A Performers Presence On and Off Stage

In the entertainment business most entertainers will tell you that they have their onstage character and their offstage personality. The two can differ but can also be similar in many ways. No matter what the setting, it is important for all types of performers to understand when and how to differentiate those personas. 

Who the audience sees on stage consists of a number of elements. What the performer is wearing, what they are saying and even how they move on stage all plays into that character being portrayed for the audience. A good example of an onstage character would be Teller, the famous Magician and Magic Creator who is the silent half of world famous magic duo Penn & Teller. Saying nothing while he is performing is part of the character he has created. Because he can not speak out loud while on stage, Teller communicates through beautifully crafted pieces of magic. People see him on stage as an intelligent, slightly whimsical gentlemen, yet they never hear him utter a sound. However, he does speak off stage.

Source: Stock.XCHNG

If Teller were to give a radio interview, he would have to speak which is outside of his performance character. He could not act the same way he would on stage, it would not make sense given the setting he is now in. This is a dramatic difference from his on stage persona, but a necessary change in order to give the radio audience a chance to hear him.

While onstage persona is important, entertainers must carry themselves a certain way even when not performing. You never know who's eyes are on you when you are in public. That stranger on the bus may be a major producer. The person behind you at the store could be a talent agent. Those same characteristics that are displayed by performers in entertainment can also be applied to the professional in the business world. Who are you when nobody is looking? 

Onstage and offstage characters are just a small part of a performers professional image. If you are interested in learning more, we are making this a running series here on the Mystifyed Live Blog. If you would like to know more about Mystifyed Live you can check us out on Facebook, follow us on Twitter,  download past episodes of our Podcast on iTunes and visit JustinTheMystifyer.com

Mystifyed Live! Episode 12-- Murray SawChuck

Season 3: Episode 12

Magician, Comedian and Stage Illusionist Murray SawChuck has taken America by storm. He was a Celebrity Coach on the hit VH1 celebrity magic competition  Celebracadabera, the resident Magic Historian on Pawn Stars, and took the national spotlight on America's Got Talent. More recently, he has been headlining in his own stage show at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. He has kept busy appearing on multiple local news programs and game shows like Lets Make A Deal. This week Murray, along with his lovely assistant Chloe and stagehand Doug AKA "Lefty," joined us live in studio.

"Lefty", Murray and Chloe In Front Of The Laugh Factory

In the fast paced world of entertainment it is important to always stay true to who you are. Murray and his crew stressed the ideas of being unique and doing things your own way. When you have an image that people can relate to, it makes you a more popular entertainer. It is more than just having the biggest and best illusions, it's the personality of the entertainer using those props that makes the magic.

In addition to talking about magic and a performers' image, we were introduced to Murray's crew. Murray's friend for over 10 years, Lefty, plays the part of a bumbling stagehand and he sneaks in a magical preformance during the intermission portion of the show. Lefty is more than an accomplished Slight of Hand Artist; he also has a strong background and love for marketing. Chloe is a multi-fascinated character as well. She is Murray's wife, assistant, and a lead dancer in the Luxor show, Fantasy. During this episode they recalled the first time the three of them started working together as a group at Hollywood's  Magic Castle which inspired the current show. You can see them all together nightly in action inside the Laugh Factory at the  Tropicana Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. For tickets to Murray's show click here.

"Happy Birthday Murray!"

We want to thank Murray, Chloe and Lefty for joining us to celebrate Murray's birthday and sharing their thoughts on entertainment. If you would like to know more about Murray, check out his official website, Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

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Happy Thanksgiving From Mystifyed Live!

The holiday season has begun and we just wanted to take a moment to wish all of our fans and readers a Happy Thanksgiving! We here at Mystifyed Live have much to be thankful for. Since we started the third season back on September 3rd, our podcast has been made available on iTunes as a free download and we have seen an incredible array of talent from all across the country.

Singer, Songwriter, Actor, and Horror Movie Buff Sean O'Shea joined us to kick the season off and also celebrated Halloween with us on the show this season. Singer / Songwriter, Model and Actress Shastina Eloff along with Singer / Songwriter Macy Kate gave us an inside look at the life of up and coming Musicians. Famed LA Magician Ivan Amodei talked to us about the importance of creating atmosphere as well as magic. The first ever in-studio guests Magician, Mind Control Artist Christopher Rose and Master Magician and Mentalist Paul Vigil. Close-up Magician and Effect Creator Justin Miller made his second appearance and we were also joined by Chicago area Magician Joe Diamond. More recently Fashion Guru and Image Consultant Susan Avery appeared on the podcast to offer her insider tips from the fashion world. We finished off our pre-Thanksgiving line-up with Magic Creator and Card Master Irving Quant.

The rest of this season promises to be just as incredible. This Sunday we are privileged to have in studio Celebrity Magician Murray SawChuck also seen on Pawn Stars and America's Got Talent to the show. We then have Cruise Ship Illusionist Duo Kyle and Mistie Knight, Musician Evan Hamond, Actor, Author and Magician David Parr followed by Magic Consultant Weseley Hanna.

You can catch brand new episodes every Sunday at 5pm PST / 8pm EST on JustinTheMystifyer.com. If you missed the live show, you can download them for free on iTunes. We are currently booking guests for 2013 so if you are an entertainer or know someone who would like to be on the show, contact us! Email: ML@JustinTheMystifyer.com.

We hope you enjoy your holiday and a Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Mystifyed Live! Episode 11-- Irving Quant

Season 3: Episode 11

Master card magician, Irving Quant

Master Card Magician and Magic Creator Irving Quant takes pride in everything that he does. Much like former guest Paul Vigil, Irving uses his magic to create one-of-a-kind moments that stand alone in time. He wants people to experience more than just a magic trick. His attention to detail not only in his performances, but also in the way he teaches shows  how dedicated he is to making his magic truly a special moment. This week on Mystifyed Live we got to chat with the man behind the magic.

Irving wasted no time getting into his love for card magic. His love is not just the act of performing with them, but everything about the cards themselves. Giving spectators something to focus on such as the images on the cards adds a deeper meaning and value to what is being performed. What some magicians may think that it's just another card trick, Irving sees a chance to further expand on a seemingly endless ocean of material.

It was interesting to hear Irving talk about tailoring magic. Tailoring magic is creating the presentation for the right audience in the right setting. You wouldn't put a bar magician on a stage and expect him to do his regular routine.

We hope that you enjoyed our talk with Irving Quant as much as we did. We have spoken to many magicians on Mystifyed Live, each with their own perspectives on the art of magic and Irving was no exception. To keep up with everything Irving Quant is doing, be sure to check out his official website and to follow him on Twitter. 

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Former Guest Update: Justin Miller

When we last had magic creator, Justin “JM” Miller, on the show we had the chance to talk about his moving wallet effect Creeper. We are now thrilled to announce that he has just released two brand new effects, Cell Suspension and Light Speed.

Cell Suspension:
This three phase routine will leave your audience mesmerized. A pen is placed behind your cell phone but then you soon show that you are just holding it there. However, once you remove your hand and the pen stays there,  then miraculously the pen begins to float towards your hand. Yes, you read that right, it floats off the phone, towards your hand. The best part is about this effect is that there are no magnets, wires or complicated devices.

Light Speed:


This effect comes with several routines including bonus material that creates a stronger presentation. You can use anyone's ring, link it to a rubber band and have it magically unlink in a variety of ways. There is one phase of the routine where you actually eat the ring and then it reappears back on the rubber band. Blow their minds even further and have the rubber band appear in your mouth and the ring appear on your finger! It is up to you how far you want to take it.


To find these effects and many more, check out his official website www.justinmillermagic.com.


For more information on JM's episode on Mystifyed Live click HERE.

Mystifyed Live! Episode 10-- Susan Avery

Season 3: Episode 10

 Wardrobe stylist / fashion editor, Susan Avery, has traveled the world transforming the looks of some of today's hottest celebrities including our very own Justin The Mystifyer. After working with Justin she wrote up a blog post about her experience, you can read it HERE. Avery has even made a guest appearance on Entertainment Tonight's fashion guru Steven Cujocaro's podcast. Tonight she joined us to give us a virtual fashion make-over.


Avery gave some great fashion advice to our listeners and charmed us with her humor too. Avery is a big believer in dressing like the star that you are. Even something as small as an accessory can help a person add something refreshing to their style. Creating a sense of style that is your own adds a whole new level of confidence to everything that you do in life. You can pull together high end looks that are budget conscious with her advice.

Whether its over Skype or in person, Avery has used her skills to turn ordinary into extraordinary. A big thank you goes out to Avery for taking the time to join us on the show this week and for the all the help she has given us. If you would like more information or to even schedule a consultation you can check out Avery's official website, or follow her on Twitter.

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Robert Zimmermann: From Where I Stand

The diverse blend of talent is what makes each episode of Mystifyed Live special. Magicians, singers, actors, models and writers help us bring the best up-and-coming talents to you, our fans. This week we would like to introduce to you a good friend of ours, author and blogger, Robert Zimmermann. Robert has been writing since his high school days and went on to get his degree in Creative Writing at the State University of New York at Potsdam. After college, Robert created a blog where you can find a lot of his past and present poetry.

He recently put the finishing touches on his debut poetry collection titled, From Where I Stand. This soon to be released collection of poems tell stories of relationships, loss and some areas of life that may often go unnoticed but become a source of hope for us in dark times. The collection began as a project during his time at SUNY Potsdam and has since evolved into a true labor of love. It is with great pride that we introduce our audience to Robert and his masterful way with words. The book is expected to be released some time later this month. Details will be provided in a future post with all the information you need in order to secure a copy. Here are what other writers are saying about Robert Zimmermann:

“Zimmermann has achieved something rarely seen in modern poetry. Each poem is a personal and detailed story that will strike the heart of the reader with a torrent of emotion. Zimmermann balances the dark and light beautifully and without a hint of hesitation."
--Jessica Fortunato, author of The Sin Collector Trilogy

"Honest, heartfelt and moving"
–Amber Jerome~Norrgard, author of In The Gloaming

We want to wish Robert all the best with the release of his first book. To see more of his work and what others have to say about his project be sure to check out his blog appropriately titled, A Life Among The Pages. His work has also been published by Albany Poets. You can also follow him on Twitter and Like him on Facebook.
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On a personal note,

Having seen this project take shape from the beginning and hearing some of these poems at a reading, I would just like to say how grateful I am to call Robert not only my college roommate but my friend. I know how hard he has worked to get to this point and could not be more proud. He is an exceptional artist and an even better friend. Cheers to you buddy. 

Corey Martin
Co-Host of Mystifyed Live

Mystifyed Live! Episode 9-- Macy Kate

Season 3: Episode 9

Singer, and Songwriter Macy Kate

For 14 year old singer, songwriter and actress Macy Kate, her dreams have never seemed too far out of reach. From touring nationally with the Broadway production of 'The Wizard of Oz' to almost making the cut for the 2012 US Olympic Swim Team, the sky is truly the limit. She recently entered the recording studio to begin work on her first solo record. Her latest single 'Cover Girl' has recently dropped on iTunes. It was our pleasure to welcome Macy to the program this week to learn more about what drives her to never give up.

As a songwriter she likes to draw her inspirations from the people in her life. She recently got the opportunity to meet an incredible girl named Lexi Haas. Macy was so moved by her story that she wanted to help raise money to help Lexi. 'Lexi's Song' was produced with the help of producer Drew Lane and all the proceeds from the iTunes downloads will be used to help Lexi and her family. We have included a video from Macy and Drew about the song which you can check out below. You can also find out more information about Lexi and how to donate HERE.



When asked by our audience in the chat room if she had any words of advice for those watching, it was pretty inspiring to hear someone young talk with such wisdom. Macy has done so much in such a short amount of time but her mission and message remain the same. In her official biography, she said it best:

Macy Kate w/ Lexi, the inspiration for "Lexi's Song."

"My message, through my music, is to inspire teen girls to never give up on their dreams, I have been knocked down many times… you have to get back up, brush yourself off and keep trying. It takes just one person to believe in you, and I will be that one person for all of my fans."

We want to thank Macy Kate for taking the time to join us on Mystifyed Live. We hope that you enjoyed hearing from her as much as we did. Be sure to download the episode to hear more about this incredible dream chaser. If you would like to keep up with all things that Macy is doing be sure to check out her Official Website, LIKE her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
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©2012 Mystifyer Promotions, Inc., All Rights Reserved.

 Materials Used With Permission