Today we’d like to introduce you to Kevin Li.
As the Youngest Returner and Fooler on the widely celebrated and respected TV show “Penn & Teller Fool Us” and one of the youngest adult members at the world-famous “Magic Castle” in Los Angeles, Kevin Li has already made an impressionable mark on the magic industry. Not only did Kevin fool Penn and Teller on their revered TV show, but he made Teller tear up on his first appearance on the show and managed to fool them a second time on his second appearance. Beyond age old and revered magic institutions, Kevin has one of the largest followings on social media for a magician, going viral time and time again for his tricks as he’s able to flawlessly speak to a younger digital audience.
As a Chinese American from Rowland Heights, Kevin has beautifully woven integral pieces of his heritage into his magic in the most natural ways that transform his magic into storytelling. His undeniable ability to encapsulate audiences and leave his audiences with a deep love for magic has always set the pace for his young but undeniably decorated young career and will do so for many years to come.
Kevin has also performed around the world for prestigious clientele including Google, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, Universal, Toyota and many more. His emphasis on content and his presence on social media has also landed him brand collaborations with companies like Instagram and Snapchat.
Has it been a smooth road?
Coming from a traditional Asian family, there wasn’t anyone else I could be compared to. Financial stability was always the most important when finding a good career so pursuing my passion in Magic wasn’t exactly practical to many family members. It’s always tough to have belief in a career path that doesn’t have any roadmaps. The unknown is definitely scary, but could lead to many fruitful events. Through the dedication I put into creating everyday and performing when I wasn’t busy at school, an opportunity rose to perform on the hit TV show, Penn and Teller: Fool Us. What an amazing experience it was to be on TV for the first time in my life. Although I didn’t fool them, I gained so much experience throughout the process I continued developing new ideas. Returning on the show never happens when you don’t fool them the first time, but somehow it happened with me. That happened months before graduating senior year of college as an International Business major with a marketing minor. Timing-wise, it worked out pretty last minute. I’m very proud to be the first in my entire family to pursue a full-time career in entertainment. The year after 2019, graduation took off pretty well until lockdown hit me immediately. .
All my upcoming bookings were canceled in a blink of an eye and I was left with no venues to perform at. I spent the next couple of months after lockdown restructuring how Magic would be experienced in the new age. That’s how the idea of a Virtual Show came about which is still very fresh to audiences. Although everyone may be used to the standard Zoom meetings or virtual happy hours, my show adds a completely new experience. The magic I have designed into the show has 80-90% of the magic happening using audience interaction so it’s very hands-on and further connects team members. My goal with this virtual show was to build up more company morale and it’s been getting rave reviews from my domestic and international audiences. It’s definitely a one of a kind experience you need to check out. The experience makes that screen barrier non-existent to create a sense of normality.
If you had to start over, what would you have done differently?
I believe everything in my path was meant to lead to the discovery of the current one. I wouldn’t do anything differently as we all have our own timelines and I strive to always become a better version of myself day by day.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Self confidence has played a huge role for my career because it allows us to stop judging ourselves every step of the way and just continue to learn and create. Doing what you do based on the comments/thoughts of others limits your abilities to expand your work in the long run. To do what others don’t, you need to do what others don’t. That all starts with looking deep within yourself and truly sharing who you are.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kevinlimagic.com/
Email: [email protected]
Image Credit:
Melly Lee
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