Remember the first card trick you ever saw?
Remember how amazed you were after that wizened old uncle or
family friend finished the trick?

`Do it again!` you probably said.
Magicians, particularly the kind who perform what are called
`parlor tricks` or `close-up` magic have been around since time
began. (Or at least some tricks seem that old, magicians say.)
Most magicians, like us, were awed as kids. Difference is, they
never let video games, sports or dating distract them long enough
to forget the joy they felt pulling a `fast one` on a friend and
hearing him say `Do it again!`

Irene Peterson knows a lot of people like that. She has owned and
operated Spot Lite Magic & Costumes at 11516 E. 21st St. for 20
years. Thousands of young magicians have pressed their noses to the
glass display cases that take up real estate in half her shop.
Peterson caters to beginning and professional magicians who
perform close-up tricks, although she can get high-tech, well-built
illusions that cost thousands of dollars.

Brad `Bradini` Evans is a local magician who draws income with magic.
`The Great Bradini` is a well-known name locally and supplements
his magic by working full time as corporate tax manager for T.D.
Williamson, Inc., an international pipeline maintenance company
headquartered in Tulsa. He is in charge of `making tax liability
and ... auditors disappear,` he said.

Evans has taken his act past card-table, top-hat and
cape, junior high talent show phase into full-blown shows with
birds, rabbits, assistants and big illusions -- all choreographed to music.

Evans just returned from a magicians' seminar in Hollywood,
Calif, sponsored in part by the actor Dom DeLuise, who is
also a magician. Only 50 guests were invited to the seminar, led by
Mark Wilson, a magician well-known among enthusiasts, Evans said.
Evans performs at corporate special events and private
parties. The seminar was designed to help learn the business side of
being a professional magician.

`A lot of shy people become a lot more outgoing after they learn a
few magic tricks,` she said.

Evans was 6 years old when he saw his first trick. He liked
watching performers on television. Early magicians like Marshall
Brodien paved the televised trail for future Doug Hennings and
David Copperfields.

`I used to be very shy, too,` Evans said, `But magic helped me
come out of my shell.`

Evans performed in talent shows through high school, then got
involved with a performing group at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
`The group at OSU helped pay for part of my tuition,` he said.
Evans, of Owasso, continues to try to `grow his magic as well as
his accounting career,` he said. `I try to upgrade each year.`
His dedication to the art shows in the vehicle he drives. His
late-model mini-van is covered with `Bradini` logos and his business number.

Evans can be reached at 272-1651.