Showing posts with label Matt DiSero. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Matt DiSero. Show all posts

20 March 2026

Waterloo: Magic & Shenanigans -- a guided tour festival [May 29 - 31]

For tickets and more information, visit MagicAndShenanigans.com

 

This year's magicians include:

  • Laura London
  • Matt DiSero
  • Chris Capehart
  • Alyx Hilshey
  • Siegfired Tieber
  • Jack Wise and 
  • Keith Fields 

 

From the March 3rd Instagram post by Magic and Shenanigans

Back for its 2nd year, this unique experience combines the greatest magicians from around the globe along with professional comedians, actors and improv specialists chosen as tour guides to help you navigate the streets of Uptown Waterloo.

Read more. 

 

We had a great time at last year's festival.  Have a look at some of our photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

22 December 2025

2025 Inspirational Canadian Magician Showcase summary

This concludes the 2025 Inspirational Canadian Magician Showcase (ICMS)! 

We hope you enjoyed reading about many of the talented magicians across the country.  Thank you for joining us on the journey.

A huge shout out to everyone who submitted names and supporting text to us last month.  Thank you for generously making the time to celebrate your peers!

   

We couldn't have done this without the help of:


Thank you for the thought and time involved in sending us your submissions.

 



Congratulations again to everyone featured.  Keep up the great work!

Be sure to click on the links below to find out what makes each magician inspirational in their own right.  The story isn't just about who was selected.  Of equal, or perhaps greater importance, is why they were selected!










01 December 2025

Matt DiSero: Inspirational Canadian Magician

First up in this year's Inspirational Canadian Magician Showcase, is Matt DiSero!

 

Matt DiSero: Inspirational Canadian Magician
Matt DiSero: Inspirational Canadian Magician.
 
 

 

He’s a working pro who not only excels at the best gigs but also at some of the hardest. Growing up in a comedy club environment Matt knows how to work a difficult crowd or room. He is comfortable in any environment. Matt knows how to construct a routine for maximum entertainment, and can squeeze a LOT out of very little. He was recently interviewed on a podcast about the secrets of cruise ship magic and he wasn’t afraid to drop the real dirt. His experience and knowledge can be very helpful to magicians of any level. 

Submitted by Mystery Magician



Congratulations Matt!  Keep up the great work!

To learn more about Matt DiSero, visit his website MattDiSero.com and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.



Thank you to our anonymous Mystery Magician, for your excellent submission!







02 January 2025

ICYMI: Proceeds from The Fog Machine of War

Updated January 3rd to add to the bottom of this post:

 

This news is almost a year old, but it is happy and uplifting and a reminder that we can make a difference in the lives of others.  

You may remember that in 2023, Matt DiSero published The Fog Machine of War.  The proceeds from this book were sent to a magic school in Bolivia.  

Last year, Matt shared a post showing how the donation benefited the children.

 

From the January 31, 2024 Facebook post by Matt DiSero:

I wrote a book that many of you purchased, all the proceeds from which, in part helped kids who love magic get a scholarship to a magic school in Bolivia. Behold below the fruits of your generosity. Your reward is the look on these kids faces, watching them do what they're interested in and love. Didn't even take much huh? Pretty cool what can happen, with the power of community. A reminder perhaps of we can do if we work together, everyone helping a little bit.  Its like what Wilton Knight told Micheal in the first episode of Knight Rider "One person can make a difference". Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise. Well done, all of you, and thanks. Lets see what else we can do down the road...

 

 

 

Well done Matt! 

Let's all aim to do some good in 2025!

 

 

From the November 22nd Facebook post by Matt DiSero:

Wow!! Just got this on the mail from Bolivia ! THANK YOU Mago Byron !! It’ll be on the wall in my office forever.

“for his invaluable contribution to the growth of magic in Bolivia “ ( I had to use google translate, my Spanish is weak )

 

 

11 December 2024

Steve Valentine: Inspirational Canadian Magician

CanadasMagic.com is proud to present the 2024 Inspirational Canadian Magician Showcase.

Next up in this year's Inspirational Canadian Magician Showcase, is Steve Valentine!

Steve Valentine: Inspirational Canadian Magician

Steve Valentine: Inspirational Canadian Magician.
 
 

 

For Steve's work at MagicOnTheGo. Really inspiring to see someone put up 900+ videos of magic instruction. Deep dives into the work from a real working pro is very rare to get access to. A lot of the material is also obscure and people may not even have known it existed, which aids in cataloguing material that may otherwise have been lost to history.

Submitted by Matt DiSero



Congratulations Steve!  Keep up the great work!

To learn more about Steve Valentine's project, visit his website at MagicOnTheGo.vhx.tv, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.



Thank Matt for your excellent submission!

To learn more about Matt DiSero, visit his website MattDiSero.com and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.







19 December 2023

Wes Barker: Inspirational Canadian Magician

Sixteenth in this year's Inspirational Canadian Magician Showcase, is Wes Barker!

Wes Barker: Inspirational Canadian Magician

Wes Barker: Inspirational Canadian Magician.
 
 



Wes is by far the most dedicated magician we have working in Canada, his work ethic is unparalleled. Add to that the volume of creative output -- a new live show, taped a TV show, produces and tours shows, wrote a book and put it out to audio book, hosts podcasts and creates viral videos.  I rarely leave a meeting with Wes not inspired.  Every time I hang out with that dude he's always making me want to try new things and see what else I can push for.  I rarely do them, that's on me.

Submitted by Matt DiSero

 

 

 

The show Wes Barker: Live on Tour dropped on Wes Barker's YouTube channel this morning: 

 



Congratulations Wes!  Keep up the great work!

To learn more about Wes Barker visit his website WesBarker.ca, visit his store 2nd to none, listen to his podcast Bottom of the Barrel (with Chris Ramsay) and follow him on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.


 

Thank Matt for your excellent submission!

To learn more about Matt DiSero, visit his website MattDiSero.com and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.







31 October 2023

Random thoughts about "An Evening of Magic and Laughter"

Last Friday, KOP and I ventured to Brampton to see An Evening of Magic and Laughter with Matt DiSero, headliner Steve Valentine, and emcee Evan Carter.  I'd seen adverts these three a number of times.  I know that Matt and Steve are guaranteed to entertain, and I'd heard excellent things about Evan Carter.   

 

TLDR:  A show bursting with magic and laughter!

 

 

 

 

Here are some random thoughts about the show:

Also at the show (in no particular order):
- Glenn Ottaway
- Richard Forget
- David Merry
- Ray Anderson
- Artemus Syman 
- Ian Batterbury, and
- Gord Gardiner!
  • The Rose Theatre in Brampton is a beautiful cozy theatre where almost all of the seats have a fantastic view of the stage.  I hope to get back to see more shows here. 
     
  • Evan Carter lives up to his reputation.  He made hilarious observations about everyday life and was family friendly.  He quickly and expertly won over the audience. 
      
  • Matt DiSero took the stage and did not disappoint! 
     
  • Matt leaned into playing in his hometown and the audience loved it! 
      
  • His years of experience and lessons learned on the road shone through and in spite of the fact that Hartnell wasn't behaving, we saw Matt at his best.

  • The highlight of Matt's act was his selection of volunteer Camilla.  This five year old had just the right ratio of adorableness, impulsiveness, and respect for authority.  It was a delight to watch Matt guide her through the piece and let her shine like a star!

From the October 29th Instagram post by Matt DiSero, Camilla and Matt:

 

  • A brief intermission followed.
     
  • Steve Valentine took the stage by storm and never looked back!

  • The hand may be quicker than they eye, but Steve produces magic effects faster than my brain can absorb them!
     
  • There was some difficulty with the tech and there was no AV for his show.  Those familiar with Steve's show, know that there are a ridiculous number of AV cues with multimedia woven throughout his set.  IT DIDN'T MATTER.  Steve ran through his show, improvising AV at times to great comedic effect, and no one was the wiser.

  • Things were thrown, things were produced, things vanished, and the laws of physics were stood on their ear.

  • Much of Steve's show was similar to the show he presented at Jokers, with minor tweaks and polishes. 

  • There were also brilliant additions (to already strong pieces) that were absolutely amazing and well received.  (Who wouldn't want to leave the show with a box of kisses from Steve?)
     
  • It was interesting for me, to see his show play in a theatre after seeing it first in a comedy club.  It was just as fabulous in the theatre as it was in a more intimate setting.  Steve masterfully delivers in any venue size.

  • As I've said before, it is obvious to the casual observer that Steve takes his role as entertainer seriously.  It is equally obvious that he doesn't take himself seriously, which always endears him to the audience.

 
All in all it was a wonderful evening of entertainment by highly seasoned performers giving us their very best!

 

Thank you gentlemen, for sharing with us the gift of your talent!