Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Fun.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My family and I were walking through University Mall when I was about 10 years old. There was a magic shop in the mall, and my dad remembered a trick that one of his mission companions had. It was the disappearing handkerchief trick. We walked in and my dad asked about the trick, and I soon as I saw it and how it worked I fell in love with magic tricks! Throughout my youth, I would buy tricks here and there, and learn from magic books.
After I got married, a family friend ask me to perform some magic tricks on his daughter’s birthday (about 15 years ago). I was hesitant because I wasn’t a “magician”… I just played with magic tricks. But I agreed and showed my magic tricks at the party, which took about 15 minutes. We all had fun and my friend and his family encouraged me to perform shows. I gathered what little knowledge I had and organized a 30 min show which I started to promote to family and friends,
A few years later, I was searching for local magic shops online, since the one at University Mall had since closed, and I came upon a local magic club that met in Provo once a month. It was The Society of American Magicians Assembly #188. I called the phone number on the website, which belonged to Brian South -a magic creator and inventor. He invited me to a club meeting, and I soon found myself surrounded by notable names in the magic community. At that time, Brian was launching his newest project called Discover Magic, along with his business partners Michael Rosander and celebrity magician Michael Ammar. It’s a magic curriculum designed to teach life skills through magic for kids ages 8-13. I immediately knew that I wanted to be a part of this program and I became a licensed teacher of Discover Magic and started my own magic school for kids. Brian and I became quick friends and he helped guide me and my magic to a professional path. Brian is my mentor and he continues to teach me not only how to be a better performer, but a better person. He is the one that helped me realize that magic is what I am meant to do.
In 2019, I was able to leave my day job behind to perform magic full-time. My wife, Marcela, and our four kids have always been very supportive and helped me in every show that I perform! From set-up and take-down, to being cut in half in the Box of Mystery! In March 2020, when all my shows and magic classes got canceled due to the pandemic, our living room turned into a video studio as I took my magic classes online and performed magic shows all around the country via Zoom.
During this time, thanks to a friend in Phoenix named Chris Weed, we also started a new venture: Foam Parties! In spring of 2021, we also saw an opportunity to become co-owners of The Towne Hub theater in American Fork (the old sticky shoe theater). We were able to open the theater for live shows and rentals in August of 2021, and we run the theater as a family. My wife also purchased a snow cone shack that she runs with our kids as well!
Between magic shows, magic classes, foam parties, the theater, and snow cones, you could say we are serial entrepreneurs and entertainers! The thing I love most about what we do is that we do it as a family, and that we are teaching our kids how to work (and how to have fun)!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Although much of our work can be considered play, it had not been easy. One of our biggest challenges is trying to balance everyone’s schedules. Three of our kids are in the high school marching band. Add other school activities, church activities, dating, hanging out with friends, etc. Trying to coordinate our kids’ schedules with running several businesses can be tricky. Not only that, but my wife is also working a day job from home. None of what we do would be possible without her! She is the real magic in our home!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Wacky Wizard Kids, Jason Fun Magic and Foamtastic Bubbles?
While I can (and have) performed magic for all ages and occasions from kid birthday parties to adults at corporate events, I specialize in kids and family shows! I’m known as Utah’s Funnest Magician. What sets me apart from most other local magicians is that my shows are not just showing magic tricks, but also have theater and a purpose. I also heavily invest in my magic education. I’ve attended a specialized magic, business and theater coaching course in Costa Rica and I attend other magic trainings in Las Vegas twice a year which is taught by the best magicians and performers in the world! Because of this continuous education, I receive in performance, I have been able to develop and provide a more unique entertainment service. After seeing my shows, you’ll know why my name is Jason Fun!
One of the things I’m most proud of is my magic school for kids, Wacky Wizard Kids and my summer magic camp, Wizard Boot Camp, With the Discover Magic program, I’ve been able to teach thousands of kids with one-day workshops, week-long magic camps, after-school magic classes, and educational school assembly shows including STEM magic! I have been awarded the Discover Magic Golden Key of Excellence Award four different years, in Las Vegas, for my contributions to the Discover Magic Program and the development of my magic school, Wacky Wizard Kids.
This year, we are launching a new magic curriculum called Magic Explorers for kids ages 5-7, which was developed by the Discover Magic team! Our summer magic camps have already been selling out at various locations. As we continue to grow, we are always on the lookout for new venues, program partners, and schools to take our FUN and Educational magic classes to!
My favorite magician is Mario The Maker Magician. He taught me to focus and to find my passion. My passion is to make kids and families laugh and have fun together; to help kids and families realize they are important and needed in this world; to know that they have friends and people who care about them. This is the real magic, and this is what I try to provide in my shows, my performances, and the entertainment services that I provide.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Yes! I learned that it’s OK to ask for help. When all of my shows and magic classes were canceled due to all the shutdowns, I had to try and figure out how to teach magic classes and perform magic shows online. It’s very different performing a magic show for the camera than it is in-person. And not only performing, but how do I market, advertise and get clients and new clients to not only agree to a Zoom magic show, but to have a paying Zoom magic shows and magic classes?! Many other magicians and entertainers around the world lost their business during the pandemic. I still know people who were magicians who are out of business because they haven’t been able to bounce back from the pandemic.
Luckily, being a licensed teacher of the Discover Magic program, I have access to a network of other magicians and magic teachers from around the world! Together with the Discover Magic team, we held frequent meetings via Zoom to brainstorm and share ideas on how we can keep performing and teaching magic classes online. We formed tumbler groups and met online once a week to share failures, successes, and best practices. It’s OK to ask for help. As a matter of fact, if you want to be successful in anything, you should probably ask for help. You can’t do things by yourself!
Pricing:
- I have shows to fit most budgets. Usually from $250 for kid birthday parties to several thousand dollars for company events.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.WackyWizardKids.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/wackywizardkids
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/JasonFunMagic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MagicianJasonFun
- Other: www.JasonFunMagic.com
