Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Lake.
Hi Rob, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Growing up (in Oklahoma) I always had the show-business bug. My heroes were (& still are) true wizards: Walt Disney, Jim Henson, Steven Spielberg, Ron Howard- people who have taken us on epic journeys full of wonder. When I was just 10 years old, I saw a magic show, and I knew- this was my path. It was as though I had divine instructions downloaded into me- that is how sure and certain I was about it. Immediately, I went to the library and got every single book they had on magic. I studied, practiced, and obsessed. Throughout school my friends would go off partying over the weekends, but I would be booking myself to do shows: birthday parties, church groups, Rotary and civic groups, company banquets – anywhere I could. I would save up all my little magic money and invest it in a larger trick or illusion. So I incrementally grew my show over my entire life.
When I was just 20 years old, I realized I had to go for it, so I took a permanent leave of absence from college and went out full time. A mentor who happened to have one of the biggest magic shows in the world let me stay in his guest house for a few months, and loaned me illusions when I would get gigs. I have always been driven, passionate, and wiling to work as hard as it is required, but back then I was very naive. I thought because I wanted it so bad, and was willing to work, it would happen. But it didn’t. I struggled. I couch surfed with friends and family. I moved home, I lived as cheap as I could to commit and make sure that I was doing absolutely everything I could to follow my dreams.
Eventually I got a gig- 6 months at a theme park in Asia. I thought I made it- I was on billboards in Japan, and TV commercials. Looking back it was a great learning and growth time. The stage had green astroturf, and when it rained the theatre would leak and flood everywhere. But for me, it was grand, I was living my dream around the world.
From there I was really lucky, and persistent work paid off. I did another Asia contract, worked on cruise ships for a moment, and started touring theaters and casinos- which I still do.
About twenty years ago, I started designing magic and illusions for musicals, plays, commercials, and even for other magicians. A side “hobby” of mine has been this. I love entertainment, I love theatre, it is my way of being part of the creativity out of a magic show. I have now been creative consultant, illusion designer, and magic consultant for Disney, Broadway, and, even Adele’s iconic Vegas residency
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Oh, it has not been smooth at all.
I have more stories and experiences than could fill an entire series of self-help and motivation books and lectures.
I always had significant dreams and plans- and those come with significant costs, and significant skills that had to be discovered and learned before they could be attained. I’ve always had a tendency to bite off just a little more than I knew I could chew- but then chew very hard. This is how I have been able to grow to having the biggest illusion and magic show in the world.
Even though setbacks have happened, I’ve realized I cannot change them, but I learn from them, and learn how to avoid them next time. If a life lesson repeats itself, I know I have more learning to do.
Early obstacles starting a career and struggling to survive and grow- and creative battles, all probably common.
But I would say the biggest challenge still comes with persistence. Fighting through when logic, peers, rationale, finances, timing, every other forces says to give up, but overcoming the inner obstacles to push through.
Sometimes it takes decades, yes, decades, to create an illusion. One illusion took me eleven years. My friends in show business told me to give up- it would never work, but I refused to stop. It just took a long time to get to the stage, and then was a hit on screen on shows like AGT, and online with millions and millions of views.
Another illusion I had a concept for when I was 12 or 13. I even drew it out. An obscene amount of money later, it is in the show now and amazing audiences.
Every obstacle imaginable has come in the way of doing the impossible with illusions in my show.
Even tour logistics has all sorts of challenges regularly surprising me and my entire team.
In 2024, I had a very fun and successful tour in South Africa. However the shipping company screwed up my freight and it took over 6 months to come back- so we had to juggle our shows, illusions, and equipment around to accommodate that and also ship out equipment for a Dubai and Middle East tour, and still perform USA shows.
I don’t think I could have handled any of these obstacles today, if I had not gone through every single one I did to get to this point.
Ultimately, I have an obligation to my audiences to give them the best show imaginable, and I have an obligation to myself to make sure everything I do is the best and strongest it can be.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As an Illusionist, my specialty is grand-scale, large Theatrical magic. My show tours all over the globe (over 60 countries and counting), and we perform on arenas, theatres, and casinos all over.
Because I am a lover of theatre, hollywood, Disney parks, everything I do is very theatrical, it is modern-magical-story telling, on a grand scale.
In my shows, I don’t just trick the audience like magic is done on social media. Rather, it is an immersive theatrical experience where I take the audience on a journey of what magic means to me.
Even the harshest skeptic will give up a few minutes into the show, and experience the wonder. All ages can feel- even if just for a moment- that anything can be possible.
Each illusion that I create takes years of work, so it they are like my children in a way. It is hard to pick a favorite moment of the show, but zooming out on myself, I am most proud that I have been able to defy the odds and accomplish everything I have set out. The fact that I am still living my dream, still pursuing my passions, and still creating makes me look back over It all with the biggest joy and smile.
Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
The most impactful childhood memory was seeing the first magic show that made me want to be a magician. I still remember it vividly
Other impactful and favorite memories include meeting Michael Eisner at Disneyland, and my first time going to see Broadway shows. I had this entertainment, production drive in me as far back as I can remember.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.RobLake.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RobLakeMagic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RobLakeMagic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/RobLakeMagic
Image Credits
RobLakeMagic
