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The Shazam brothers; Magic that transcends logic ... and age
by Lauren LaRocca, originally published in The Frederick News-Post, December 18, 2009
Peter Wood started his career in the "age of cooties," he said.
He was in kindergarten.
And because of cooties, his magician assistants were always boys. By the time his younger brother, Matt Wood, was old enough, he became his permanent stage partner, and the two have performed stage, party and strolling magic shows throughout the area.
"If Peter doesn't remember a time he wasn't doing magic, I definitely don't remember a time Peter wasn't doing magic," Matt said. "We'd always put on shows in our backyard. It kind of made sense to work together."
Besides performing for live audiences, the brothers created the "Do Some Magic" instructional video series (dosomemagic.com) after Whitney Hahn of Digital Bard Video approached them with the idea. In the series, they teach impressive tricks they've used on their friends, rather than just beginner magic for kids. The videos give audiences "a peek backstage," Peter said, where Matt contributes to a lot of trick preparations.
Both Peter and Matt have interest and experience in theater. Peter, who earned a technical theater degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (and paid for school with magic shows), designs and consults others on magic and special effects for film and theater. Matt, a student at UMBC, works on the technical side of theater productions and builds theater sets.
Growing up in Monrovia, Peter was drawn to magic as a way of entertaining people.
"When I would play as a kid, it would usually involve setting up special effects in the backyard with a sprinkler and strobe light, or putting on a show in the basement with sound effects and lighting," he said. "Sometimes I'd even have a parent follow me around as I hosted a TV show. ... Magic was just the vehicle that fit me most naturally, where practice wasn't a chore and entertaining didn't -- and still doesn't -- feel like a job."
Peter, now 25, knew he wanted to turn his talent into a career when he was 11, but was refused a seat in a Frederick Community College business class because of his age. Instead, his mother took the course, and Peter came along, studying.
He started with birthday and house parties, which he still does, then trade shows, corporate events and organizations.
"It's a good mix, and each market is a different animal," Peter said. "One of our favorite audiences is the family audience. I really enjoy putting together magic that's fun for adults and kids."
While magicians can purchase tricks in a box, Peter and Matt prefer to create their own.
"We may take a classic and put our twist on it," Peter said.
This past summer marked his 11th year performing magic at the Howard County Fair. The first year, a friend of his had a magical emergency and had to cancel his slot at the last minute. Peter wasn't old enough to drive, but his dad chauffeured him to the fair -- and to most of his magic shows, in those days.
"Dad is an avid yard-saler around Frederick and ... was better than a GPS in those early days," Peter said. "As soon as I could get my license, I did."
He remembered the annual excursions to Rockville to go to Barry's Magic Shop, "a mecca for me as a kid," he said. "After my birthday, we'd make a pilgrimage."
The shop introduced him to tricks as well as other magicians and people in the magic community.
"Talking to other magicians, most of them got into magic because they had a fascination with the secrets and tricks, but I really got into it from the standpoint of entertainment," Peter said. "Magic just seems to suit me best. ... I also took piano lessons for a few years."
Matt's more interested in the psychological element of the show, but shares performance ideas with his brother, making it as creative and entertaining as they can.
"We try to not be too clich?d," Peter said. "We want to look magical, but we don't want to look like clowns."
Still, he admitted they probably have more tailcoats than anyone else their age.
"It's both a blessing and a curse to ... be introduced as Peter the Magician when meeting new friends," he said.
Peter is president of the Columbia chapter of the Society of American Magicians and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the International Magician's Society.
One of his most popular tricks, Magic Milk Mishap, results in him drilling a hole in the elbow of an audience member and pumping milk out of it.
"It's funny to do to a 6-year-old kid who thinks it's whimsical," Matt said. "But it's just as funny to do it to a 60-year-old trucker."
