The Magic Duel: A Stage That Changed Everything

Some opportunities don’t just give you work.

They give you room.

Room to grow. Room to experiment. Room to become more you.

For me, The Magic Duel has been one of those rare, career-shaping opportunities—and I don’t say that lightly.

A Show That Treats Magicians Like Artists

The Magic Duel isn’t just a gig. It’s a living, breathing comedy magic show that values personality, point of view, and stage presence as much as technical skill.

From the beginning, it wasn’t about fitting into a box or doing “magic the right way.” It was about who you are onstage.

That kind of trust is rare in our industry.

As a performer, especially as a woman in magic, it’s powerful to be invited into a space where your voice isn’t edited down, softened, or sidelined. Where your instincts are trusted. Where you’re encouraged to take risks, sharpen your comedic timing, and lean fully into your character.

The Magic Duel and co-star Mark Phillips gave me that.

A Weekly Masterclass in Comedy, Crowd Work, and Confidence

Performing regularly in The Magic Duel has been like enrolling in the best possible graduate program for live entertainment. I've been able to develop new routines and scripting that I present to Phillips, who generously gives me advice and notes on.

You learn fast.

You learn how to read a room in seconds. You learn how to recover when a joke doesn’t land. You learn how to handle unpredictable volunteers. You learn how to balance structure with spontaneity.

Most importantly, you learn how to collaborate on stage.

There’s no hiding in a show like this. The audience is close. The energy is immediate. The feedback is real.

Night after night, that kind of environment sharpens you.

A Platform That Expands What Magic Can Look Like

One of the things I’m most grateful for is that The Magic Duel doesn’t present magic as one thing.

It allows room for contrast.

Sleight of hand next to spectacle. Deadpan next to theatrical. Traditional magic next to bubble artistry, champagne bottles, Broadway flair, and big, joyful stage pictures.

That matters.

It shows audiences—and bookers—that magic isn’t a single aesthetic. It’s a language with many dialects.

And being able to bring my dialect—bubbles, elegance, comedy, music, and visual storytelling—into a respected, long-running show has been incredibly affirming.

Community, Not Competition

Magic can be a surprisingly lonely profession. So much of our work is solo—solo practice, solo travel, solo performances.

The Magic Duel offers something different: ongoing collaboration.

A rotating cast of talented performers. Shared laughs backstage. Notes exchanged. Bits refined. Ideas tested. Wins celebrated.

It’s a reminder that magic doesn’t have to be cutthroat to be excellent.

Some of the strongest growth I’ve experienced has come not from competing, but from collaboration - being surrounded by people who want everyone onstage to shine.

Why This Opportunity Matters

Opportunities like The Magic Duel are career building.

They build confidence. They build reputation. They build skill sets that translate to corporate events, theaters, festivals, television, and beyond.

They also build something harder to quantify but just as important: belonging.

Being part of a show that respects you, challenges you, and celebrates your individuality changes how you walk into every other room.

Gratitude—and Forward Momentum

Three years ago a residency show was on my vision board. I had a big photo of Mac King at the Excaliber on my vision board. At the time, having a regular show felt impossible and like too big of a dream.

I’m deeply grateful for The Magic Duel: for the stage time, the trust, the laughter, the growth, and the countless moments where I’ve thought, Oh… this is why I do this.

It’s made me a better magician. A better comedian. A better storyteller.

And most importantly- it’s reminded me that when you’re given space to be fully yourself, the magic gets stronger.

✨

— Meadow Perry