Today we’d like to introduce you to Alan Chien.
Hi Alan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve always loved making people happy, and magic has been one of my favorite ways to brighten a day. What began as imitating magicians from grainy early-2000s videos in the school lunchroom grew into developing my own routines for patients in a hospital. I was later accepted into the junior program at Hollywood’s Magic Castle, where I found a community of inspiring, thoughtful entertainers. Today, I feel fortunate to share what magic gave me — wonder, connection, and joy — at weddings, birthdays, and everyday moments. As a pediatric resident physician, I also get to bring a touch of magic to my patients and their families.
Alright, 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?
The road has its bumps and potholes, but that’s not a bad thing. Being a magician has made me a better doctor, and being a doctor has made me a better magician.
In college, I performed in a hematology-oncology ward. I’ll admit, I tried walking taller in my blue volunteer polo, hoping I looked like I belonged among the ivory walls and waxed floors. But those halls taught me something deeper: magic isn’t in the trick—it’s in the laughter, the memories, and the sense of play that can even outlast chemotherapy.
These days, residency means changing out of blue scrubs into a navy suit in the front seat of my 2009 Toyota Camry. More than once, the scrub top is halfway off, but my arms are caught in the sleeves like a finger trap. In that moment, I wonder if I’m doing either role justice. But that’s where the overlap reveals itself: magicians and physicians both meet people at vulnerable moments. Both jobs are far from ordinary. And both thrive by being in relation with others.
The bumps in the road have taught me this: sometimes when you hit a pothole, you need a little magic—or at least AAA.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As a magician, I specialize in cocktail settings, but I have material suitable for audiences of up to one hundred people. Right now, I’m one of the resident close-up magicians at Hollywood’s Black Rabbit Rose. My performances break the ice, get strangers laughing, and help friends fall back into their rhythm together. Over time, I’ve realized that connection has become one of my superpowers. After two decades of performing — and years of training as a pediatrician — “awkward” is one of the last words I’d use to describe the spaces I create.
More recently, I’ve been working on a different kind of project, a black-box-style production designed for an intimate audience of approximately 20–30 people. The show is close to my heart, and I’ve been lucky to collaborate with incredible artists like Harley Cortez, Melanie Atwater, Emily Beihold, and Zade Batal, who’ve brought original artwork and visuals. The show is called The Lemon Tree. In a way, it’s a coming-of-age story centered around — surprise — a lemon tree, and told through magic.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Come to my show and find out!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Alanchien.com
- Instagram: flowcytometer
