In the Performer's Words...
"In the summer of 1987 I was in the audience watching a street performer. He asked an audience volunteer to choose a card from an invisible deck. Everyone laughed. But the volunteer was a good sport and he chose one: the two of clubs.
"So the street performer asks him if that's the card he wants and the guy changes his mind to the three of diamonds. Again...people laughed. They kept laughing until the street performer pulled a real deck of cards out of his pocket and the ONLY face down card was (you guessed it)...the three of diamonds.
"I felt a thrill at that exact second. I had no idea that I had just seen something that was going to change my whole life. Not then. I was just another person in the audience...completely floored by what I'd just seen. How did he do that? How was it POSSIBLE?
"My mouth hung open. I tried to figure it out. Was the guy carrying 52 decks of cards? Nope. Not in that costume. Then I thought maybe the audience member was a plant. So I went back the next day and watched the act again. And the next day...and the next day. Different people choosing different cards. In that moment, I was completely lost...completely smitten with magic.
"I never forgot the absolute THRILL I felt watching that first effect. That's what I try to recreate in my shows. I want people completely entertained. I want them to feel sheer delight and wonder. It's still very exciting to see that same look on the faces of my audiences that I had watching that one card trick.
"I studied and worked at developing my show for the next three years. I didn't accept a penny...I just took shows wherever I could. I got my first professional contract in 1990 and I've been performing magic and mentalism ever since."
"So the street performer asks him if that's the card he wants and the guy changes his mind to the three of diamonds. Again...people laughed. They kept laughing until the street performer pulled a real deck of cards out of his pocket and the ONLY face down card was (you guessed it)...the three of diamonds.
"I felt a thrill at that exact second. I had no idea that I had just seen something that was going to change my whole life. Not then. I was just another person in the audience...completely floored by what I'd just seen. How did he do that? How was it POSSIBLE?
"My mouth hung open. I tried to figure it out. Was the guy carrying 52 decks of cards? Nope. Not in that costume. Then I thought maybe the audience member was a plant. So I went back the next day and watched the act again. And the next day...and the next day. Different people choosing different cards. In that moment, I was completely lost...completely smitten with magic.
"I never forgot the absolute THRILL I felt watching that first effect. That's what I try to recreate in my shows. I want people completely entertained. I want them to feel sheer delight and wonder. It's still very exciting to see that same look on the faces of my audiences that I had watching that one card trick.
"I studied and worked at developing my show for the next three years. I didn't accept a penny...I just took shows wherever I could. I got my first professional contract in 1990 and I've been performing magic and mentalism ever since."
And Since Then...
David Thiel performs primarily for the corporate, convention and trade show markets. He is a favourite choice of event planners looking for innovative entertainment. He's a polished grandstand performer at fairs and festivals all over North America.
David is a sought after lecturer at gatherings of professional performers. His effects and articles on mentalism and comedy have appeared in some of the most influential journals and books of our time.
He is also the author of 11 bestselling books written for professional performers.
David is a sought after lecturer at gatherings of professional performers. His effects and articles on mentalism and comedy have appeared in some of the most influential journals and books of our time.
He is also the author of 11 bestselling books written for professional performers.