I think that when Evel Knievel crashed over the fountain at Caesars, it kind of gave you a credibility and then anticipation for everything he did.

I'd like to bring magic back to the place it used to be 100 years ago.

Whether you're shuffling a deck of cards or holding your breath, magic is pretty simple: It comes down to training, practice, and experimentation , followed up by ridiculous pursuit and relentless perseverance.

I do a lot of research on what people have done in the past.

Magic's an art where you use slight of hand or illusion to create wonder. And I was just intrigued with that idea.

To most magicians, cards themselves are marvels...For one thing, they feel special in your hand. Touching them, holding them, shuffling - the whole process is almost poetic. If you're in a room full of magicians and someone just mentions the word cards, within seconds, everyone is digging into their pockets and pulling out a deck of cards. It's one of the most amazing feelings ever.

I'd always wanted to do these types of things - pieces of magic I could put out not as illusions, but really doing it.