I’m curious how Joe Pon, sole proprietor of MISDIRECTIONS MAGIC SHOP came into the magical realm.

“When I was a kid, I just loved magic. One of my Uncles showed me a trick. He made a silk handkerchief vanish. It disappeared in his hands. I fell in love with magic and I’ve been doing magic since I was five years old.”

Joe admits that magic is an art form and if taught the technique, a child can trick and adult and that began his lifelong journey.

Today, Joe Pon teaches professionals, amateurs and the beginning five year old magician.

“There is a misconception that magic is easy and anyone can do it. It’s an art form and the second oldest profession. There’s always something to learn. It’s a never ending story.”

This piques my curiosity regarding the name of his store.

“Misdirection is the key to all good magic. It’s not just about the tricks and secrets. There’s timing, direction, there’s comedy magic, serious magic, there’s a stage performer and a close0up performer. It’s how we do magic and why.”

He exudes so much knowledge and above all, passion.

He compares the art form with learning to play the piano, golf or martial arts. They all take a great deal of practice and effort.

“We have to practice our craft. We have to learn the technical skills then perform with ease.”

I share my ignorance of the genre, but also my delight at recalling the magic of Jay Alexander’s performance at my friend Wave's ’s 50th birthday.

“Jay comes in all the time. He asks for advice. We work on tricks. He’s the top Magician in the Bay Area.”

The magic world is a community and a specific sub-culture, not unlike a comic book devotee.

Joe describes this community.

“Where else are you going to find a ten year old kid teaching a fifty year old guy, posing the question, ‘How’d you do that?’”

The Misdirection clientele is diverse and transcends language.

“I have Doctors that come in and want to learn a little magic to break a barrier with their patients. I have people that just want to learn a couple of tricks to be the life of the party. I have people that want magic to be their life.”

Magicians of the past who made an impression?

“Of course there’s Houdini, Blackstone, Thurston and Chung Ling Soo.”

He tells me the scandal that surrounded Chung Ling Soo, who was actually an Assistant to great magicians, and an American named William Robinson. William Robinson watched the magician, Ching Ling Foo, and realized he could perform magic better and with make-up he became a Chinese Magician. He was shot on stage when his bullet catch trick backfired. He spoke English for the first time in decades and his final words, “Oh my God. Something’s happened. Lower the curtain.”

Magicians that dazzle Joe Pon today?

“David Copperfield, David Blaine, Chris Angel and Darren Brown, who is a mind reader.”

Joe offers aspiring magicians entry into his Magic Club where it’s not just a discount and a t-shirt but monthly lectures on the art form with visiting top magicians as they demonstrate mastery of the magical craft. He also hosts a yearly completion for San Francisco’s best magician.

And one of his protégés, Alex Ramon is in the Ringling Brothers Circus.

Joe, a San Francisco native was lured my magic early on, but after Lowell High School, he thought he might enter the Hotel and Restaurant business and studied at City College. For awhile he worked in his father’s business, EGG ROLL ON A STICK, but magic beckoned and today he can direct you to Mentalism, Juggling, Suspension and Levitations or Card tricks.

Joe mentors the old and the young, the aspiring and the professional. He has met people from all over the world.

“It’s not just the magic.”

NEXT WEEK: LET ME INTRODUCE YOU TO HARRY, WINE STEWARD, ANDRONICO’S.