The Poconos and Beyond: Our Journey from Resorts to Colleges to Theaters and Corporate Events

Embarking on a career as a performer is an exciting adventure filled with unique and freighting twists and turns. Our story began with humble roots at magic conventions, where the thrill of competition and the joy of performing ignited our passion. The Pocono resorts offered us our first taste of professional show business, leading to an dizzying schedule of performances that honed our craft. As our ambitions grew, the college entertainment circuit opened new doors, allowing us to travel and connect with diverse audiences across the country. From there, the theater performing arts scene beckoned, paving the way for us to introduce new illusions in fantastic venues to massive audiences.

Our early days! End pose of guitar suspension routine.

From Magic Conventions to Pocono Resorts

Our performing career path started with earnest beginnings and quickly evolved into an exciting journey through show biz. This section explores our early days in magic, our first professional shows as an opening act at Pocono resorts, and how we expanded to other markets along the East Coast and eventually beyond.

Early Days in Magic

Jason's initial entry into the world of magic centered around conventions. These gatherings were more than just meetups; they were crucibles of creativity and competition.

At magic conventions, Jason honed his skills by participating in stage competitions. The thrill of showcasing new tricks and the pressure of performing in front of peers pushed him to improve constantly.

These early experiences laid the foundation for our future in magic. They taught us the importance of innovation, precision, and audience engagement - skills that would prove invaluable in our professional career. If you're wondering, Jason and eventually both of us took first place quite a few times at these conventions.

A Paid Gig!! - Pocono Resorts

Our transition from amateur magicians to professional performers began with a leap of faith in the Poconos. This move marked a significant milestone in our fledgling careers.

We started by creating a promo tape showcasing our limited repertoire of three routines. Fortune smiled upon us when Caesar's Brookdale, a family resort, expressed interest. This opportunity pushed us to expand our act into a full 45-minute show.

Soon, we found ourselves performing at multiple resorts in both the Pocono and Catskill Mountains. The demanding schedule of up to 12 shows a week accelerated our growth as performers, teaching us adaptability and showmanship, as well as giving us the chance to develop a ton of material.

Expanding to East Coast Resorts

Buoyed by our success in the Poconos, we set our sights on expanding our reach along the East Coast. This phase of our journey taught us valuable lessons in marketing and persistence.

Kim took charge of our expansion efforts, meticulously working through a directory of timeshare resorts. She reached out to potential bookers, which opened quite a few new doors for us.

One such opportunity came from a Virginia resort, offering us a regular Monday night gig. While exciting, it also presented a challenge: they wanted a 90-minute show. This pushed us to further develop our act, adding new tricks and refining our performance. To take this opportunity we literally needed to double our material from 45 minutes to an hour and a half!

College Entertainment and Theaters

As our reputation grew, we ventured into new territories, exploring the college entertainment circuit and eventually breaking into theater performances. This section details our journey through these diverse and challenging markets.

Higher Education

Our entry into the college entertainment scene opened up a world of opportunities, allowing us to reach diverse audiences throughout the U.S. This phase of our career was marked by rapid growth and countless new experiences across this amazing country.

We focused our efforts on two main organizations for college bookings: APCA and NACA. Our unique style and fast paced performances quickly gained traction, particularly with APCA.

Our college tours took us from Maine to Florida, and as far west as New Mexico. This extensive travel not only broadened our horizons but also helped us refine our show to appeal to a wide range of audiences. We also found some top tier BBQ places along the way!

Theater Craft

To stand out in the competitive college entertainment market, we developed a more theatrical approach to our performances. This evolution was a key factor in our continued success.

We incorporated several illusions into our act, creating a more visually appealing show that could easily play in larger venues. The addition of moving lights enhanced the overall production value, giving our performances a much more theatrical feel that seemed to quickly outgrow colleges.

This approach not only set us apart from other college entertainers but also paved the way for our future ventures into Performing Arts Centers and Theaters.

Break a Leg: Off to the Theater

Our transition into theater and performing arts centers marked a new chapter in our career, allowing us to showcase our talents in more formal settings.

End of double levitation circa 2011.

We adapted our show to suit various theater formats, from one-nighters to educational shows and even long term extended runs. This versatility became one of our greatest strengths, as now there is no venue we can't perform in.

The theater circuit provided us with larger stages, more sophisticated equipment, knowledgable tech crews and audiences who came specifically for a magic show. This environment allowed us to push the boundaries of our performances, creating more elaborate and immersive experiences.

Cruises and Corporate Gigs - Yeah, we do it all

To ensure long-term success and stability, we expanded our markets to include cruise ship shows and corporate entertainment. We started with Disney Cruise Line and expanded to most of the major lines. We've been fortunate that our list of corporate clients is also a who's who of major names. This diversification strategy has been crucial in navigating the ups and downs of the entertainment industry including market crashes, a world wide pandemic you might have heard of and changes in how entertainment is delivered.

All Aboard

Venturing into the world of cruise ship entertainment presented unique challenges and opportunities. It required us to adapt our show to suit a diverse, international audience.

Cruise ship performances demanded a high level of versatility. We had to create shows that could appeal to audiences of all ages and cultural backgrounds, often times in multiple languages.

The experience of performing on cruise ships also honed our ability to work in varying conditions, from rough seas to extremely tight schedules on very little sleep. This adaptability has proven invaluable throughout our career.

Success in Corporate Entertainment

Corporate gigs became another significant aspect of our career, allowing us to tailor our performances for business audiences and events.

The corporate entertainment world also codified our belief in the importance of professionalism and reliability. Punctuality, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to working within strict parameters became as crucial and second nature as our magic skills.

Conclusion: The Magic Continues

Fun 2010 photo shoot in Arizona

Our magical journey has been an incredible ride, filled with diverse experiences and incredible memories. From performing in Paris, to receiving applause from some of Hollywood's biggest stars, to seeing our name in lights on Broadway, it's been an incredible ride that started at local magic conventions. We're excited to share that our extended run of Jason Bishop: Straight Up Magic at Camelback Resort is our newest endeavor, allowing us to connect with audiences in a picturesque setting while ever continuing to hone our craft.

But our story doesn't end there. We continue to embrace the thrill of performing in theaters, where the ambiance and audience engagement bring an electric energy to our shows. Corporate events offer us a platform to tailor our magic to the unique themes and messages of diverse organizations, while cruise ships present the exciting challenge of entertaining an international audience in exotic locations.

Each venue offers its own set of opportunities and challenges, and we are constantly adapting and evolving to meet them. Our passion for magic drives us forward, and we eagerly anticipate the adventures that await us beyond the horizon. Thank you for being part of our journey—and here's to the magic yet to come!