Zach Waldman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Zach, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
A “normal” day for me is like a magic trick—technically there’s structure, but most of the time it looks like chaos with flair. I try to wake up before noon, which in LA qualifies me for sainthood. Then it’s straight into emails: booking requests, proposals, follow-ups. Basically, I’m a professional stalker with better grammar.
After that, I hit the gym, because if I don’t lift weights, the doves will start bullying me. I grab a meal, and then it’s time to write jokes or work on new magic routines. Sometimes both, which explains why I once wrote a punchline that ended with “TA-DA!”
Nights are split: Jiu- Jitsu if I want strangers to choke me for fun, or strength training if I’d rather just choke myself with a barbell. Either way, I end the day sore, sweaty, and wondering if I picked this career just to avoid wearing khakis.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Zach Waldman—a comedian, magician, and mentalist based in Los Angeles. I’ve been performing since I was a kid, which means I’ve had plenty of time to learn how to read a room, land a punchline, and make someone’s watch disappear without getting arrested.
My brand is pretty simple: I make it effortless for people to book world-class entertainment. That’s why I call myself “The Easiest Entertainer You’ll Ever Work With.” I take the stress off clients, then give their guests a night they’ll talk about long after the dessert table is cleared.
What makes me different is the mix: comedy that actually makes you laugh (not just “magician funny”), combined with magic that isn’t just card tricks—it’s interactive, surprising, and often customized to the event itself.
Right now, I’m also building out the Wildcard Roadshow—a cross-country comedy-and-magic pop-up tour that takes my act out of the ballroom and into unexpected spots, from boutique venues to laundromats. Because if I can amaze you while your socks are tumbling, imagine what I can do on a stage.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
I wouldn’t say “powerful” is the right word—but the first time I felt confident I could actually succeed as a performer was when I slipped into a flow state on stage. I remember speaking and having no idea where the words were coming from. It was like I’d turned into an antenna for the universe, and the less I tried, the better everything landed.
At first, I thought it was just luck. The first few times it happened, I walked off stage half-convinced I’d never be able to repeat it. But over time, I realized it kept happening. Even now, I can’t tell you how it works—I still don’t trust it completely—but sure enough, every show, it’s there.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that held me back the most was stage fright. People always think anxiety is some mysterious psychological demon, but honestly, for me it was just bad life choices in disguise. If you live on pizza at 2 a.m., skip sleep, and think “exercise” is carrying groceries from the car, your body’s basically going to manufacture panic for you.
Once I started working out, eating real food, keeping a decent sleep schedule, and practicing mindfulness, the stage fright disappeared completely. I don’t get nervous at all anymore. These days, the only thing shaking during my shows are the cocktails in the audience’s hands.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
I know firsthand that the self is an illusion. The public version of me absolutely is the real me—it’s just the version designed for entertaining. When I’m on stage, I’m fully present, fully alive, and that’s as real as it gets.
But when I’m off stage, sitting quietly at dinner and listening to other people, that’s also the real me. In those moments, I’m not the center of attention—I’m simply the space for others to fill. Both versions are authentic. I don’t see them as separate masks, just different expressions of the same thing.
After all, if anyone should understand illusions, it’s me.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m not lost in thought—when I’m fully present. That could be on stage, locked into the rhythm of a show, or on the mats at jiu jitsu, where it’s hard to worry about the future when someone’s actively trying to strangle you.
I’ve realized peace doesn’t come from fixing every problem in life, it comes from actually being here for it. The moment I start time-traveling in my head—rehashing the past or worrying about the future—I’m gone. But when I’m fully present, everything’s clear. Even LA traffic feels manageable,
Still, whether it’s performing, training, or just sitting quietly, those moments of presence are when I feel the most grounded. That’s where the real magic is.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ZachWaldman.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zachcomedymagic/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachwaldman/
- Twitter: https://x.com/ZachWaldman
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZachWaldmanMagician/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/zach-waldman-magician-santa-monica
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ZachWaldman1
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@zachcomedymagic
