Joe Bunting's Character Test #14 Magician Nate Staniforth, Blue Bloods, and How to Make It as an Artist
Oct 8, 2019
Nate Staniforth, a professional magician and author of "Here Is Real Magic," shares his journey from burnout to rediscovering wonder while traveling in India. He marvels at how adulthood dulls our ability to experience true joy and offers practical hacks to reconnect with that sense of awe. The discussion touches on the challenges of writing versus performing, the impact of failure on growth, and how childhood inspirations like Tolkien fueled his magic career. He also emphasizes the importance of embracing discomfort as an artist.
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Family Table Reveals Competing Justice Views
- Blue Bloods frames differing justice perspectives through a single family's dinner-table debates.
- The show uses family dynamics to make varied legal and moral viewpoints empathizable.
Playground Coin Sparked Lifelong Wonder
- Nate recalled making a coin disappear on a playground and causing children to scream with wonder.
- He watched a stern teacher transform into a delighted child, showing magic's power beyond the trick.
LA Theater Failure Fueled Relentless Practice
- Nate rented a theater in Los Angeles and the show flopped with at best 20 people in a 90-seat venue.
- He used the failure time to study and invent new magic, which later led to a college tour opportunity.