Jason is currently performing in the following restaurants doing table magic

The Dockside Restaurant 1099 Main St. Wakefield Ma.
Wednesdays from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm

The Tides Restaurant 2A Nahant Rd. Nahant Ma.
Fridays from 5:00 pm to 8:00pm

The Dockside Restaurant 229 Centre St. Malden, Ma.
Saturdays from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Friendly's Restaurant Meadow Glen Mall Medford Ma.
First Monday of the month 4:00pm to 7:00 pm

My Bio

Jason Ian Willinger born and named on June 24th 1980. A very happy sort of kid and grew up with my parents offering me everything from baseball and basketball to trumpet. I actually liked the trumpet very much but at the same time I was taking lessons I found a box of magic tricks my father had stashed away in the attic. I was around ten years old then. My dad immediately took one of the tricks out of the box and proceeded to change a purple silk handkerchief into a 3 foot long black cane. boy was I impressed. I insisted he teach me that trick and from that moment forward nothing else mattered to me. I had to master that trick. I performed it for everyone in my family and I was never without that trick.

My parents saw I loved the magic so they found out that summer there was a day magic camp being hosted at a technical high school. They enrolled me into the course and I just had the best time and over a period of 4 weeks learned a multitude of basic magic tricks. I also found out from taking this course that there were two magic shops in the area, Hank Lee's Magic Factory , which was in downtown Boston and also the Magic Art Studio which was in Watertown Ma. Of course I insisted we go to those shops. My folks took me to the Magic Art Studio and we found out they were not open except Wed through Sat. and of course it was Monday afternoon. On Wednesday afternoon we were at this wonderful magic shop and I thought I had gone to heaven.

The owner of the shop, Ray Goulet was a wonderful fellow and took me right under his wing. I had my folks driving me back and forth to that shop 3 or 4 times a week. I would spend all day on Saturday at the shop and finally Mr. Goulet suggested my dad drop me off on Saturday and let me work for him. To my delight I had full access to this man's fantastic magic shop and also his wealth of card magic. He started schooling me and it was just the best.

I also joined the society of young magicians and the fellow who taught the first summer course , David Oliver, happened to be in charge of this group of young people. I loved going to the meetings and outings and the large school shows the group put on. I had found my niche.

My folks contacted a great close up magician named Steve Kradolpher and he started giving me true magic lessons. I had a lesson every week and ate the information like it was cake. I learned every trick and move and felt I was ready to really start performing. With Steve's help I put a routine together and competed in my SYM group for a spot to perform in the New England Close Up Contest. I won my spot and at the age now of 14, I competed took 3rd place in the contest. I was competing against all adults so that was a pretty good feeling. I worked hard and came up with a great cup and ball routine and the next year I again competed for a spot in the SYM and won, and went again to the NE Close Up Contest ( held in Worcester Ma. ) and this year I won the contest. I was the youngest to have ever won and again it was against all adult performers. The contest , still being held every year has now changed its format and children are no longer allowed to compete against the adults.

My folks took me to a few SAM conventions ( Society Of American Magicians ) and I competed in the Florida regional convention and took second place even tough the first place winner made mistakes. The group could not let an outsider win. I decided I no longer wanted to compete.

I worked every Wed, Thurs and Friday after school at the Magic Art Studio and all day on Saturday. My folks were so happy that I finally had my drivers license so that they no longer had to drive me. I demonstrated magic behind the counter and did this until I graduated from High school. After High school I was accepted by Dale Salwak to go to Laverne Ca. and take the course called Chavez which is an accredited course in Ca. and I graduated with a degree in prestidigitation. The last day I was in Ca. I did my award winning routine for Mr Salwak and a couple other students and he told me that I didn't need this course and all I had to do was perform my own routine. I killed him with it.

So today I am 27 years old and my true love is close up magic and I love to perform right in your face. I do restaurant magic, corporate functions, weddings, Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, birthday and any other type of party you can think of that needs entertainment.

I thank my parents for standing behind me in my true love and letting me pursue my passion.

Jason Willinger