Today we’d like to introduce you to Brettso The Great.
Hi Brettso The Great, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started performing magic professionally 8 years ago but I have been in magic my whole life. I watched a lot of great magic growing up in the 90’s and early 2,000’s. I got my first magic set on my 5th birthday. I have done some shows growing up but it wasn’t to the level of shows I do now. I originally grew up in Northern California but moved down to the OC back in 2010. I went to college and after college made this career starting in 2017. Fast forward to today, I have performed over 1,000+ shows and have performed at the World Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood on 4 separate occasions and won the Silver Medal in Children’s Magic at PCAM 2023.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. A lot of self doubt and being in SoCal, it is a tough business to break into. A lot of trust with clients had to be built up and I am also competing with some of the best in the business. Even during covid, I was questioning my career choice, but after covid was over around late 2021/2022. I knew I made the right decision.
Jobs that I was originally considering are being threatened by AI taking over those jobs. I am not sure if AI can take over my job but it will take a really long time to do.
Point is, while it was scary at first, I was happy that I did since I am in a better position now than ever.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in a specific type of magic known as Children’s magic. While it may sound easy on paper. Their is a lot of theory and psychology involved to entertain kids in the most organic way possible. Some magicians try to get into this line of magic and they soon find out how hard it is.
It is like being a Trade Show Magician. That has it’s own style in performance, psychology, and theory that is way beyond me and I respect those magicians who do that work. Not only do you have to do amazing magic but sell the company at that trade show.
I am proud to be able to do this line of work let alone this style of magic. It is one of the styles that unfortunately gets hated on in our industry, but it is getting better. People that I thought I was going to have to put a defensive guard up in the industry tell me now how much they respect us. Times are changing with the mindset of this subject. Which is good.
I believe the stereotype comes from the clown community who do some magic in their clown shows and blanked us children’s magicians as those clowns. With that being said, clowns doing magic is just as valid but that its own style too that has some unique performing theory as well.
What set’s me apart from others is the level of improv I do in my show. I don’t know how to explain it, but I am very witty with my responses to kids. Some kids might come up on stage and I have a snappy joke or comeback that is organic to that situation that just comes natural to me. While I do have a script of key points to go over in a trick, It is mostly improv for the rest of it.
An example some kid runs on stage with their arms back and I would say “why are you Naruto running”. But I know that from that anime and it is organic in that situation since the kid did that.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Come up with a 3o minute magic show that you love to do. Be good at that. Perform it for many people as you can. Then worry about your branding and final costume design then marketing. The show is your foundation. Your looks and marketing will be the house foundation it is built on.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://brettsothegreat.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brettsothegreat/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@brettsothegreat8646
