Carnegie is a 21st Century Mystifier who blends reality and imagination together to create unique and mind-boggling experiences. After watching one of his performances, audiences can’t help but wonder what is real and what is not.

Carnegie has taken the popular entertainment concept of re-imagining old ideas and applied this to the world of illusion to create refreshing new mysteries for modern audiences. Ever been cut by glass? Imagine a woman tied into a very small container and then a dozen 3 ft. tall broken shards of glass are pushed into the box from every direction, this is one of Carnegie’s most intense mysteries.

During Carnegie’s show the audience gets involved as well. In the challenge portion of the show, audience members help to secure Carnegie in various devices. Sometimes it’s nothing more than a 12 ft. piece of rope, other times it could be a steel straightjacket with borrowed padlocks. Like the many great escape artists before him, Carnegie’s escape tests are real and often dangerous. These are called tests or challenges as there is no way to truly know the outcome until it’s over.

Whether you are scheduling entertainment and need something unique for a corporate event, cruise ship entertainment, small intimate miracles for television or perhaps a grand out door escape Carnegie is the entertainer you need. He will take the mystery out of booking quality entertainment by providing a mesmerizing, mystifying and memorable performance.

Take some time and discover what Carnegie can do for your next event. If you want a magical event that your patrons will talk about for weeks afterward, you want the incomparable entertainer, the amazing escape artist, the one and only Carnegie.

INTERVIEW WITH CARNEGIE

1. How did you get started in magic?
Two things happened very close together.  I saw a video of Doug Henning’s  first TV special on NBC, days later I saw the Tony Curtis Bio-movie about Houdini. I had actually seen the Tony Curtis/Houdini movie before and it always intrigued me and stuck with me.

2. How long have you been performing magic?
More than 25 years.

3. What is your favorite illusion?
I have many favorite illusions. The Kellar Levitation is a favorite from the history of magic, though I’ve never seen it live. The Water Fountain Levitation presented by Doug Henning. Favorites that I perform would be, The Shattered Glass Mystery and Linking Hoops (see above photo). The Shattered Glass Mystery is unlike anything I’ve seen in magic in years. The closest thing I can compare it to is Richiardi’s Buzz Saw Illusion which was horrific. My Shattered Glass Mystery has a similiar feel to it currently. In fact the presentation is so intense I’m considering toning it down slightly.

4. What is the hardest magical thing you’ve ever done?
Contrary to what some might think, magic in general is not easy. Evoking wonder and creating something that people can emotionally connect to is difficult. However, being able to touch people with my magic is what is most rewarding. Escapes are by far the hardest branch of magic that I’ve dealt with. There is always a degree of the unknown involved in an escape, things can go wrong and you have to be ready for that. Years ago I presented an escape from a borrowed Postal Service mail bag. The actual escape would have been much easier had I not injured myself rehearsing. I had to climb inside a bag that I barely fit into, with a stiff neck. It was torture. Escapes can be very physical and very strenuous and potentially dangerous as well.

5. What is the deal on your artwork? Are your paintings for sale?
Well the big plan is to eventually retire as a painter. But before I can do that I want to have a degree of fame from performing and at the same time a degree of fame from art. That way selling my artwork when I retire is going to be a lot easier. As for selling my paintings, I have already had numerous offers on various works. In the past, I have sold a couple paintings. And I will, on occasion, accept commissions. I am also considering offering limited edition prints of my paintings.

6. Who are your inspirations?
First and foremost, my father. He is simply an amazing man and if you know him, you know what I mean. Next, Houdini & Tony Curtis. I wouldn’t be in magic if it weren’t for Tony Curtis’s movie on Houdini. Houdini of course is my magical inspiration, Tony Curtis in more of an artistic inspiration. He has had a performing career and an art career, that is exactly the road I’m traveling! My dear friend, Cesareo Pelaez from the Le Grand David Spectacular Magic Company. I consider Cesearo a mentor and he is also a living legend.

A few years ago I met a men who is now my Mentor in Escapes and is also a very close friend, Steve Baker. He was known during his career as Mr. Escape and is the true successor to Houdini. In 2004 I became his one and only protege. The first thing I learned was Steve’s signature Tug of War Rope Tie and I was the first person he even taught that too. It’s a very well guarded secret. Since then besides helping me with escapes, we’ve even collaborated on 2 books on escape work for the industry. We’ve got some very interesting and exciting escapes planned for the near future. If you check out my 2008 Poster you can read a quote from Steve about my show.

Other inspirations would include Jack Benny, Abbott & Costello, Johnny Carson, Richiardi, and Doug Henning.

7. Can you make my wife disappear?
Not at the moment, I’m too busy… maybe later.

8. Besides performing, what do you enjoy doing?
Right now painting is a big part of my life. And of late, I’ve been doing a lot of different types of paintings, just testing out the waters and learning new things. I also love reading. I am an avid reader, mostly history and biographies. In addition, I also enjoy writing, I’ve written and co-written several books now and am working on another one. So basically anything where I can be creative is something I enjoy doing.