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Munich, Germany

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Munich, Germany

Introduction - I’m hoping that international travel will become much easier in the near future. Until then, I’m sharing some wonderful memories of overseas adventures. This one is from 2016.

Recommended Things to Do:

Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site – While this isn’t a fun place to visit, it should be a required place to visit in order to learn how the Nazi party came to power, how they silenced, tortured, and killed their critics, and to understand why they had to be wiped off the face of the earth.

Architectural Sight Seeing – Munich is full of amazing architecture and you can easily spend a day marveling at the beautiful buildings.

Hofbrauhaus – As much travelling as I do, I had never experienced a restaurant/bar/brewery quite like the Hofbrauhaus. You’ll get a authentic taste of Bavaria in the food, the beer, (the servers) and the general attitude. Don’t hesitate to cut loose a little bit, everyone else is!

My Adventure – We left Ramstein AFB early in the morning and arrived at the Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany later that day. Garmisch is a beautiful little German village with breathtaking views of the Alps.

After Kevin and I checked in to our rooms we walked to the hotel ballroom where we would be performing our show later that evening for a conference that was occurring at the resort and for all of the local townspeople.

That night Kevin and I enjoyed entertaining a fun group of all ages. We had both kids and adults, and everyone had a blast. And while every show is a genuine pleasure for me to perform, my favorite part of that show was the time after the show that my entire team (performers and production team) spent sitting next to the bus staring into the night sky as we partook in cigars, libations, and laughter.

We had several options for what we should do the next day, a day that we had off. Quite a few folks had told us we should go to the nearby mountain and enjoy the view from the top. But since we were only about an hour and a half from Munich by train we opted for the big city.

As we were discussing what we should do in Munich, Bart and Kevin were in agreement that we should visit the Dachau Concentration Camp. And being a student of history, I concurred.

Once we decided where we were going we had a bit of an adventure getting there. We took a train to Munich, then we took a subway to a specific part of Munich, then we took a city bus to the concentration camp.

As we arrived at the camp and started to begin our tour, the rain did, in fact, arrive. The three of us stood under a shelter which, basically, was the front gate. After coming all that way, we weren’t about to let a downpour stop us. So, we hustled to the inside area where the exhibits were and spent about two hours reading about the history of Germany pre-World War II, how Hitler came to power, and all about Dachau – which was the concentration camp that all the other concentration camps were modeled after.

It was absolutely fascinating learning the history of this place and of Germany. The three of us, on more than one occasion, looked at each other and wondered aloud how such a thing was possible. The facts are mind-numbing and the simple fact that such horrible things happened less than 80 years is hard to stomach. Even though I knew that my grandfather fought in World War II, it is hard to wrap my head around such a thing. The atrocities that occurred there must never be allowed to occur again.

After about three hours at Dachau, we found our way back to Munich and had ourselves a good look around. Much like London, a personal highlight for me was seeing all of the incredible architecture. I’ve never been a student of architecture, but this trip really opened my eyes to its beauty.

After a very full day it was time to find the Hofbrauhaus. This was the place where everyone told us to find to eat and have a German beer. And Bart explained to me that one of the things he enjoys most when travelling to different parts of the world is to sample the food and drink. Since I’m a bit of a foodie, and certainly the adventurous type, I was more than happy to search until we found it.

The Hofbrauhaus is absolutely huge. Cavernous would be a good way to describe it. And the place was packed. When we finally found a table in the very back area we were greeted by a waitress dressed in a traditional German dress who took very good care of us.

I opted for the “Roast Pork with Crackling” with gravy and potato dumpling, and a German beer. The meal and the atmosphere were outstanding. The Hofbrauhaus definitely lived up to all the hype.

After a full day of touring the camp and walking around Munich, the dinner and brew did me in. Bart wanted to keep exploring, but I was toast, so Kevin, Bart, and I headed back to the Resort and back to our regularly scheduled programming.


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I developed my LIVE B-I-G System to defy the naysayers who claimed I would never be able to live my dream life. Because of this system, I became a successful professional magician, traveled to twenty-five countries around the world entertaining hundreds of thousands of people, motivated and inspired countless audiences, and wrote a best-selling book.

I want to help you live your best life, too. Complete the form below and I will send you the LIVE B-I-G system as a beautifully designed PDF file as my gift to you!

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    Virtual Magic Show - Cups and Balls Magic

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    Virtual Magic Show - Cups and Balls Magic

    In 2004 I set out to create a piece of magic that I could take to magic competitions and, hopefully, start to build a reputation with. The result was this piece of magic. I’ve had the pleasure of sharing this routine with audiences all over the world and it is always one of the ones that people comment on after the show.

    The routine has changed over the years. In fact, I completely retired it several years ago, thinking I would never perform it again. But it is too much fun to put away forever. It really is one of my signature pieces. This is the latest version (2021) of my Shakespearean Cups and Balls routine and this recording was made as part of a virtual magic show. I hope it makes you smile.

    I would love to know what you think of it. Please leave a comment below.


    PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM TO SCHEDULE A ZOOM MEETING WITH JASON AND SEE HOW HE WILL BRING THE FUN TO YOUR virtual EVENT.

     
     

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    London, England

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    London, England

    Introduction - There isn’t any international travel happening at the moment so it’s the perfect time to revisit some wonderful memories of overseas adventures. This one is from 2016.

    My Adventure - We touched down at Heathrow Airport and proceeded to grab our luggage and meet our tour bus. This was my first experience having my very own tour bus. Since we had to drive anywhere from 2 to 8 hours between shows it was far easier to do a European tour on a tour bus than any other way. Unfortunately the only time we spent in London that day was our bus driving us out of it to the first English city on our trip.

    I was a little worried that our very busy schedule was going to keep us traveling every day with no time to visit London before we left Great Britain. As we spoke to our production team and reviewed our tour schedule we realized that we were, in fact, going to have a full day to visit London and do some sightseeing.

    Several days later we left Alconbury on our day off and took the train to London.  Woohoo!

    Fellow traveler and video production guy Bart had contacted his cousin who lives in England and he found out that she was going to be in London the same day that we were.  So, our first stop was to meet Bart’s cousin at the Prince Albert Memorial and Park.

    After the initial pleasantries and some time for them to visit, Bart’s cousin and her family had an appointment to keep at a nearby museum, and we were on our way.

    When we were planning what we should do while in London all the locals we spoke to had plenty of opinions on what would be fun.  We finally decided on a “hop-on/hop-off” tour on the many buses that travel all over the metropolis of London.  And while I don’t have any idea of what we may have missed, the hop-on/hop-off tour was brilliant! (as they would say in England)

    Keeping in mind that we did get on and off the tour buses several times at different parts of the city to see things that interested us, it took us all day on those buses to see the entire city.  Because we were there in April, the later it got in the day the colder we got.  As the sun started to set, we started to freeze our tails off.

    Since we spent the day as tourists we really just did touristy things.  Personally, I love history and learning about all of the things that happened in the different parts of London was a blast.  I mentioned to Kevin and Bart that I would love to spend about a month in London just being a tourist and taking it all in.

    Since the United States is such a young country we just don’t have the history that a place like Great Britain does.  I constantly found my mouth hanging open as I looked at the incredible architecture.  Personal highlights included the Tower Palace, the Tower Bridge, and Buckingham Palace.

    I think I’ll let that pictures tell the rest of the story…


    Learn My Powerful LIVE B-I-G System for Free!

    I developed my LIVE B-I-G System to defy the naysayers who claimed I would never be able to live my dream life. Because of this system, I became a successful professional magician, traveled to twenty-five countries around the world entertaining hundreds of thousands of people, motivated and inspired countless audiences, and wrote a best-selling book.

    I want to help you live your best life, too. Complete the form below and I will send you the LIVE B-I-G system as a beautifully designed PDF file as my gift to you!

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      48 Hours in Kosovo

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      48 Hours in Kosovo

      Introduction - Since the COVID-19 pandemic has stopped virtually all international travel, I’m remembering and reporting on some wonderful memories of trips and adventures I’ve taken over the years. This one is from 2016.

      My Adventure - Well, there’s no feeling like flying and living in airports for a little over twenty-four hours until you get to your destination. And as much as I enjoy the adventures this lifestyle affords me, non-stop travel with no breaks to actually let down and chill is definitely not one of the best parts.

      With that said, I had some excellent travel partners – Kevin and Bart – to enjoy this adventure with.

      We landed at the Pristina Airport and proceeded to travel another hour by van to our destination. Look, I’ll be honest with you…I wouldn’t have picked Kosovo for a vacation spot. In fact, if I hadn’t been performing my show there the following night, I would have never circled this place on the map. But that is part of the fun, isn’t it?

      Fortunately, when we arrived we had the day to relax and get acclimated to a completely different time zone.   This was our first stop on an eleven city tour of Europe.  Kevin and Bart crashed hard and I spent the day noodling around our surroundings because I was so excited about getting this thing kicked off.

      The next day our host showed us around the base and then took us to one of his favorite spots for lunch.  Kevin, Bart, and I spent several hours walking around the city and then we had a great steak at a very nice restaurant.

      Part of the fun of performing a show on a military base is getting to experience a tiny flavor of what it is like to live that lifestyle. We definitely got a kick out of all the activities that were planned for us that day!

      Our show that evening was great. We had a spirited audience who was ready to have fun and we gave them a monster of a show. Since we were in the middle of nowhere our setup was a little more modest than all of the other stops on our tour. My sleight of hand got great reactions, and Kevin’s insane mental feats drew gasps and left people wondering how such mysteries are possible.

      As is normal for show business we went to bed late that night and had to wake up less than four hours later to drive back to the airport and head to our next destination. I’m just glad to still be alive to type these words. Our driver decided he wanted to audition for the Indianapolis 500 that morning. I’m pretty sure he set a land speed record for the little rickety van that we were in.


      LEARN MY POWERFUL LIVE B-I-G SYSTEM FOR FREE!

      I developed my LIVE B-I-G System to defy the naysayers who claimed I would never be able to live my dream life. Because of this system, I became a successful professional magician, traveled to twenty-five countries around the world entertaining hundreds of thousands of people, motivated and inspired countless audiences, and wrote a best-selling book.

      I want to help you live your best life, too. Complete the form below and I will send you the LIVE B-I-G system as a beautifully designed PDF file as my gift to you!

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        3 Reasons a Virtual Magic Show is Perfect for Corporate Groups

        3 Reasons a Virtual Magic Show is Perfect for Corporate Groups

        Virtual Magic Shows are a new, and surprisingly, exciting service that magicians started offering corporate groups shortly after the COVID pandemic shut down all live events.

        If I’m being honest, at first I didn’t think that a virtual magic show delivered via Zoom would work. I’m quite thrilled, though, to admit that I was wrong! Very wrong.

        Virtual magic shows on Zoom have proven to be excellent and popular entertainment for corporate groups, college and university groups, for virtual cocktail parties, birthday parties, and as a ticketed public event.

        Here is why…

        1. UNIQUE - Corporate groups, associations groups - even family celebrations - are meeting on Zoom and similar platforms. Because of that, we’ve learned that there is such a thing as “Zoom fatigue.” It happens when too many hours are spent in Zoom meetings with speakers that drone on and on and never stop.

          A virtual magic show is a unique way to spice up an event, awards ceremony, or celebration. The art of magic is something that most people don’t see very often. I’ve had clients remember magic they saw me do years before.

          By booking a virtual magic show for your event, you can grab people’s attention, wake them up, and give them an extremely unique experience that they will remember forever!

        2. INTERACTIVE/ENGAGING - In a time of quarantine, lock-downs, and mandated social-distancing, people are yearning to feel a connection with others. By booking a virtual magic show for your meeting or virtual cocktail party, you are engaging an interactive type of entertainment.

          When your guests participate directly in the show, there is a sense of connectedness that only happens when people experience something together. Magic is an extremely interactive art form, and a virtual magic show builds greater community within your group.

        3. FUN - Let’s be honest, the pandemic has made 2020 a very dark and depressing year. The art of magic is uplifting because it shows us that there is incredible possibility in the world that we haven’t considered.

          Joy, laughter, and the experience of amazement are the most common responses to magic. A virtual magic show is lighthearted fun in a year that desperately needs it. It is truly a wonderful gift to give your guests.

        If you are interested in learning more about my virtual magic show, please watch the video below.


        A demonstration of superb card manipulation.
        — The NY Times
        #BESTZOOMEVER
        — Amy Davis, Tennessee Business Travel Association
        Off the Hook! Jason was the Bomb Dot Com! Jason is your guy for magic!
        — Dave Sassano, Warner Music
        It was both refreshing and relaxing to just sit back and be entertained by a truly ‘Vegas’ quality show.
        — Jim Owens, Prudential
        It is my pleasure to recommend Jason Michaels to you as a terrific magician and entertainer. Jason was engaging with our employees, and we enjoyed not only his talent, but also his sense of humor.
        — Mark Barrett, BancCard
        I would recommend Jason to anyone looking to increase value and excitement to their event. He will not let you or your audience down.
        — -Bruce Gillen, Ameriprise Financial

        PLEASE FILL OUT THE FORM TO SCHEDULE A ZOOM MEETING WITH JASON AND SEE HOW HE WILL BRING THE FUN TO YOUR EVENT.

         
         

        Nashville Magician Blows Minds at Nashville House Party

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        Nashville Magician Blows Minds at Nashville House Party

        There’s just nothing quite like watching a skeptic freak out, or a beautiful woman squeal in delight, or a crowd erupt in applause after seeing a card trick that truly blows their minds. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to be the magician performing such feats - I have two words for you. Thrilling and Addictive.

        After you watch this video clip to see the cool sleight-of-hand trick, watch it again. This time don’t watch the trick. Watch the people. Listen to the things they say, the sounds they make, and the way they respond. Watching it the second time allows you to experience it the way that I experience it. Then try and tell me that you don’t want to be a magician, too;)

        -J.


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        Booking Agent Secrets - The World Needs You

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        Booking Agent Secrets - The World Needs You

        The world needs you, Mr./Ms. Entertainer. If you bring smiles and laughter, if you create amazement and awe, if you help people forget their difficult days - the world needs you. And it needs you in a big way.

        I’ve traveled around the world. I’ve met soldiers far away from home. I’ve met men & women worried about how to pay their bills. I’ve met kids who were dealing with health issues that no one should ever deal with.

        That’s because life is hard. Just look at the the news. Every day there are stories of difficulty and pain. The next time you’re on social media, look beyond the pollyanna-like lens that everyone wants you to think is their life and see what is really going on. Think about that conversation with your friend where he/she was dealing with doubt and frustration.

        Entertainers, like you and me, are a noble breed. We are a bright light in someone’s tough day. We give the gift of happiness and child-like wonder. I’ll say it again, the world needs you and me.

        Click here to read the entire article.

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        Booking Agent Secrets - Why

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        Booking Agent Secrets - Why

        I want to tackle three big questions today. All of them are centered around the word “why.” And although I have a lot to say about this subject, I’ll try to keep this article to the point.

        1. Why would a booking agent or entertainment director (E.D.) hire you?

        2. Why should you learn the skills to build relationships with booking agents and entertainment directors?

        3. Why am I sharing this valuable information?

        So, why would a booking agent or entertainment director hire you?

        Click here to read the full article.

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        Gotta Get a Gig!

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        Gotta Get a Gig!

        “Get a gig, get a gig, I gotta get a gig!”

        If you are an entertainer trying to find an audience, get paid, and share your passion with the world, you may have said those words.

        I’ve been a professional magician since 1999, and even I occasionally still find myself thinking that exact thing. What I didn’t know when I decided to become an entertainer all those years ago is that finding people to hire you, and more importantly - pay you, is more business than art.

        Even though I became an entertainer for the purest of reasons - to give people an escape from the real world through amazement, laughter, and fun - what I didn’t know about the business side of show business, hurt me.

        I struggled for years trying…

        Click here to read the full article.

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