Today we’d like to introduce you to Steve Queen.
Hi Steve, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers.
I got started in magic later in life than many magicians. I was 29 when I saw a magician do the intermission of a dance show. I thought it was the coolest thing, so I bought my first two magic tricks the next day and became obsessed. Two magic tricks I’d work on over and over and never get tired of it. Then I bought a magic kit. I still have most of the things from that Criss Angel magic kit. It helped me start to get into the basics. I then bought more magic books and DVDs. Long after that, I found out that there are magic clubs. The 1st ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians is located in St. Louis. I joined and started going to meetings. Shortly after joining, I got to be in the beginner category of their annual close-up competition and got first place. I began to feel that I was pretty good at this hobby. Over time I started adding more skills I thought would be cool, like juggling, fire eating, and fire breathing.
For fourteen years, I was a police officer in Chesterfield. I enjoyed my job and even got to be a school resource officer in a middle school for six years. Occasionally my hobby got to be a part of my full-time job, allowing me to show kids that police officers are more than just uniforms. In September of 2021, I found myself burned out at work. There were things I didn’t like about how certain departments handled covid, not to mention how some of the public vocalized their dislike of law enforcement and all officers. I remember one interaction where a woman just told me, “all cops are bad” I asked if that included me, and she said yes. I told her she didn’t even know me, didn’t know the people I had helped, lives saved, and what a positive effect I felt I had on the community. Her response was to repeat, “all cops are bad.” It began to feel more and more like I was doing something important but being painted with a brush that wasn’t me. After some time, I started to feel that I was too young to be going to work and not liking it anymore. Around this time, I got a phone call from a friend who owns a talent agency. Josh Routh is one of the owners of the St. Louis-based talent agency Circus Kaput. Josh had asked if I still performed because he needed a magician for some gigs. I had only been doing a little since covid, and booking myself for gigs can be tough. I took this as a sign to make a change. My girlfriend, now soon-to-be wife, supported me in taking a leap to do something that makes me happy.
Working for Circus Kaput, not only have I improved my closeup magic skills, they helped me develop a children’s show and my character of “Maestro.” Maestro is a magician from the past who has found himself in our time through a mishap in a time machine. It was cool to have an old-fashioned look and classic tricks and make it entertaining for audiences. Also, working for Circus Kaput, my juggling has improved. I learned balloon animals and stilt walking. I get to do what I love and make people happy, so now I’m delighted.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
While experiencing all the burnout I was having in law enforcement and PTSD from a carjacking where my car was stolen. The carjacker shot a gun at me. I was also going through a long and difficult divorce, and my ex was trying to dictate how often I would get to see my children. Things have improved now that I have papers saying she can’t keep my children away from me.
The biggest secret in magic is I am willing to spend more time on something you don’t think is worth the time. It is a lot of practice and sometimes failure to get good at something like magic. Also, learning how to be a better entertainer because the tricks are really secondary if you don’t have an entertaining and engaging personality for audiences.
I have a real estate license, but that can also be difficult work to get into during a crazy real estate market. On top of that work, there aren’t gigs every day. I work as often as possible, but some months it can be challenging to make enough for the bills. When I started, I tried doing door dash to supplement my income; then gas prices went up, so all the profit went to paying for gas. I still do real estate, but doing the slow season, I now substitute teach, which helps me be good at working with children.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Most of what I consider my work is magic. I do close up for people at parties or “strolling magic.” I also make balloon animals, stilt walk, eat fire, breathe, and juggle. I am most known for my magic. I have a few awards from magic competitions. I am very proud of the kid’s show that I do for parties. It is different from other shows because of the old-time look I put into the show. A top hat and coat seemed like the stereotype for how magicians dress, but I never actually see magicians dress like that.
Any big plans?
I’m looking forward to improving my show and learning more skills. I study a lot and hope to have done enough performances and be memorable enough that “Maestro” becomes a household name.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.circuskaput.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/maestrostl
- Facebook: facebook.com/stevequeenmagic
- Youtube: youtube.com/maestro9976
Image Credits
The fire pic was taken by Jo Lewis
