As he pulls coins out of thin air, this former self-described shy kid shares how an encounter with one terminally ill little girl changed his perspective on magic forever.

He can make dollar bills multiply, slide a ring between fingers, or change the look of a playing card while you watch. And every trick he tries is driven by one simple question: “What if I could?”

The advantage of being a comedy magician? According to this pro, once people are laughing, they won’t even notice all the “sneaky stuff” you’re doing, right in front of their eyes.

Demonstrating a card trick called “cutting to the aces,” this magician explains why passionate storytelling is crucial to any live performance: once the audience cares about who you are, they’ll follow you anywhere.