From Rides to Illusions: Ari Novick’s Engineer-Turned-Magician Journey
Meet Ari Novick, an Orlando-based magician who’s taking the world of magic by storm. From a successful career as an engineer for Universal Creative, to performing magic shows nationwide, Ari’s journey to becoming a professional magician has been nothing short of magical. Join us as we delve into Ari’s journey from engineer to magician and discover the story behind his rise to success.
From Engineer to Magician
From a Royal Caribbean Cruise to Alaska to Nashville, Miami, and Denver, Orlando magician Ari Novick has spent the last two years sharing his magic nationwide.
Orlando magician Ari Novick performs close-up magic.
But Ari’s professional career has not been limited to the world of magic. Before dedicating himself to performing full-time, Ari worked as an engineer for Universal Creative for five years, bringing rides and attractions to life.
When asked what he wishes more people knew about what it takes to be a magician, Ari responded, “A magician is often multi-tasking or triple-tasking. Usually, this involves speaking, doing secret moves, and controlling music cues, all while managing an audience. If just one of those doesn’t go according to plan it can break the illusion. It’s not always an easy job.”
Despite the challenges, Ari is excited by the opportunity to connect with his clients and create a customized experience for them. “Getting to know the client, their guests, and customizing the experience to enhance the celebration as best I can,” he said.
But Ari’s ultimate goal goes beyond entertaining his audience. He hopes to inspire and influence others through his magic, “I want people to leave my show feeling like it was a special night and what we experienced could have only happened that evening because of the exact decisions the audience made, which is a direct result of their various personalities.”
Personalizing the Magic Experience
Ari Novick’s magic is visually stunning and thoughtfully crafted to leave a lasting impression on his audience. When it comes to creating new magic tricks and routines, Ari approaches it with a unique perspective. “I can readily admit I’m not a huge magic inventor, but my strength is taking existing routines, changing the themes, re-scripting them to match my personality, and interweaving multiple effects,” he explains. “To do this, I think about what the audience experiences, what gels with my personality, and the feeling I want the audience to have. More often than not this starts with a method I love, but occasionally starts with the ending effect and creating a method.”
What sets Ari’s magic apart from that of other magicians is his ability to connect with his audience on a personal level. “My personality. I tend to match the energy of the crowd. If someone is sarcastic I give it right back. This creates huge laughs!” he says.
When it comes to performing magic, Ari finds his parlor show to be the most enjoyable. “I enjoy the parlor show I created because several elements are foreshadowed throughout the show. In the finale, various items from earlier in the show are brought back into play which creates an incredible moment. It’s a coincidence with a whiskey bottle label, a signed dollar bill, and even Instagram. Seeing everyone’s amazement all together - there’s no better feeling.”
Ari Novick’s Journey with See Magic Live
Ari joined the See Magic Live team of magicians after talking with its CEO and fellow Orlando magician, Kostya Kimlat, at a magicians convention called Genii, several years ago. But that wasn’t the pair’s first interaction. “Kostya may or may not recall, but we first met at Tannen’s Magic Camp the only year I attended (approximately 2005). To this day, I remember the restaurant table-hopping lecture he gave,” Ari recounts.
Kostya Kimlat is the founder of See Magic Live, a team of professional magicians who have dedicated themselves to elevating the art of magic. Ari was thrilled when he was given the opportunity to join the team and has seen significant growth as a magician since then. “Confidence has increased 10X,” he says.
One of the things that set See Magic Live apart from other groups of magicians is the sense of community among its members. “The idea that we can feel comfortable going to each other regarding anything from card handling techniques to storytelling advice,” Ari explains.
Being a part of See Magic Live has been a valuable experience for Ari. The team’s focus on elevating the art of magic and fostering a sense of community among its members has allowed him to grow as a magician and become more confident in his abilities. Ari’s journey with See Magic Live is just one example of how the group is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of magic and creating an experience that is truly magical for audiences.
Getting Started in Magic
Ari’s love for magic started at a young age, and it all began with juggling. “I started juggling at around age 11. The only place to buy props was, you guessed it, the magic store!” he recalls. It was this introduction to the world of magic that sparked his interest in the art form.
The first magic trick Ari remembers learning was a small item vanishing via a false transfer. He recalls the feeling of awe and wonder that the trick gave him. “It made me feel like I could do the impossible. I had first seen the magic store owner, Nick, create a solid bubble and then make it vanish. When he made it vanish, my head exploded, in the best way possible, and I knew I needed to learn it,” he says.
Two people who were instrumental in Ari’s early years learning magic were Nick, the magic store owner, and Danny Rodriguez, also known as Danny Allen. Ari was able to learn a great deal from both of these magicians, and they had a significant impact on his development as a magician. “Danny was the first professional magician I saw (at a bar mitzvah!). He could tell I was infatuated and was kind enough to show me Crazy Man’s Handcuffs, an effect where two rubber bands pass through each other. His willingness to teach me was integral because, at the time, I didn’t know the best way to learn,” Ari explains.
Even the most experienced magicians have their fair share of mishaps and bloopers. Ari is no exception. “Once I had to omit a revelation in my show because something didn’t go according to plan,” Ari shares. “In my head, I was freaking out, but it turned out the audience was none the wiser and the rest of the show was smooth sailing.”
But it’s not just the occasional misstep that can be a challenge for a magician. Cold approaches can also be complex for magicians who are hired to do strolling magic. “You need to approach as many folks as possible,” Ari explains. “It’s not always easy interrupting conversations and groups, so having the courage to do this in a tactful way used to be difficult.”
So how did Ari overcome this challenge? “Practice and experience,” he says. “I believe this is what Kostya has helped me with the most.”
For aspiring magicians, Ari has some simple yet powerful advice: “Practice, get mentors, and be prepared for the learning to never end.”
And as Ari’s own journey as a magician demonstrates, with a little bit of hard work, practice, and the right mentors, even the most challenging obstacles can be overcome.
To book Ari Novick to perform magic at your event, contact See Magic Live at booking@seemagiclive.com, call/text 407-367-4133, or contact the booking team here.
