If it weren't for a 4-year-old, Ellusionist wouldn't be in existence.

The first time Brad Christian met his nephew, who was then four, he made one of the kid's toy cars disappear, then reappear. The nephew was flabbergasted. Then Brad made a quarter disappear inside his hand. After that, the kid tried to make coins disappear for weeks.

"I realized that every single father in the world, in the galaxy, should have the ability to do stuff like this for their kids," Christian said. "There's nothing like it."

For almost 30 years, Christian has studied magic and sleight of hand. He got his start busking on the streets of New York City, performing during intermissions of Broadway shows, in parks or wherever. He spent as much time as he could in the magic shop, soaking in every technique, subtlety and tip that other masters would show him.

Not everything came easy. His first, shaky performance for strangers happened when he was down to his last few dollars. Even then, it took him a few hours to finally get up the nerve. At the end of his show, he had $12 -- enough for a great victory meal.

He expanded his skills on the streets. He would take a torch into a Broadway theater during intermission and get a crowd to follow him out to the street, where he would drop their jaws with his magic. His business grew and he landed acting gigs based on his magic. He played "Clinton," a card shark and gambler, on As the World Turns and performed with Billy Joel in his video for "Big Shot." You name the place in NYC, he's played it: The Greene Street Cafe, the Waldorf Astoria and more. Eric Roberts and Nicholas Cage have watched Brad's smooth, compelling brand of magic.

Performing was going just fine for Christian. But something was gnawing at the back of his brain: His nephew's experience. Brad knew, from his own experience, that people learned magic better when they could watch it being performed. As the Internet grew, Brad saw his opportunity.

In 2001, he formed Ellusionist.com and pioneered a system of online magic instruction. He used the best video equipment available so that the videos could be seen clearly. He also positioned those cameras in the perfect places so that viewers would see EXACTLY what fingers and hands needed to do.

The biggest thing, however, was the teaching. Brad poured himself into the job during taping sessions, pausing to go over important parts and even stopping the tape to give more in-depth advice. The end result was How to Do Street Magic: A groundbreaking DVD that has made its way into the hands of thousands.

Since then, Ellusionist has developed a reputation for having the best magic training on the market. Through Ellusionist, Brad has taught thousands in the magical arts. His teaching style has influenced many others to better their own magic, or start similar enterprises.

Though magic sites come and go, Brad keeps the focus of Ellusionist's efforts on one thing: connecting with spectators. Each one of the 12 videos he has appeared in, and the other training products sold, focus on helping magicians learn an effect as efficiently and painlessly as possible, so they can perform it and blow people's minds.