About Us
Choosing the right entertainment for your event is an important decision. Let me tell you a little bit about myself and what we offer at RVA Magic that enables us to make sure your event is unforgettable.
Why RVA Magic?
What You Will Get
- Unique and interesting entertainment for your event
- An experience that will have your guests talking about your event for months afterward
- A team player who works with you and your event staff to ensure your event is the best that it can be
- Great entertainment value for your money
- A professional who knows that your event is a reflection on you or your organization
What You Will Not Get
- A cliché magic show your guests have all seen before
- The cheapest entertainment available
- A performer who is difficult to work with and places extra demands on you or your staff
- A dull event that does not get your guests excited about your organization
Who is John Schildroth?
I am a family man who has had a successful career for over twenty years as a software developer. I love my family and have gotten a great deal of satisfaction from my career, but I have always felt like there was something more I was looking for. Over the years I have had many hobbies and interests. It has even been joked that my real hobby is collecting hobbies. But magic has always had a special place in my heart, and several years ago I dedicated myself to learning and performing as much as I can. Now, with the help and support of my family, I am able to pursue this passion as part of my career. One of the greatest joys I get in life is giving other people that feeling of amazement that comes from seeing something that is truly impossible, and I am so fortunate that now I get to do that almost every day.
To find out more click the “Read more…” section below.
I have always been fascinated by playing cards. From playing Go Fish and Hearts with my sisters as children to the regular Uno games Sunday evenings with our friends from church, playing cards were a regular staple in our household. I was able to shuffle a deck of cards almost as early as I was able to write.
When I was about seven a close family friend showed me my first coin trick and I was hooked. The idea that I could make the impossible seem possible was amazing to me. I wanted to learn as much as I could about magic. But growing up in a small rural town before the era of the Internet I did not have a lot of resources available to me. I managed to learn a dozen or so card tricks and a handful of coin tricks that I would perform whenever I got the opportunity. That kept me going up until college, where eventually I let go of the idea of learning magic in lieu of other pursuits.
After college I went on to do many other things, and rarely thought about my childhood passion for magic. I got married and had a family. My two boys have been and are the greatest loves of my life. Being a father has been my greatest and most fulfilling adventure. Professionally I have had a very successful career as a software developer and computer consultant. I have also pursued many hobbies, including playing guitar, billiards, and singing karaoke. I also kept my passion for cards alive by being an avid poker player for many years.
Then in 2011 I was in a very bad motorcycle accident. Both of my hands were badly broken and both of my wrists were crushed and had to be completely rebuilt. As part of my physical therapy during my recovery I returned to my sleight of hands with cards. I found practicing the moves I had learned so long ago helped restore the dexterity and fine motor control I had lost. But in doing this I found it also reignited my passion for magic.
Shortly after this I discovered the show Penn and Teller: Fool Us. Watching this show inspired me to learn even more about magic. And unlike in my childhood I found that there was a wealth of information available now via the Internet to learn from. I began learning everything I could, starting with YouTube videos and eventually buying books and online courses. I would practice with friends and strangers at the pool halls and karaoke bars I would hang out at.
After years of doing this, and at the strong urging of family and friends, I decided to begin performing magic professionally. While I continue to work as a software developer I now also split my time between that and performing magic. Magic has become my real passion, and I enjoy performing every chance that I get. On evenings when I do not have a gig booked you will still find me at the pool halls and bars showing off my latest tricks for anyone interested in seeing them.
How Does This Work?
Step 1: Contact me about your event. The easiest way is to click the “Book Now” link below and complete the booking form, but you can also call, text, or email.
Step 2: I will contact you (usually within 24 hours) to schedule a call to discuss your needs and the details of your event. Once I have this information we will be able to determine the best options for you and put together an amazing package for your event.
Step 3: Once you have decided which options will work best for you I will send you the necessary paperwork to confirm your booking.
Click the button below to get started! We can’t wait to show you what we have to offer!
What is Mentalism?
Because I tell people that I am both a magician and a mentalist, one of the most common questions that I get is, “What is mentalism?” And it’s a fair question as it is not generally a term you hear a lot outside of magic circles.
Mentalism is the area of magic that focuses primarily on feats of the mind. This includes effects like mind reading, predictions, reading body language and expressions, or even seemingly psychic phenomenon like tarot readings.
While mentalism effects are often not as visual as, for example, making a coin vanish or making a deck of cards change colors, I particularly enjoy these effects because they often allow me to form a much stronger and more meaningful connection with my participants and spectators.
What Do I Do?
Depending on the format of your event your needs may vary greatly. Fortunately I am prepared to perform in a variety of different styles and formats, and my performances can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your event, venue, or guests.
Here you will find a description of some of the different types of performance styles I can offer for your event. And you are not limited to only one! In fact, it is not uncommon to combine some amount of strolling or table hopping with a dedicated stage or parlor show in the same event. Please take a look at my offerings here, and then reach out to me to discuss which options would be the best fit for you.
Walkaround magic is great for cocktail party settings or any environment where guests are standing around socializing. I will move around the room mingling with your guests and performing close-up magic to small groups for five to ten minutes at a time. This format allows for a very intimate experience for your guests.
Table hopping works well for events where guests will be seated at tables such as a wedding reception or a corporate dinner. I will move from table to table performing a short close-up magic set for each table. The effects used in table hopping provide an intimate experience for your guests, but are also designed to not be disruptive to eating or other activities that may occur at the tables.
A parlor show is ideal for a semi-intimate environment of anywhere from ten to about sixty guests. This type of show falls in the area between close-up and stage magic. Usually I would expect to be on the same level as the spectators (as opposed to on a stage) and close enough that they could hear me without the need of a PA system. The length of the show can be customized to your needs, anywhere from twenty to sixty minutes.
A stage show is appropriate for larger venues and correspondingly larger audiences. As the name implies, the venue will usually include a stage, such as a theater or auditorium. The effects performed in a stage show are chosen to allow the spectators to still get full enjoyment and appreciation without necessarily being close enough to see the small details sometimes needed in close-up magic. In order to still make the audience feel involved in the magic some spectators will be invited up on stage to help participate. The length of the stage show can be customized to your needs, lasting anywhere from twenty to sixty minutes. It can also be presented as a stand-alone show or be incorporated into a line-up of other activies or performers.
Virtual events are becoming increasingly popular in this modern, post-quarantine environment. In my virtual show I have selected a combination of both visual and mental effects that work well in this medium. I will work with you and your staff on the technical details to ensure easy setup and integration of my performance into your event. The length of the virtual show can be customized to your needs, ranging anywhere from twenty to sixty minutes. Additionally, the virtual show can be given as a stand-alone performance or can be incorporated into a line-up of other activities or performers.
Ready to get Started?
Submit a booking request and let’s start planning your event right away!
