[Music] hi everyone my name is Davis thang I am
hi everyone my name is Davis thang I am
hi everyone my name is Davis thang I am a performing magician thank you all for
a performing magician thank you all for
a performing magician thank you all for inviting me over so closing speaker for
inviting me over so closing speaker for
inviting me over so closing speaker for TEDx I am only 26 so I hope you guys
TEDx I am only 26 so I hope you guys
TEDx I am only 26 so I hope you guys have a low expectation for the show
have a low expectation for the show
have a low expectation for the show initially I was going to talk about the
initially I was going to talk about the
initially I was going to talk about the experience and life lessons I learned by
experience and life lessons I learned by
experience and life lessons I learned by performing magic with celebrities
performing magic with celebrities
performing magic with celebrities singers hospital patients jail inmates
singers hospital patients jail inmates
singers hospital patients jail inmates homeless people and more here’s a quick
homeless people and more here’s a quick
homeless people and more here’s a quick video of the people that I’ve met so
video of the people that I’ve met so
video of the people that I’ve met so magic gives me this unique opportunity
magic gives me this unique opportunity
magic gives me this unique opportunity to interact with all walks of life and
to interact with all walks of life and
to interact with all walks of life and I’ve just launched my YouTube channel to
I’ve just launched my YouTube channel to
I’ve just launched my YouTube channel to share these magic performances in
share these magic performances in
share these magic performances in conversation with you guys you can track
conversation with you guys you can track
conversation with you guys you can track them out and miss the defang at YouTube
them out and miss the defang at YouTube
them out and miss the defang at YouTube and Instagram I love performing magic I
and Instagram I love performing magic I
and Instagram I love performing magic I love filming magic but most importantly
love filming magic but most importantly
love filming magic but most importantly I love capturing people’s reaction to
I love capturing people’s reaction to
I love capturing people’s reaction to magic to me that’s the most priceless
magic to me that’s the most priceless
magic to me that’s the most priceless thing so that was supposed to be my TED
thing so that was supposed to be my TED
thing so that was supposed to be my TED talk but unfortunately on November 2017
talk but unfortunately on November 2017
talk but unfortunately on November 2017 my mother was diagnosed with late stage
my mother was diagnosed with late stage
my mother was diagnosed with late stage lung cancer this news has been by far
lung cancer this news has been by far
lung cancer this news has been by far the most devastating thing that has ever
the most devastating thing that has ever
the most devastating thing that has ever happened to my life and because of that
happened to my life and because of that
happened to my life and because of that I want to dedicate this talk to her my
I want to dedicate this talk to her my
I want to dedicate this talk to her my mother is the most important person in
mother is the most important person in
mother is the most important person in my life and I think that’s the same case
my life and I think that’s the same case
my life and I think that’s the same case for all of you that are sitting in this
for all of you that are sitting in this
for all of you that are sitting in this room and those of you that will be
room and those of you that will be
room and those of you that will be watching this video and the thought of
watching this video and the thought of
watching this video and the thought of having to lose her prematurely is
having to lose her prematurely is
having to lose her prematurely is unfathomable in so many ways it took me
unfathomable in so many ways it took me
unfathomable in so many ways it took me a while to accept this reality and
a while to accept this reality and
a while to accept this reality and believe me sometimes it’s
believe me sometimes it’s
believe me sometimes it’s still feels like a bad dream but I can’t
still feels like a bad dream but I can’t
still feels like a bad dream but I can’t do anything about the fact that my
do anything about the fact that my
do anything about the fact that my mother has late-stage lung cancer I will
mother has late-stage lung cancer I will
mother has late-stage lung cancer I will be with her every day I will be seeing
be with her every day I will be seeing
be with her every day I will be seeing the best doctor with her and I will be
the best doctor with her and I will be
the best doctor with her and I will be referred to the very end as morbid as it
referred to the very end as morbid as it
referred to the very end as morbid as it seems today’s talk is not about me or my
seems today’s talk is not about me or my
seems today’s talk is not about me or my mother being the subject of pity in fact
mother being the subject of pity in fact
mother being the subject of pity in fact today’s talk is about defying the odds
today’s talk is about defying the odds
today’s talk is about defying the odds and finding hope and I want to show you
and finding hope and I want to show you
and finding hope and I want to show you the stories through my work as the
the stories through my work as the
the stories through my work as the magician can I please get a volunteer
magician can I please get a volunteer
magician can I please get a volunteer please yes would you mind coming up and
please yes would you mind coming up and
please yes would you mind coming up and what’s your name by the way can everyone
what’s your name by the way can everyone
what’s your name by the way can everyone give Phil Romano Paul it’s new it’s not
give Phil Romano Paul it’s new it’s not
give Phil Romano Paul it’s new it’s not easy to be on stage so definitely well
easy to be on stage so definitely well
easy to be on stage so definitely well deserved so we’re gonna do a quick card
deserved so we’re gonna do a quick card
deserved so we’re gonna do a quick card trick are you ready for it I want you to
trick are you ready for it I want you to
trick are you ready for it I want you to just hold onto your cars we don’t really
just hold onto your cars we don’t really
just hold onto your cars we don’t really need their cars but you know there are
need their cars but you know there are
need their cars but you know there are 52 cards in a deck right I want you to
52 cards in a deck right I want you to
52 cards in a deck right I want you to think of any one card that you like but
think of any one card that you like but
think of any one card that you like but don’t think of the ASIS pay can you do
don’t think of the ASIS pay can you do
don’t think of the ASIS pay can you do that for me okay you can think of as
that for me okay you can think of as
that for me okay you can think of as high as the king of Queen of heart or as
high as the king of Queen of heart or as
high as the king of Queen of heart or as low as the two or three diamonds I want
low as the two or three diamonds I want
low as the two or three diamonds I want you to picture your car in front of you
you to picture your car in front of you
you to picture your car in front of you just like that visualize it and count
just like that visualize it and count
just like that visualize it and count the spots just like that let me know
the spots just like that let me know
the spots just like that let me know when you have it in your mind for the
when you have it in your mind for the
when you have it in your mind for the first time what car are you thinking of
six of clubs I saw wasn’t who do
six of clubs I saw wasn’t who do anything with cards but you were holding
anything with cards but you were holding
anything with cards but you were holding on to a deck if you don’t mind just take
on to a deck if you don’t mind just take
on to a deck if you don’t mind just take out the car from the deck there’s only
out the car from the deck there’s only
out the car from the deck there’s only one card that is inside the deck take it
one card that is inside the deck take it
one card that is inside the deck take it out and show it to the camera
Thank You Phil appreciate it and
Thank You Phil appreciate it and everyone give a ride with Paula fulfill
everyone give a ride with Paula fulfill
everyone give a ride with Paula fulfill I choose to perform this effect because
I choose to perform this effect because
I choose to perform this effect because it shows what magic is in a nutshell
it shows what magic is in a nutshell
it shows what magic is in a nutshell magic is about defying the odds and
magic is about defying the odds and
magic is about defying the odds and doing what statistically it doesn’t make
doing what statistically it doesn’t make
doing what statistically it doesn’t make sense
sense
sense there’s no magic if it’s easy to do or
there’s no magic if it’s easy to do or
there’s no magic if it’s easy to do or if the odds are in your favor
if the odds are in your favor
if the odds are in your favor what neck what makes magic magic oh is
what neck what makes magic magic oh is
what neck what makes magic magic oh is the fact that no one thinks that is
the fact that no one thinks that is
the fact that no one thinks that is possible and when you think about it who
possible and when you think about it who
possible and when you think about it who are also magicians right cancer patients
are also magicians right cancer patients
are also magicians right cancer patients I chose to perform that very specific
I chose to perform that very specific
I chose to perform that very specific effect for one reason because the chance
effect for one reason because the chance
effect for one reason because the chance of a 10-year survival rate for my mother
of a 10-year survival rate for my mother
of a 10-year survival rate for my mother or someone with late stage lung cancer
or someone with late stage lung cancer
or someone with late stage lung cancer is the same as me being able to catch
is the same as me being able to catch
is the same as me being able to catch guests of Cora that you’re thinking of
guests of Cora that you’re thinking of
guests of Cora that you’re thinking of just now and unlike myself my mother and
just now and unlike myself my mother and
just now and unlike myself my mother and other cancer patients they didn’t have
other cancer patients they didn’t have
other cancer patients they didn’t have any formal training in magic hypnosis
any formal training in magic hypnosis
any formal training in magic hypnosis sleight of hands suggestions so the
sleight of hands suggestions so the
sleight of hands suggestions so the things that they are doing on a daily
things that they are doing on a daily
things that they are doing on a daily basis are nothing short of amazing and
basis are nothing short of amazing and
basis are nothing short of amazing and believe me you will learn much more
believe me you will learn much more
believe me you will learn much more talking with cancer patients and I can
talking with cancer patients and I can
talking with cancer patients and I can ever show you and I’m not being humble
ever show you and I’m not being humble
ever show you and I’m not being humble it’s true when I first started learning
it’s true when I first started learning
it’s true when I first started learning magic a magician told me a story about
magic a magician told me a story about
magic a magician told me a story about training elephants in a circus elephants
training elephants in a circus elephants
training elephants in a circus elephants are very large and powerful animals and
are very large and powerful animals and
are very large and powerful animals and yet they are being kept stationary
yet they are being kept stationary
yet they are being kept stationary inside a circus with only a thin rope
inside a circus with only a thin rope
inside a circus with only a thin rope the trick to that is that the trainer
the trick to that is that the trainer
the trick to that is that the trainer would condition condition these elephant
would condition condition these elephant
would condition condition these elephant and when they were babies by tying them
and when they were babies by tying them
and when they were babies by tying them onto a really heavy metal chain whenever
onto a really heavy metal chain whenever
onto a really heavy metal chain whenever the baby elephant we try to escape the
the baby elephant we try to escape the
the baby elephant we try to escape the metal chain would scratch their skin and
metal chain would scratch their skin and
metal chain would scratch their skin and hurt them and since there are still baby
hurt them and since there are still baby
hurt them and since there are still baby elephants they didn’t have the strength
elephants they didn’t have the strength
elephants they didn’t have the strength enough to break free eventually like
enough to break free eventually like
enough to break free eventually like everyone they learned a painful lesson
everyone they learned a painful lesson
everyone they learned a painful lesson of not trying again gets to a point that
of not trying again gets to a point that
of not trying again gets to a point that even when the trainer has replaced a
even when the trainer has replaced a
even when the trainer has replaced a heavy metal wah-wah with just a thin
heavy metal wah-wah with just a thin
heavy metal wah-wah with just a thin rope they wouldn’t try anymore to escape
rope they wouldn’t try anymore to escape
rope they wouldn’t try anymore to escape because the ring has already associated
because the ring has already associated
because the ring has already associated escape with painful suffering when you
escape with painful suffering when you
escape with painful suffering when you think about it we’re all similar to
think about it we’re all similar to
think about it we’re all similar to elephants right when we feel like
elephants right when we feel like
elephants right when we feel like there’s a situation that we cannot
there’s a situation that we cannot
there’s a situation that we cannot change our mind would accept the status
change our mind would accept the status
change our mind would accept the status quo as it is it gets to a point that
quo as it is it gets to a point that
quo as it is it gets to a point that even when we try to change our bring
even when we try to change our bring
even when we try to change our bring would elicit those really painful memory
would elicit those really painful memory
would elicit those really painful memory that we had in the past and tells us
that we had in the past and tells us
that we had in the past and tells us that is impossible
that is impossible
that is impossible to change true in a sense is trying to
to change true in a sense is trying to
to change true in a sense is trying to prevent us from getting hurt by the
prevent us from getting hurt by the
prevent us from getting hurt by the metal chain again we remain really
metal chain again we remain really
metal chain again we remain really comfortable at where we are and never
comfortable at where we are and never
comfortable at where we are and never again question about the possibility of
again question about the possibility of
again question about the possibility of breaking free most importantly I’m
breaking free most importantly I’m
breaking free most importantly I’m saying we stop asking ourselves if the
saying we stop asking ourselves if the
saying we stop asking ourselves if the metal chain in the past is still in
metal chain in the past is still in
metal chain in the past is still in metal chain now magic breaks this
metal chain now magic breaks this
metal chain now magic breaks this perception of the status quo seeing
perception of the status quo seeing
perception of the status quo seeing magic is kind of like seeing another
magic is kind of like seeing another
magic is kind of like seeing another elephant walking out the circus and
elephant walking out the circus and
elephant walking out the circus and breaking the chain it’s shocking but
breaking the chain it’s shocking but
breaking the chain it’s shocking but shocking in a good way because it alters
shocking in a good way because it alters
shocking in a good way because it alters our presuppositions and perception it we
our presuppositions and perception it we
our presuppositions and perception it we Kindles our ability to ask questions
Kindles our ability to ask questions
Kindles our ability to ask questions important questions that we have long
important questions that we have long
important questions that we have long forgotten when you see someone does
forgotten when you see someone does
forgotten when you see someone does something that’s seemingly impossible it
something that’s seemingly impossible it
something that’s seemingly impossible it doesn’t allow you to do it right away
doesn’t allow you to do it right away
doesn’t allow you to do it right away but it does something equally powerful
but it does something equally powerful
but it does something equally powerful it makes you a question you know if we
it makes you a question you know if we
it makes you a question you know if we were to see that elephant in the circus
were to see that elephant in the circus
were to see that elephant in the circus and we’re elephants ourself we probably
and we’re elephants ourself we probably
and we’re elephants ourself we probably be asking ourselves is that elephant
be asking ourselves is that elephant
be asking ourselves is that elephant extra strong is the metal chain tied
extra strong is the metal chain tied
extra strong is the metal chain tied onto him actually a metal chain and the
onto him actually a metal chain and the
onto him actually a metal chain and the most important question what if we can
most important question what if we can
most important question what if we can also break free and it’s not just magic
also break free and it’s not just magic
also break free and it’s not just magic that shadows this elephant mindset that
that shadows this elephant mindset that
that shadows this elephant mindset that we have created for ourselves start
we have created for ourselves start
we have created for ourselves start looking for things around you that I met
looking for things around you that I met
looking for things around you that I met really magical talk with a homeless
really magical talk with a homeless
really magical talk with a homeless people and learn how he’s able to
people and learn how he’s able to
people and learn how he’s able to survive days without shelter or much
survive days without shelter or much
survive days without shelter or much food listen to a story of a cancer
food listen to a story of a cancer
food listen to a story of a cancer patient and be amazed at how she is able
patient and be amazed at how she is able
patient and be amazed at how she is able to overcome the disease by far our
to overcome the disease by far our
to overcome the disease by far our living the prognosis as you all know I
living the prognosis as you all know I
living the prognosis as you all know I perform magic for a lot of people one
perform magic for a lot of people one
perform magic for a lot of people one time I was performing magic for a group
time I was performing magic for a group
time I was performing magic for a group of inmates in a jail and I vividly
of inmates in a jail and I vividly
of inmates in a jail and I vividly remember meeting someone that’s really
remember meeting someone that’s really
remember meeting someone that’s really happy and positive despite being locked
happy and positive despite being locked
happy and positive despite being locked up and I had no idea how he was able to
up and I had no idea how he was able to
up and I had no idea how he was able to remain so positive despite his given
remain so positive despite his given
remain so positive despite his given situation and it blew my mind and I
situation and it blew my mind and I
situation and it blew my mind and I thought about it at home and I realize
thought about it at home and I realize
thought about it at home and I realize sometimes that’s
sometimes that’s
sometimes that’s what we need in life when we are stuck
what we need in life when we are stuck
what we need in life when we are stuck in a certain mindset we need other
in a certain mindset we need other
in a certain mindset we need other people to tell us and inspire us that no
people to tell us and inspire us that no
people to tell us and inspire us that no things are not as rigid as it seems and
things are not as rigid as it seems and
things are not as rigid as it seems and there’s okay to ask for help sometimes I
there’s okay to ask for help sometimes I
there’s okay to ask for help sometimes I remember giving that person my business
remember giving that person my business
remember giving that person my business card I’m not sure if he’s out yet but he
card I’m not sure if he’s out yet but he
card I’m not sure if he’s out yet but he can call me anytime he wants I’m really
can call me anytime he wants I’m really
can call me anytime he wants I’m really happy to be a magician because it’s a
happy to be a magician because it’s a
happy to be a magician because it’s a job that makes people wonder and
job that makes people wonder and
job that makes people wonder and question the older we are ultimately the
question the older we are ultimately the
question the older we are ultimately the longer we living in this world of
longer we living in this world of
longer we living in this world of reality still I think we should all
reality still I think we should all
reality still I think we should all remember that if there’s a sense of
remember that if there’s a sense of
remember that if there’s a sense of reality that must also be a sense of
reality that must also be a sense of
reality that must also be a sense of possibility
possibility
possibility my mother has late stage lung cancer and
my mother has late stage lung cancer and
my mother has late stage lung cancer and that’s my reality I am that elephant
that’s my reality I am that elephant
that’s my reality I am that elephant being tie on to the metal chain yet I
being tie on to the metal chain yet I
being tie on to the metal chain yet I will always remember to note that
will always remember to note that
will always remember to note that reality get the best of me and always
reality get the best of me and always
reality get the best of me and always try to keep my mind open to the world of
try to keep my mind open to the world of
try to keep my mind open to the world of possibility and questions and I hope you
possibility and questions and I hope you
possibility and questions and I hope you will all do the same wherever you are
will all do the same wherever you are
will all do the same wherever you are dealing with your struggles in life
dealing with your struggles in life
dealing with your struggles in life thank you all
thank you all
thank you all [Applause]
”
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