Meet Spencer Horsman | Magician and Bar Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Spencer Horsman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Spencer, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
As a lifelong entertainer, I have always been self-employed to some extent. With the format of my contractual work, there was a lot of travel and instability that began to wear on me both mentally and physically. In a natural evolution, “If you build it, they will come”, establishing a home base from which to operate was essentially a no-brainer for me. Having your own venue adds legitimacy to you as an artist. The concept of bringing my audience to me creates opportunity to network from a stable and structured brick and mortar foundation. Thus making any outside work something I can pick and choose to suit my needs vs needing to constantly be on the move and unsure of the next step.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My parents were both Ringling Bros circus clowns. They left the circus and settled in Baltimore, MD where my father was hired to be Ronald McDonald for over 22 years by the time he retired. They opened a magic supply store when I was only a year old, starting my magic education at the tender age of 4! I learned ventriloquism and began joining my parents in their shows when I was 6 and then doing my own performances nationwide by the time I was 8. I began doing escape acts at 15, ultimately landing me on America’s Got Talent Season 2 where I was a semi-finalist. I have appeared on several international Got Talent shows, most recently Season 2 of AGT Champions in 2020 performing a suspended water tank escape.

Unexpected health issues have arisen from all of the physical stress of the escapes. This has put a hold on them and allowed me to focus fully on my first love which is sleight of hand magic. COVID shut down my bar and theater for a majority of 2020 and nearly put an end to it for good. But coming back from that with an entirely redesigned, more intimate show and modified business model has breathed new life into my creativity. The challenge of presenting, first for remote audiences on Zoom and then transitioning back to in person crowds has been a great one but one I have embraced.

Currently I am entertaining audiences of around 30 with a constantly evolving intimate show involving comedy, sleight of hand, mentalism and still an element of danger, coupled with a good selection of hand-crafted cocktails and the ambiance of an Art Deco styled, Prohibition Era bar. I am most proud of the ability to provide people with a sense of wonder and an escape, both with magic and also plenty of humor.

Main lesson I’ve learned is to always be adaptable. I now have the capability to perform for audiences on TV and Zoom, and live audiences ranging from a theater of 2000 people down to an intimate gathering of 4. You take what is given to you and you find. a way to make it work.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Having never been to Atlanta I’m going to answer this for Baltimore

Baltimore has great historical sites, Ft. McHenry, Edgar Allen Poe’s Grave etc.

For food, Abby Burger, Blue Moon Cafe

And of course, Illusions Bar & Theater for drinks! Haha

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To my parents, both former Ringling Bros Circus clowns, for the unique upbringing and early education that made this lifestyle possible.

And to all the patrons over the past 15 years who have supported our venue for all their first dates, birthday parties, corporate events and more!

Website: www.illusionsmagicbar.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/illusionsmagicbar/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/illusions-magic-bar-and-lounge-baltimore

Other: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60811-d3699983-Reviews-Illusions_Bar_and_Lounge-Baltimore_Maryland.html

Image Credits
Pete Redel (Black and White Card Spring between two hands photo) Nicole Bailey (all other photos)