PIC Preview: LEAN Principles Turn A Magic Act Into A Global Breakthrough

The Dead Pixels Society podcast

Chapters
0:51
Why Stuart McDonald Returns
1:26
Show Open And Sponsors
1:43
Stuart’s Unusual Career Path
4:45
Reentering Competitive Magic
6:00
Inside The Olympics Of Magic
9:22
Applying Lean To Creativity
11:52
Building A Clear Stage Story
15:26
Cutting Waste With TIM WOODS
20:11
Prop Design And 5S In Practice
25:16
Fooling Penn And Teller
28:40
Qualifiers, Setbacks, And Wins
32:01
World Top Ten And Tour
34:48
Lessons For Photographers
36:32
Where To Find Stuart
The Dead Pixels Society podcast
PIC Preview: LEAN Principles Turn A Magic Act Into A Global Breakthrough
Feb 14, 2026 Season 7 Episode 256
Gary Pageau

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In the preview of his Photo Imaging CONNECT keynote, Stuart MacDonald — magician, filmmaker, entrepreneur — explores how LEAN principles, continuous improvement, and ruthless clarity transformed a faceplant into standing ovations, a win on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and a top-10 finish at the world championships.

MacDonald takes us through the nerve-wracking world of competitive magic, where originality is mandatory, time limits are tight, and the smallest defect can collapse the illusion. He breaks down how continuous feedback revealed hidden waste on stage, why a candelabra beat a single candle for instant story logic, and how standardized, travel-ready props removed friction from his global tour. We dig into 5S for creatives—everything in its place, every time—and the unglamorous decisions that protect attention when the lights hit.

MacDonald’s 100-runs-in-30-days practice loop shows how tiny upgrades compound into confidence and clean execution, even when things go sideways. If you’ve ever felt torn between art and process, this conversation proves structure is rocket fuel for creativity.

Register today for the Photo Imaging CONNECT conference at www.photoimagingconnect.com

Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

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Photo Imaging CONNECT
The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N

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Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau
Announcer: Erin Manning
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