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Rob Zabrecky LIVE (Penguin LIVE)


One of the world's most creative and artistic magicians came to Penguin for a MASSIVE 2-hour live event. SUPPORT LIVE MAGIC. DOWNLOAD THE FULL LECTURE TODAY.
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Actor

As a television actor he has appeared on CSI: NY, The Mentalist, Brothers & Sisters and in several episodes of MTV's ROOM 401. In theater, he graduated from the Associate Program at Theatre West, where he has appeared in theatrical adaptations of the television classic, The Twilight Zone and other productions. In addition to television and theater, he has appeared in several short films and in a variety of commercials for a wide range of companies including Comcast, Denny's, the Humane Society, Kia, Oliver Peoples, Scion, Swedish Fish and Tanqueray.

Magician

After his music career ended Zabrecky has worked throughout the United States and Japan as a magician. He is best known for performances in which he combines irreverent dark humor and mentalism. Since 2002 he has been a regular performer at the Magic Castle. In 2003 he formed the off-beat magic trio, The Unholy Three in the basement of that establishment by presenting a provocative Dada-esque combination of wizardry, mentalism and off-beat humor. In 2008, 2009, and 2010 The Academy of Magical Arts at the Magic Castle named him among the top five magicians for his performances inside the club's Parlour of Prestidigitation.

Was host of Who’s Hoo, an on-line interview talk show for members of the Academy Arts at the Magic Castle, which he co-created with his wife, Tommi Zabrecky. Since airing in 2008, Zabrecky interviewed over 85 Magic Castle luminaries and performing members including co-founder Milt Larsen. Additionally, he occasionally performs with the performance art group The Mums.

In February 2009 after returning from a string of magic appearances in Japan, Zabrecky performed for Michael Jackson, four months before Jackson's death. He was hired to perform for Blanket's 7th birthday at Jackson's Holmby Hills home (A juggler and a hula-hoop artist also performed; there were no other party guests.) Zabrecky was only a few minutes into his act when a paparazzi helicopter buzzed loudly overhead. "In a split second, they each pulled out cloths and placed them over their heads." Once the chopper flew off, so did the coverings. "They sat there smiling and waiting for me to continue," he said. "They looked like four peas in a pod. It wasn't exactly Norman Rockwell, but it sure felt close."

In 2010 he performed at New York’s longest-running Off-Broadway magic show, Monday Night Magic.

In 2011, Magic Magazine described him as, "A unique persona, highly reminiscent of Norman Bates, with a bit of Rod Serling in the mix — a psycho from the Twilight Zone, doing magic. Whether performing the Diminishing Cards while spasmodically “dancing” off beat to the music, getting electrocuted, cutting paper into two-headed dolls, or introducing his 95-year-old grandfather — who turns out to be ashes in an urn — the results are both mystifying and amusing, fascinating and entertaining. One cannot help but wonder, however, just how much of the strange fellow onstage is the real Rob and how much is acted by design." He currently serves as one of the primary Seance Mediums in the Houdini Seance Room at the Magic Castle.

Musician

As the front man for Possum Dixon, Zabrecky became a notable figure in the early 1990s emerging Silver Lake independent music scene. During those years he wrote, recorded and performed with several musicians and producers including Beck, Earle Mankey, Tom Rothrock, Pleasant Gehman, Carla Bozulich, Tim O'Heir and others. In 1998, Zabrecky, with Possum Dixon released New Sheets, which would be the last album by the band. The LP, produced by Ric Ocasek, featured co-written material with Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, Dave Stewart and Pat MacDonald. Shortly after the breakup of Possum Dixon he spent time singing for the Los Angeles art rock band, Human Hands and played bass in a Gun Club tribute band alongside original members Ward Dotson and Terry Graham. In early 2010 he appeared on-stage with Maria McKee at a fund raiser in Hollywood. The pair sang a duet to Lou Reed's Satellite of Love.

Auctioneer

He is a skilled auctioneer, trained by Bonhams auction house (known then as Butterfield & Butterfield), during the late 1990s. He has played an auctioneer on several television shows including "Brothers & Sisters" and "The Mentalist."

Print

Zabrecky has appeared in magazine and print advertisements for Cymbalta, Flaunt, Vogue Italia, Mercedes Benz, UNICEF and Oliver Peoples among others.

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Featured Magic Tricks

Customer Reviews (showing 1 - 10 of 30)
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Rob Is Great! Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on December 30th, 2012
My first Penguin Live, and I enjoyed it a lot. Rob, is a fantastic performer; See him live if you can.

The lecture it self, reveals NO methods, but does share a couple of concepts and performances of well know effects.

The lecture would fall under the theory section, and overall was solid. Great, if your looking for some theory on performing and magic.

4 Stars because my Twitter Questions didnt get asked, which is what I thought the cool part of Penguin Live was, to be able to ask questions..Next time, Id just buy a lecture when I have free time and see reviews, verse watching it live.
12 of 14 magicians found this helpful.
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Great Lecture Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 2nd, 2013
I notice that there have been a lot of reviews that are upset because there "were no tricks tipped." Don't we all have enough tricks? What we really need is advice on how to make those tricks magic. I thought Rob did exactly that and I, for one, was thrilled with the lecture. It was well organized, clear and concise, and most of all, useful for everyone.
The naysayers will point out that they didn't get one trick out of it. What they got was much, much more valuable than tricks. It was magic.

Sam Lamerson
8 of 10 magicians found this helpful.
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Theory all the way! Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 7th, 2013
This lecture was not what I expected so I had to go over it another time, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, Rob covers a lot of different theory when it comes to performing and how to develop your own character if you want to tell a story with your magic.

Anyone that wants to learn great showmanship and character development, as well as how to go about putting your own spin on some classic effects, check this out.
4 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
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Inspirational Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 1st, 2014
A friend recommended that I watch this lecture, and before his suggestion I had never before heard of Rob Zabrecky. After watching this video I can say with full confidence that Mr. Zabrecky's lecture is by far one of the best I have ever seen. I have gleaned so many valuable nuggets to improve my act and am looking forward to trying new things and "taking more risks". Thank you Penguin Magic for making his creative mind available to us, and thank you Rob Zabrecky for sharing your wonderful gifts.
3 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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This is where REAL magic is Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 10th, 2013
This is the stuff of real magic. He doesn't teach tricks, he teaches about being a magician. If you are interested in becoming a better performer - watch (listen) carefully.
2 of 2 magicians found this helpful.
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Great theory Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 22nd, 2013
This is a great lecture on how to present magic. If you want to improve your magic you must watch this lecture. There are a lot of information and I'm sure that when I 'll watch it again I'll find a new gem in it.
I didn't know Rob Zabrecky before but now I'll make sure to follow what he does.
2 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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Theory could have been explained more visual Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 7th, 2013
I think Rob put a lot of thinking into his lecture.
And I wish more lecturers would talk more about theory, structure, gig- or pocket-management etc.
The only think that from my point of view was a little sad was that most of it was just talked about. I would have appreciated if he would have shown the theory on more practical examples to understand his ideas better and being able to adapt the theory to my own tricks.
(Hope it makes sense what I am talking about. English is not my first language :-)
2 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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Inspiration Report this review
Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 2nd, 2013
I've watched almost every lecture so far in Penguin Live's lecture series and this lecture is among my favorites. Rob's performance style struck me immediately and his A to Z of theatrical magic inspired me. The information presented here is up there with the knowledge dispensed by Tommy Wonder and Ken Weber.
2 of 3 magicians found this helpful.
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Help Beyond Effects Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on April 15th, 2014
This lecture is more help to any serious student of magic than learning tricks. The performance tips, critical thinking, and practical advice has helped me in constructing a set, developing a character, and improving my magic as a whole. If you just want more tricks, stay away, but I must tell you, this is a great lecture for anyone looking to improve their stage craft and presence.
1 of 1 magicians found this helpful.
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This was worth thirty bucks. Report this review
Verified buyer Pro Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on March 21st, 2013
If you're looking for tricks to do, look elsewhere.
This lecture is not for hacks.
If you are a hack and want to break free from hackdom this lecture is for you.
If you're the guy who received the "Lecturer of the year" award you really need to hand it over to Zabrecky.
Well done, Rob.
2 of 4 magicians found this helpful.
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