Ved in Myself o One Else Did

The famous illusionist reveals the true secrets to his success

There are plenty of illusionists out there. Why do you think you’ve been so successful? CA: I don’t think I’m special — I just had passion and perseverance and focus. I believed in myself when no one else did.

How did you get into magic? CA: When I was 6, my Aunt Stella taught me my first card trick. I was obsessed and drove her crazy trying to get her to teach it to me. Then she did and I realized everyone else did the same damn card trick!

You’ve certainly taken things up a notch since then! CA: I’m pushing the envelope. I’ve amassed a great team and we create stuff out of a 60,000-square-foot laboratory — there’s no place like it.

How do you create your tricks? CA: They start in my mind and then I work backwards thinking of ways to execute them. Then I present ideas to my team and we brainstorm ways to build it. On Trick’d Up, there are tricks and demonstrations that took 16 years to develop.

You levitate and split people in two in the TV special. Some will surely say editing and actors are involved! CA: People will come up with ways to explain things away. We don’t do any of that, which is why I always say come see me in Vegas — you’ll

NYC’S Dr. Z. Paul Lorenc points out that the mom of four’s unnaturallooking upper lip now “appears larger than her lower” and says it should be evened out.

BEFORE BEFORE KYLIE JENNER, 19 BEFORE