Willie Barnett

Willie Barnett, who performs as Tada The Magician, builds his family show around crowd participation, mixing illusions, mentalism and comedy with a floating birthday child for the youngest guests and animal balloons shaped into swords, giraffes, dogs, dinosaurs or rabbits.

His strolling close-up work happens inches from guests, turning coins, money and everyday objects into surprises, with fire manipulation, vanishes and appearances that spark conversation rather than interrupt the mingling. School assemblies pair magic with lessons in problem-solving, teamwork, confidence, and creativity, including a program on anti bullying. Across Ohio he plays birthday parties, weddings, festivals, city and corporate events, library programs, nursing homes and fundraisers, carrying wireless headsets and a Bose system for the biggest rooms.