The art of magic enthralled notorious illusionist Jason Bishop of Fleetwood from a young age analogous to how he captivates people worldwide, including celebrities. He shares how the foster care system influenced him and how his Berks County roots are steering the next phase of his career.
Q: How has growing up in the CONCERN foster care system molded you into who you are today?
I have certainly lived a nomadic lifestyle until a few years ago when I bought a house in Berks County, and at the time, I didn't really care where I was. I just traveled. In addition, people with hardships in their lives, like me, have a hard time thinking they deserve their accomplishments. I work for them; I negotiate for them; I achieve them, but I don't just assume I'm going to get them, either. I have seen some people enter entertainment and expect to do well without being willing to make sacrifices, and it doesn’t work out for them.
Q: When did illusion pique your interest?
I must have been six or seven years old, and I saw a man who levitated a woman on TV. I remember thinking, “That's amazing,” and then thinking, “If it's real, then I think he would do it this way.” Fast forward about 15 years, and I was exactly right about how he did it. So, I guess I had a little bit of an aptitude for the industry.
Q: What is the secret to staying relevant since pursuing magic full-time at 21 years old?
Looking at my deficits as open-mindedly as possible. My lead assistant and girlfriend, Kim, and I ask ourselves: “Where can we improve? Where can we have more impact? How do we do a more impressive trick?” We recently revamped a trick that didn't need to be changed, but for us to be more effective, we wanted to change it. And I don't say that lightly because it's a tremendous amount of work bringing in magic advisors and choreographers and learning new software.
Q: What might people get from your show that they would not anticipate?
There are two things: the humor in the show is a big component that people don't expect, and we do a lot of unique, rare or original illusions. One I came up with myself is called The Fog, and it's just a ball of fog that floats around the stage, through a hoop, around me, and then it vanishes at the end.
Q: What are you most proud of in your career thus far?
At 19 years old, I was still in college at Kutztown, and there was a competition called the Battle of Magicians in New Jersey where other top professionals competed. I competed and won the entire competition… I also received the Melbourne Christopher Illusionist Award in September. Melbourne Christopher was an illusionist from the East Coast, and being from Berks County, it's a little sweeter to get an East Coast-based award. It's just ridiculous to be in this rarefied air of the best illusionists and magicians in the country.
Q: What’s next for the Jason Bishop Show after repeatedly touring the world, hosting Master of Illusion, performing on Broadway and starring in your own shows?
One thing we're trying to do right now is stay a little more local. We've traveled enough now, so we're just trying to perform in Berks County and in the surrounding area more often. We do corporate events, meetings, parties and university events. We’re also headlining the eastern portion of the Masters of Illusion tour through March of 2024.
Learn More.
Transcend into astonishment. See Jason and Kim LIVE on the Masters of Illusion tour or book them for your next event by visiting thejasonbishopshow.com.
Advice from Jason. If you are talented in the industry you are pursuing, keep going. Your competition might quit tomorrow.
