Meet Max Davidson | Professional Magician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Max Davidson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My favorite way to perform magic is a full evening show. Since senior year of high school, I’ve found particular joy in weaving together stories and magic tricks that connect at the end of the show. A lot of “traditional” magic doesn’t have much purpose–it’s magic for magic’s sake. I like to think that what differentiates me is that I put a lot of thought into what the show is about.

For example, my current show, Everything I Don’t Know, is about the uncertainty within the process of graduating college and becoming a professional magician.

I’ve faced tons of challenges throughout the journey. Mostly, I’ve had to teach myself how to work on magic like a job. Questions I’m constantly asking include: What does a structured rehearsal look like, and how do you make sure you get the most out of the time you have? How do you market your show to your target audience? What do you do when your trick isn’t working a week before the show? How do you respond when, not if, the theater throws you a curveball, like a technical difficulty?

In magic, everything that can go wrong does go wrong, so my biggest lesson has been to embrace, and encourage, uncertainty. Every time I mess up in rehearsal is a time I don’t on stage, so I learn to be thankful for failures.

I write a blog, also called “Everything I Don’t Know,” and it is about overcoming and dealing with failure and uncertainty. Each week, I talk about the real-life challenges of making art your career. I think a lot can be learned from writing and sharing your experience with others, and for that reason, I embrace my own mistakes and vulnerability.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My home is Colorado, so if it’s the best week ever, it would absolutely be winter. We’d hit the slopes at Vail, grab dinner in town, and go to bed early so we can wake up and do it all over again.

After a few days of skiing, we’d see sunrise at Red Rocks before getting an early morning breakfast at Snooze. Winter doesn’t mean you can’t be outside, so we’d walk through Cheeseman and Wash Park, and catch an Avalanche game (you can’t ignore the Stanley Cup champs)!

Despite all Denver has to offer, I truly enjoy relaxing with friends. My friends and I frequently play poker until 4 or 5 am, so I’d make sure to get a game in. Besides that, we’d enjoy long dinners, coffee in the morning, and have plenty of time to read, watch TV, and hang out with my dogs.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
No doubt, my family. My parents and sister have been unbelievably supportive in my magic journey. I can’t tell you how many shows my parents drove me to, how many terrible magic tricks they sat through, and how much sheer time they devoted to letting me explore my passion.

I like to say that the more successful you are, the more people you have to thank. Which is why I also need to dedicate this to my grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins for being the most supportive family I could ask for.

Website: maxdavidsonmagic.com

Instagram: @max_a_davidson

Linkedin: Max Davidson

Facebook: Max Davidson Magic

Youtube: Max Davidson

Other: Blog: maxdavidsonmagic.com/blog

Image Credits
Hailey Rosenfield, Ari Isenberg, Hal Schulman