People I (Mostly) Admire 16. Joshua Jay: “Humans Are So, So Easy to Fool.”
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Apr 4, 2026 
Joshua Jay, world‑renowned magician, historian of magic, and author, talks about how magicians build tricks and why storytelling matters. He covers magic as education, online changes to the craft, designing tactile illusions for blind audiences, managing nerves and rehearsed outs, and historical questions about miracles versus conjuring.
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Internet Flattened Magic Styles And Opened Talent
- The internet homogenized global magic styles by spreading the same tutorials worldwide while also democratizing access to top instruction.
- Jay predicts the next major star could come from anywhere due to online resources removing geographical advantages.
Short Attention Spans Shrink Magic's Ambition
- Short attention spans from social media have narrowed public expectations of magic toward instant visual effects.
- Jay laments that six- to seven-minute narrative tricks are being lost to TikTok-era appetite for quick visual changes.
Rehearse Outs To Avoid Stage Nerves
- Do rehearse multiple 'outs' so uncertainty doesn't cause nerves; plan B through F prevents failure from unexpected events.
- Jay cites losing a mic or power and having practiced alternate outcomes to stay calm on stage.
