Once upon a time, there was a man named Uncle Magic who was renowned for his magical abilities and tricks. He was loved and adored by everyone in the town for his entertaining shows and charismatic personality. Uncle Magic could perform mind-blowing illusions that left people in awe and wonder. As the years went by, Uncle Magic's popularity grew, and he became one of the most famous magicians in the world. His shows were always sold out, and people would travel from far and wide just to see him in action. However, despite all the fame and success, Uncle Magic was not entirely content.
Believing in ‘Majic’
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Combine the hip-hop of Jay-Z, the humor of Pee Wee Herman, the business sense of Russell Simons, the kindness of Mr. Rogers and the magic of David Blaine, and you get one of New York’s most highly sought-after children’s entertainers.
Nakia Rattray, 27 (better know by his stage name Uncle Majic and Shock-kim the Clown), makes his living by making children laugh. However, while he’s putting smiles on children’s faces across the city, his business sense is no laughing matter, especially for a clown whose gross income was in the six figures last year.
Growing up in East New York, Brooklyn, Rattray said that his mother and father were prime examples to him. While others around him were involved in drugs and violence, he said his parents provided shining examples of how to be successful for their three children.
In school, Rattray says he was the class clown, always making his peers laugh. Often being sent to detention, he would do stand-up comedy routines, imitating his church pastor, in the auditorium to provide a more lively atmosphere for the other students while in detention.
“I would always manipulate teachers’ minds,” he said. “I would make them talk about what I wanted them to talk about. It got so bad that teachers would say, ‘No more questions for you.’”
His class clown persona forced the school to put him in special education classes, labeling him with “behavioral problems.” While several teachers gave up on him, there was one teacher who offered to show him magic tricks in exchange for good behavior. Rattray then discovered his passion.
“I started doing magic tricks for the kids in school,” he said. “To this day, I don’t know why he taught me. Other teachers told him not to teach me anything.”
Leaving public school at 16, Rattray entered the Job Corps. There, he entertained fellow students with magic and stand-up comedy routines. His act became so popular, he began hitting the comedy clubs at age 17. Comedian Big War introduced him to comedian Talent, and Rattray made a splash on the club scene.
Incorporating magic into his stand-up act, he began to catch the eyes of audience members.
He said, “I would do magic tricks at shows, and people would ask me to do their kid’s birthday parties. That’s how my business began.”
Rattray started getting booked to do children’s birthday parties. His business became successful, with him making up to $1,000 per weekend.
His cousins soon gave him his current stage name, “Uncle Majic.” Four years ago, he created an alter ego to dispel the perception that he was rapper by becoming Shock-kim the Clown and began performing the act at local schools.
As his name began to spread, Rattray’s resume of celebrity clients grew. He started doing birthday parties for Wendy Williams, LL Cool J, Russell Simmons and Jadakiss’ kids.
Currently, Rattray has expanded his business to a staff of 150 and offers the use of other things to entertain kids including a bouncing castle, cotton candy machines, face painting, costume characters and balloon animals.
“I live and breath children’s entertainment,” he said. “If you come to my apartment, it looks like a children’s playroom.”
Along with entertaining children, he’s entered the marketing business by selling and producing advertising. Rattray is currently in the process of developing a children’s TV show, buying paid programming time to guarantee airtime.
Giving back to his East New York neighborhood, Rattray throws pizza parties for kids in the projects and also makes motivational speaches about his career journey. He’s also helped several families get jobs.
“When you give somebody money, you just give them the right to come back to you and ask for more,” he said. “But if you teach them how to make money, then that’s when you accomplish something.”
Currently residing in the Bronx and a home in Pennsylvania, Rattray has plans to start a marketing company.
“If you can’t be used, you are useless,” he said. “God has truly blessed me.”
However, despite all the fame and success, Uncle Magic was not entirely content. Deep down, Uncle Magic had always harbored a secret desire to perform the greatest magic trick of all time. He wanted to disappear and then reappear at a new destination, leaving everyone astounded.
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What happened to uncle magic
Every love has its beginning, and Matias Letelier’s began in early 2005—perhaps almost a decade earlier when he discovered for the first time the mind twister games (like separate two nails!). He immediately fell for this ingenious apparatus.
The first magic box Matias encountered belonged to his older brother, Julio—who said “Thanks” but looked elsewhere for adventure. Matias could not resist, and this is how everything started. Very fast he learned how to manipulate the basic elements of a good trick: cards, bills and other illusions. At a young age, he discovered a talent for amazing people.
In his college days, when Matias was pursuing his Business and Marketing Degree, a terrible family accident took place and his uncle, Jorge Barriga (photo on the left), who was a great magician on his twenties, died. Matias inherited part of his uncle’s magic library. That was the moment he decided to take his hobbyist’s interest in magic to the professional level fusing it with his knowledge of business and marketing.
So he studied his Uncle Jorge’s books and learned the arts of Theory, Promotional Magic, Corporate Magic, Theatrical Magic, Psychology in Magic, Kids Magic and Communication Skills. Then he developed his show, an immersive experience in which guests become part of the magic. Why? Because magic is not about the magician. it is about performer and audience together letting their imaginations flow with one astonishing effect after the next.
(Jorge Barriga Tuñón 1962-2004)
With everything Matias learned in business school, he started his entertainment business in Chile where he performed for thousands of people at private parties, clubs, schools and corporate events. At a young age, he became one of that nation’s most popular magicians. He joined the Chilean Magic Circle, an association of professionals, and rapidly became an influential magician who gave lectures both in marketing and in children’s magic.
His uncle's magic lives in him
In his shows there is always one trick magician Matias will do to honor the memory of his uncle! This is his way of saying "thank you Uncle George, wherever you are". Check it out on your show!
He spent countless hours studying ancient texts and consulting with other magicians, searching for the secret to this ultimate illusion. One fateful day, Uncle Magic came across a book that claimed to hold the secret to the disappearing act he had always dreamed of. Excited and filled with anticipation, he delved into the book's pages, eager to uncover the long-awaited secret. The book warned about the dangers of attempting such a trick but promised immense rewards if successfully executed. Determined to achieve his lifelong goal, Uncle Magic decided to follow every instruction meticulously. He set up a grand stage for his final performance, inviting the entire town to witness his ultimate illusion. The audience eagerly waited for Uncle Magic to unveil his masterpiece, their hearts pounding in anticipation. As the moment arrived, Uncle Magic stepped into the spotlight, taking a deep breath. He began his disappearing act, reciting ancient incantations that he had learned from the book. The crowd was spellbound as they witnessed Uncle Magic slowly fading away before their eyes. It seemed as if he was truly disappearing into thin air. But as the seconds turned into minutes, Uncle Magic did not reappear. The audience was baffled, unsure of what had just happened. They searched the stage frantically, expecting Uncle Magic to make a grand entrance any minute. However, he was nowhere to be found. Days turned into weeks, and then into months, but Uncle Magic was never seen again. His disappearance became the talk of the town, with people speculating about his whereabouts and whether his grand illusion had backfired. Some believed he had finally achieved his dream and had truly vanished, while others thought he had simply met with an unfortunate accident. To this day, the mystery of Uncle Magic's disappearance remains unsolved. His memory lives on in the hearts of the townspeople and the magic community. Many aspiring magicians still study his tricks and performances, hoping to achieve even a fraction of his greatness. Uncle Magic's legacy serves as a constant reminder of the power of dreams and the risks that come with chasing them..
Reviews for "The Vanishing Magician: The Unsolved Mystery of Uncle Magic"
1. Sarah M. - 2/5 - "I was really excited to read 'What happened to uncle magic' based on the intriguing synopsis, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The plot felt disjointed and lacked coherence, making it difficult to follow along. Additionally, the characters were underdeveloped, and I found it challenging to connect with them on any level. The writing style was also quite average, lacking the depth and impact that I look for in a good mystery novel. Overall, I was disappointed with 'What happened to uncle magic' and would not recommend it."
2. Mark R. - 1/5 - "I couldn't even finish 'What happened to uncle magic' because I found it incredibly boring and unengaging. The story lacked any real excitement or suspense, and the pacing was incredibly slow. I tried to give it a chance, hoping it would pick up, but it just dragged on without any significant developments. The characters were forgettable, and their actions felt forced and unnatural. In the end, I felt like I wasted my time with this book and would not recommend it to anyone."
3. Emily S. - 2/5 - "I'm a fan of mystery novels, but 'What happened to uncle magic' failed to captivate me. The story started off promising, but it quickly veered off into unnecessary subplots that added little to the overall narrative. The author seemed to struggle with holding my attention, as I found myself losing interest and skimming through pages. Additionally, the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfying, leaving me underwhelmed. I hoped for a gripping and suspenseful read, but sadly, this book didn't deliver."
4. Michael B. - 2.5/5 - "Although 'What happened to uncle magic' had an intriguing premise, the execution fell flat for me. The writing style felt amateurish, with awkwardly structured sentences and dialogue that often felt stilted and unrealistic. The pacing was uneven, with certain parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. I wanted to root for the characters and get invested in their journey, but they lacked depth, making it difficult to care about their fates. Overall, I found this book to be mediocre and wouldn't recommend it to mystery enthusiasts."