Modern Magic Needs a Makeover

People still ask me: “Why don’t you wear a top hat?”

I get it. That’s the image a lot of people still have in their heads. But it’s not me, and it’s not what modern magic looks like.

When I walk on stage, I want people to see someone they can relate to — but still feel a spark. A little showbiz edge. My hair’s tall. My style is sharp. I show up looking like Trino, not a costume.

Fresh. Just look like YOU.

I wear collared shirts, floral prints, patterned jackets. Cool colors — blues, maroons, greens, grays. If I wear a patterned jacket, the shirt’s solid. If the shirt’s patterned, the jacket’s clean. I keep it intentional. Lapel pin? Maybe one. Pocket square? Sure. But not a dozen magic club badges stacked like flair. You’re not working at TGI Fridays.

My look is designed. It has to be. I need pockets in the right places, materials that move well, and clothes that help the show breathe. But it’s also personal. I wear pieces on stage that I’d wear in real life — just elevated. It’s Trino, turned up to 11.

I think a lot of magicians misunderstand the idea of “dressing up.” There’s this old line: “Dress one step above your audience,” or “Dress like you’re going somewhere better later.” And sure, sometimes that works. But I think you should dress with your audience. You should look like you belong in the room — but also like there’s something different about you. You’re the act. You’re the spark.

What that doesn’t mean is showing up in a sparkly orange tuxedo. Or a ruffled shirt. Or some outdated magician stereotype outfit. If you’re doing a house party or a corporate event and you roll in wearing a full tux, it’s going to feel weird. It’s giving Step Brothers. You might get a laugh, but not the kind you want.

This isn’t what ‘dressed up’ means anymore

When people say “You don’t look like a magician,” I take that as a compliment. Because the truth is, we need to change what people expect when they hear the word magician. Magic should look like now — not like a throwback.

Shaved my head live after raising $10K for Luc’s Light. Worth it. (Donate $50K and I'll do it again...)

And yeah, for a while, a big part of my brand was my hair. Tall mohawk, always styled. But when we raised $10,000 for Luc’s Light, I shaved it all off live on the news. Completely bald. I wore hats for six months. It grew back. And people understood. I told every client ahead of time, “Heads up — no hair right now. I shaved it for charity.” Nobody cared. In fact, they thought it was awesome.

I’ll be honest though — I missed the compliments.

Style matters. Not because it’s flashy, but because it’s a signal. It tells the room you’ve thought about how you show up. That you’re intentional. That you’re ready. I want people to trust me before I say a word. That starts with how I carry myself.

Modern magic needs a makeover. Because when you ditch the tropes and start showing up as yourself, the audience leans in. They feel the connection. And that’s when the real magic happens.

Reach Out to Trino

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