Orange City Magazine - Spring Summer

YOUTH
MAGICIANS
in the Making
TEXT BY LINDSAY KRUSE
PHOTOS BY RYLAN HOWE
Orange City youth learn to how to make magic
The first rule of a magician is to
never unveil a secret.
After all, secrets are what magic
is all about.
Lisa Laird recently revealed some of the
illusions of the profession for a select group
of children during a two-session Magicians
in the Making event hosted by the Orange
City Area Arts Council.
Laird is a professional puppeteer and
ventriloquist, and her focus is on entertaining
and educating children. Playing,
creativity and imagination are an integral
part of her job.
“I use a little magic in all of my shows,
because it illustrates the lessons I want to
teach,” said the Orange City resident and
owner of Pockets Full of Fun. “Kids love
magic. It grabs their attention. They’re
fascinated by it and very interested in
learning it.”
Laird also works as the children’s outreach
director at the Sioux Center Public
Library and oversees some after-school
programs at Kinsey Elementary. She has
incorporated magic at both places.
She mentioned her interest to Janine
Calsbeek, executive director of the Orange
City Area Arts Council, and the Magicians
in the Making class was booked.
“It’s just a fun thing for kids to try,” Calsbeek
said. “I used to try doing magic tricks
when I was a kid. It’s just fun to wow your
friends or your parents.”
During the first session of Magicians
in the Making, which was held on Feb. 1,
Laird began by having the five boys in attendance
take a magician’s pledge.
“I promise not to tell any of my magical
26 OC | SPRING/SUMMER 2017