We were lucky to catch up with Reed Masterson recently and have shared our conversation below.

Reed, appreciate you joining us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

The first dollar ever earned from my craft was actually twenty dollars which was the first place prize money won during my sophomore year, high school talent contest. Following my performance, I was approached by two teachers, asking me to perform for a relative‘s birthday party. The first was for a six-year-old little boy and the second was for an 80-year-old lady who happen to also be legally blind. Both performances paid me thirty dollars each.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Reed Masterson, I’m a professional Illusionist originally from Cynthiana, KY. I’ve spent the last 18 years traveling and performing for thousands of people across 47 of the continental united states. In my industry, I have been known for my Award-Winning Dove Act which won many awards and paved the way for my successful career.

As a young child around 5 years old, my great uncle performed small magic tricks such as putting a penny in one ear and pulling it from the other. He is a “storyteller” by nature and tried to convince me that he was doing “real magic”. I set out to disprove his claims. Once I would come up with what I thought was the solution to his tricks I would show him the next time I saw him. If I had successfully debunked his tricks he would tell me I was correct. If I was wrong he would congratulate me on inventing my own way of doing it. This sparked my interest in problem-solving and puzzles.

At the age of 6 years old while visiting my great aunt aka “Nanny” we were flipping through the TV Guide when she noticed a magic television show coming on. It was called “The World’s Greatest Magic” and was hosted by the late great American actor John Ritter. On that year’s program, a duo named The Pendragons were performing. During their performance, they vanished 25 Las Vegas Showgirls in an instant, immediately making them reappear in the back of the audience. It was at that moment I decided what I wanted to do with my life and I’ve never looked back.

In addition to the pendragons, there were many other performers on that show. One other very important performer would be Mac King who is now a staple on the Las Vegas strip but was once from KY like me. On that tv show Mac would perform bits called “Mac King’s School of Magic”. He would perform and teach magic that the viewers at home could do using items you could find laying around your house. This was a huge stepping stone for me as we did not have money for fancy magic kits from the store. After watching 5 seasons of that show I had put together my own magic kit using all the things Mac King had taught me.

Now I take on many roles in my business such as being the Creative Mind behind my brand. I conceptualize and design all my promotional and marketing materials. This includes my Website, Show Posters, Business Cards, Logo, and all other forms of print and digital marketing material. If you see any graphics advertising my show in any way, rest assured I designed them. This also includes my merchandising, like Magic Kits, T-Shirts, Lanyards, and Bracelets. But my creative juices don’t stop flowing there. I also remix and edit the dynamic, theatrical soundtrack you hear in each show, and I design and program all of my intelligent lighting sequences.

In addition to all of that, I also play the role of booking agent, accountant, costume designer, and prop builder… I have many irons in the fire, to say the least.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Though I work more hours than most can imagine I also live more than almost anyone can fathom. In the past 18 years, I’ve done more than most do in 100.

I have an unquenchable thirst for success, a drive for entrepreneurial freedom, and a fiery passion for the performing arts that is indescribable with words.

That entrepreneurial freedom is the most rewarding part of the job for me. But knowing that freedom comes from something I’ve spent my entire life building is the real reward.

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?

We spend 90% of our time overcoming failures so that we can spend 10% of our time enjoying our successes. However, the enjoyment of that success during that 10% of the time is on levels that are impossible to explain to other non-creatives. As a performance artist, I work 60-90 hours a week every week. If I send out 1000 emails to book shows I get positive responses from 10. I get paid to do all of the work no one sees. When I’m on stage in front of a cheering audience that is when I am not getting paid. That is the “Vacation” I’ve been working all year for. That’s my “Paid Time Off’.

One thing that is very hard for “layman” to understand is that I’m naturally introverted. The majority of my life I spend completely alone but simultaneously see more people in one year’s time than most do in a lifetime.

The level of self-discipline, resilience, persistence, and patience we need to have is absurd.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mastersonsmagic.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/mastersonsmagic
• Facebook: facebook.com/mastersonsmagic
• Youtube: youtube.com/mastersonsmagic

Image Credits
Marshall Canupp, Kara Blakemore, Chris Whicker