The Story Behind the Magic
About Nick Gasparro Chicago's Premier Magician & Mentalist
How it started...
Chicago magician, close-up artist, and lifelong student of wonder.
His First Encounter With Magic
The Vanishing Silk
That changed everything...
Nick first discovered magic at age 11 on a family trip to Washington D.C. when he wandered into a small magic shop. The person behind the counter made a silk vanish and reappear in their bare hands — and he was hooked from that moment on.
Through middle school and high school, Nick’s focus was almost entirely on close-up magic and card magic. To him, it was a “Moveable Feast” — something he could carry with him and share anywhere, at any time, with anyone. He was fortunate enough to have encountered and gotten to know one of the greatest magicians of the 20th century, Eugene Burger. His influence and philosophies still affect Nick’s style of magic and mentalism to this day.
Nick pictured with Eugene Burger, 2001
Things about Nick...
FAVORITE MAGICIAN
Eugene Burger
FAVORITE STATE TO VISIT
Colorado
FAVORITE CHICAGO MUSEUM
The Art Institute of Chicago
FAVORITE PAINTER
Vincent Van Gogh
FAVORITE TV SERIES
Twin Peaks
FAVORITE BAND
Wilco
5.0 Top Rated 2026
From Champaign-Urbana
to Chicago's Lincoln Park...
Nick attended the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana, where he continued to sharpen his craft by performing in local bars and restaurants around campus.
After graduation, Nick lived in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood where he continued to hone his skills. He would frequently perform in bars and restaurants in the Lincoln Park and Gold Coast neighborhoods before relocating to the Naperville area, where he now resides and performs across Chicagoland.
A Life Lived
with curiosity...
Nick has eclectic tastes and is deeply interested in art, music, and the outdoors. When he’s not performing, you’ll likely find him playing guitar, heading to Colorado to hike the Rockies, or exploring the latest exhibits at the Art Institute of Chicago.
He also enjoys reading about philosophy and catching up on the latest mystery and suspense shows on all the streaming services.