--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first came to L.A., I worked at…" description: "\"When I first came to L.A., I worked at the Magic Castle, and it was so much fun. But the best part of magic for me these days is not having to do it fo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/steve-valentine-46072_able_when-i-first-came-to-l-a-i-worked-at-the_2693345.jpg" --- # When I first came to L.A., I worked at the Magic Castle… ![“When I first came to L.A., I worked at the Magic Castle, and it was so much fun. But the best part of magic for me these days is not having to do it for a living. It's being able to pull a trick out when people least expect it, when they don't know that you do magic.” quote by Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/steve-valentine-46072_able_when-i-first-came-to-l-a-i-worked-at-the_2693345.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/steve-valentine-46072_able_when-i-first-came-to-l-a-i-worked-at-the_2693345.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/981/steve-valentine-46072_able_when-i-first-came-to-l-a-i-worked-at-the_2693345.jpg) > “When I first came to L.A., I worked at the Magic Castle, and it was so much fun. But the best part of magic for me these days is not having to do it for a living. It's being able to pull a trick out when people least expect it, when they don't know that you do magic.” [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Magic's allure lies in unexpected, spontaneous acts rather than formal performance. **In simple terms:** Surprise is the true magic. Key Takeaway Create moments of unexpected delight. Themes creativity spontaneity magic joy Mood playful inspired Type observational motivational When to use this quote - social gatherings - team building - education Key Concepts performance art psychology Questions to Reflect On - When have you surprised someone? - How can spontaneity improve work? A Different Perspective May be romanticized. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Castle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/castle/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Magic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/magic/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Trick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trick/) ## Related quotes > [Magic of the nights is always much impressive than the magic of the days!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/magic-of-the-nights-is-always-much-impressive-than-the-magic-of-the/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [I didn't do too much. I came here (to The Magic Castle) and learned about magic. I read a book, but not his father's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-jones/i-didn-t-do-too-much-i-came-here-to-the-magic-castle-and-learned/) [Evan Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-jones/) > [The Magic Castle is not a place that people know nationally, but as soon as you move to L.A., you hear people talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rust/the-magic-castle-is-not-a-place-that-people-know-nationally-but-as/) [Paul Rust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rust/) > [As a magician, I try to show things to people that seem impossible. And I think magic, whether I'm holding my breath or shuffling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blaine/as-a-magician-i-try-to-show-things-to-people-that-seem-impossible-and-2/) [David Blaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blaine/) > [“The best magic comes from the inside.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/the-best-magic-comes-from-the-inside/) [Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/) > [The best magic always results from ecstasies of logic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alban-berg/the-best-magic-always-results-from-ecstasies-of-logic/) [Alban Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alban-berg/) > [As a Magician, I try to show things to people that seem impossible. And I think magic whether I'm holding my breath or shuffling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-blaine/as-a-magician-i-try-to-show-things-to-people-that-seem-impossible-and/) [David Blaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-blaine/) > [If you would be a magician, honor the Earth. Honor life. Love. Know that magic is the birthright of every human being, and wisely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-cunningham/if-you-would-be-a-magician-honor-the-earth-honor-life-love-know-that/) [Scott Cunningham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-cunningham/) > [I know magicians and I know magic and I say this: all magicians lie and this one more than most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susanna-clarke/i-know-magicians-and-i-know-magic-and-i-say-this-all-magicians-lie/) [Susanna Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susanna-clarke/) > [“Well, you know it’s my magic essence. -Mark Khiop”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akutra-ramses-atenosis-cea/well-you-know-it-s-my-magic-essence-mark-khiop/) [Akutra-Ramses Atenosis Cea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akutra-ramses-atenosis-cea/) > [And this, really, is the story-within-the-story, because if you do not believe that hearts can bloom suddenly bigger, and that love can open like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-oliver/and-this-really-is-the-story-within-the-story-because-if-you-do-not/) [Lauren Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-oliver/) > [You know, magic markets don't appear all the time, so you take advantage of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/you-know-magic-markets-don-t-appear-all-the-time-so-you-take/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [To practice magic is to be a quack; to know magic is to be a sage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/to-practice-magic-is-to-be-a-quack-to-know-magic-is-to-be-a-sage/) [Eliphas Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) > [“Then, things get hard, because once you know magic exists, you have to decide whether to be the bystander, or the magician … and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dianna-hardy/then-things-get-hard-because-once-you-know-magic-exists-you-have-to/) [Dianna Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dianna-hardy/) > [The more uncomfortable I feel, that's where I know the magic is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guillermo-e-brown/the-more-uncomfortable-i-feel-that-s-where-i-know-the-magic-is/) [Guillermo E. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guillermo-e-brown/) ## More by Steve Valentine > [My friend Fred Coury, the drummer in '80s rock band Cinderella, told me that in the rock world, you're either still there, or you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-valentine/my-friend-fred-coury-the-drummer-in-80s-rock-band-cinderella-told-me/) [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) > [When I was 16 and wanted to be an actor, people told me to go work at the supermarket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-valentine/when-i-was-16-and-wanted-to-be-an-actor-people-told-me-to-go-work-at/) [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) > [I've been doing magic since I was five years old, and when I was trying to get acting gigs, I found I could make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-valentine/i-ve-been-doing-magic-since-i-was-five-years-old-and-when-i-was/) [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) > [I lost the accent years ago, but I'm still very proud to be Scottish, and I love wearing a kilt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-valentine/i-lost-the-accent-years-ago-but-i-m-still-very-proud-to-be-scottish/) [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) > [My character on 'I'm In the Band,' Derek Jupiter of Iron Weasel, is definitely one of the crazier ones. That's completely on the other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-valentine/my-character-on-i-m-in-the-band-derek-jupiter-of-iron-weasel-is/) [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) > [I was big into mythology when I was a kid - Arthurian legends and Greek mythology, that was kind of my passion. I hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-valentine/i-was-big-into-mythology-when-i-was-a-kid-arthurian-legends-and-greek/) [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) > [My fave routine is The Roller Coaster. First of all it's a great way to get into a card trick, without stating it's a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-valentine/my-fave-routine-is-the-roller-coaster-first-of-all-it-s-a-great-way/) [Steve Valentine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) [Explore all 8 Steve Valentine quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-valentine/) ## More Able quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [There is something about the South that accepts the supernatural. If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. I think I have managed to function pretty successfully on the fringes of the music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-metheny/i-don-t-know-if-i-would-qualify-as-mainstream-i-think-i-have-managed/) [Pat Metheny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-metheny/) > [What we're supposed to do as actors is be able to portray real human beings and emotions. And if you grow up in this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-browning/what-we-re-supposed-to-do-as-actors-is-be-able-to-portray-real-human/) [Emily Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-browning/) > [The reason that Apple is able to create products like iPad is because we always try to be at the intersection of technology and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-reason-that-apple-is-able-to-create-products-like-ipad-is-because/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [It was an important period for us, because even though we weren't a "punk band", and what became a model for a punk band,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-mallinder/it-was-an-important-period-for-us-because-even-though-we-weren-t-a/) [Stephen Mallinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-mallinder/) > [- You look fine. - Right. I look fine. Except I don't, said Zora, tugging sadly at her man's nightshirt. This was why Kiki…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zadie-smith/you-look-fine-right-i-look-fine-except-i-don-t-said-zora-tugging/) [Zadie Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zadie-smith/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) Browse all 17,257 Able quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first came to L.A., I worked at the Magic Castle, and it was so much fun. But the best part of magic for me these days is not having to do it for a living. 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