Biography

Josh Clarke is a close-up magician from Portland, Oregon and he has been performing for 20 years. In those 20 years he has honed and perfected his craft. What began as a child's hobby, has blossomed into a full-fledged professional career.

Josh has had the privilege of performing for a multitude of individuals and professional clients. In addition to performing for various businesses and companies in Oregon, Josh has traveled all over The United States performing for birthdays and wedding receptions. Josh has also provided entertainment for multiple casinos and has even performed for The United States Postal Service at their Christmas parties.

All of Josh's performances are filled with astonishment, amazement and wonder. Utilizing cards, coins and everything in between, Josh makes every moment a truly magical one.

In addition to performing at private events, Josh has donated countless hours to performing for many charities. He has performed for charities that benefit children burn victims, women victims of abuse and breast cancer patients.

Always looking forward to the future, Josh continues to create mind-blowing illusions and incorporate them into his performances.

Josh would love to perform for you, your friends and your co-workers. Contact Josh to witness the wonder of the art known as magic.

How did you first get started in magic?

I was 10 years old when my grandma gave me a magic kit that she had purchased at a yard sale. The kit was missing many of its pieces and parts, so I was forced to improvise and create my own illusions and performances with what was left. After a year of fine tuning my illusions, I performed in front of my 5th grade class ... and I was hooked.

Which artists have inspired you the most in your work thus far?

David Blaine reignited my passion for magic. I hadn't performed or even thought about magic in a few years when I saw his first TV special "Street Magic". I was only familiar with stage effects and large props and I was intrigued by his ability to get huge reactions with just a deck of cards.

Derren Brown is constantly an inspiration for me to perfect my craft and to make my illusions smooth and effective and to make my techniques invisible.

If you could have dinner with any magician, past or present, who would that be and why?

I would love to have dinner with Derren Brown so I could kidnap him and force him to reveal all his secrets to me.

How often do you practice - how do you keep your skills (and mind) sharp?

I practice everyday and am constantly trying to come up with new ideas. My girlfriend is always the first to see my new illusions because she is very perceptive. She is able to point out what works and what needs work.