|
|
|
Reality can seem a little different after you come home from a gathering of magicians.
“Imagine coming back to school after you’ve been in Las Vegas and seen tables floating,” said Jay Temaat, an eighth grade student at Frontenac High School.
He was recently one of only 40 young people from around the world invited to participate in the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. He also attended the event last year. He was accompanied by his parents, Brad and Stacey Temaat.
“I didn’t compete this year, but I’m planning to next year,” Temaat said.
He’s honing his skills by practicing and performing. His parents have allowed him to turn a basement storage room into a practice area.
“I’m tutoring another student at school, but I’m down here practicing every day as soon as I get home from school,” Temaat said. “I perform in front of a mirror, so I can see my flaws and fix them.”
He said that he brought some new tricks home from Las Vegas. Last year he purchased a magic floating cane from Jeff McBride, who invented them. “This year I got a color-changing
He’s also planning on purchasing a floating table from a man he met in Las Vegas. “It baffles me every time I see it,” Temaat said.
He enjoyed connecting with other young magicians from around the world. “I’ve got friends from Japan and Korea,” he said. “I’ve also got friends from around the United States, and I’m hoping I can put on a show with a friend in Loveland, Colo.”
The seminar was dedicated this year to Siegfried and Roy, legendary Las Vegas entertainers who have been largely retired since Roy was attacked by one of the famous white tigers who performed in the duo’s act.
“I spent a lot of time talking with Siegfried,” Temaat said. “He’s taller in person than I thought he was.”
Back home he’s been doing five or six shows a month, from birthday parties to pancake feeds and performances with Jim Mynatt and Jack Lemon, the “Karaoke Kings,” at area nursing homes. He met Mynatt while performing table magic tricks at the Kiwanis pancake feed, and enjoys working with them.
“They’re good mentors,” said his mother. “Jim Mynatt has taken Jay under his wing.”
Mynatt said in an earlier interview that he was very pleased with how well the young magician was developing his stage presence.
Audiences have responded well to Temaat, including the senior citizens at the facilities. “There’s usually that one person who needs someone to talk to them, and it’s special to me that I can be the one to brighten their day,” he said.
He’d like to do more shows, fundraisers for churches and so on, but said that his school work still comes first. “My teachers at Frontenac have been so supportive,” Temaat said. “Imagine telling a teacher that you’re going to be in Las Vegas for a week and asking if you can get your homework. The first time I did that, the teacher wasn’t too excited, but when I explained it, she was very happy for me.”
He’s also grateful for the support of his parents. “My husband and I don’t push Jay at all, but if he’s interested, we support him,” Mrs. Temaat said.
Her son did give up track to practice his music, but maintains his social life, and is proud and honored to be eighth grade class president.
He’s also learned hypnotism from a professional hypnotist in Las Vegas, but knows there are boundaries he must follow. “I don’t do any hypnosis at school,” Temaat said.
He also plays stand-up bass, bass guitar and many percussion instruments, and sings. Occasionally the Karaoke Kings will invite him to sing during their shows.
Temaat isn’t sure what his career path will be. “My father is my role model and he sells insurance,” he said. “I think it would be wonderful to do that.”
But he also loves magic, which he was introduced to by a family friend, Skip Foley, Wichita. The family previously lived in Wyoming, but moved to Kansas after Temaat developed a severe allergy to sagebrush that caused him to have debilitating migraine headaches.
Since the move to Kansas, the young man has flourished. “I love Frontenac, it’s one of the best schools I’ve been in,” he said. “I never imagined how far magic would take me. I’m just excited about life.”
Anyone interested in contacting Temaat about performing may contact him at J.T.4Magic@gmail.com.
Reality can seem a little different after you come home from a gathering of magicians.
“Imagine coming back to school after you’ve been in Las Vegas and seen tables floating,” said Jay Temaat, an eighth grade student at Frontenac High School.
He was recently one of only 40 young people from around the world invited to participate in the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas. He also attended the event last year. He was accompanied by his parents, Brad and Stacey Temaat.
“I didn’t compete this year, but I’m planning to next year,” Temaat said.
He’s honing his skills by practicing and performing. His parents have allowed him to turn a basement storage room into a practice area.
“I’m tutoring another student at school, but I’m down here practicing every day as soon as I get home from school,” Temaat said. “I perform in front of a mirror, so I can see my flaws and fix them.”
He said that he brought some new tricks home from Las Vegas. Last year he purchased a magic floating cane from Jeff McBride, who invented them. “This year I got a color-changing
He’s also planning on purchasing a floating table from a man he met in Las Vegas. “It baffles me every time I see it,” Temaat said.
He enjoyed connecting with other young magicians from around the world. “I’ve got friends from Japan and Korea,” he said. “I’ve also got friends from around the United States, and I’m hoping I can put on a show with a friend in Loveland, Colo.”
The seminar was dedicated this year to Siegfried and Roy, legendary Las Vegas entertainers who have been largely retired since Roy was attacked by one of the famous white tigers who performed in the duo’s act.
“I spent a lot of time talking with Siegfried,” Temaat said. “He’s taller in person than I thought he was.”
Back home he’s been doing five or six shows a month, from birthday parties to pancake feeds and performances with Jim Mynatt and Jack Lemon, the “Karaoke Kings,” at area nursing homes. He met Mynatt while performing table magic tricks at the Kiwanis pancake feed, and enjoys working with them.
“They’re good mentors,” said his mother. “Jim Mynatt has taken Jay under his wing.”
Mynatt said in an earlier interview that he was very pleased with how well the young magician was developing his stage presence.
Audiences have responded well to Temaat, including the senior citizens at the facilities. “There’s usually that one person who needs someone to talk to them, and it’s special to me that I can be the one to brighten their day,” he said.
He’d like to do more shows, fundraisers for churches and so on, but said that his school work still comes first. “My teachers at Frontenac have been so supportive,” Temaat said. “Imagine telling a teacher that you’re going to be in Las Vegas for a week and asking if you can get your homework. The first time I did that, the teacher wasn’t too excited, but when I explained it, she was very happy for me.”
He’s also grateful for the support of his parents. “My husband and I don’t push Jay at all, but if he’s interested, we support him,” Mrs. Temaat said.
Her son did give up track to practice his music, but maintains his social life, and is proud and honored to be eighth grade class president.
He’s also learned hypnotism from a professional hypnotist in Las Vegas, but knows there are boundaries he must follow. “I don’t do any hypnosis at school,” Temaat said.
He also plays stand-up bass, bass guitar and many percussion instruments, and sings. Occasionally the Karaoke Kings will invite him to sing during their shows.
Temaat isn’t sure what his career path will be. “My father is my role model and he sells insurance,” he said. “I think it would be wonderful to do that.”
But he also loves magic, which he was introduced to by a family friend, Skip Foley, Wichita. The family previously lived in Wyoming, but moved to Kansas after Temaat developed a severe allergy to sagebrush that caused him to have debilitating migraine headaches.
Since the move to Kansas, the young man has flourished. “I love Frontenac, it’s one of the best schools I’ve been in,” he said. “I never imagined how far magic would take me. I’m just excited about life.”
Anyone interested in contacting Temaat about performing may contact him at J.T.4Magic@gmail.com.
