Magifest 2022 Performer Spotlight | David Gerard
By Vanishing Inc. - Wednesday, December 1, 2021
We are so excited to welcome David Gerard to Magifest 2022. He will not only be treating us to his exclusive one-man show that has earned him his reputation as one of San Francisco’s top magicians, but will also be hosting special Magifest University sessions on how to market your magic.
Before then, we pass it to David to share a bit more about himself…
What Is your favorite convention memory?
Wow, so hard to pick just one. I think for me it all comes down to seeing my favorite magicians perform in real life for the first time. Notable performances include Rob Zabrecky, Asi Wind, Colin Cloud, Chris Kenner, John Archer, Gil Eagles, Jared Kopf, Paul Vigil, Johnny Thompson, Michael Weber, and many, many more. I can still remember these gala shows/lectures where the things I had only read about were performed live in front of me. Truly amazing.
What legacy do you hope to leave on the magic world?
Simply put, I’d like to help other magicians reach new heights in their magical performances. If anything I say or do helps someone unlock their next level of audience impact, I’ll be content!
What excites you most about the future of magic?
I’m really excited about the rising interest in magic that I see from the general public. I think this opens doors for things like more bookings, magic-specific theaters, and more chances for magicians to perform. At the end of the day, I am all about us sharing our amazing art with the general public—so, anything in that direction gets me excited.
What’s one mistake in your career you encourage others not to repeat?
I listened to feedback from everyone in magic—no matter if I wanted to be like that person or not. This drove me a little nutty, and made me feel like I was always coming up short. I think a better approach is to be very careful about what feedback you take in. You can only handle so much, from so many sources, before you become full of conflicts and stress. Know what kind of feedback you’re looking for, who is qualified to give it, and be very methodical about what you’re working on now vs. later vs. never.
What do you consider to be “real magic”?
I don’t think I know yet. But the most magical thing I have in my life is when 20-500 people are all enjoying a performance in unison, whether it be magic, music, theater, or something else. The feeling in a room when everyone becomes one is truly magic to me, and I strive to create that for others in my performances.
There are a few CEOs I have performed for that I can’t mention because I signed NDAs. These are the most stressful gigs as I do, as they are often about 10 people or less, and these folks have seen everything under the sun. I consider them “wild” because of the emotions coursing through my body. They are some of the “wildest” but also the most rewarding events I do.
What are some other fun things or interesting facts about you?
- I’ve had one of the top theater shows in San Francisco for 8+ years
- I was the #1 ranked hacky sack (footbag) player in the world in 2010
- I was the best man at Colin Cloud’s wedding
- Began my career in marketing at Google
If you had Josh and Andi over for dinner, what would you cook?
I don’t know! I think I would ask them for their preferences and try to do something that they’d love but with a little unique twist. I love customizing for my audiences, so that feels like the right answer :)
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