Today we’d like to introduce you to Cydney Kaplan.
Hi Cydney, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I fell in love with magic as a child. My parents used to entertain a lot and my brother and I would put on little magic shows. We lived fairly close to a magic shop and I remember getting our allowance money and riding our bikes to the shop to get new tricks. He was the magician, of course and I was the assistant, of course (it was the 80s). He had a real magician’s cape, it was black satin on the outside and red satin on the inside. My cape? It was my pink baby blanket! As I got older, I loved cards. My father taught me how to play cards and shuffle and I got quite good at both. I started working at the VA hospital in high school and I would play cards with the veterans and they would call me a shark…they couldn’t beat me. I learned a few card tricks in junior high that I did throughout my whole life. I started taking classes at the Magic Castle in 2017 and in 2018, I auditioned. One of the effects I did was one of the card tricks I had been doing since junior high, so it was really full circle for me. Since I’ve become a member, I’ve been lucky enough to perform at the Castle in the Close Up Gallery. It has been a dream come true. I recently performed at the Boston Convention Center for 6,000 people! Several other opportunities have come along as well including private parties, philanthropic events and galas. It’s been a wild ride and I’m enjoying every minute of it!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
I came into magic with the idea that I wanted to do it as a hobby and it has turned into much more than that. So, yes, it’s been a smooth ride because I set my expectations low to a degree. I have a full-time job working with people with Alzheimer’s and dementia, so doing magic on the side is the icing on top.
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?
I specialize in close-up magic. I love performing for people close up and having them say “I’m sitting right next to you and I didn’t see anything! How is that possible?!?!” If you ask me what am I proud of, it’s that. I’m also proud that I have own my feminine energy while still taking charge of the room, not adhering to the traditional rules of women. I have been described by others as very sassy but still having the audience on my side. A lot of people have commented on my audience management style as impressive. I don’t think that’s impressive, I think people aren’t used to seeing a woman take charge like I do.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Perseverance. I work very hard. I take what I do seriously and I put the work in. I do it over and over again until it’s right. In my full-time work, I do cognitive brain fitness with my clients and I tell them all the time, “we will keep doing it over and over until we can remember it without thinking!” I practice what I preach, that’s for sure!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.cydneykaplanmagic.com
- Instagram: @cydneykaplanmagic
Image Credits
Lisa Whiteman, Taylor Wong, Tony Chiappetta, Michael Casalino (art)
