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Meet Joe Montella of Wacky Zack’s Magic

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Montella.

Joe, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My late acting mentor, Don Horton, used to always say to me: “Life happens as you are busy making plans.” May he rest in peace.

I stumbled into magic by way of the theater. It all started when I was working for an entertainment agency. A magician that they had hired to perform at a show quit the job, leaving them with shows for the upcoming weekend that nobody was able to perform. In the next moments, they looked at me, handed me a bag of magic tricks, and said “guess what you are doing this weekend?”

I didn’t know any magic at the time, but I got through the show in the end. Eventually, I left that agency and I learned how to perform in the restaurants. In 1998, I dropped out of college and ran away with a small circus, where I was their ring master. Over time, I honed my restaurant and street performing skills. I decided that I wanted to hit the road and street performing so I could conquer the world!

My first stop was Las Vegas, where it would almost be my last… I checked into the Stardust Hotel and decided that I deserved a little R&R before conquering the world and all… Because of this, I spent my first weekend having too much fun. This didn’t go well for me because “life happens as you are busy making plans!”

It was May 2000, I was in Las Vegas and almost broke… It was much harder to get work in Vegas with no connections, and the laws prohibited street performing at that time. If you were found street performing, you were booted from just about any spot you set up in. I was down to my last couple hundred dollars. I was faced with an ultimatum: Should I go home, or find a way to continue on my journey?

I found a restaurant that was interested in hiring me and after making my money back from having too much fun in Las Vegas, I jumped in my Jeep and headed to Los Angeles!

I spent a few months going up and down the coast of California Street performing, working in bars, and restaurants. While in San Francisco, someone broke into my Jeep and all of my magic was stolen, I was left with only a few items. Yet again, I had to figure out how to continue my journey. In the rush of the moment, I took those few items with me and put all of my energy into them.

While street performing on the wharf, I got a call from Don, my acting mentor. He offered me the opportunity to come audition for a couple of plays he was involved with and help teach an acting class in Georgia.

At that moment, I excitedly jumped into my Jeep and headed 3,000 miles to audition!!! Don refused to guarantee me a role because you can never know who might show up at the casting. After the casting, I was able to get the roles and perform at a restaurant on the side. I even got my name on a marquee for the first time! Okay, so it’s not Caesar’s Palace, but we all gotta start someplace! I didn’t know it then, but this would be the last time I got to work with Don.

Once the plays and classes were finished, it was time to head north to New York and throw the proverbial dice against the wall.

I arrived in New York in December 2000. Who would have known what was in store for 2001? I didn’t know it at the time, but going to New York was the best thing I could have possibly done! While there, I caught many breaks and performed for some celebrities!

In New York, I ended up starting an entertainment agency as I found my way through the challenging streets of NYC while acting, directing, and working. I was on top of the world and living my dream! One day, I even met a special woman: the love of my life, Michelle. With her son, we decided to make a life together and to move back to my home, the state of Arizona.

Back in Arizona 2009, Michelle and I decided to open Wacky Zack’s Magic, merging it with my booking agency. We found a space in an indoor marketplace and began to build our dream. Most said we were fools for starting a magic shop in a dying industry. However, we didn’t care. We decided that we would do the best we could to make it work. It’s not an easy business, but nothing worth doing is ever easy.

The words “Life happens as you are busy making plans” were constantly in my mind while we grew our little shop. Eventually, we grew out of the marketplace and into a shopping center, selling illusions with over 4,000 sq. ft. of space at one point.

One of our greatest experiences was when Piff The Magic Dragon, who we love, came and did a workshop for some of our young students. Piff was so nice, giving the kids decks of cards. However, he did almost lose Mr. Piffles in a bet!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PT88tkEiIzk

We have been so lucky to have had many real news segments as well!

Recently, we’ve moved locations to a brand new store with the hopes and dreams of further success! We hope you like what we’ve created and will visit us!!

At this time, we are currently busy making plans and we’ll see what happens next in life!

We feel honored that we can keep the brick and mortar torch burning while we are working towards growing our website and social media all the time. Along with this, we’ve created a magic club called “Respect the Magic”, designed to help young people grow and respect the art of magic! Helping people use magic to enhance their lives and those around them gives us pleasure and joy. We encourage our students and customers to never stop learning and growing! We don’t know what the future has in store for us, but we know “life happens as you are busy making plans!”

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the world of 2018 and being a small mom and pop business is faced with challenges and obstacles of all types! I think that the key to any challenge or obstacle is to face them head on and do not fear them. You must always remember that FEAR is False Expectations Appearing Real! You will fail and you will fall but, it is not how many times you trip and fall on your face it is how many times you are willing to get back up and try again to overcome those challenges and obstacles!

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Wacky Zack’s Magic – what should we know?
Our business consists of two main parts!

Our service business where we book entertainers for all types of events big and small for everything from a corporate event to a backyard party and everything in the middle. We have thousands of entertainers we are networked with and can create any experience for our clients!

Our retail shop offers not only magic products for people to learn the art of magic but, also lessons and even shows at our shop! We cater to the beginner and hobbyist to the working professional. Our goal is to help others achieve their goals.

Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Never give up!
Treat others how you would like to be treated!
Offer a great service at fair prices!

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Getting in touch: VoyagePhoenix is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.

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