4 minute read
The Master of Magic
Shawnee magician Keith Leff showcases his skills in mesmerizing proximity to his audiences.
Article by Jill Dutton
Photos courtesy Keith Leff
Keith Leff began his journey as many magicians do, after receiving a magic kit at the age of 7. He has come a long way since then, and after 25 years as a professional magician performing for thousands across the Midwest, Leff claims the title of the Midwest’s most magnificent magician.
Starting with his first paid gig, where he earned $50 performing at a birthday party in middle school, he has won multiple awards, including the World Magic Expo for close-up and stage magic. Leff specializes in close-up comedy magic and often performs at corporate events and trade shows. He has taught restaurant magic nationwide and was a resident magician at Old Shawnee Pizza for 30 years.
Leff recalls that first Christmas when he received the magic kit as a gift, saying it was all he wanted that year. As soon as he discovered the box with the magic kit, he didn’t open any more presents until the next day. He was captivated from the start and, with the help of a couple of mentors, realized he’d found his calling.
“Sometimes in this life, we pick our careers, and sometimes our careers pick us. That was definitely the case for me,” he says.
Encouraged by his ninth-grade science teacher, who frequently asked Leff about the tricks he was working on, Leff scheduled his first paid gig—a show at the teacher’s daughter’s birthday party.
“That was probably my first big gig,” Leff says. “I threw a little piece of cloth over a TV tray to use, and I still have that set list of the tricks I performed that day. I still have a little card in my little kid handwriting, listing the tricks I would perform.”
Leff has won the title of best close-up magician of the year multiple times.
“I’ve won stage magician of the year at the International Brotherhood of Magicians; I won the World Magic Expo for close-up and stage in the same year, which had never been done before. So, I have received a lot of accolades, a lot of awards and contests.”
Leff displays his magic at a variety of events, whether corporate, stand up or trade shows.
Working for a particular client at trade shows, his goal is to drive traffic to the company’s booth. He says using the company’s product in the actual magic helps get across the message the company wants to communicate.
In addition, Leff says he does a lot of inspirational speaking while offering magic-with-a-message programs. He also performs when he’s a keynote speaker and while headlining lunch-and-learn, private and corporate events.
“I do a lot of work with Fortune 500 companies. They’ll book me about three or four times a year for a holiday party or a convention, awards banquet, trade show or other event,” he says.
A job skill many may not realize, Leff says, “It’s probably the only job where you have to be absolutely amazing every day at work.”
Since he creates his own tricks, Leff named his company Magicreations’ Magicomedy because he creates magic based on whatever the client’s needs are. This way, he can tie the act into any theme or event. He also creates shows based on holiday themes—his Christmas show has all green, red, and white props, or the costumes are color-coordinated for whatever holiday it might be or for any trade show theme.
Shawnee has played a large part in Leff’s career, he says.
“Being at Old Shawnee Pizza for so many years, I get a lot of people who come in to see me. They like the show so they’ll end up booking me for a family reunion or company event. It’s led to a lot of business and helped my career just being here locally,” he says.
When asked if he could perform for any one person, and why, Leff responded immediately:
“Jesus Christ. Because I’m the closest thing to real magic, like a miracle, that could possibly be, and I would love to get his feedback on how I can do it better. Like a real miracle, real magic.
“People do ask me sometimes if I can turn water into wine. I tell them that’s a little out of my league.”
