Magician's Vantage Point of Center City Philadelphia
I love Center City Philadelphia! It’s not only because Philadelphia was once the country’s largest city or capital. I’m extremely fond of Old City. The Liberty Bell carries meaning that is especially relevant to a working magician's career path. But I love Center City because of what’s magical here now, not just its history.
The Parallel Between the Liberty Bell and a Magician: It's a Story of Resilience that Changes the Magician
The Liberty Bell began with embarrassing failures. It cracked the first time it was rung, so local craftsmen melted it down and recast it, then recast it again because people didn't like how it sounded. It took persistence and resilience to keep trying, and it now symbolizes resilience in the fight for independence, the abolition of slavery, and equal rights.
A professional magician's path begins with embarrassing failures. I had to make mistakes to learn. That means standing on stage in front of large groups and testing material that does not resonate with the audience. It's a trial-and-error process: purging material that doesn't land and discovering what does.
Just as the Liberty Bell kept going after its early failures, and later developed the famous crack it still carries today, the magician carries the memory of difficulties. I took a photo of the original Liberty Bell that you can see below.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse has an event room inside of a bank vault.
As a magician for private parties in Philadelphia, I was booked for a holiday party at DelFrisco’s Steakhouse. The event room was called “The Vault.” This ballroom was literally inside of a bank vault! Performing a magic show inside a bank vault was surreal, and even as a diner, eating in a giant bank vault would be a unique experience.
Stepping Into the Loews Philadelphia Hotel Elevator Feels Like Stepping Into a Movie
Loews Philadelphia Hotel feels like a magic portal when you change floors.
When Bancroft had a gala on the top two event floors, I noticed that the floors were visually different. Actually, it was like that for many regular floors that don’t have event rooms. The elevator looked like an advanced computer, and there were completely different-looking lounges on different floors. It felt like arriving somewhere new every time the elevator door opened. There is something magical about pushing a button and watching a different world appear.
LOVE Park has Lovely Parking!
Most people think of the LOVE Statue when they think of LOVE Park in Philadelphia, but don’t overlook the parking garage. As someone who often drives a minivan with show supplies, the parking garage is a blessing. The lanes are wide, and the capacity is way bigger than the old garages.
The Magic of Center City West
In the photo below, you can see me standing in front of City Hall. City Hall has 4 sides: north, south, east, and west. I am standing on the west side of City Hall, facing west, and this subtle detail has deeper meaning.
I am on the side of City Hall where the largest skyscrapers cluster. These massive buildings were built by humans. Their labor and the architects’ minds created these impressive, gigantic structures.
I don’t feel awe looking at mountains in the wilderness. To me, mountains are just piles of dirt with no intent or design. Mountains weren’t created with a purpose. Mountains don’t protect you from the freezing cold in winter or the heat waves in summer. Buildings do, and skyscrapers are the ultimate form of building. To me, skyscrapers like One Liberty Place are real magic.
Street Performance Artists are Normal in Center City
Suppose that I need to test new material as a magician, and it has not been practice enough to justify charging money. It is just part of Center City's acceptable culture to have entertainers on the streets. It's not necessarily impossible to do elsewhere, but it's far more comfortable and expected in Center City than a town or suburb. I regularly see entertainers on South Broad Street (Avenue of the Arts area) and Market Street (usually on the immediate West side of City Hall).