Meet Brenden Trojan

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brenden Trojan. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Brenden, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

In my career there is constant rejection, I am constantly hearing the word “No” or “Not at this time.” It was definitely a challenge to start a performing career in high school and be constantly be turned down; However, It was totally understandable. How many companies would hire a 16 year old kid to perform at their holiday event? Not many. But I knew if I worked hard enough one company eventually would hire me. I eventually was able to perform magic for some major companies in High School, one of them being Motorola in Downtown, Chicago. It was such an amazing experience, but it also taught me at the end of the day, the one person who says, “Yes” makes it completely worth it. So no matter how many no’s I continue to get, I always remember that the one yes that is coming will open more doors than I could possibly imagine. I just have to keep working hard and not give up.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a full time magician, performing close-up magic and stage shows across the U.S. As of this interview (2024) I have performed in Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Ohio, but I am already scheduled next year to add a few new states to my list like Iowa and West Virginia. I strive to create an interactive experience filled with magic and mentalism with plenty of engaging opportunities for those who are eager to participate. I want anyone who leaves my show to have a memory that is unique and special to them. Whether it is sleight-of-hand magic or mind bending mentalism, I know my show will create non-stop laughter, excitement, and a memory that will last a lifetime.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

There was a lot of knowledge I learned early on that helped me grow to where I am today. One quality that I believe was truly impactful early on was that I wanted to learn. I wanted to learn from professionals in my field, but also learn how to take care of the business side as well. There is much more to magic than just doing a trick. There is the sales calls, the media, the show, how to make props, etc. So I wanted to pick brains of not only magicians, but business people, engineers, directors, etc. All of those people have great knowledge of how to help me on my journey. The constant desire to learn from people has truly helped me develop my craft.

Another quality that I learned was always making sure to go above and beyond for any client. People are paying their hard earned money to have you at their event. Whether you are a designer, painter, entertainer, etc. The client is always hoping for a person that they can talk about. For me, I try to stay longer at an event when I can so they feel like they got more then they paid for and/or I try to customize the show for an event that I am at so it feels special and unique to them. Every single event I am at, I am always looking for ways I can be remembered. I can have an amazing show, but how can I go above and beyond to really be the best.

The final quality that I think is obvious, but always good to mention is discipline. If you put your mind to it you can accomplish it. What I do is impossible. There is no way I can actually read minds or make a coin vanish into thin air, but how can I truly make that look real? With hard work, constant thought and tinkering, and continuous practice, all of my imagination can be a reality. Nothing ever comes easy, but to have the mindset to continually work on something until it is near close to perfect is a fantastic quality to have.

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

My parents have been amazing in supporting me. We always see movies or hear stories about parents not supporting their kids who want to be an artist, but mine have accepted what I wanted to do. However, they didn’t just say, “Good luck” and I had to figure it out. They constantly challenged me and asked me thought provoking questions to shape this goal into reality. How are you going to make it happen? Who can you find who does it now? Can you do X,Y,Z to make it better? Etc. They challenged me every day to work harder to make my dream a success. I am forever grateful for their love, support, and continuous talks about how I am going to make it work.

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