Dale Hildebrandt is a unique thinker in the realm of magic, known for his bizarre and surreal creations that deliver powerful effects. In his own words:

Hello, I’m Dale A. Hildebrandt, and I have a passion for unconventional magic. I strive to craft performances that are strange and thought-provoking, aiming to astonish audiences into silence. My work challenges perceptions of reality, much like how Paul Harris describes playing cards as his canvas in the “Art of Astonishment” series.

I take it a step further by treating reality itself as a canvas. My goal is to manipulate reality to evoke awe and wonder. My effects vary from simple to sublime, often leaning towards the surreal. Most of these creations will astound laypeople, and some may even fool fellow magicians.

You will notice strong influences from Kenton Knepper, Derren Brown, Eugene Burger, Paul Harris, and Banachek throughout my work. Additionally, my background in neurolinguistic programming and hypnosis informs many of the linguistic and psychological techniques I employ. I aim to infuse a surreal quality into my magic, and I believe I have achieved this effectively.

This journey has been long but rewarding. At times, technology lags behind imagination, and finding the right gimmick can be a challenge. I’ve learned to create gimmicks from language and even from imagination itself.

Ultimately, my focus has been on practical magic and performance art. Surrealism often takes a back seat to practicality, as my goal is to make audiences question the solidity of their reality. While some pieces are purely conceptual, the distinction between thought exercises and practical magic can lead to new and astonishing creations. If you find yourself struggling, remember that feedback is a stepping stone to improvement.

Leave the ordinary behind. Allow consensus reality to bend before you. Remove your preconceived notions and enjoy the journey.

“Applying concepts such as my dual-reality approach is not easy to do well. Dale Hildebrandt’s work is a twisted tap dance along the spine of reason.” – Kenton Knepper

This is the second edition, which excludes the bonus section from the first edition and the essay “Punching Clowns.” The remainder remains unchanged.