When I show up at magic conventions I am often asked, incredulously, by one or two people, “Is it true you take taxis to get to your shows?” Yes, it’s true. And, even though I have written nearly 200 columns in both MAGIC Magazine and Genii, I have never addressed my unique situation, which people find so interesting. Today I thought I would remedy that and explain my weird life as a full-time, urban, kid show magician.
I don’t own a car. I never have. I live in Manhattan where most people don’t own cars. There are so many good alternate forms of transportation in the city that you don’t really need one. But there’s more to it. If you want to park your car on the street it takes forever to find a parking spot. And once you find a spot you have to wake up at 8 a.m. to move the car to the other side of the street so that the street “can be cleaned.” As you know, New York is known for its spotless streets! It’s called alternate side parking, and everyone hates it.
“So why don’t you just park in a parking lot?" you might ask. Because it costs about $700 per month to park in a lot. (Or more, depending on the neighborhood.) Yup. What some people pay to rent an apartment in the rest of the country is what New Yorkers pay to rent a parking spot. Fuhgeddaboudit!