|
|
|
Related Stories
FRONTENAC —
Jay Temaat, Frontenac High School freshman, missed two weeks of school recently, but he was still furthering his education.
Temaat, son of Brad and Stacy Temaat, was at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas for one week, and spent the second week attending a master class at Jeff McBride’s Magic and Mystery School.
“This was the third year I’ve attended the World Magic Seminar, but the first time I’ve competed there,” said Temaat, who has given numerous local performances of his magic act.
Prizes went to competition winners, and scholarships to McBride’s school were also presented on the basis of dedication to the art of magic and potential for future achievement.
“Two $500 scholarships were given, and the highest award was a $1,500 scholarship,” Temaat said. “That’s the one I received.”
He has spoken with McBride several times before and gotten suggestions and encouragement from him. A three time award winner at the International Grand Prix of Magic in Monte Carlo, McBride headlined at Caesars Magical Empire in Las Vegas for several years and was voted critics choice as the Best Magician in Vegas. He’s also a three-time Guiness World Record holder. In addition, McBride is also regarded as one of the foremost teachers of magic in the world.
One of Temaat’s favorite tricks involve the floating canes developed by McBride, and a few years ago he saved up $300 to purchase a cane.
“Now I’ve gone from one cane to double canes,” Temaat said. “Not a lot of magicians can perform the double dancing canes trick that Jeff invented. He told my dad that I have the potential to be the best person in the world for that trick.”
Also working with Temaat at the school were Eugene Burger, one of the world’s foremost specialists in close-up magic; Lawrence Hass, a philosophy professor at a Texas university; Tobias Beckwirth, who helped the young magician put together a business plan; and Bryce Kuhlman, who helped Temaat develop a new web page.
“Anybody who’s interested can access it at jaytemaat.com,” Temaat said.
“There’s a person in Las Vegas who is willing to talk to Jay about being an opening act for other magicians,” said his mother. “They want him to get some dance lessons. They’re also going to help Jay put his magic tricks together to form sort of a story.”
Jay Temaat, Frontenac High School freshman, missed two weeks of school recently, but he was still furthering his education.
Temaat, son of Brad and Stacy Temaat, was at the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas for one week, and spent the second week attending a master class at Jeff McBride’s Magic and Mystery School.
“This was the third year I’ve attended the World Magic Seminar, but the first time I’ve competed there,” said Temaat, who has given numerous local performances of his magic act.
Prizes went to competition winners, and scholarships to McBride’s school were also presented on the basis of dedication to the art of magic and potential for future achievement.
“Two $500 scholarships were given, and the highest award was a $1,500 scholarship,” Temaat said. “That’s the one I received.”
He has spoken with McBride several times before and gotten suggestions and encouragement from him. A three time award winner at the International Grand Prix of Magic in Monte Carlo, McBride headlined at Caesars Magical Empire in Las Vegas for several years and was voted critics choice as the Best Magician in Vegas. He’s also a three-time Guiness World Record holder. In addition, McBride is also regarded as one of the foremost teachers of magic in the world.
One of Temaat’s favorite tricks involve the floating canes developed by McBride, and a few years ago he saved up $300 to purchase a cane.
“Now I’ve gone from one cane to double canes,” Temaat said. “Not a lot of magicians can perform the double dancing canes trick that Jeff invented. He told my dad that I have the potential to be the best person in the world for that trick.”
Also working with Temaat at the school were Eugene Burger, one of the world’s foremost specialists in close-up magic; Lawrence Hass, a philosophy professor at a Texas university; Tobias Beckwirth, who helped the young magician put together a business plan; and Bryce Kuhlman, who helped Temaat develop a new web page.
“Anybody who’s interested can access it at jaytemaat.com,” Temaat said.
“There’s a person in Las Vegas who is willing to talk to Jay about being an opening act for other magicians,” said his mother. “They want him to get some dance lessons. They’re also going to help Jay put his magic tricks together to form sort of a story.”
Temaat is next planning to compete at the International Brotherhood of Magicians convention at Dallas, Texas.
“Jeff and Eugene will review the performance he’s taking to Dallas and critique it,” Mrs. Temaat said.
Her son would like to perform internationally.
“I’ve made so many friends from Japan, South Korea and South Africa, and I’d like to do shows with them,” he said.
Right now, though, he’s back in school at Frontenac.
“I am accepting performance engagements, but I’m trying to keep them after school or on weekends, because school does come first,” Temaat said.
The family moved to Kansas from Wyoming, and he loves it here.
“Frontenac is one of the best schools I’ve been in,” he said.
He plays stand-up bass, bass guitar and sings. Temaat recently started in forensics.
“At my very first forensics tournament, at St. Mary’s Colgan High School, I placed first in dramatic interpretation,” Temaat said. “Barbara Hilt is my coach, and she’s great.”
He’s also grateful to Dr. Dale Slagle, Frontenac USD 249 superintendent of schools, and Joe Martin, principal.
“I’d like to thank them,” Temaat said. “They support me a lot in my magic, and so do my parents.”
He said that his father, an insurance salesman, is his role model.
“If magic doesn’t work out for me, there’s always the insurance business to fall back on,” Temaat said. “I think it would be wonderful to sell insurance and help people. But I think that magic might work out.”
