Meet Brian Miller, Magician

Timothy Becker: What is the name of your business and what services do you offer?

Brian Miller: The name of my business is Brian Miller Magic,www.brianmillermagic.com, and I offer my personality. What I really do is sleight-of-hand magic and con-artistry for entertainment.

Timothy Becker: When did you start with magic?

Brian Miller: I started at age four when I received a magic kit as a gift. I founded my business and went professional at age 16. When I was 17 I got a job at a local restaurant in Buffalo, NY, and performed every week on “Magic Monday.” That is where I learned to become a performer. What I do is interactive theater that is different than anything else.

Timothy Becker: How do you integrate magic and comedy?

Brian Miller: Comedy magic got a bad rap in the 1980s. I wanted to do a comedy show about magic. There are only three of of us in the entire country doing this new type of magic show.

Timothy Becker: Did you have to make a large investment in equipment needed for your act?

Brian Miller: My investment for my stage show was no more than $1,500. There are no girls and no dancing. What I use will fit in a briefcase.

Timothy Becker: Where do you perform?

Brian Miller: I'm at every Thursday evening. On Saturday evening I perform at the Iron Frog Tavern in Simsbury. I am also the resident magician at Foxwoods. In the course of a year I do between 300 to 400 shows.

Timothy Becker: What advice would you give to aspiring magicians?

Brian Miller: There are very few teachers of magic on the east coast. I teach magic lesson here in Manchester at . An aspiring magician can send me an e-mail and I will point them in the right direction.

Timothy Becker: What dream job would you like to have?

Brian Miller: I'm working on it. I have been writing a two-hour education entertainment show for undergraduate philosophy students to relate philosophical concepts to the real world.

Timothy Becker: What are you planning for 2012?

Brian Miller: We have an idea to bring a national tour to small theaters across the country that are under 1000 seats . My manager John Ramaglia is working to set that up. I also have a part in a movie called “Steam Driven Movie,” www.steamdrivenmovie.com, that is due to premier at a film festival in October. The movie is produced by Ajar Communications in Manchester.