Carnegie The Magic Detective LIVE IN PERSON in 2024

In 2024, Dean Carnegie spoke at two different magic history conferences and gave two totally different lectures! First, in February of 2024, Carnegie was at the Florida Magic Collector's Conference. I had the great honor of presenting my lecture on The Great Maro, who was a very popular magician from the early part of the 20th Century. This was my third time presenting this lecture. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to present the lecture at the W.T. Best Theater, which was a building created in the honor of Maro's wife. His real name was Walter Truman Best, but he changed his stage name to Edward Maro.

Later in November 2024, Carnegie spoke at the New England Magic Collectors Association, their event is called The Yankee Gathering. This time I got to speak on one of my favorite magicians, a 19th Century magician Robert Heller. This man was a very popular magician but he was an equally famous musician. His real name was William Henry Palmer and he began life as a musical prodigy. His story is amazing, filled with plenty of drama, as well as exciting popular moments. I am gathering information on Heller to eventually write a book on him. 

Other than that, the Magic Detective appeared regularly on his podcast The Magic Detective Podcast. It was an exciting year for that side of Dean Carnegie's career. NO doubt 2025 will hold more exciting moments to come!

On Stage Lecturing on Robert Heller at 2024 Yankee Gathering

the NEW Astonify Experience

 

I am in the process of revamping my show called The Astonify Show. Previously, this was presented as a period piece. It was a Victorian Magic Show with a Seance. The last two years the show has had to go virtual. Obviously, the virtual shows were due to Covid. The shows were all well received, but something came out of the shows that I didn't expect. One of the best things about virtual shows is the ability to make things interactive. Now, magicians have been doing 'interactive magic' for a hundred years, but the type of 'interactivity' has changed. And this has led me to a new concept for the show. 

Will I keep the seance? YES! In fact, it's going to be even more interactive. The old version of the show had a Spirit Photography routine that everyone in the audience could partake in. It involved tearing up a set of SP-images and the magic would progress from there. But I've come up with a completely different take on this routine and no longer need to destroy these beautiful photos at every show. Now people can take home a keepsake from the show, rather than having to throw away the pieces. There is more to the Seance as well. But I'm keeping some of these newer things underwraps.

The Audience Deck of Cards is a routine I've already added to my LIVE shows. This allows every single person in the audience to choose a playing card and I will find each and every person's card! It's a crazy piece of magic and oh so fun. 

Then there is the Death Defying Gravity Trick. This uses three people from the audience. It is pointed out that this is the only TRICK in the show. And I will not be doing it. YOU will (as in the audience). And then three people from the audience are chosen to participate. There is a danger element to the routine, but rather than put someone from the audience in danger, I put something of my own in danger. 

UPDATE: I first started to write this back in March. It's now July, and here I am again, working on this rendition of the Astonify Show. I love this concept of Immersive Magic and getting the audience IN on things. What I don't want is the typical way of using audience members. I want to give them an experience, a unique memory, something that they can take away and share with friends and family. I want them to feel as if THEY were truly part of the magic, which frankly, they will be.

Magicians For Ukraine Project

I'm taking part in a project called MagicforUkraine.com

"Magic For Ukraine" is a community of magical entertainers who are deeply concerned about the plight of the Ukrainian people, millions of whom have been displaced, maimed, and killed in the Russian invasion of their country.

Magicians in good standing with recognized local, state, national, or international magic organizations share their talents through their recorded performances for free use by Ukrainian families and those agencies who are supporting them.

I submitted a number of my videos from my Magic 365 series. I picked just a few that has music only so they were easy to understand. All visual magic! Here are a few below...