Written By Cori Simpson
The word “magician” often conjures up images of balloon animals, magic wands, “hocus pocus” and rabbits pulled out of hats.
David French falls somewhere in between a top-hat, cape-wearing Mandrake the Magician type and the levitating conjurer, David Blaine.
A self-taught entertainer with 23 years of experience in what he calls “up-close” magic, French often elicits the question, “How’d he do that?”
The third Friday of every month, French, 45, floats from table to table at E.W. Beck’s Pub in Sykesville, pulling props from his sleeves; sometimes he’ll even pull up a seat to perform a handful of magic tricks.
“The intimacy associated with up-close magic,” he said, “Is more fun for me than stage performing and creates a better memory.”
French has been perfecting his restaurant act since his college years at Towson State. After years of practice, his love of entertaining comes naturally to him.
“Second nature, that’s where you want it to be,” he said. “In a restaurant atmosphere there are always interruptions and people who want to jump in. You don’t want to find yourself thinking too much about what you’re going to do next.”
Some of his tricks include burning and flying cards, disappearing and reappearing money and jumping sponge balls. One of his most-requested tricks is the Card-to-Ceiling trick. The customer signs a playing card, French shuffles it into the deck, tosses the deck up and leaves the audience member’s signed card stuck on the ceiling.
French says that one of the hardest things about his job is approaching a table of strangers. “You never know what to expect. You have to know how to cater to different crowds.”
And despite the distractions that one expects at popular restaurants, French waltzes from table to table, mindful to keep out of the way of waiters and careful to leave room for customers coming and going.
He credits much of his success in gaining private shows to his ability to showcase his work at restaurants. From the restaurants, French has received many jobs at corporate and private functions, such as office events and birthday parties.
In addition to performing magic, French, a Sykesville resident, has worked for AT&T for 22 years. He describes himself primarily as a family guy. His wife of 18 years, Jane, and their three children, 15, 13, and 10, are very supportive of his hobby.
“My family has been my inspiration for years,” said French. “My children have sat through more magic practice sessions than kids should have to, and my wife has had to look at cards on our ceilings for far too long.”
