Brice Harney | Western Kentucky College

One fateful evening, Brice Harney’s grandfather got here house and carried out a card trick he discovered earlier at a poker recreation. Brice (MHC ‘15) was merely amazed. He begged his grandfather to point out him the trick and went on to carry out it for all of his associates. At 10 years previous, Brice realized his dream- to turn out to be an expert magician and carry out all over the world.

Any scholar within the Mahurin Honors School (MHC) can recall the primary time they have been challenged to establish their “massive dream.” For some it’s to journey the world, others need to be a lawyer or artist, however irrespective of the dream, the MHC is ready to enthusiastically support students similar to Brice as they ascend in the direction of excellence. 

Throughout his time on the Hill, Brice was a member of the campus ministry Campus Campaign for Christ (CRU) and carried out a number of reveals for Phi Sigma Pi. He additionally studied overseas his senior yr in Leicestershire, England the place he served as a pupil trainer. Throughout a go to to London, Brice bought to satisfy up with a magician that he had beforehand solely recognized over the web.  

“My freshman yr, I noticed a magic present in Van Meter Auditorium. I bear in mind it was March 2012, and it was a tremendous present. They’d a second present the subsequent evening, and I went to that as properly. I bought linked to the man who ran that present and stated, ‘That is what I need to do for the remainder of my life, how do I do it?’ He advised me to remain at school and get in touch with him after I graduated.”

WKU cultivated a deeper love for magic in Brice’s coronary heart. In truth, a magic video he filmed within the hallowed halls of Minton went viral on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXYokniPwHA. With over 46,000 views, Brice’s abilities grew to become legendary on campus. He would stand outdoors of the Downing Scholar Union and carry out tips all of the whereas enhancing and increasing his abilities.

“I had a gathering with Dr. Cobane and advised him I wished to be an expert magician. By my 4 years within the MHC, Dr. C. did no matter he may to not simply encourage me to pursue that dream, however open doorways that I would not have had entry to in any other case. In truth, he bought me a gathering with WKU’s President at the moment, Dr. Gary Ransdell.  Throughout that assembly, we talked about what it will appear to be if I carried out magic for a halftime present or for the basketball workforce. There have been different alternatives that Dr. Cobane helped me pursue whereas I used to be a present scholar,  however the fact is he’s nonetheless serving to me attain my final objective of coming again and performing in Van Meter.”

Brice additionally cites the group of students as a driving power that inspired him “to pursue the very best diploma of excellence in all the things that I do.”

As quickly as Brice acquired his diploma, he contacted the magician he talked about earlier, secured a spot, and toured with him for 4 years. He carried out on a cruise to Mexico for a couple of months. He additionally carried out within the arctic circle at a really small group in Rankin Inlet, which Brice described as precisely just like the planet Hoth from Star Wars. One among his most memorable performances from that journey was in a most safety jail. As soon as Brice returned to america, he joined a high secret group of magicians and improved his observe and abilities, till he grew to become an expert magician and mentalist. His reveals grew to become very profitable however like many, Brice took successful in 2020. 

Brice and magicians all over the world labored with one another to develop on-line magic reveals. “The magic world has all the time been on the forefront of expertise and innovation.  When COVID occurred, magicians wished to maintain performing they usually grew to become among the first reveals you could possibly see just about. They bought collectively in these boards and brainstormed methods to placed on the very best digital present, so magic reveals seemed higher than all different digital choices. With magic, it is interactive and the viewers is engaged with the entire thing.” In some instances, distant magic is much more wonderful. Brice even made one thing seem on somebody’s doorstep a whole lot of miles away throughout a digital present.

Brice’s on-line success allowed him to carry out with big corporations like Meta. Because it grew to become safer, these connections grew to become in individual, and Brice bought the chance to carry out on the Meta Knowledge Middle in Texas. Brice is grateful to be transferring off of digital reveals as a result of he “tries to create a excessive vitality, conert-like vibe at my reveals which is not actually doable on-line.”

“I feel folks like magic as a result of it’s one thing that they don’t perceive. When you don’t perceive one thing it is entertaining and intriguing. Different types of leisure reminiscent of comedy, we snigger on a regular basis. There are such a lot of types of leisure that we’re used to experiencing, however whenever you expertise magic, it is an unordinary deal with. I need folks to depart my reveals with an emotional connection. I wish to share the story of my grandfather exhibiting me the cardboard trick and growing my love for magic although he by no means bought to see my dream come to fruition.”

Brice needs all present MHC students to know their desires are usually not loopy or dumb. Usually, he was met with doubt or concern when he advised folks he wished to be an expert magician, however with perseverance and dedication, Brice achieved his objective. “You are able to do the identical. Don’t let anybody belittle your massive dream. Be devoted and work exhausting.”

If you wish to see extra of Brice’s acts, go to his web site at https://www.bricemagic.com/.