Mac King & Friends Present
THE Comedy Magic Clinic
Deconstructing Funny: A Workshop for Comedy Magicians
Las Vegas • April 10-12, 2027
Registration opens September 1st at 12 noon Eastern / 9AM Pacific
The Boys are Back!
WHAT IS THE COMEDY MAGIC Clinic ?
It’s a three-day immersive gathering of comedy magicians who want to sharpen their acts, rethink their structure, and dig deep into the mechanics of laughter and amazement. Led by a lineup of seasoned performers: Mac King, John Archer, David Williamson, Rob Zabrecky, Derek Hughes, Mike Caveney, Nick Diffatte, and R. Paul Wilson.
Join our esteemed Clinicians and Board-Certified Buffoons
for a deep dive into their various approaches to combining magic and comedy.
click on a photo to view the artist’s website
Is your act showing signs of fatigue? Suffering from Premature Punchline Syndrome? Does your closer limp? It might be time to check yourself into The Comedy Magic Clinic, where the only thing contagious is laughter. Let our team of seasoned specialists Mac King & Friends, the Doctors of Deception and Professors of Punchlines help you cure what ails your act.
Whether your material needs a minor tune-up or full-blown reconstructive surgery, we’ll give you the tools, the tests, and the comedic medicine cabinet to get your act back on its feet. Skip the snake oil, we have real remedies. Walk in with symptoms… walk out with solutions.
What did last year's attendees have to say about Comclave?
ComClave 2026 | A Cohort Member’s Reflection by Bruce Shaw
“It’s really happening, isn’t it?!” — George Michael Bluth, Arrested Development
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The older I get, pinch me moments are harder to come by, so this was the quote running through my mind as I climbed aboard my first ComClave 2026 van ride.
As a member of the inaugural ComClave cohort, I had sky high expectations for this one-of-a-kind gathering, and like, who wouldn’t? Mac King is hosting a group of 30 magicians at his home over a long weekend and has invited seven amazing friends to join him in taking us all on a deep dive into what it takes to perform comedy magic at the highest level. And it wasn’t lost on me that any of our eight instructors could have been performing solo shows somewhere but instead chose to invest the time with us in this newly conceived magic teach-in.
But with the two and a half days at the end of March 2026 in the rearview mirror, my initial expectations, as lofty as they may have been, were blown away. I lost count of how many times I exchanged a “It’s really happening, isn’t it?!” moment with one of my fellow students or with one of our instructors, for that matter. In fact, this ComClave was really happening, and it’s an experience that I will long remember. Imagine your favorite band adopting you for a few days, tour bus and all, and using the time to make you a more awesome musician – that gets close to what this was like.
Instead of attempting a comprehensive review, I think it’s best to share a handful of highlights – ComClave 2026 included:
• Incredible content and wisdom. The get together: (1) specifically focused on comedy magic – and leveraged a rare combination of teachers (or “board-certified buffoons” as they described themselves), (2) emphasized good comedy and good magic, i.e., each one strong in its own right, (3) leveraged a collaborative teaching approach, making each session a lecture and panel discussion at the same time, and (4) invited surprise guests to share insights on unexpected topics (I see you Lindsay Benner, Captain Frodo, Joshua Jay!).
• Real-world insights into the creative process. ComClave (1) provided the chance to watch shows together and debrief afterward, (2) let us observe fellow students perform works-in-progress and receive instant value-adding feedback from our board-certified panel, and (3) treated us to several effects from our teachers, and the history of how the effects had evolved over time.
• Quality time to get to know each other. Outside of structured time, the gathering: (1) gave us the chance to share van rides and meals with so many new magic friends, (2) surprised us with a late-night detours, and (3) let us soak in what I’ll call “The ComClave Clinician Extravaganza” where seven of our teachers (because we’’d already been treated to his full show, Mac chose to join the audience with us) performed highlights from their acts on a newly built stage in Mac’s backyard for us and 100 of his closest friends.
There is something I didn’t include above, but in my view is by far the most important ingredient that made ComClave so special: the humans and the heart behind bringing it to life. The gathering may have started with Mac and friends brainstorming a novel comedy magic clinic and backyard show, but I can’t even imagine how much time and work went into actually pulling it off. Was there a lapse in judgment about how doable this would actually be? Maybe, but I think I can say this on behalf of our whole cohort, three cheers for judgment lapses!
From a human and heart perspective, most visible were our iconic teachers: their love for the subject matter – and obvious delight in spending time together – spilled over and provided the hazard-free atmosphere necessary for learning to really flourish. Equally critical were our tireless home hosts, Mac, Jennifer Sils, and Eli King, who provided such amazing hospitality (how can we ever return the favor?) – and our patient van drivers (“we have room for one more on the roof”).
I’ll close by simply offering a huge THANK YOU to everyone visible and invisible who made this happen, and I hope that you’ve all mostly recovered by now.
“It’s really happening, isn’t it?!” – yes, George Michael, it’s really happening.
Bruce Shaw is an amateur magician from Dallas, Texas, who believes our world could use an extra dose of wonder and laughter.
This weekend is about collaboration, critique, and real-time creative work.
Oh, and fun too!
WHAT THIS IS
ComClave: The Comedy Magic Clinic, is a three-day Immersive workshop exploring the intersection of magic, comedy, and performance. Led by Mac King and a roster of seasoned professionals, this event is for magicians who care deeply about why things are funny, how moments land, and what makes an audience lean in.
WHAT THIS IS NOT
This is not a series of lectures. This is real-time, unconstrained dialogue with some of the most successful comedy magic pros on the planet about tools and techniques that lead to genuine growth and improvement. It’s about how to make your magic stronger and funnier. It’s about refining the mysterious alchemy that turns sleight of hand and storytelling into showmanship.
Live critique and discussion of select performance pieces
Structured Q&A sessions tackling real-world comedy-magic challenges
Collaborative writing rooms to build and shape material
Candid war stories from the trenches of comedy and magic
A chance to connect deeply with peers equally obsessed with the craft
Everyone is a full collaborator—but a few attendees will be selected to present original pieces for live group critique and development.
🎟️ Spots are limited. We’re keeping this small, smart, and focused.
Location
Most clinic sessions and social gatherings will take place at the lovely home of Mac King — because hotel conference rooms are for dental conventions. There’s a refreshing pool, a cozy fire pit for late-night idea-swapping, and dedicated spaces for performance and conversation, all designed to foster meaningful, memorable, and magical interactions.
Vegas Icons
We’re still deep in the glamorous chaos of planning, but we fully expect to spend time with some beloved icons of comedy magic right here in the neon-soaked wonderland of Las Vegas. There will likely be complimentary tickets to a variety of shows. And who knows? A few surprise celebrity guests may drop by along the way!
Sessions
Attendees will engage in a dynamic mix of group sessions, hands-on workshops, and candid discussions led by seasoned pros. You'll see real routines dissected and rebuilt in front of your eyes, explore what makes a comedic moment land, and dig into the delicate (and hilarious) interplay between method and persona.
"This isn’t a lecture series, It’s a comedy magic writers’ room. It’s live, hands-on, and brutally useful."
FAQs
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The Comedy Magic Clinic is a workshop designed for magicians who want to enhance their comedic skills and improve the humor and timing in their performances. It’s ideal for performers of all levels, whether you’re just starting out or looking to refine your craft.
What this is NOT…
This is not a series of lectures. This is real-time, unconstrained dialogue about tools and techniques that lead to genuine growth and improvement. This is about how to make your magic stronger and funnier.
This weekend is not just about getting your specific questions answered, it’s about getting answers to questions you didn’t even know you had.
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You’ll learn how to integrate comedy into your magic routines, improve comedic timing, brainstorm creative ideas, and receive constructive feedback on your material. The clinic also emphasizes collaboration and group critique to help you grow as a performer.
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Unlike traditional magic workshops, this clinic focuses specifically on comedy within magic performances. It combines live critiques, brainstorming sessions, and group discussions to help participants develop both technical skills and comedic instincts.
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While the primary focus is on comedy, the clinic naturally enhances your overall performance skills, including audience engagement, storytelling, and stage presence.
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No professional experience is required! The clinic is open to magicians of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned professionals. Everyone can benefit from the collaborative environment.
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Submitting a performance or question in advance is optional but encouraged. If you don’t submit anything, you’ll still participate as an active collaborator during group discussions and brainstorming sessions.
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Submit your challenge as part of your registration process or bring it up during live Q&A sessions at the event.
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