The Magical World of Dave
Overview
Dave's upbeat comedy magic shows are lots of fun for any event. Dave's humor, dazzling magic, live animals, and blazing banjo music will entertain both large and small audiences and both young and young at heart. "The Magical World of Dave" will provide a magnificent show for your guests at your next party, corporate event, school event, fundraiser, family night, festival or an even larger event.
Reviews
11 reviews
David B.
March 22, 2026Ideal strolling magic.
We had a 40th birthday for an adult crowd with about 100 people.
Dave was excellent and kept the cocktail party entertained. Have already recommended him to others.
Hired as: Strolling/Close-up Magician
Sydney B.
November 20, 2025Dave Private Magic Show
Dave was so awesome! He performed for myself and 20 of our girlfriends for a Friendsgiving! He was so fun and engaging with all of us and we made lifelong memories! He was so nice and also added comedy into his performance! Safe to say we had a fantastic time and his tricks shocked us!
Hired as: Comedy Magician, Magician
Emalee M.
November 17, 2025A great surprise for our staff meeting!
Dave was great! We wanted to celebrate a few birthdays in the office so we hired Dave to come after our staff meeting and surprise the team. It was a hit! Everyone talked about it all day. I still don't know how he did some of it! It was all close-up magic so we all stood around him and watched him perform
Hired as: Magician
Mark S.
November 24, 2024Dave is great
#1 Dave is a great guy. I contacted him 1 day before our scheduled event and asked if he could start about 45 minutes later than arranged. Several of our guest notified us they were running late and I didn't want them to miss the show.
Dave said, sure we can do that.
Once the show began, Dave was really good entertaining mostly 10 year olds and getting some of the guest involved in the magic. He made a dove and white chicken appear...somehow
He also stayed later than he had to, showing different tricks to some adults because the kids went back to playing their kickball game.
I recommend The Magical World of Dave to anybody looking to add something different and fun for any event. Thanks Dave!
Hired as: Illusionist, Magician
Raye C.
May 22, 2023Everyone loved the show
Dave was great to work with and everyone really enjoyed the show. There is cool magic and Dave's comedy and banjo music accented the show perfectly. The crowd was approx 70 people ranging in age from 7-86 years old. The event was a spring tea fundraiser at my church.
Hired as: Magician
Booking information
Price range: $200.00-$1,000.00
Languages: English
Gig length: 30 - 60 minutes
Insurance: $10,000 - liability coverage
What to expect
Items and animals appear and disappear-floating table-colorful fun and funny amazing magic! Lots of audience participation. Banjo music, lots of comedy. An overall fun experience!
About
Dave Cottrell is a magician, comedian & banjo player from Southville, Kentucky. He has been entertaining for most of his life.
David did his first magic show for his 6th grade class at Simpsonville Elementary (KY) in 1971. Since then he has performed over much of the United States. He performed in Japan (1993) and Germany (2002), Germany (2017). He has performed for 2 US Presidents and his bluegrass band, Kentucky Blue, are 3 time nominees for SPBGMA Midwest entertaining bluegrass band of the year.
He has won numerous magic contests and awards. In 2001, he received a Presidential Citation from the President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians “Noting David’s service and good works for the advancement and excellence in the Art of Magic and fine works to be congratulated worldwide”. He has opened and done shows with the likes of David Copperfield, Lance Burton, Jerry Reed, George Strait, Allison Krauss and many other stars.
You may have seen David in the past performing at one of the Kentucky State Parks or on KET or at the Kentucky State Fair. David’s one-hour MAGIC show is filled with amazing “knock your socks off” magic and is filled with comedy, mystery, laughter and good clean fun for all ages.
Each stage filled show includes live animals, lots of audience participation and blazing 5 string bluegrass banjo.
David’s “down home” Kentucky style humor helps make for an entertaining show that people are sure to remember and talk about for the rest of their life!
Additional booking notes
I normally furnish sound for the show except for large venues. Then we will need to discuss.
Upcoming booked events
September 2026
26
Saturday
Festival
10:00am - 3:00pm
•
Elkton, KY
Past booked events
May 2026
02
Saturday
Grand Opening
11:00am - 1:00pm
•
Evansville, IN
April 2026
17
Friday
Bachelor Party
7:00pm - 8:00pm
•
Louisville, KY
March 2026
21
Saturday
Birthday Party
7:00pm - 9:00pm
•
Louisville, KY
November 2025
18
Tuesday
Christmas Party
7:00pm - 7:45pm
•
Lexington, KY
17
Monday
Surprise
9:30am - 10:00am
•
Louisville, KY
November 2024
03
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 2:45pm
•
Greenville, IN
October 2023
14
Saturday
Festival
3:00pm - 4:00pm
•
New Albany, IN
May 2023
20
Saturday
Fundraiser
12:00pm - 1:00pm
•
Charlestown, IN
June 2022
18
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
3:30pm - 4:30pm
•
Louisville, KY
March 2022
26
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:30pm - 3:30pm
•
Versailles, KY
May 2021
01
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
4:00pm - 5:00pm
•
Lexington, KY
October 2020
10
Saturday
House Party
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Floyds Knobs, IN
03
Saturday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Louisville, KY
July 2020
05
Sunday
Children’s Birthday Party
2:00pm - 3:00pm
•
Shelbyville, KY
March 2020
10
Tuesday
Nonprofit Event
6:00pm - 7:00pm
•
Louisville, KY
June 2019
27
Thursday
KAEC Magic Show
4:30pm - 6:30pm
07
Friday
KAEC Magic Show Walk Around
5:00pm - 6:30pm
May 2019
01
Wednesday
River Valley Club-Walk Around Magic
6:00pm - 8:30pm
Set list
Here are a list of songs that you might hear at my performance:
Rocky Top I'm My Own Grandpa Dueling Banjos
Country Roads Bye Bye Love Wabash Cannonball
Ballad of Jed Clampett House of the Rising Sun
Will The Circle Be Unbroken If My Nose Was Running Money
Dooley (From the Andy Griffith Show)
Influences and inspiration
One of my dreams as a child was to grow and become a magician....well, I did. Many magicians have influenced my love and desire to perform magic.
1. Harry Houdini was one of the greatest illusionists and magicians of all time. To this day his performances amaze me.
2. David Copperfield is a legendary magician that using his creative infusion of storytelling into his magic always made for a great performance.
3. Lance Burton is best known for lending his magical greatness at crafting a series of acts that were family friendly.
4. Bob Escher, one of my best friends, was a mentor to me as I was honing my act. He was a very talented local magician, President of International Brotherhood of Magicians, and was always willing to help young magicians just begining.
Setup requirements
Stage area, electricity, prep area