“That's the whole problem with science. You've got a bunch of empiricists trying to describe things of unimaginable wonder.

                                  ― Bill Watterson

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead —his eyes are closed.

                                - Albert Einstein

Tom Dodge - Biography

I've been a pilot for over 40 years.  Starting with many varieties of light aircraft and helicopters,  I eventually moved into flying private jets for Minnesota based companies.  My airline career began in 1985. 

While at Northwest Airlines, I flew the Boeing 727 & 757 aircraft as well as the McDonald Douglas DC-9 & DC-10.  I served as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner for the 727 Flight Engineer program as well as Instructor and Check Pilot on the DC-9.  From 1998 to 2002 I managed the DC-9 Pilot Training Program and later became the Fleet Director and Chief Pilot responsible for pilot training, procedures and standards.  Composed of 185 aircraft, the Northwest DC-9 fleet utilized 1800 pilots to operate over 330,000 flights a year.  As a side note, on it's own, this fleet stood as the 8th largest airline in the world.  In 2008, Northwest was purchased by Delta Airlines and Flight Operations moved to Atlanta.  I now fly the line as a 767 Captain based in Minneapolis.  

"Science" merged with "art" about 20 years ago when I saw my first professional close up magic performance.  I was stunned at how it transcended my perceptions about what a magic show could be.  The word trick had no place in describing what I witnessed. Instead, in every sense it was truly "an experience of magic.".  The effects did not beg the question "how did he do that" but rather inspired feelings of awe and wonderment. 

So off I went to the local magic shop to find a book or two to start my journey.  It didn't take long to discover that the field was vast indeed, hundreds of years in the making, clearly a lifelong study.  To give you a sense of this;  after 20 years, I've seen literally hundreds of magic principles used to create thousands of effects and I still feel like I'm just getting started on my magical education.  Of course in order to grow in the art, there are several requirements:  constant pursuit of knowledge, years of practice and ultimately, a place to perform regularly.  This last one is often a problem for magicians considering their families can only tolerate so much magic on a regular basis.  In my case however, how perfect!  Out of town three to four nights a week on layovers with a different flight crew every trip.  Since crews typically go out to restaurants and bars together, Captain Magic was born!       

As time passed, my skills and repertoire expanded, I began performing outside of work at house parties, weddings and charity events.  At one point I could perform over nine hours of magic effects but to take things to the next level, I realized the need to hone my material down to no more than two hours of my strongest and most entertaining effects.  Then, take each of these to a new level in form and presentation.  The result would be two shows, each approximately one hour in duration:   

A close up experience for small groups
A parlor show - Tales of Captain Magic    

Today, my goal is to create an astonishing experience in an atmosphere that is engaging, interactive and fun.  I want to inspire a sense that there are no limits, no boundaries, that anything in the universe is possible.

(something I believe to be true for the most part).    

 

Captain Magic

   Honest deceptions