BLOG

Magic has been part of Grand Rapids longer than most people realize. Not just as touring entertainment, but as a living thread that runs through the city’s history, its performance spaces, and its creative community. Grand Rapids Magicians Club, Panlind Hotel (1925ish). Ring 16 President Abe Warsaw seated second from left. Long before theaters and ticketed shows, people gathered downtown for wonder. In the late 1800s, Grand Rapids was home to traveling sideshows and oddity ex

The Ultimate Guide for Locals and Visitors Looking for the best date night Grand Rapids has to offer? Whether you’re a local or just visiting, this guide covers 11 unique date night ideas that go far beyond the classic dinner and a movie. Grand Rapids is a city bursting with creative, hands-on, and unexpected ways to spend time together, making it the perfect destination for couples seeking something memorable. Grand Rapids offers a diverse range of romantic date night experi

Wonder opens people up in ways words sometimes can’t. I’ve seen magic create moments of connection at church events, Christian conferences, youth groups, private school fundraisers, family nights, and volunteer appreciation dinners across Michigan and beyond. Especially with teenagers and multi-generational audiences, wonder reaches people who might not otherwise lean in. Magic creates shared moments. It turns familiar evenings into moments of joy. When an entire room laughs

The Most Magical Small Towns in Michigan Magic doesn’t just live on stages or in big cities. Some of the most magical places in Michigan are small towns where life moves a little slower, people know each other’s names, and a good day can be built around simple things. These are the kinds of places you visit for a day or a long weekend and leave feeling better than when you arrived. They’re not trying to be anything other than what they are. And that’s exactly the point. Just…

Twelve years ago, I was booked as a high school magician to perform at a surprise 18th birthday party near Kalamazoo, Michigan. Just another private event during my early years performing in Southwest Michigan. What I didn’t know was that one of the guests at that party would become my wife. The party was held at a house in Schoolcraft. I remember crouching in a side closet, waiting for my cue. From behind the door, I heard someone whisper that maybe the surprise was an exoti

Winter in West Michigan doesn’t cancel events. It changes what people need from them. When it’s ten degrees outside, nobody wants to attend something that feels cold, rushed, or disconnected. If people are leaving their homes, it’s because they want to be there. That makes winter a powerful season for events built around warmth, not just temperature, but energy and connection. Winter crowds aren’t low energy, they’re selective. Shared moments matter more. Laughter carries far

With Ashley freezing on the shores of Lake Erie. Some of the hardest shows to get to end up being the best ones. If you perform in the Midwest long enough, winter becomes part of the job. Snowstorms, ice, white-knuckle drives, unexpected overnights and early load-ins because everyone wants to beat the weather. There are nights where you’re driving and genuinely wondering if anyone will even show up. And then they do. Winter demands preparation. You leave earlier. You plan bac

A lighthearted, honest look at the realities of performing events across the Midwest.

The more shows I do, the more I realize this: there is no such thing as a “typical” performance. Sure, the tricks might look familiar. The suitcase is the same. The hair might look taller in person. But the people, the energy in the room, it always changes everything. That’s what keeps it fresh. When the audience is 90% Amish but 100% dialed into wonder. Some nights, the energy is electric before I even step on stage. Other times, it’s a slow build. You feel the room shift t

Amaze & Amuse started as a one night idea. In October of 2019, I produced a single family magic show at Wealthy Theatre. There was no long term plan attached to it. I wanted to create something myself, put it out into the world, and see what happened. The guest for that first show was Brynn Cummings, years before her appearance on America’s Got Talent. At the time, she was simply a wildly talented young ventriloquist from my hometown that I believed in. On stage with Brynn Cu

In this industry, talent is important, but who you are offstage matters just as much . The best events happen when performers are not only great at what they do, but also easy to work with, kind to the crew, and genuinely excited to be there. These are the entertainers I love working with in West Michigan. They are friends, collaborators, and professionals I trust completely. They show up prepared, they read the room, and they make every event better simply by being part of i

Planning a corporate event is a thrill and a challenge all at once. There is energy, excitement, and a hundred moving parts that all have to come together in one night. After performing and hosting hundreds of events across Michigan and the Midwest, I have seen what works, what doesn’t, and what separates the events people remember from the ones they forget before dessert. Here are five common event planning mistakes and how to dodge them so your next event feels effortless f

In October 1975, Cadillac, Michigan, was about as far from a rock concert as you could imagine. Then KISS rolled into town. Full makeup,...

I first met Neri a couple years ago while performing at a corporate event in Holland with my friend Tyler Grey. She was the photographer...

When you tell people you’re going to Beaver Island, half think you’re joking and the other half ask if it’s near Mackinac. It’s not. And...

When I design a show, I don’t start at the beginning. I start at the end. What do I want the audience to feel as they leave? Inspired?...

The show doesn’t start when the lights come up, it starts at the mic check. There’s a moment before every show that sets the tone, and...

Every performer has their version of it— “How’s everybody doing tonight?” It’s a question that doesn’t really get answered. It’s said more out of habit than intention, and it’s something I decided early on I didn’t want to do. Instead, I started asking myself: what do I actually want to say first? I was once told to "Hit the stage like a bull". This is my last thought before I make an entrance. My go-to these days is simple: “Hey, my name’s Trino. Thanks for being here tonigh

WonderBash didn’t start as a business idea or a strategic move. It started as a feeling. The day I was supposed to sign the venue...

A Stage Across Time Wealthy Theatre opened in 1911 as Pastime Vaudette, a lively vaudeville house before becoming a movie theater. It...