Hello, I'm Doug N.

Article from VoyageLA. - Meet Douglas Newby of Newby Magic in Hollywood Today we’d like to introduce you to Douglas Newby. So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story. I have always loved magic ever since I was little. I saw my first magic show when I was about eight years old. I saw Doug Henning in Las Vegas and I really appreciated seeing him, because he had the same first name as me! Shortly after that my parents gave me my first magic set for my birthday. It wasn’t until almost 30 years later when I went through an enormous change in my life that magic become very important to me. I had four kids and was going through a painful divorce. I ended up with 100% legal and physical custody of them and life was challenging being a single dad. I became very very depressed. I can say that God is good though because a year after my divorce I met my wife who stepped in and helped raise my kids. She encouraged me to get back into magic when she bought me a deck of cards and some instructions for some tricks. Soon after that I made a decision to become a professional Magician; I thought it would be a good story. When I had my audition at the Magic Castle I told them that my goal was to become a professional magician at age 50 and the judges told me that I already was a professional Magician. This made me feel like I was in!! I actually became a member of the Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle in Hollywood at age 49. I now host monthly magic shows at the Magic Lamp Inn in Rancho Cucamonga. I also do birthday parties, weddings, and have performed at corporate events. My goal was to make new friends and become more involved in magic. I wanted to create a magic club so I created the Inland Empire Magic Club. Through the club I have met numerous magicians. My goal was to bring more magic to the Inland Empire, not just to LA. Magic has allowed me to build relationships with others who share my interests. We love to get together and geek out on magic. Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way? Magic comes naturally for me so I have not had many struggles as far as performing goes. The struggle for me is getting gigs and bookings and also managing my online magic store. I am not big enough to have all the support and the I.T. in place. Marketing and creating a name for myself is also challenging at times. I have always said there is no such thing as an easy dollar. I’m always pushing myself to the next level. Newby Magic – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition? I am known for putting on a Parlor Magic Show like you would see at The Magic Castle in Hollywood. I want to reach more people in areas where they may not have a chance to see a great show. Parlor magic is a show that is in between a stage show and close-up magic show. The parlor show may have anywhere from 20 to 80 people. This is my specialty, and I love this type of performance. I love to collaborate with other magicians who want to perform and improve their craft. With more than one magician at my shows I am able to deliver a diverse show. I also love to do birthday parties that inspire all ages. I can also turn an ordinary birthday party into an amazing event by not only performing walk around magic but also setting up my mini stage. I am able to fully engage the entire audience and truly blow their minds. I’m very proud that I currently have a monthly magic show at the Magic Lamp Inn in Rancho Cucamonga and also that I am a member of The Magic Castle in Hollywood. Honestly, what sets me apart from others is that I bring something that’s truly unique. I never wanted to learn from others and have always wanted to do my own thing. This allows me to create events and certain Magical moments that are beyond what other magicians normally will do. I also have a background in Sales, Sales Management, Persuasion, Motivation, Hypnosis, and Neuro-Linguistic Programming so I’m able to absorb the audiences attention. With this type of background I can motivate, and inspire a crowd to have truly unforgettable and memorable experiences that are beyond anything that they would have dreamt of. What is “success” or “successful” for you? Success has a lot of different meanings for different people. I believe that success should not be measured in comparing yourself to others. You should strive to be the best that you can be and you’re the only one who knows if you’re doing everything you can to achieve that. This takes being honest with oneself and admitting when you are not working hard enough. It’s also about being personally responsible for taking your game to the next level. I am the only one who really knows if I am getting better every day.