Escaping a straightjacket, making an object appear out of thin air and mind reading all began as ploys for Trino the Magician to pick up girls back in middle school. After years of practice though, he turned the hobby into a profession.

“I started when I was 13 years old to try to pick up girls, and I realized that probably is not going to happen,” Trino said. “But it has taken me to some really cool places, and I have gotten to meet some really cool people.”

Trino began performing his tricks publicly seven years ago and, since then, he has traveled far and wide to show off his skills. His act not only includes magic tricks, but comedy as well.

“I don’t even think I decided; I think it was always there like I was always doing comedy and magic,” Trino said. “I respect magic performers that have a more serious kind of demeanor and character, but I knew that wasn’t my thing and I couldn’t do that, so I have always done comedy with my magic.”

The Magic of Trino performs at Grand Valley State University on Feb. 4 at 9 p.m. in the Grand River Room in the Kirkhof Center.

From the small town of Paw Paw, Mich., Trino has won awards at Curly’s Close-up, Michigan Magic Day, Abbott’s Close-up and FAB’s Magiccelebration. He also was awarded first place at West Michigan’s Got Talent in 2013.

For 60 minutes, the magician performs tricks such as making a goldfish appear, card tricks and daring escapes. Trino even attempts some tricks that Houdini made famous but, while entertaining audiences around the nation, he follows the slogan “no top hats, no capes, no rabbits, just exceptional magic.”

“I love making people happy,” Trino said. “I love when people can walk through the door to a show and they can leave all their stress and leave all the exam studying and, you know, everything they have to do at the door, and just get away from it for an hour and just let loose and have fun.”

Trino has performed for a variety of audiences, but he truly enjoys performing at colleges.

“I do really like performing for like college age just because it is just way more fun for me and I get to have way more fun with it,” Trino said. “When you are doing magic for younger children, there is only so much you can do and there is only so much they can understand. Doing comedy stuff for college students is a little bit more fun because you can be not dirty, but a little bit more risqué.

“It’s a break from reality. You know Wednesday, it is the middle of the week…so take a break from studying, take a break from your homework and come out and see a show to forget about that for a little bit.”

For more information on the free event, contact Spotlight Productions at [email protected].