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Magician
updated: Jan 25, 2013, 2:00 PM

I am planning on throwing a surprise party for my husband in a couple of months and am relatively new to town so I wanted to know if anyone out there has ever hired a magician and if so, who. I'm not wanting the little kid party type. We come from L.A. and I've seen some incredible talent. Just wondering if there's anyone in S.B.

Places People Are Talking About:

Mark Collier

What People Are Saying:

COMMENT 367455	2013-01-25 02:07 PM
Mark Collier- he actually works at the Magic Castle sometime!
COMMENT 367461P	2013-01-25 02:37 PM
I TOTALLY recommend Ben Kemper, who regularly works at the Magic Castle. He's come up to SB to do a few gigs for us and he's terrific. His email: benkemper@mac.com.
COMMENT 367466	2013-01-25 02:48 PM
Trenton Caine is the guy to call. He has done 2 of our adult parties and is FABULOUS!!! You will NOT be disappointed, super fun guy! When I need a magician again I will call him.....POOF!
D8VANILLA	2013-01-25 02:56 PM
The Magic Castle has a list of magicians. www.magiccastle.com
COMMENT 367475	2013-01-25 03:11 PM
Mark Collier is a pretty funny dude. I liked him.
POWDRELL	2013-01-25 03:19 PM
I concur with another Mark Collier vote. He's an awesome Santa Barbara local. Voted "Strolling Magician of the Year" at the World Famous Hollywood Magic Castle. He's zany funny. mark@markcollier.com
DAT WUT SHE SED	2013-01-25 03:53 PM
Another vote for Mark Collier. I remember him in the old days working the line outside The Palace on Saturday nights.
COMMENT 367487	2013-01-25 03:57 PM
Teller Reveals His Secrets The smaller, quieter half of the magician duo Penn & Teller writes about how magicians manipulate the human mind article at the Smithsonian magazine online
COMMENT 367489	2013-01-25 04:03 PM
Andy Gross! He has a web site.
COMMENT 367498	2013-01-25 04:28 PM
Mark Collier is great!
YIN YANG	2013-01-25 04:58 PM
Yep, Mark. Met him about 1980, he was a real good guy then, now he's even more entertaining.
COMMENT 367510P	2013-01-25 05:01 PM
Mark, Mark, Markedy, Mark. Local and knows his magic.
PIXIETANGERINE	2013-01-25 05:07 PM
Christopher Ballinger - A M A Z I N G magician. Local.... (member of Magic Castle), honest, professional, hard working, funny man! You and all your guests will love his humor and magic! He works at Magic Geek in Santa Barbara and even has invented and produced his own magic tricks! 637-7098
ROB EGENOLF	2013-01-25 05:32 PM
Mark Collier is your guy. He is a great guy, very talented, funny and fun and a long time local AND well liked and respected at the Magic Castle as well. Your husband will be thrilled!
COMMENT 367525	2013-01-25 05:51 PM
Christopher Ballinger is terrific! You won't be disappointed!
COMMENT 367530	2013-01-25 06:37 PM
Mark is awesome!!!
COMMENT 367536P	2013-01-25 06:59 PM
Mark Collier is the best!
COMMENT 367545	2013-01-25 07:37 PM
There is a magician that frequents the Palace Grill that's fantastic. I believe his name might be Chris.
COMMENT 367546	2013-01-25 07:38 PM
Just went to Andy Gross' web site, he has a stunt where it looks like he is carrying his legs, creepy!
COMMENT 367547	2013-01-25 07:47 PM
Steve Martin started out as a strong magician and last I heard resides in Montecito. Might want to try him. A talented and good man.
COMMENT 367554	2013-01-25 08:14 PM
I'm the one who asked about the magician. Thanks for all the input. No one put Mark Collier's information up, but I did find it by google searching. I'll contact him. I really have come to like this EdHat thing.
PIXIETANGERINE	2013-01-25 08:41 PM
Seriously....give Christopher Ballinger a call....you won't be disappointed! Ask Mark about him!!
YIN YANG	2013-01-25 09:19 PM
Well done, PixieTangerine! I'm sure they support each other and refer each other if they're booked. Talk to them both, even by phone, OP, and choose from that. Good to see other referrals here. OP, I'm sure the party will be fantastic.
COMMENT 367593P	2013-01-26 01:56 AM
554/OP: I agree. "This Edhat thing" is pretty darn cool.
COMMENT 367606	2013-01-26 07:31 AM
Hire the long time local guy: Mark Collier. Over thirty years of entertaining us locals. Caution : rant ahead Don't move here from LA, then decide you miss the trappings of that lifestyle and want to change SB to be more like where you came from. That is how SB continues to lose that charm and extra specialness that made you want to be here in the first place. It's not just about the climate and natural beauty, but the sense of community that comes from seeing familiar faces.
COMMENT 367615	2013-01-26 07:46 AM
Try Robert Gottschlich, his tricks are Vegas show amazing!!! Google him..
COMMENT 367625	2013-01-26 08:11 AM
Amen 606....
SBVOICE	2013-01-26 08:17 AM
Mark Collier is wonderful. We have hired him for events, and I've seen him perform on multiple occasions. He has a wonderful sense of humor and ability to engage every personality in a crowd. He is very nice and easy to work with. His tricks are amazing.
LOLA	2013-01-26 08:42 AM
Mark Collier is a pro, very engaging, funny and slick as they come! 805-570-1108
COMMENT 367649	2013-01-26 08:45 AM
Hollywood Magic Castles: Joe Monti and Friends I won tickets to the show they're having on Feb 24th at La Colina JH. But Mark Collier seems the right guy for you.
COMMENT 367667	2013-01-26 09:27 AM
Mark Collier!
COMMENT 367672P	2013-01-26 09:34 AM
Mark Collier is awesome. His State Street gigs on the weekends long ago were traffic stoppers! Remember that duo with the fire, bowling ball, roll-bolla board & monster machetes? Too cool.
COMMENT 367680	2013-01-26 09:50 AM
Mark Collier RULES! He works at the Palace every friday night! See him there...
COMMENT 367681	2013-01-26 09:51 AM
Hi Everyone, Mark Collier here. Thanks for the kind words! I've been the house magician at The Palace for 15 years. I used to do street shows (primarily juggling) with Jeff Walsh and we were called 'Circus Minimus'. This is making me feel old. I mean, I used to be the magician at The Big Yellow House. The point is, I love this community and feel grateful and indebted to it for being able to get by doing what I love for the last very long time. I'll be performing at the Hollywood Magic Castle March 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the WC Fields Bar. Also, I'm helping promote the 'It's Magic!' show at the Lobero on Feb 17th. The shows are 2pm and 6:30pm. You can get 20% off the ticket price by using the promo code 'magic mark'. Thanks again Ed Hatters!
COMMENT 367703P	2013-01-26 10:36 AM
Yep. Mark Collier.
COMMENT 367709	2013-01-26 10:57 AM
Mark Collier here again, I also wanted to mention that Trenton Caine and Christopher Balinger have both filled in for me at The Palace. Trenton is a nice guy and I've heard good things but I've never really gotten to see him work. Christopher is also a very nice guy and talented to boot. I've know him since he was a young teenager and would come into Alex's in Goleta with his family every Sunday night where I was the house magician. We've done some gigs together. He is well received, a pleasure to work with and a pleasure to know. OP: I hope your party turns out well regardless of who you get to do the magic. :)
DRBUD	2013-01-26 03:43 PM
Just get one of our local politicians, they can make anything disappear!!
AGENTSME	2013-01-26 09:36 PM
If Mark Collier is available, I know he'll do an excellent job. Another person I'd like to put out there for your consideration is Rich Ferguson (http://www.theicebreaker.com/). I've worked with both of them on events and they will not disappoint. All the best with your event.
COMMENT 368039	2013-01-27 12:14 PM
Mark is the guy you want. Hey, throw in a gaggle of jugglers while you are at it...
COMMENT 411010P	2013-05-21 11:43 AM
Referrals: Would like referrals for a magician for a 9 year old boy's birthday party. Have spoken with Mark Collier who seems very nice but wondering if there are magicians specific to children's parties. If you feel this is not a redundant question, as there is already an adult magician referral inquiry, please post. Thanks! (Feel free to edit)