For Nathan Boyd of EVHS, it’s magic

Don’t be deceived. Nathan Boyd’s gift for magic is no illusion. At 16, Boyd has started a company, Quantum Magic, and has already performed more than 50 magic shows in two years.

Boyd says his interest in magic was first sparked when he was 8 while watching magician Jeff McBride perform on the television show, “World’s Greatest Magic.”

“I was watching the show with my dad and told him I wanted to do magic. He just kind of laughed,” said Boyd. Eight years later magic has become a profession for Boyd.

“He fooled me,” said Boyd’s father, Steve. “I thought it was going to be a phase, that he would try a little bit and that would be it, but he’s really got a natural talent and a natural stage presence.”

One of his most recent performances was for his biggest audience – more than 400 people – at his high school, East Valley High. “I was flabbergasted how well he performed, you might even say I was a little bit jealous. He’s definitely one of the best magicians I’ve ever met at his age,” said colleague and friend Kenneth K.

Boyd hopes he will be performing in Las Vegas within the next few years.

The appeal of magic, Boyd says, is being able to entertain people and make them enjoy the deception they are being shown. “I love deceiving people and making them laugh. When they ask me how I did a trick I just smile and say, ‘Magic,’ ” said Boyd. He performs for any age group of any size, from table shows to large stage shows.

Boyd is the son of Steve and Celeste Boyd and has one older brother, Aaron.

Boyd can be reached by e-mail at nathan_qmagic@yahoo.com.