How to Nurture Your Mini Magician

IF YOUR CHILD HAS EVER MADE A COIN “DISAPPEAR” BEHIND THEIR EAR OR TURNED THE LOUNGE ROOM INTO A STAGE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A BUDDING MAGICIAN AT HOME. THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS, FAMILIES HAVE THE PERFECT CHANCE TO FAN THAT SPARK INTO SOMETHING MAGICAL.

Mario the Maker Magician – fresh from sold-out shows at the Edinburgh Festival and heading to the Sydney Opera House – is bringing his inventive, laugh-out-loud performance to Frankston Arts Centre for four shows in September. This isn’t just magic. It’s a high-energy fusion of robots, vaudeville, slapstick, and storytelling, designed to inspire kids (and parents!) to dream big, problem-solve creatively, and never give up.

Mario has wowed audiences on Sesame Street, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and Universal Kids, but what sets him apart isn’t just his sleight of hand – it’s his message.

“Do what you love, use what you have, and have fun,” Mario says.

“I want families to leave the show smiling and inspired to try something new, or pick up a dream they’d forgotten.”

Where the magic began

Mario didn’t grow up planning to be a magician. In his early twenties, he stumbled into a Michigan magic shop, where a TV in the corner played his favourite movie scene – the food fight from Hook. “It felt like a nod from the universe,” he recalls. He bought a few tricks for his younger brother but ended up keeping them for himself.

Soon after, he discovered Make Magazine and fell in love with DIY electronics and a tiny microcontroller called an Arduino. “I started off making electronic contraptions that had nothing to do with magic, but eventually my two loves combined,” he says. “Nothing was ever the same after that – robot magic!”

Magic, making, and life skills

For Mario, the link between magic and problem-solving is huge.

“One of the hardest things to learn in life is how to keep going when things don’t work as planned. Magic takes practice. Making often takes more than one try. But if you work through it, the reward is great. These are life skills that we need to remind ourselves of at any age.”

That “never give up” attitude is woven through his show – and it’s a lesson parents can encourage at home.

Nurturing your mini magician

If your child leaves Mario’s show wanting to perform, here are a list of his top tips:

1. Encourage creative play with what’s at hand

Mario’s props aren’t store-bought; they’re made from cardboard, 3D printed parts, and inexpensive electronics. “I don’t want kids to feel like there are barriers to their creativity,” he says. “You can make something amazing from what’s around you.”

2. Make mistakes part of the fun

Magic doesn’t always go to plan – and that’s OK. “So what if I mess up a trick? We try again! So what if a prop falls apart? We laugh and move on!” says Mario.

3. Turn curiosity into projects

If your child loves pulling things apart or asking how they work, nurture that. Try simple DIY tricks, experiment with science kits, or explore free 3D design software.

4. Share the stage

Mario’s wife produces the show, and his kids tour with him. Performing together, even at home, builds confidence and connection. “Our kids keep us grounded,” he says.

5. Keep it light and joyful

Magic is about creating wonder. Whether it’s a grand illusion or a silly gag, focus on fun, not perfection.

A show that will inspire

What makes Mario the Maker Magician unmissable isn’t just the robots, magic, and slapstick; it’s the heart. It’s how he turns a missed trick into a laugh, a piece of cardboard into a stage prop, and a spark of curiosity into a lifelong love of making.

“The best compliment I ever got,” Mario recalls, “was when I overheard a boy tell his mum after my show, ‘Mum! I want to go home, dig through the garbage, and make my own magic show!’ That’s exactly the kind of inspiration I want kids to feel.”

So, if you’re looking for a school holiday outing that will leave your kids buzzing with ideas – and maybe rummaging through the recycling bin when they get home – grab your tickets. You never know, you might be nurturing the next great magician, inventor, or dreamer.

Mario the Maker Magician tours to Frankston Arts Centre on September 23 & 24 for four shows only.

Get tickets at thefac.com.au or call 03 9784 1060 to book before they vanish!