Mick Ayres has had a fascinating and varied career with the Walt Disney Company, working as a magician, storyteller, and musician. Like many performers, his world was upended by the Covid pandemic. But Mick found a new stage at the thirteen Marriott Resorts scattered across Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.

For years, Mick shared his expertise in act construction, scriptwriting, and character development through his column, The High Road, in M-U-M. I found these articles so insightful and practical that I felt they deserved a broader audience. That’s why I’ve been sharing them in our newsletter, and I’m thrilled to announce that Mick will also be contributing fresh insights through his The Art of Conjuring column—I’m sure you’ll find them fun and engaging.

To mark the occasion, I sat down with Mick for a conversation about his journey. We discussed his background, mentors, music, scripting, time with Disney, and his secrets for presenting magic to everyday audiences. Mick is a fantastic storyteller, and I thoroughly enjoyed our chat. I’m sure you will, too.