Magic shows typically provide audience members with an escape from their current troubles. On Friday, Jan. 27, magician Daniel Martin went beyond the norm and aimed to change people’s lives.
Longwood Freshman Price McIntyre was brought on Jarman Hall’s stage to perform card tricks with Martin during the show. When Martin heard that McIntyre was also a magician, he immediately wanted him to join. The two performed a few card tricks while trading jokes, poking fun at one another.
“I’ve been doing magic since I was eight,” said freshman Price McIntyre. “Now I get to tell my dad I performed for my school.”
After McIntyre's moment, the tricks performed by Martin varied in style and skill, with some of the illusions showing off his comedic side. One illusion involved volunteer and sophomore Rayjon Ratliff, his wallet and a one dollar bill.
“I felt nervous at first, but I thought it was pretty cool,” said Ratliff.
For the ruse, Ratliff put Martin’s wallet in his front left pocket and kept a pen in his front right. While Martin talked to Ratliff, he exchanged jokes with the audience, still standing close to him. Slowly, Martin revealed he had taken everything from inside the wallet without removing it from Ratliff’s pocket. The dollar was then found inside a pen.
From there, Martin told the audience the story of how he started practicing magic after getting caught pickpocketing.
At the age of six, Martin was caught stealing from stores and strangers. His grandparents’ solution was to give him a magic kit. Martin said his grandfather was his biggest supporter when he was younger, and always encouraged him to continue to practice magic. He then encouraged audience members to call their grandparents to inspire him in performing another card trick.
“My favorite part was when the grandparents were called,” said junior T.J. Baumgart. “It was magical and sentimental.”
He said his Pappy trick was currently one of his favorites. The secret skill created an uproar in the auditorium. Sharing his life with the audience made the show that much more genuine. Afterward Martin met with fans from the crowd and gave out free, signed posters.
“Do what you love, money doesn’t matter,” said Martin as his closing statement. “Do what you love and do it well, money will come.”
