Getting Featured in L.A. TACO in their article about young magicians and the Magic Castle Magicians Junior Program Feels Like Getting Handed a Spotlight and a Mic in the Middle of the City!
On January 7, 2026, L.A. TACO ran a story about L.A.’s “young magicians” and the Magic Castle and how magic is popping up everywhere and magicians in Los Angeles are thriving
-clubs, music video sets, and yes… taco stands. And somehow, I’m in it. (I guess because I’m a young magician?!) Yay!
If you’ve ever been a working artist in Los Angeles, you know the vibe: your career is equal parts craft, chaos, caffeine, and Craigslist parking. So seeing my name—Katrina Kroetch (Magical Katrina)—in a piece that frames magic as part of the city’s living culture felt surreal in the best way.
This is me taking a beat to say: this is really cool. Also: here’s why it actually matters.
It’s not just “press” -it’s positioning
The article isn’t a generic “hire entertainment for your event” listicle. It’s a snapshot of a scene: young magicians choosing magic over traditional paths, building community, and putting the art in front of real people in real places.
That framing is everything when it comes to being a Los Angeles Magican.
Because magic has this weird reputation problem -people either think:
it’s cheesy,
it’s for kids, or
it’s that one guy at your college party who won’t stop shuffling.
But L.A. TACO positions magic as alive, evolving, and culturally relevant in 2026 -and that is a brand win not just for me, but for the whole craft.
The article pulled on the threads I actually care about
1) My “Fool Us” moment is still doing work
They referenced my 2020 “Penn & Teller: Fool Us” appearance and described my routine as being recognized for “redirection and vibrant originality.”
That matters because TV credits aren’t just ego snacks (although… delicious). They’re social proof that helps a buyer go from:
“Should we risk it?”
to
“Oh, she’s legit.”
In corporate terms: it de-risks the decision.
2) They included the
real conversation about being a woman in magic
The story includes the stat that The New York Times reported only 8% of professional magicians are women (as cited by L.A. TACO).
And it cites LAist reporting that women were 12% of Magic Castle magician members in 2019, plus LAist reporting ~8% of Magic Castle performers over the last three years were women. (To be fair I’m not a member -but they have hired me to perform for them a few times)
Those numbers aren’t “fun facts.” They’re the water we’re swimming in.
And then they included my quote about the weird accusation I hear in the community (people saying my success is about sexuality) when in reality I’m hired largely because I’m good at building trust and connection (and, yes, making people laugh).
I’m grateful they didn’t sanitize that. Because if we’re going to evolve the art, we have to be honest about the friction points.
3) They highlighted the work I’m building next
They quoted me talking about my upcoming spy-themed show, and my belief that spies and magicians overlap: handcuffs, secret codes, poker vibes… all of it.
That’s huge. Because it’s one thing to be covered for what you did. It’s another to be covered for what you’re becoming.
Press that points forward doesn’t just validate…it creates momentum.
Why local press hits different than “big” press
Here’s my hot take: sometimes local coverage is more powerful than a national mention, because it’s context-rich.
L.A. TACO is not writing from a distance. They’re writing from inside the city’s bloodstream: the neighborhoods, the weird subcultures, the late-night hustle, the pop-up ecosystem.
So when they say magic is having a comeback moment in L.A., it reads as credible, not promotional.
And for clients? Local credibility converts.
If you’re planning a brand activation, a conference, a holiday party, a private event -you want someone who feels plugged into the moment, not dusty.
If you’re a creative director or producer, you’re always hunting for talent that feels current and professional.
That’s what a piece like this signals without me having to scream “I’m current and professional!” into the void.
The part nobody says out loud: press is cool… and it’s not a paycheck
Let’s be ruthlessly real for a second.
Being featured feels amazing. It’s validating. It’s also not the same thing as revenue.
Pros of getting featured like this
Trust transfer: third-party credibility helps close higher-value bookings faster.
SEO + discovery: people searching “magicians Los Angeles” now have another pathway to find me.
Category leadership: the article positions me as part of what’s happening now, not a throwback.
Long-tail value: articles age better than Instagram stories (RIP to my 24-hour masterpieces).
Cons / limits to my Los Angeles Magician article:
It can be a vanity trap: you can chase features instead of building systems.
You don’t control the narrative: even good coverage compresses you into a few paragraphs.
Attention is not conversion: readers may love the story and still never book anyone.
So yes -this is cool. But what makes it strategically cool is how I can operationalize it.
How I’m going to leverage this (without being cringe)
If you’re a fellow magician or mentalist performer reading this: this is the playbook I actually use.
Turn it into a credibility asset
Add it to my website’s press section + proposals. (One sentence. No wall of logos.)Turn it into a story, not a flex
The coolest part isn’t “look at me.” It’s: magic is thriving in L.A. and I get to help shape that.Turn it into demand generation
One clean post on LinkedIn, one email to my list, one pinned IG story highlight—then back to building shows and booking work. No spamming, no begging.Turn it into an invitation
If you’re producing something—event, festival, brand moment—this is your sign to bring magic in as a real artistic layer, not background noise.
Gratitude, but make it specific!
To Julianne Le and L.A. TACO: thank you for spotlighting magic as an art form with pulse -and for treating my career like it’s part of a bigger cultural pattern, not just a novelty.
And to everyone who’s ever watched a trick and felt that tiny internal reset…the “wait… what?” moment -that’s why I do this. Magic is a pressure valve. A permission slip. A reminder that reality has trap doors.
Also, if a taquero ever hands you a free taco after you do a sick trick… please know that is the highest honor L.A. can bestow. 🌮
Quick recap
L.A. TACO featured me in a January 7, 2026 piece on L.A.’s modern magic scene.
The coverage matters because it’s culture-forward, not just promotional.
It highlights real industry dynamics (like gender representation) and the work I’m building next.
Press is awesome -and it only matters if you convert it into systems and bookings.