Looking Foreword: David Regal on Final Degree

Nothing sets the stage for a new book like a great introduction. “Looking Foreword” is our series where we give you exclusive sneak peeks at our upcoming titles through their prefaces, introductions, and of course, their forewords.

We have just one week before Final Degree releases! To celebrate, we're sharing David Regal's Introduction to the book.

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I was first a fan of John’s, and later his friend. So, I had no expectations one way or another when, in a corner of The Magic Castle many years ago, someone asked John to show me something. John, ever humble, went through a bit of his repertoire, and my internal monologue upon watching him work was probably a common one:

“He does that differently than other magicians…”

Soon to be followed with:

“He does that better than other magicians.”

And it’s true. John has his own way of looking at magic. It is a hard thing to quantify but suffice to say it is a wonderful amalgam of love of effect, love of efficiency, and love of surprise. Certainly, those routines he showed me had a unique commonality with one another. Each would come to a crazy, amazing conclusion…and John wasn’t done. The man still had one more kick in the head for you. He had some moment worked out, one that made you throw up your hands, shake your head, and order another gin & tonic. Of course we became friends.

As a person, John has a sense of purpose and clarity, something he brings to his life’s work of philanthropy, his music, and his fashioning of magic routines. It is not enough to say these qualities are rare in our craft—they are a line of demarcation. While it is possible to purchase a product or practice a move, no amount of dollars or dexterity provides the key ingredient necessary to achieve excellence: Judgement. This is something John Guastaferro possesses in spades.

I have been spoiled in magic, having seen, sessioned with, and worked with many wonderful performers. John’s artistry produces magic that has his imprimatur. To see him work is to experience a performance of mystery rooted in a deep comprehension of effect coupled with skillfully executed sleight of hand—applied to the most elegant solutions. His audiences never feel assaulted; rather, they feel cared for. They sense they are being taken on a magical voyage by a person who intimately knows the landscape and is prepared to give them memories they will recall with pleasure for the rest of their lives.

John’s approach to magic is carefully wrought, from how he creates magic to how he ultimately shares it with his audiences. This is the voyage he charts with this exceptional book. Enjoy every turn.

David Regal Burbank, California June 2025