Jack Grady — Ass Magic, live comedy magic

Jack's first show was at eight, for the Ronald McDonald House. Nineteen years later he's a comedy magician with an hour he's never once written down — he takes a trick on stage, records the audio, listens back, and ad-libs until the bits appear.

He started out serious. Card manipulation, complex sleight of hand, the silent-act career path. Then at fourteen he joined an improv troupe and everything changed. His read on the magic world is blunt: everybody follows the top guy, they're all copycats, and almost nobody goes comedic — which is exactly the gap he walked into.

On stage he plays someone egotistical, rude and grotesque, and then breaks character to thank the room. “It's like you've beaten them with a stick and then you give them a hug.” He means the thanks.