Today we’d like to introduce you to Robert Sands.
Hi Robert, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My journey into magic began when I was about eight years old. I used to watch magic shows on television and immediately try to duplicate what I had just seen. Of course, it never worked out the way it did on TV—but that curiosity is what sparked the beginning.
I soon discovered that I could check out books on magic at the library, and that’s where my true start began. Growing up in a Christian household, however, I wasn’t allowed to have playing cards or anything connected to magic. I remember hiding a deck of cards under my pillow until I was eventually caught. I wasn’t able to check out magic books anymore, so I came up with a plan—I pretended I had a book report every weekend just so I could use the internet. I would look up magic, study guides, write down notes, and even search TV listings to find when magic shows were coming on. It was a hobby, but it became an obsession.
In high school, my passion grew even more. A new student arrived—another African-American kid who looked a lot like me. He worked at a magic shop and drove this gold car with rims that, at the time, made him the coolest guy I’d ever seen. He introduced me to new tricks, some of which I still perform today. Around that same time, David Blaine released his groundbreaking street magic special, which completely changed the way I saw magic. I dove in headfirst.
As the years went on, I performed magic everywhere I went—at jobs, parties, and just for fun—because I thrived on people’s reactions. Their amazement fueled me to keep going. While serving as a merchant seaman overseas with the Navy, I began doing shows and, for the first time, getting paid to perform. That experience showed me that magic could be more than just a hobby.
When I came back, people wanted me for parties and events. I decided to focus on a market where I could always find opportunities to perform: children’s entertainment. It turned out to be one of the hardest categories to master—kids are brutally honest and won’t hold back if they see through a trick. I had my feelings hurt a few times, but it pushed me to get better. Over time, I built my skills, created a website, and earned positive reviews.
Today, I’m proud to be considered among the top entertainers in the children’s magic industry, right alongside my respected colleagues. It’s been a long road from that curious eight-year-old sneaking magic books to the professional family magician I am now—but every challenge made me better, and every audience reaction reminds me why I fell in love with magic in the first place.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say I faced many struggles—it was more about constantly working to get better. Along the way, magic taught me how to communicate with all kinds of people and adapt to different situations. Because of that, I’ve built friendships with people I never would have connected with otherwise. Magic became more than just performing—it became a bridge to people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Although I mainly perform for children, I also entertain at adult and corporate events. Still, kids’ magic allows me to be the most creative. I get to design shows that can be customized to almost anything the client wants. For example, every summer I do a library tour where each year there’s a different theme. I build my show around that theme, incorporating books and tying everything together with magic. Because I never repeat the same show year after year, it pushes me to stay fresh and creative.
I also enjoy building my own props and working with a friend who helps me bring ideas to life. Sometimes I even design original concepts so the show feels unique to me and my audience. For instance, instead of using a standard magician’s box, I might take a regular Amazon box and apply the same principles and methods of magic to make things appear. With the right presentation, it transforms an everyday object into something magical, and that makes it more engaging for the audience.
Ultimately, I create the kind of magic I would enjoy watching myself—and if I enjoy it, I know my audience will too.
What’s next?
I plan to continue growing by doing larger shows and reaching more clients. One day, I’d even love to have my own venue—a place where kids and families can come together to enjoy magic in a space built just for that experience. But at the heart of it all, my goal stays simple: if I can make someone’s day brighter through magic, then I’m happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.JacksonvilleMagician.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dad_ician
