 Magic by Chaz
Hilton Head, SC
CAROLINAS — Chaz Misenheimer entertains audiences with sleight-of-hand tricks, mind reading feats, and small-scale illusions for all types of audiences. Presentations are paced to build and sustain interest and offered in two forms; strolling/close-up magic and stage show featuring Chaz-created characters. Shows can be easily customized to one or more 15-45 minute magic shows to suit the event and venue and all material is presented in a style that's friendly, interactive and informal. Excerpts from the interviews “On the Road with Magic by Chaz” and “Magic By Chaz – in character, in costume, in person!” published in North Carolina Festivals
“Come one, come all! Prepare to believe the unbelievable! Witness marvels that have entertained the crowned heads of Europe!”
Festival-goers flock around the colorful and energetic figure of the nineteenth-century “medicine man” peddling his wonders, and the fun begins. Whether he’s performing as a modern-day street entertainer or the old-time medicine man – or as the magnificently-costumed wizard, Merlin – magician Chaz Misenheimer loves festivals. “They’re my ‘briar patch,’” says the North Carolina native. “The festival atmosphere itself is magic. I look in the eyes of festival-goers and see the expectation that something special will happen today. It’s important to me to help make that expectation a reality.” “I love working on the street, and seeing the excitement when a child experiences magic – sometimes for the very first time. The look of wonder when they believe they’re the ones who make the magic happen is priceless. Creating that feeling is what being a magician is all about.” Chaz is a festival specialist with more than 20 years of experience, and though he often performs from the stage – rabbit and all – he’s best known as an elite roving entertainer.
“Festivals are a unique venue, so I’ve created material and a style specifically for them. Of course, the first thing a festival director demands is quality. They want the very best entertainers. They also want performers who understand that a festival requires a special approach, and some flexibility.” Chaz says that performing at festivals can be extremely challenging. On both street and stage, a magician must recognize that he’s often totally surrounded. “His material and props are subject to close scrutiny – in broad daylight – and he’d better be prepared! But since the situation offers the opportunity for more personal impact than you might have in theater or television, it’s a challenge I enjoy.” Chaz pays a lot of attention to what he calls “festival dynamics.” “As a strolling magician, I have to be able to do a good job without constant supervision, and solve problems rather than create them. Street entertainers who can recognize where to perform, and adjust accordingly, really help the flow of a busy event. “I usually move from spot to spot – places that won’t clog traffic or detract from exhibitors or other entertainers,” he explains. “Then I start doing close-up ‘street magic’ with just a few volunteers. By the time I’m through, I’ve often gathered a crowd of 50 or more! “From the stage, my show must have enough energy to attract and hold a crowd amidst all the sound and movement of a busy festival. It’s important to realize that a festival audience includes a range of ages, requiring material with a wide appeal. Even at a children’s stage, my audience will consist of parents, grandparents, and teenagers too.” |
Chaz says that, as he works, he’s constantly adapting his presentation to the specific person or group for whom he’s performing. “If they’re there, I almost always play to the children first,” he acknowledges, “but I have no problem reaching the rest of the festival audience. Teens often hang out at these events, and they’re great to perform for. They really get into street magic!
