An Inspired Chat with Manny D’Mago

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Manny D’Mago. Check out our conversation below.

Manny, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
It happens when I lock myself into my garage where I have all my props and magical trinkets; time seems to just escape me and my perception of it disappears as I dive deep into thought and completely lose myself in the silence and my own thought, almost like a deep meditation. Somehow, I always come full circle and remember why I perform…because my brand of luxury magic was meant to be enjoyed and witnessed by the most decerning of clients who nothing more than a magical memory.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Manny D’Mago and I am an entertainer who creates magic memories for very selective clients with my brand of luxury magic. What makes my brand of magic unique is that I don’t just perform tricks, I create an experience where i create rapport with the folks I perform for and connect with them on a deeper level than just “hey, watch this!” I actually like to listen to my clients’ needs and wants and during performance time, my spectators are treated like kings and queens basking in the excitement of feeling like their inner child has been reactivated, gasping in disbelief and awe.

I come well dressed in the finest suits, ready to amaze with quality magic catered specifically to whatever the occasion calls for. Whether its a corporate event, trade shows, private parties like weddings, bar mitzvahs, birthdays, galas or even if you need an emcee for your event, I bring my best to help generate an environment of pure wonder, connectivity and togetherness with a touch of magic! I’ve since evolved from doing children’s parties, focusing more on a more particular type of prospect and providing a more upscale experience, not just another show “off the Blvd.”

Currently, I’m working on expanding my stage show illusions and developing a more robust and captivating stage show with a more theatrical approach. I believe that my next evolution, since appearing on ‘Americas Got Talent’ a few years back, has led me to explore a more engaging and extravagant type of presentation for my luxury magic and illusions for the stage.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped the how I see the world is really a collection of moments throughout my life and it started when I was seven years old with an old man who drew still life pictures in a fire escape in a building I grew up in right in front of Paramount Studios in Hollywood in the late 80’s called me over as I walked by and asked me if I “want to see a magic trick?” After seven days of bugging the hell out of him and one coffee and donut bribe later, he finally showed me how he did it! It was a card trick that absolutely blew mind, especially how simple it was to do. from then on, I showed my grandfather and he was so excited for me, he encouraged me to continue and showed me TV specials with legends like David Copperfield, Harry Blackstone jr, Doug Henning, Lance Burton, Johnny Carson, and later in the 90’s David Blaine, Penn & Teller and Criss Angel.

Fast forward to today, I have made so many magic industry friends and made various connections through networking and even met some of the professional I grew watching on TV and become friends with them. Its been such an exciting journey, my grandfather, (who passed in 1997 not too long after we shared David Blaine’s ‘Street Magic’ TV special) would be very proud of how far I’ve come…I hope!

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were multiple times when I thought giving up was the only way out. One moment was when my Grandfather died in 1997, I fell off the magic wagon for a bit and considered quitting magic all together. I stopped practicing for a few years and eventually picked it up again one day in Santa Cruz, CA. at the boardwalk where a mysterious fellow whispered over to me and asked me if I “wanted to see a magic trick?” The scenario played out like a back alley drug-deal, and the young man amazed me and brought me over to the magic shop right next to the arcade.

Another moment was when I was in college to become a professional mechanic, where I became homeless not once, but twice, sleeping in public parks and showering at gyms with all my belongings in storage with no access until certain designated times. I wasn’t a bum, just homeless, living on the streets. I saw no way out until I started working out of college. There was a glimmer of hope and what helped keep my sanity was the fact that I always kept a book of magic tricks that I could read, a deck of cards and some coins I can always practice with. Eventually some of my co-workers would hire me to perform at some of their festivities and I discovered that my hobbies can actually pay me.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Probably one of the biggest lies the magic industry tells itself is that exposing magic online is the worse thing ever! It’s literally everywhere and totally unavoidable. Go on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, you name it, virtually every social media platform has every other video doing the “masked magican” thing and exposing the secrets behind the latest popular magic tricks.

If you see the comments section on any of these videos, you’ll see a flood of of people thanking that content creator for putting out the exposé, literally with hundreds of thousands of likes and views. There’s no stopping it, yet, magic purists swear that these content creators should be castrated and banned from magic because magic is its secrets. While it’s true magic is it’s secrets, it’s also sold for $39.99 at your local magic shop from your favorite magic trick company or trick creator.

Yes, you can buy magic tricks, however, one can watch the exposé video, reverse engineer it and create your own version of it. The argument for the exposé creators is that people that can’t afford to buy these expensive gimmicks are being drawn toward these videos and they actually fuel the creative mind to continue to bring magic to another level. The counter argument is that those exposé creators are practically stealing from the magic trick creators. Everything they expose, the secrets and methods to the magic trick is shown with out regard to the original creator.

So I suppose the ethical question is when is it theft and when it is ‘philanthropy’ for lack of a better term? When you have had your Penn & Tellers’, the bad boys of magic exposing magic in the late 80’s and early 90’s and the ‘Masked Magician’ Val Valentino doing it in the mid 90’s, one could argue that it’s just a long standing tradition in magic in order for it to be passed on and survive for the next generations enjoyment. Or simply just go to your local magic shop and support your brick and mortar and creators by purchasing the next do-hickey gimmick for $49.99 and buy your exposure.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I believe that I am doing what I was born to do. All my life I’ve always wanted to see people smile, whether it was because I helped them get back on the road by fixing their car or by seeing their faces light up while I perform unbelievable magic illusions; it’s always been satisfying to make people happy.

I was told when I was younger by teachers and some guidance counselors to stay in school and find a career that will pay off in the future. While I did do that and became a master mechanic, I’ve always had that spark for magic that became a flame. Becoming a mechanic actually helped enhance my practical abilities and understanding of magic and it’s applications.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mannydmagomagic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mannydmago/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manny-d-mago-36b17a384
• Twitter: https://x.com/mannydmago
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/61566638612336/
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/manny-d-mago-magic-san-fernando-valley
• Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCS4oEVNqOlSfkA7qYtsEGxQ

Image Credits
Manny D’Mago Entertainment, LLC