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Summit, AI and Where I Am

Discourse in Magic

Release Date: 05/29/2025

Trading Places: Jonah Babins with The Magic Guys show art Trading Places: Jonah Babins with The Magic Guys

Discourse in Magic

This week, Discourse in Magic looks a little different. Instead of Jonah interviewing a guest, we’re sharing an episode where the tables were turned. Jonah recently sat down with Josh Norbido and Nick Kay—better known as The Magic Guys—on their popular Australian-based livestream and podcast. The Magic Guys actually "robbed" Jonah of the FSM Award for top Magic Podcast this year, but there are no hard feelings here. Their show is famous for its high energy, active YouTube community, and hilarious banter, making this one of the most engaging "crossover" episodes yet. In this session, Josh...

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Mastering the Perfect Sales Call show art Mastering the Perfect Sales Call

Discourse in Magic

In this episode, Jonah Babins breaks down a critical mistake magicians make when a lead finally lands in their inbox: treating the sales call like a logistics checklist. While knowing the venue and guest count is important, a truly professional sales call does something much deeper. Jonah explores how the right questions don't just give you information—they prove your expertise and give you the exact language you need to close the gig. Whether you’re performing at high-end weddings or corporate holiday parties, the strategy remains the same: stop asking about logistics and start asking...

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Where Has Jonah Been? show art Where Has Jonah Been?

Discourse in Magic

In this solo episode, Jonah Babins pulls back the curtain on the eight-month hiatus of Discourse in Magic. Since August 2025, the podcast feed has been quiet, leading many listeners to reach out and check-in. Today, Jonah is back to explain his disappearance, share a major business epiphany from his recent travels, and lay out the future of the show. The truth is, Jonah hasn’t been resting; he’s been on a whirlwind journey across the globe. From Auckland to Melbourne, and Pennsylvania to Denver, Jonah has been physically traveling to visit members of his Magic Business Mastermind. He...

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Weaponize Your Show show art Weaponize Your Show

Discourse in Magic

In this episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins dives into a powerful concept from his mastermind sessions: Weaponizing Your Show. The idea is simple—make your show book you more shows. Beyond just delivering a strong performance, Jonah shares five practical tactics to turn every gig into a referral engine, rebooking machine, and review generator. If you want your performances to create momentum in your business, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can implement right away. Mention What You Do Onstage Audiences rarely know whether magic is your hobby or your full-time...

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Thoughts on FISM show art Thoughts on FISM

Discourse in Magic

Thoughts on FISM: The Good, The Bad, and The Overwhelming In this solo episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins shares his raw and honest reflections on FISM 2025. From mind-blowing performances to marathon-length competitions, Jonah walks through the highs and lows of the world’s biggest and most prestigious magic convention and competition. Whether you attended or are just curious about how FISM functions, this episode offers a candid inside look. Highlights from the World Stage Jonah opens with praise for the best of the best—performers whose acts left audiences stunned. Standout...

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Jamie Allan: Building Big Magic With Authenticity show art Jamie Allan: Building Big Magic With Authenticity

Discourse in Magic

In this episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah sits down with Jamie Allan, a pioneering illusionist and producer known for blending large-scale magic with theatrical storytelling. From growing up in a showbiz family in the UK to launching Broadway-scale productions in New York, Jamie shares the ups and downs of his journey—offering invaluable lessons about reinvention, creative resilience, and staying authentic in a world of illusions. From Red Coats to Broadway Jamie traces his early days performing in holiday parks and on cruise ships, where he learned to love the stage and reject the grind...

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The Art and Hustle of Modern Magic with Xavier Mortimer show art The Art and Hustle of Modern Magic with Xavier Mortimer

Discourse in Magic

Jonah sits down with viral magician  to trace an unlikely journey—from learning back‑and‑front palming out of a gas‑station booklet to topping “Best Family‑Friendly Show” lists on the Las Vegas Strip and amassing billions of social‑video views. Along the way they dig into creative misfires, the treadmill of nightly shows, and why rehearsing a TikTok illusion can cost $20 K.   From Gas‑Station Book to Barn‑Built Show Xavier’s origin story starts with a coincidence: his father picked up a sleight‑of‑hand booklet as a fuel‑pump freebie. Two weeks of rural...

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The Business of Fringe Magic with Luke Oseland show art The Business of Fringe Magic with Luke Oseland

Discourse in Magic

In this episode, Jonah Babins is joined by rising UK magic star to explore a journey that spans from toy magic sets and teenage tinkering to sellouts and cruise ship stints. From co-creating to redefining how young magicians build their brands, Luke shares the behind-the-scenes of developing shows, finding your performance voice, and building a magic career from scratch. You’ll learn how to structure a magic show, when to take creative risks, and why sometimes the best marketing strategy is just putting on a killer show. How Luke Got Started in Magic Luke’s magic journey began like...

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Summit, AI and Where I Am show art Summit, AI and Where I Am

Discourse in Magic

In this week’s episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins returns with a behind-the-scenes look at the Mexico Mastermind Summit, his latest adventures in AI, and what’s next for the magic community. After a brief hiatus, Jonah shares the lessons, breakthroughs, and future plans that are shaping his approach to magic and business in 2024. The Summit Experience: Magic, Community, and Growth Jonah kicks things off by recapping the recent Mastermind Summit in Cancun, where 40 magicians gathered for a week of learning, jamming, and business breakthroughs. Unlike traditional conventions, this...

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Pioneering Corporate Magic with Bill Herz show art Pioneering Corporate Magic with Bill Herz

Discourse in Magic

In this episode, Jonah Babins is joined by corporate magic legend to unpack a career that spans summer camps, corporate boardrooms, and headline features in . From his early days performing with to founding Magicorp and representing world-class talent, Bill shares the highs, the hustle, and the hilarious behind-the-scenes of building a career in corporate magic. You’ll learn what makes a magician bookable, how to navigate pricing, and why a magician’s greatest asset might be understanding the client better than they understand themselves. How Bill Got Started in Magic Like many...

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More Episodes

In this week’s episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins returns with a behind-the-scenes look at the Mexico Mastermind Summit, his latest adventures in AI, and what’s next for the magic community. After a brief hiatus, Jonah shares the lessons, breakthroughs, and future plans that are shaping his approach to magic and business in 2024.

The Summit Experience: Magic, Community, and Growth
Jonah kicks things off by recapping the recent Mastermind Summit in Cancun, where 40 magicians gathered for a week of learning, jamming, and business breakthroughs. Unlike traditional conventions, this summit focused on real-world magic—sharing “bangers” (the best tricks magicians actually perform), everyday carry routines, and even a spontaneous show where names were drawn from a sombrero.

But the real value, Jonah explains, came from the community: magicians supporting each other, sharing feedback, and pushing each other to new heights. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, Jonah emphasizes that surrounding yourself with a group of like-minded performers is the fastest way to grow.

Three Big Lessons from the Summit
Jonah distills his experience into three key takeaways:

  1. AI is Essential for Magicians
    The most popular session at the summit was all about using AI to supercharge your magic business. Jonah created custom GPTs to help magicians write viral posts and craft messages for clients—tools that attendees could use and implement on the spot. His message: AI isn’t just a trend, it’s a must-have skill for magicians who want to stay ahead.

  2. Magic Itself Needs More Focus
    While business skills are crucial, Jonah realized that magic—the craft itself—can’t be neglected. The Mastermind is now doubling down on helping members improve their performances, not just their marketing. From joke writing to effect selection and stage presence, the goal is to help every magician become legendary, not just successful.

  3. Community is Everything
    The biggest breakthrough? The power of working together. Whether it’s the Mastermind or your own circle of trusted friends, having a support system accelerates growth and makes the journey more fun. Jonah encourages listeners to find their own “band of magicians” if the Mastermind isn’t the right fit.

Actionable AI Tips for Magicians
Jonah shares his top strategies for making AI work for you:

  • Use AI Every Day: Set your browser to open ChatGPT or your favorite AI tool by default.

  • Better Prompts, Better Results: Use the “Role, Request, Context, Format” method to get more useful responses from AI.

  • Teach AI About You: Take advantage of memory, custom instructions, and custom GPTs to personalize your AI’s output.

  • Stay Ahead of the Curve: As AI changes how people find and book magicians, building a strong brand and community is more important than ever.

Where to Find Jonah This Summer
Jonah is hitting the road! If you’re in LA (May 27–30), Chicago (June 8–11), Philly (June 23–26), 

Mentions

  • Follow Jonah on Instagram: @discourseinmagic

  • Email Jonah: magic@torontomagiccompany.com

  • Previous episode with David Gerard on the power of a creative circle.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode! What’s your biggest takeaway from the summit, or your favorite AI tip? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media, and let’s keep growing together.

Be sure to subscribe to Discourse in Magic for more insights, tips, and strategies to elevate your magic business.