Christine Whelan, FEO April 28, 2022, VOL. 3 ISSUE 18
As the earth has been waking up to spring, Mark Vanee has been getting out, into the streets of Fort Erie, to help the people’s spirit wake up after a long, challenging winter.
How is he accomplishing such a feat? With magic!
Raised in Cambridge and recently moved to the area, the 23-year-old has been walking the crisscrossing roads of Crescent Park dressed in a black suit, vest and tie. He posts on Facebook groups, encouraging people to watch for him, to stop and say hi, to receive a little magic show just for them. His charge? Their smiles.
“It’s been almost every day that it’s not like winter outside. I just walk up and down, asking people if they want to see a magic trick and 95% of the time, they say, ya sure. And they leave with a smile on their faces, feeling just a little bit better.
“The worst thing that can happen is they say, no. And that’s ok, too. Not everyone wants to see this kind of thing.”
Mark has always been fascinated with magic. He’s been practicing it for about five years. But it wasn’t until he moved to Fort Erie that magic seemed to take over his life.
He describes the day he saw a magic show in Niagara Falls as literally a magical day for him “I’ve always looked up to one magician. He’s a local magician, Greg Frewin.”
Originally, he saw Frewin ten years ago. “My mom took me to see him. And when I watched him, and then watched the impact he had on the people in his audience, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. I want to entertain people the way he entertains people; to bring the joy and happiness out in people.”
But then, for some time while still in Cambridge, Mark had all but put his magic aside, lacking the necessary inspiration. But when he moved to Fort Erie about a year ago to be with his girlfriend, “I saw Frewin’s show again and that was it.”
Mark had the chance that day to tell Mr. Frewin that he owes his own passion to magic to his inspiration. The professional entertainer’s gracious reaction further instilled Vanee’s drive to follow his path.
Mark admits that is what it’s really all about for him. This is his goal as he walks down the street. He is trying to have this impact on people.
He described his days when he’s out, shopping and running errands. “Even if I have to go into Walmart or Dollarama, I’ll do a quick magic trick for the cashiers before I leave, just to maybe make their day a bit better. For me, part of the reason I do this is, that you never really know what somebody is going through and that 5-10 minutes might just turn their day right around. If I can have that impact on people, then that is what I want to do for the rest of my life.”
Vanee described his style as more close-up magic, what you can see right in front of you. “Card magic. Coin magic. Sharpee magic. I don’t use large props, more of what I can hold in my hand.”
Most times, the magician is getting the attention of people who are now starting to come outside of their homes. He is performing for them at their home, on their front lawns. “A lot of people around Crescent Park also like to walk so we often cross paths.”
To contact Mark if you are interested in hiring him for a magic show, you can find him on Facebook by searching Mark Vanee or email him at markvaneemagic@gmail.com.
Otherwise, watch for the young man in a suit and tie if you need a reason to smile. All it will take is a little magic.
Photo by Mark Vanee
