Meet Joe Skilton of Santa Clarita

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Skilton.

Hi Joe, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I specialize in a type of magic called mentalism. As a mentalist, I entertain audiences by combining magic and psychology to create the illusion of mind reading! I think it’s the most amazing type of magic.

When I was a child, I’d perform shows for friends, neighbors and family. It was a lot of fun, but I never thought I’d be making a living at it! I’ve been full-time now for 19 years.

In 2004, I joined the Academy of Magical Arts (aka The Magic Castle), and it changed my life. I got to meet some of the top magicians and mentalists in the world. One day, I participated in a magic competition at the club, and magic superstar Criss Angel presented me with an award! Pretty soon, I was being hired to entertain the members and their guests. I left my career in advertising shortly thereafter.

Since then, I’ve entertained A-list celebrities, Fortune 500 CEOs, and even foreign royalty. Although I still do the occasional private event in Los Angeles, I mostly perform at company events all over the country. In the last 4 weeks I’ve entertained in San Francisco, Portland, Columbus, and Palm Springs. I also just did my mentalism stage show at Illusion Magic Lounge in Santa Monica. It’s a great magic theater right in our backyard!

I’m not a Las Vegas headliner, and I’ve never competed in America’s Got Talent. But I’m incredibly lucky to be sharing joy and amazement with audiences all over the country.

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?
I love my job! But being an entertainer is never a smooth road. The pandemic was a particularly difficult time. I mostly perform at corporate events, and within two weeks, I saw my entire year’s worth of events cancel.

I quickly converted our guest bedroom into a virtual studio, and I started performing virtually at company zoom meetings and webinars. This was the very beginning of “work from home” and companies were desperate for any kind of entertainment that would bring their employees or clients together.

Those shows were a hit, but I’m glad they’re behind me. I’d rather see my audiences in person!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Some magicians do sleight-of-hand. As a mentalist, I specialize in sleight-of-mind!

I believe that mentalism is the most amazing, powerful, and impossible form of magic. There’s nothing more impossible than having a stranger stand on stage and read your mind!

I want audiences to realize that the human mind is capable of truly amazing things. And so are we!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The best key to success in any industry is to understand exactly what your clients need.

I realized a long time ago that my clients don’t really need a magician or a mentalist. What they need is engaging entertainment that connects with smart adults. Magic and mentalism are simply the tools I use to help my clients have magical, memorable events.

In my keynotes, I remind people that we’re ALL capable of amazing things. We all have unique talents. True success comes from figuring out what you do well, and finding a way to use those skills to help other people. I help my clients create amazing experiences.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.joeskilton.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeskilton/