Today we’d like to introduce you to John Sturk.
Hi John, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I’ve been doing magic since I was in undergrad in 2003. I moved to Chicago in 2007, to take a full-time job working at Fun, Incorporated, the largest magic manufacturing company in America. The company invented fake vomit – so I was literally a fake vomit salesman.
In 2015, I was part of the crew that co-founded the Chicago Magic Lounge. I later left that group, and became heavily involved with the Society of American Magicians, the oldest magic society in the world. Harry Houdini was our longest service President. I then held the same office in 2023, and served 1-year term.
Shortly after leaving that office, I was approached by the Davenport’s Piano Bar to create some programming for them on one of their less busy nights. After a few months, it wasn’t working out, so I decided not to renew that contract. The bar closed a few months after that.
I also work as a musician, playing piano accompaniment for many of Chicago’s improv comedy institutions like The Second City, iO Chicago, and Comedysportz. Malarkey Comedy, the parent company of Comedysportz Chicago, asked the cast and staff for any programming ideas, so I suggested a magic show, again, on one of the off-nights. The show found its footing, and now has been running for over a year with an open-ended run.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No, it hasn’t always been a smooth road. I’ve had to stop, explore new opportunities, and do what I needed to do for my own mental and physical well-being. But it wasn’t until I decided to be more true to my own personality and character that I found it easier to live with myself; and to share my platform with people I thought deserved to have a chance at a spotlight.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I managed to combine multiple aspects of my interests and personality – magic, music, and comedy – and create a show that explores each of them. I get to do my style of magic and comedy, as well as play the piano, with all the independence that a creative person could want. I also get a chance to experiment with new material on a regular basis, which is a key factor to growing and creating more. I’d like to think I’m known for being able to work a crowd, welcome people into my silly world, and give them a reprieve for all the stress and anxiety of the outside world for just a brief time. If my audience leaves with a smile, it means they’re going to tell their friends, and the best way a show like this survives is from word-of-mouth.
What makes you happy?
I’m happy getting to share these skills that I’ve developed over the years with no particular goal in mind, other than the learning and improving process makes me happy. I hope I never lose my sense of intellectual curiosity. It’s just a bonus that people would pay for a ticket to let me share it with them.
Pricing:
- All tickets are $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.magicmondayschicago.com
- Instagram: @magicmondayschicago
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564948138131
- Other: https://www.johnsturk.com
