. Check out our conversation below.
Alan, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
I’ve been trying to spend as much time with my children as possible. With as much traveling and working I’ve been doing lately, it’s been difficult to get any quality time with them. When I have it, I’m spending all of it with them. A couple of months ago I set up a “Pizza and Movie Night” that we all look forward to each week. I’ve been showing them all of my favorite movies growing up and it’s lead to a ton of references and inside jokes. Just wonderful 🙂
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Alan Paoletti, and I’m a professional magician and mentalist based in Dallas–Fort Worth. I work with companies across the country to transform their events into experiences that aren’t just entertaining, but meaningful.
What makes my work unique is that I don’t treat magic as an isolated performance. Instead, I design it to reflect and reinforce the culture of the organization I’m working with. For some companies, that means building moments of teamwork and collaboration into the show. For others, it’s about celebrating innovation or highlighting the values that drive the business forward.
Over the years I’ve found that when you align entertainment with leadership’s vision, you can create an impact that lasts far beyond the applause of the event itself. That’s where I focus my efforts — turning a show into a shared story the company carries with them.
Right now, I’m especially excited about expanding how I deliver that experience. Alongside my live performances, I’ve been developing creative ways — like interactive giveaways and digital tools — to extend the magic long after the event, keeping that sense of connection alive.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world tried to tell me who I had to be, I was simply a curious kid who loved creating impossible moments. I think many of us start with that — pure curiosity, wonder, and the joy of making something out of nothing. Somewhere along the way, though, the world starts layering on expectations: be practical, play it safe, do what’s expected.
What I’ve learned is that the advice we listen to shapes us. That’s why I only take advice from people whose lives I’d actually want to live. If someone tells me to ‘be realistic’ but they’re not living in a way I admire, that’s not advice I’ll follow.
For me, staying true has meant building a career where I can share wonder while also running a professional business on my own terms. Magic has been my way of rejecting the script the world hands out, and instead writing my own story. My guiding principle is: never be who the world asks you to be — be the version of yourself that inspires others to imagine more.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, it would be: You don’t have to fit into anyone else’s definition of success. The world will try to convince you to play small, to be practical, to do what’s expected — but the truth is, the things that make you different are the things that will set you apart.
I’d tell myself to lean harder into curiosity, to trust that wonder is not something you grow out of, but something you grow into. And I’d remind myself that every time you choose to stay authentic instead of conforming, you’re building a life that’s truly your own.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I think we all wear masks depending on the situation. On stage, I put on the mask of the magician — this larger-than-life character who can bend reality and create impossible moments. That’s part of the job, and it’s a role I love playing.
But off stage, I’m just Alan. I’m a husband, a dad, a friend. I love Jesus, I love laughing with people I care about, and I don’t walk around trying to be mysterious or profound.
So is the public version of me the ‘real’ me? Yes and no. The magician is a heightened version of me, a role that allows me to connect and inspire. But the core — the guy who values his Faith, family, and laughter — that’s the most real part of me, and it’s always underneath the mask. The mask just helps me share it with more people.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I don’t need people to tell stories about big accomplishments or grand achievements. What I hope they’ll say is simple: He tried his best.
I hope they’ll remember that I gave my all — to my family, to my friends, to my faith, and even to the audiences I stood in front of. Trying your best doesn’t mean you never fall short, it just means you keep showing up with everything you have.
If people can look back and say, ‘Alan really tried to love well, to give generously, to create moments of wonder, and to live with integrity,’ then that’s the story I’d want carried forward. Not perfection — just someone who truly tried his best.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.APMagic.Net
- Instagram: @apilluisions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magicofalanp
- Other: https://linkgen.ie/apmagic
