If you look closely, you may have noticed that there's something new about this website. I've added a page called "Promotional Material" and this page is for YOU! I'm going to be adding little promotional odds & ends that you may find beneficial in promoting my show at your library. In fact, if you feel that any of the material that put up can be helpful to ANY of your Summer Reading Program events, feel free to use them. I don't mind at all. I want to do everything I can to

Today I booked by 105th Summer Reading Program show for this summer! I've never broken the "100 show" mark before and it feels a little intimidating. I have a feeling that August Jeff is going to be hating March Jeff for booking all of these shows. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE performing for libraries, but the endless hours on the road and nights spent in hotels takes a toll. Fortunately, this summer, my wife will be joining me on a couple of my out of town mini-tours. She'll b

DID YOU KNOW...That it was 100 years go this year that Harry Houdini passed away? Appropriately enough, on Halloween 1926, Houdini made his final escape into what lies beyond. You need to remember that back before television, in fact before talking motion pictures, live performances were very popular. Even radio was still in its infancy. At that time, Harry Houdini was THE performer. He was an international superstar. He grabbed headlines wherever he went. Not only was he a s

I fully realize that even the title of this article dates me. Yes, I'm old enough (barely) to remember "Laugh-In". Inspiration for the tricks I use in my shows comes from a variety of sources. Sometimes it's things I've learned at magic convention around the world. Other times it's a flash of an idea on how to perform an old trick in a new way. Other times, the inspirational source is a bit more mundane. This summer you will see a magic routine inspired by...my sock drawer. F

Thank you Ellsworth Public Library! This afternoon you became the 90th Summer Reading Program show on my calendar! Will I be able to reach 100 shows? I don't know. My schedule is getting pretty full, but I DO still have some openings. WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA LIBRARIES...I do still have a handful of spot available in early June. NORTHWEST IOWA LIBRARIES (Sioux City Area)...The morning of Friday, June 12th is open as well as a 3 p.m. spot if you're near Cherokee on June 15th. On J

Hello library friends! Many may think that I put my show together a few days before the Summer Reading Program season kicks off and wing it from there. Wellllllll....that's not the case. I start planning my Summer Reading Program show as soon as I find out the new Summer Reading program theme. As of early January 2026, I'm planning shows for the CSLP themes of Mystery (2027), Mythical Creatures (2028 & Nature (2029). I'm also putting shows together for the iREAD themes of Out

It's Christmas Eve as I write this and my thoughts have turned to my library family. I've been performing for library Summer Reading Programs throughout the Midwest for over 20 years and over those two decades, I've become friends with many of you. We've been through good times and bad. I've helped you celebrate library renovations and other milestones. And believe me, I am genuinely happy when you tell me that you're having a great Summer Reading Program season. Children tha

It broke my heart. I received an email this week from a library saying they had to cancel my show next summer. They had just been informed that there were going to be budget cuts and the Summer Reading Program was one of the things that got the ax. This wasn't a small library, either. This was a library in a decent-size city. I've performed at this library numerous times in the past and always had a great time. The staff is wonderful and my shows were always well-attended. It

This is incredible! Bookings for the next Summer Reading Program season are coming in at a faster pace than I've ever seen. And that can be both a good thing AND a bad thing. But more about that, later. Right now though, I want to tell you about my appearances in not one, but TWO new states! When I first stated performing at libraries about 25 years ago, I pretty much only performed for libraries in Nebraska and Iowa. Then after a few years, I branched out into South Dakota a

Hello Library Friends! I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are keeping warm. You know the holidays are here when you see the red kettles, candy canes and...postcards from me in your library mailbox. Each year I mail off over 1,000 postcards to libraries in Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota and Kansas. With postage at 61 cents per card PLUS the price of printing the cards, you can see that it's certainly an investment. Still, I think it's worth it to send you a physica

The first time I saw the word "lagniappe", I was perplexed. You have to admit, it's not a word that comes up in everyday chit-chat. Lagniappe is a little gift; a little something extra. Something you're getting that you weren't expecting to get. I love getting lagniappe, but I also love giving it. When you book me to do a show at your library, you'll get lagniappe...a little something extra. Any magician can come in and do a show for your guests, but I like to go the extra mi

Hi Library Friends! Wow! It's mid-November and I already have 27 library shows scheduled for next summer. Usually Summer Reading Program magic show bookings are just starting to trickle in this time of year and really ramp up in mid-January. But just in the past week, I've gotten calls and emails from libraries in Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota who are interested in booking me for the summer of 2026. Along with the 27 shows I have on my calendar, there are also about another

Well, that's a darned good question. When I put my shows together, there are a LOT of elements that are important for me to include. First of all, I want the show to be entertaining for both children AND adults. I remember going to events with my children and being bored to death while they had a good time. I made myself a promise that I would never do that to another parent. Next, I want to make sure that the show fits the Summer Reading Program theme. I do that with new tri

I LOVE visiting libraries in South Dakota each summer. Not only is there so much to see and do in that area, but everyone is so friendly! This year, I'm planning on visiting in early June and I already have several libraries on my calendar. I'll be visiting Rapid City, Belle Fourche, Sturgis and Hot Springs. But I still have open dates on my calendar and would really like to fill them in. So, if you're a library in western South Dakota, let's chat and see if we can schedule a

I am so excited to be invited to participate in the Iowa Library Performers Showcase on November 6th. I'll have about 20 minutes to give librarians a little taste of the Farm Fresh Magic Show I'm offering for their 2026 Summer Reading Program. According to the schedule, I'm going to be the VERY LAST presenter our of 11. Librarians will have seen 10 fantastic performers before me, so I'll really need to step up my game! If you're an Iowa librarian going to Ames for the showcas

If you're a librarian in the Hawkeye State, you'll be happy to know that I've put together a Summer Reading Program magic show that fits perfectly with the iREAD "Plant A Seed, Read" theme. This farm-themed magic show has plenty of corny jokes and amazing magic with flowers, seeds and other farm-related items. This 40-45 minute show is great for audiences of all ages. Kids will have a blast, but adults will have a great time, too. Dates are expected to fill up fast, so give m

I'm actually working ahead this year! I now have not one, but TWO backdrops for Summer Reading Program library shows in the summer of 2026. For libraries using the CSLP theme, I have a dinosaur-themed backdrop to go along with the dinosaur-themed magic show. My Iowa library friends are going with the iREAD SRP theme, "Plant A Seed, Read". For that show, I've decided to go with a farm motif. I have a feeling I'll be using that backdrop for FFA shows I do in the future. Both sh

This is something I worry about every year. I love creating new shows for libraries each summer and every year I purchase new tricks and do-dads to ensure that the new show is at least as good as the last. But my expenses go far beyond that. Every year I also print and mail out around a thousand post cards to libraries throughout the Midwest. In July the cost of a postcard stamp went up from 56 cents to 62 cents. A 6 cent increase per post card. Ouch! Fortunately, I had the f

Wow! You libraries have sure kept me busy this summer! It started on May 25th at the Winside, NE Public Library and ended on August 3rd...

Hello Library Friends! Wow...things are really moving fast here in my world. First of all...THANK YOU for helping me set a new record for...