April 17, 2017

Meet Evan Disney of Evan Disney’s Magical Entertainment in Hollywood

Local Stories

Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Disney.

Evan, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
What a road… In high school I was a spastic, ADHD, only child, who went to a small private catholic high school. My father was a cop and an EMT/Fire Fighter and my mother was a housewife. I had a, well… large personality, with an unreal amount of energy. I started working with card tricks in 1996, during my senior year in high school. It gave me something to show people that allowed me to shine and not annoy. Once out of high school, I went into the Navy. I was stationed in Great Lakes, IL which is right outside Chicago. At Chicago’s Navy Pier, there used to be a shop called Magic Masters, which was where I purchased my first “Magic Trick” for fifteen dollars. I remember sitting on a bench, in my Navy dress whites, my cover beside me, at the Navy Pier, practicing. Just eighteen years old, in my own world, oblivious to all that was around. When I was ready to get up and there was two dollars in my cover. I was hooked. After the Navy, I returned to my hometown of Missoula, Montana, with my soon to be first wife. I started working for a plumbing company, called Mountain Supply, selling tubs, toilets, faucets etc… I would entertain the kids while the parents shopped. I became known as the “Magic Man” at Mountain Supply. About a year into my employment, a gentleman I worked with left the company to become the general manager of our town’s Sizzler. He insisted that I become their Restaurant Magician, performing two nights a week. That is when my venture really began. The year was 2000.

From 2000-2013 my journey encountered a multitude of obstacles and stepping stones. After two wives, five kids, and three career changes, I found myself a homeless single dad. But through all the challenges, still I always found new ways to cultivate and continue my art. What started with restaurant table magic and in-home birthday parties, turned into corporate events, school functions, fairs, weekly shows, and Vegas giveaways, always trying to find the perfect recipe to make a living off just my Magic. Right before my second wife left me I was scouted by a national talent scout, Kim Meyers of ARTS (Applause Rising Talent Showcase). I competed with my radio announcer voice at the Waldorf Astoria in Orlando, Florida and took first in the world in Commercial. Didn’t make millions, though, so my second wife left shortly after the competition. It was the first time I performed my magic outside of my hometown, and it received a huge welcoming response, fueling my fire even more to succeed.

In 2013, after my second divorce and five kids, as a single dad I was working harder than ever to maintain a day job while trying to figure out how to transition to full time magician. I was a #MagicianOnAMission. One night I walk into a bar in Missoula, “The Broadway” There happened to be a city level karaoke contest as a satellite for the Karaoke World Championships (KWC). My friends talked me in entering, and I took first in the city for male singers. This was cool, but I didn’t really have the flexibility to go to the state finals in Montana’s capital, Helena. Through the love and support from my friends they made it possible by arranging child care and transportation for me to go and compete in the state competition. Low and behold, I became the 2013 KWC Montana State Male Champion. This one moment, oddly enough, started my path to California. The regional competition was hosted at the Chrome Showroom within the Station Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Once again, faced with a nearly impossible challenge, I scrambled to figure out ways to make money to compete in Vegas.

So, one Saturday I am performing at the Missoula Farmers’ Market and my kids are selling raffle tickets to help raise money for regionals in Vegas. At this time, we were no longer homeless but still couch surfing from friend to friend. I am performing an illusion when a grey-haired man grabs me by my shoulders in the middle of the set, and says “I need you for a fundraiser in September” without flinching I said, “Okay.” He replied with “But I haven’t told you what it is for?” and I responded with “No worries, doesn’t much matter” to which he replied with” But I can’t pay you”, and I said “That’s cool.” Then I took his card, and made arrangements to contact him in a couple weeks, not thinking twice about it. I do manage to raise enough money to go to Vegas and perform, and placed fifth in the region, and eight in the Nation. I received great feedback in Vegas. I mixed my magic with karaoke which resulted in a very welcome response. It was the first time since Orlando I had unleashed my self-trained talents anywhere other than Missoula, and it was on a stage in Vegas. It was very surreal.

I return from Vegas, more determined than ever. Not only am I more confident and driven with my magic, but now figuring out how to get to nationals at the Golden Oak Casino in Northern California. Meanwhile, I do the fundraiser for the old man from the farmers’ market. His name is David Mirisch, Founder of Mirisch Enterprises. His father was the founder of Mirisch Films, David has raised over 30 million dollars for non-profits in his career. I do his event, and he comes up to me afterwards and says “Evan, I have been around many performers, have friends in the Magic Castle, and there is just something special about you”. And he said the best words ever, he said “Evan I am going to market you for free” So I started meeting with this man weekly, so he could mentor me and start giving me the tools to mold my dream into a reality.

From September 2013 to October 2014 David brought me in on his celebrity fundraisers, to network, host, and perform, gaining letters of recommendations, solidifying plans and identifying weaknesses. I learned structure and gained experience and began grasping the concept of branding, still trying to be a full-time magician in Missoula, MT. In the process, David Mirisch introduced me to the concept of helping nonprofits with my skill. I was gaining momentum, competing in two more World Karaoke Contests, performing for/with a group of epic performers “Elvis Monroe” at the Red Rock Lounge in Vegas because of Karaoke, but still not making a livable income as a family man.

In September 2014, I get some difficult news. David Mirisch was moving back to LA. My mentor, my friend, a man I now consider family, needed to go back where he could do more events. I loaded the 78-year-old Mirisch and his beautiful wife, Sandy’s house into U-Haul’s biggest truck and on October 27th 2014, I drove with him and his wife to their new house in Thousand Oaks, CA. I flew back home to Missoula with new knowledge but limited success in my hometown of 100,000 people.

At this time, my ex-wife returned from Pakistan, eight months after she had left us homeless to be with a Pakistani kid she had met online while I was working two jobs, going to school, and trying take care of a family. At this point, she agreed that it was my turn to take some time. So, in March of 2015 after making sure my kids and my ex had an apartment and were stable, I loaded a 2000 Lincoln town car with my clothes and my magic, and left for California with three thousand dollars in my pocket. I was headed for Torrance where a friend of mine had a studio. She said she had a couch for me while I got situated. I found out fast that three thousand dollars in California does not go nearly as far as it does in Montana. I spent about 18 days in Torrance before I realized the studio was just too small. I had a friend in Riverside, so I found a room to rent and got a job 6 days a week selling DirecTV in Sam’s Club in Chino.

Throughout my transition, I made sure to connect with David Mirisch now that I was in California. He had events on the schedule for me that included 1978 LA Rams Cheerleader Reunion, the 2015 World Special Olympics, High Hopes, and many other events to network at, but they were few and far between, and I was often volunteering my time. After a couple of months in Riverside, I decided the job wasn’t going to work with my magic, and I acquired a position in Orange County with a great Irvine-based property management company called Advanced Management Company. I started with them in June 2015 and currently reside and work at an apartment complex in Fullerton as part of the leasing staff.

After solidifying a day job like my father always told me was necessary to be an entertainer, I started plucking away at my magic goals. I was so fortunate to meet so many like mined people once I settled in Fullerton, people that genuinely wanted to help, My Marketing Director, Terecita Baker, and owner of her own business, Snap My Pix, has been instrumental in my image, capturing my magic in so many ways. In addition, she has opened the door for me to be able to perform in local churches and schools, which is a huge passion of mine. I was often bullied in school, and I have the desire to present a positive message with my magic to help prevent bullying and provide a safe outlet for those that have been bullied. My technical Director, David Allison, who owns Raising the Bar Entertainment, introduced me to how the industry is in California. And there are so many others too numerous to mention. Pardon the pun, but when the universe shows you that you are on the right path, it truly is magic.

Since settling in the OC, I have since established and solidified my business and become a productive member of the North Orange County Chamber. One of the highlights of my time in California, and my career, is taking my self-taught skill to apply, successfully audition, and be accepted as a Magician Member of Hollywood’s World Famous Magic Castle. I am setting my focus on raising money for the small organizations like churches, clubs, and schools so that I can continue to use my influence to beat bullying through magic. I am excited to see where the journey leads from here, but a part of my magic is I always move forward or sideways, never back. I want to at some point start a foundation that helps highlight the magic of ADHD.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Being an entertainer anywhere is never really a smooth road, but in my small town everyone was always telling me that I was just dreaming and will never make it. Often that seems like a burden but for me, it was great motivation. The biggest struggle would defiantly be not being taken seriously, and never really having the full support of your loved ones and family. Fortunately for me, I never care what anyone thinks of me, it’s none of my business. I have been homeless three times in my life, and one of those times was with kids in the Montana winter, in a horse shed with no water or electricity, and nasty spiders. But I smiled through it. Why? Because the real magic is that you learn, grow, teach. The biggest industry challenge was not having someone that I could look to for guidance and mentorship in this business. I had no gauge on what to charge, or if I was good enough to charge. Magic is hard to buy in Montana on line. Normally, I could only use a third of what I ordered. But to stop somebody’s stress for just a moment to amaze and delight them, there is nothing more satisfying. So, I read, learned, practiced, tried, and never gave up.

Evan Disney’s Magical Entertainment – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I started Disney’s Magical Entertainment in the early 2000s, but a friend cautioned I should add my first name. I was born into to the Disney name, it is on my birth certificate, and it is said that there are roughly 40 Disney families in the US, and at some point, they all tie back in lineage. I would be lying if I told you that it didn’t make me smile a little that I own a business in Orange County with Disney and Magical in the title, and it is legit. When you google #MrDisney, you see mostly my Magic under images.

I believe I am unique for a few reasons: 1) I genuinely believe in people, and I genuinely believe that all people at some point can use a magical mental escape. I rather believe in the best and be disappointed 2-5% of the time, then worry %100 of the time that someone might let me down. That is the core to my magic. 2.) I feel I am most unique because I didn’t come to California for fame, or fortune, but for more people to impact. It is my job, my team’s job, and my business to be a #MagicianOnAMission Doing everything possible to manifest moments of imagination that inspire hope, positivity, and life-long magical memories. I am so proud in what the magic of believing in people has inspired and created. Everyone has magic, everyone can generate a smile, and I have been given the unique gift of finding and inspiring that magic.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
“Secret of My Success” has always been one of my all-time favorite movies. A young, motivated Michael J Fox, going to make it no matter what. He lived it, breathed it, and created a position out of thin air… magic! Success is to never give up, to always help others find their magic, to experience, learn, then teach, to be accountable for the choice you always control. I want my success to be measured in the bewilderment and inspiration I stir in those around me. #BeTheMagic

My success will be measured in the example I set for my children, for strangers and for the good of believing to believe, that is and will be the magic of my success in regards to a legacy. In success for my career, I want to be comfortable providing for my family and responsibilities by just doing what I love. To set my children up for success. To make an income that allows me to be a full-time inspiration is my next goal on my business road of success.
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