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When Peter Wood said he wanted a magician at his fifth birthday, his parents bought him a magic set! Little did they know that it would grow into his hobby, career, and life-long passion.
1994 was an important year in Peter's life: not only did he turn a decade old, but he also began performing magic shows professionally, naming his business “Shazam Magic.” His mom helped him with costumes and ideas, while his dad drove him to shows and helped him build tricks in the woodshop.
Throughout high school and college, Peter continued performing magic professionally. He draws inspiration from old books, illusions, and performers, then gives each routine his own unique twist. Peter's shows feel like a parlor performance from centuries ago, while his originality guarantees a new experience for the audience.
Today, Peter is a full-time professional magician; his clients include corporations like Frito-Lay, Toys R Us, and USA Today, as well as government organizations including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Marine Corps.
When not performing, Peter provides magic and special effects design and consultation for film, theatre, and themed attractions. He holds a Technical Theatre degree from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and resides in Monrovia, Maryland.
Peter also stars in several instructional DVDs which teach magic to beginners, available through Amazon.com and DoSomeMagic.com.
He currently is President of the Columbia, Maryland chapter of the Society of American Magicians, as well as a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, and a lifetime member of the International Magician's Society.
Matt Wood is not a magician, but is good enough to lend his services to his older brother as needed. Many have said that he has elevated schlepping props to a level of fine art ... but for Matt, it's all in a day's work.
Onstage, Matt takes on the role of a solemn butler, assisting Peter as needed, and providing a quiet contrast to his older brother's outgoing personality.
But off-stage, Matt is quite gregarious and witty, entertaining family and friends at parties not just with magic, but with stories and anecdotes, as well.
In the "Do Some Magic" DVD series, he co-stars with his brother, explaining thoughts and theory on the magic tricks revealed. The DVDs are available on Amazon.com and via DoSomeMagic.com.
Since 2000, Matt has been the official rabbit wrangler of Shazam Magic, and serves as balloon sculptor, illusion crafter, and sound technician as needed.
When not performing, the he can be found fly fishing, welding, or woodworking. A student at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Matt fills his academic days studying materials engineering. He's also a member of the Society of American Magicians.
Since the age of 5, Peter Wood has enjoyed performing magic shows for friends and family. After some coaxing from his mother, he began Shazam Magic, and started doing shows professionally in 1994. Since Shazam's beginning, it has been Peter's personal goal to use original routines, as well as putting his own spin on classic ones, and blending it with family-friendly comedy, whether in the board room or the backyard.
In 1995, Peter's middle school buddy Greg began helping him as the Shazam "rabbit wrangler." Greg's deep-voiced and straight-laced nature complimented Peter's animated and zany attitude perfectly. Ken Wood, Peter's dad, would kindly chauffeur the teens all over Maryland in the family's 1988 GMC Suburban, nicknamed "The Shazamobile," (bearing MAGIMAN vanity plates).
During the mid-90's, Shazam clients began to ask about balloon creations, so Peter studied and practiced until he had a fun variety of balloon sculptures that he could produced for audiences of all ages.
About the turn of the millenium, Peter's younger brother Matt began a more active role in Shazam, accompanying his older brother to many shows (taking up the straight-laced assistant role), and providing technical assistance behind the scenes.
While grounded in the world of party magic, Shazam Magic continued to expand into the world of stage magic, with the necessary props, sound systems, and backdrops for a larger production. For over a decade, the Wood brothers have entertained at the Howard County Fair, as well as countless other venues throughout Maryland and the surrounding states.
Today, Shazam Magic offers a wide variety of magic-related services: in addition to the more traditional stage magic and party magic, Peter and Matt also entertain with balloon creations and strolling magic throughout the year. Behind the scenes, magic consultation and magic lessons are available, as well as themed magic shows and emcee services for corporate events and school shows.
