Today we’d like to introduce you to Richard Ribuffo.
Richard, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Today, I am professional corporate magician. I work for myself and I couldn’t be happier! I started in magic when I was 17. There was a magic shop in a flea market near a friend’s house in West Palm Beach, Florida. That’s where the journey began. I popped in and bought a magic trick. I showed it to my friends at school and they were amazed! After frequenting the shop over the following months, the shop owner asked me to attend a meeting of magicians known as a “ring meeting.” I was inducted into the International Brotherhood of Magicians and have been practicing the art of magic ever since. Three years ago, I moved from Florida to Los Angeles with the hopes of furthering my career. I quickly became member of the Hollywood Magic Castle where I had the opportunity to mingle with some of the greatest minds in magic. With the support of my magic community, my wife, and sheer will, my business has grown tremendously! I am rapidly achieving my goals with no end in sight! I am thankful for all that I have and anticipate a prosperous career as a corporate magician.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since moving to California from Florida, I’ve had a lot of support from my wife. She has supported me and helped to make this a smooth transition. But, the journey here was long and hard. During the market crash of 2008 I lost my job, my house and my car. I was forced to final for bankruptcy in 2009. With no other options, I went back to school to finish my bachelor’s degree in theatre. From there I moved to Louisville, KY, to attend the University of Louisville’s master’s program. After a year and a half, I chose to leave. It was amicable. I decided I didn’t need a master in acting to pursue a career in magic. If anything, I needed business training. My wife and I agreed, if I was going to make a career of performing magic, then I needed to be in a place that would both challenge me and provide the necessary opportunities for success. That is when we decided to move to Los Angeles. My experience in sales, college education, and perseverance has helped to make my business here a successful one.
Please tell us about Richard The Magician.
As a corporate magician, I provide entertainment and other essential serves to businesses locally and across the nation. My services include strolling magic, stage performances and public speaking. Companies hire me to perform strolling magic at networking events to help get their guests talking and mingling. It serves as the perfect ice-breaker! Companies also hire my services as a magician to bring people into their trade show booths, as well as, entertainment for business seminars and holiday events.
For my speaking gigs, I have a lot to offer in terms of creating an excellent presentation. During my speaking engagements, I train other professionals in the ways of the theatrical arts. I share information on how to make presentations more dynamic. It’s all about building a personal report with the audience.
My knowledge of theatre and my ability to communicate it to non-actors sets me apart from other presenters. My theatrical experience also gives me the skills to customize my performances to fit the needs of my clients. Most other entertainers have one show, take it or leave it. My shows are different every time because all of my clients have different needs and different messages. This is especially useful when performing at trade shows.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My favorite childhood memories involve my family. We take road trips from Florida to New York. That’s where my parents are from. Growing up in Florida, I never got to see snow as a kid. I remember the first time I ever saw snow. It sounds trite, but it was really one of the most magical things I’ve ever experienced. To this day, I have an obsession with snow. The first time I saw snow, I was about 5-years-old. We took a trip to New York to visit family for Christmas. When we got to South Carolina, I saw snow on the ground for the first time. I begged my parents to pull over. My dad pulled off to the side of the road and I had my first snow fight with my sister! That trip to New York was also the first and last time I had ever been sledding. May this winter I’ll go up to Big Bear and sled again. It will be the first time in 30 years!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.richardthemagician.com
- Phone: 1 (877) 210 – 1882
- Email: richard@richardthemagician.com
- Instagram: insta.richardthemagician.com
- Facebook: fb.richardthemagician.com
- Twitter: twitter.com/SexyMagicFace
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/richard-the-magician-anaheim?osq=magician
Image Credit:
Travis Stolp
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