Rising Stars: Meet Michael O’Brien of Los Angeles, CA

Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael O’Brien.

Hi Michael, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my passion for magic like anyone does, with a magic set gifted for Christmas. It wasn’t until I was older though that my passion for magic exploded. My senior year in high school some friends and I went for a visit to the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood Blvd. There happened to be a magician there performing just down the way from the Magic Castle (Hollywood and Orange.) He did a show for us and it was the most incredible thing I had ever seen.

After his show I asked him about what he did and how I can learn. After spending a good 20 minutes chatting with me he told me to stand behind him as he gathered another crowd. He performed for them but this time he let me see the cards he was sneaking out of the deck and hiding in his hands. Sort of giving me a behind the scenes look at how he was doing what he had just fooled me with 30 minutes earlier.

I took his advice on what books to check out from my local library and got hooked instantly. I finished off my High School days showing the tricks I learned to my friends and honing my craft.

My first job out of high school was performing magic at Disneyland. This threw me into the fire so to speak as I was doing about 20 shows a day 5 days a week. I got really good really fast because I was basically practicing 8-10 hours a day!

About a year after I graduated I auditioned to join the Magic Castle as. Junior Member (anyone under 21 is considered a Junior) and passed on my first try! From that point forward my career as a performer truly began!

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?
As with anything there will always be obstacles! The hardest one to overcome has been stage fright for me. I get very shy especially in environments I am not comfortable with. After practicing and getting more and more comfortable performing started to get easier and easier. The nice thing about knowing magic is it can make for a great icebreaker when around people you don’t know! For me, the ability to flip a switch and go into performance mode when around people I don’t know has made socializing so much easier for me!

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a professional Magician and Mentalist. I have won awards from the Magic Castle in Hollywood specifically for my strolling magic which mixes expert sleight of hand with mind reading.

As for my achievements, I am a 2 time winner of the “Strolling Magic Showdown” at the magic castle. Essentially this is a competition where strolling magicians perform for a room full of guests going from table to table and the guests get to vote on who they liked best! I am one of only a handful of people that have been able to win this award more than once.

I have also made a few national television appearances including “Good Morning America,” “Penn & Teller Fool Us,” and “America’s Got Talent. I have been on handful of local television shows as well including “KTLA 5 Morning News” and MiTú TV’s “Cholos Try.”

I think I am most proud of the fact that I am able to take what I love and turn my passion into something that allows me to earn a living. Seeing the smiles and joy my career brings people is so rewarding.

What matters most to you?
My family. Without them none of this would be possible. I strive to be the best version of me I can because they have been so supportive and wonderful to me. My wife has been by my side throughout all of it (the best and the worst of times) and continues even to this day to encourage me to keep going. My daughter is my rock. She is doing so well in school and has such a passion for art that I can see her blossoming into an artist in her own right. And a pretty darn good one at that!

Pricing:

• Family Magic Show (Great for kids and adults) $500 for a 1 hour show
• Closeup Magic and Mentalism show (Aimed at adults and great for small gatherings or house parties) $750 for a 1 hour show
• Stage Mentalism Show (Great for Corporates and Large venues where I’ll be on stage) $1,500 for a 1 hour show
• Strolling/Mingling Magic (Great for cocktail events where I walk around) $600 per hour

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.obrienmagic.com
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/obrienmagic
• Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/michael-o-brien-huntington-beach-2?osq=Michael+O%E2%80%99Brien