We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Brian Scott. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Brian below.

Brian , appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Being a magician and family entertainment specialist I have had the opportunity to be a part of a wide range of meaningful projects. From working with the famed Bread and Roses non-profit group, which allows me to visit women and children shelters or Juvenile Detention centers in order to brighten their days or connecting with local area Hospitals to bring magic to the bedside of sick and injured children. While these are all meaningful projects, I would say the most meaningful has been partnering with after-school programs with my Bay Area School of Magic, teaching life and communication skills to students using the art of magic. Watching students, often ones who might struggle to make a connection with others in basic situations, master something that can be viewed as impossible, is not only rewarding but also inspiring and uplifting.

Brian , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Magic is one of those things that many people get interested in from a young age and I am no different. I first got interested in it at the age of 7 and, as I like to say, I never grew up.

When I turned 12 I started performing at birthday parties and small local festivals in Mystic, CT.

Over time, I realized how much I enjoyed this “hobby” and that it could be something that could be my business. Upon graduating high school I chose to skip college and focus on building my business and brand. It wasn’t easy but it was beyond rewarding.

I tried out many facets of performing magic, from Corporate after-dinner shows, Close-up strolling, dark and mysterious mentalism – but it was performing for children and families that I kept gravitating toward and where I excelled. Being a goof ball and providing high energy shows that people describe as being like a Pixar film became my passion. I didn’t just want to perform for the kids and ignore the adults in the room. I wanted to create shows that had layers to them that everyone in the family could find something they enjoyed.

After moving to the San Francisco Bay Area I quickly became one of the top children and family entertainers, performing for birthday parties, school assemblies, libraries, and fairs and festivals. My unique blend of magic, comedy and goofiness allowed me to travel all around the state.

I spend much of my time now performing for schools, helping deliver important educational messages to students of all ages in a manner that is interactive, fun and entertaining.

After performing for over a decade in California, I decided to open the Bay Area School of Magic. In addition to all of my performances, I started offering magic classes for children 8-12 years old in after-school programs. When the pandemic hit in 2020 I quickly pivoted my services to online and found so much success with that format that I now offer classes both online and in-person and have been able to teach Thousands of children the art of magic.

Teaching and performing in front of the camera during the Pandemic lead me to start creating content for Youtube and for clients interested in looking for something unique to offer their employees or family members. This is an area that continues to grow and change for my business and while I do not set out to create the next viral video, I have found that the content created has allowed me to connect with my clients in a way that has lead to many more bookings.

Finding the right balance to time in the classroom, time in the studio, and time on the road performing isn’t easy, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I think one of the hardest parts of being in a creative business is that people assume that all you do is that one thing. In my case, most people just think being a magician is going out and performing a show. Most people loose sight of the fact that it is a business and that there are a lot of things like letter writing, emails, phone calls, web design, blogs, social media posts, video editing and so much more to make the business run. These are things that even if you have help with, you are the final say and will take up much of your “down” time. Setting clear boundaries on your time and space so others don’t interrupt you goes a long way. That said, you get to call the shots and create your schedule and that schedule can look however you want it to, which is something others have a hard time understanding as well. if it isn’t 9-5 then people get confused.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding aspect of being in a creative field is being able to work on projects that leave a lasting impression. Be it a show that allows families to gather together and be a part of a shared experience or putting together a series of tricks that appear in the New York Times that then sets off that spark that gets someone interested in the art of magic. Its also that look on someones face when you tell them what it is you do for a living and watching them take a moment to process what they just heard and sometimes having that lead into a deep conversation about following your dreams.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.BrianScottMagic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/BrianScottMagic/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BrianScottMagic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/BrianScottMagic
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brian-scott-productions-richmond-3

Image Credits
Photos: Deb Westergaard Illustrations: Jake Gerard (JBombcreative)