Today I tuned into the Essential Magic Conference – an online magic “convention” where some of the brightest minds in magic are teaching and sharing their brilliance through lectures and performances. It’s very well done and the quality of the lecturers is unsurpassed. I often skip lectures at conventions, but I was riveted to my computer screen for 3 hours today.

One of the speakers was Stan Allen, founder and editor of M A G I C Magazine, which is one of my favorite magazines – not just about magic, but favorite magazines – period. He went through a list of things that magicians should pay attention to. At the end of his talk (you should join the conference which is still going on for two more days, and the replays are online) I was so moved that I applauded the computer screen.

I applauded the freakin’ computer screen. Actually, I applauded Stan. What really stood out in his talk was the attention given to finding a mentor – and being a mentor.

I have enjoyed many mentors during my career as a magician, a hypnotist, and a game show producer. I’ve learned from so many people that it would be impossible to list them all here without me forgetting someone.

As I mentioned in an earlier post about the Austin Magic Clubs those clubs are where I found many of my mentors in magic – many are mentioned there.

But I’d like to stretch beyond the mentors that you know personally. Sometimes a mentor is someone whose writings you like, whose recordings you listen to and whose philosophy makes an impact on the way you think and behave.

In watching today’s EMC I realize what a great debt our entire art owes to the influence of, the inspiration of David Copperfield and Doug Henning. Just about every one of the people who lectured listed these guys as WHY they got into magic. Most of our generation is into magic because of these giants. While they didn’t personally mentor many of us, the inspiration is truly worth mention – and I did mention Copperfield earlier in this blog on Day 90.

While today is a tip of the hat to Mentors, teachers and those who inspire – the message that I took away from Stan Allen’s talk today was to BE a mentor. If you were mentored as you were getting into your hobby or business – take the time NOW to be a mentor to someone who is deserving of your guidance.

To those who mentored and taught me personally, I owe you so much – to those who inspired me I also owe you. We’ve all got these people in our lives. Say thank you to at least one of them within 12 hours of reading this. You’ll be glad you did – and so will they.