Broke-Ass of the Week – Magician Christian Cagigal

Every week we feature a different person from the community shedding a little light on their life of brokeitude.  Who knows, maybe you’ll learn something about the human spirit'probably not.

Wanna be a Broke-Ass of the Week?  Holler at us here and we’ll send you the questionnaire.

Photo by Julie Michelle

I’m a bit hungover today, so I’m gonna let Christian give his own intro.  Take it away Double C!:

Christian Cagigal has been an Artist in Residence at EXIT Theatre in Downtown San Francisco since 2006. His previous theatrical-magical endevours have included “The 13 Steps,” the popular “The Pandora Experiment” and the critically acclaimed “Now and at the Hour.” Christian’s current show “Obscura: A Magic Show” run’s at EXIT until August 14th and will return to weekends in October.

Name: Christian Cagigal

Age: 34

Occupation: Magician who likes to delve into the 'œslightly creepy' side of magic and illusion.

What neighborhood do you live in?: Right now I’m living back in Colma with da '˜rents, taking care of my Mother who’s health isn’t doing too well these days.

What are you listening to these days?: Tom Waits’ 'œGlitter and Doom' and the soundtrack to the movie 'œFruitfly' by H.P. Mendoza.

Best money saving tip: If I had one of those I wouldn’t be so broke.

What do you refuse to spend money on?: Drinks at a gay bar.

Most expensive thing you’ve ever bought: My brand new 13 inch MacBook Pro!!!

How’d that feel?: 'œI love you MacBook Pro…you’re the only one for me…no, no, those others meant nothing to me. Shhhh… It’s you. It’s only you.' I’m excited to have a computer that isn’t 10 years obsolete.

Favorite cheap eat: Yamo on 18th and Mission. Go halvsies with a friend and you can eat like a KING! …or QUEEN! or….whatever you identify with.

Favorite dive bar: Uptown (before the crowd shows up.)

Best deal you’ve ever gotten: A handful of magic beans for my cow.

Favorite free thing to do: Watch the San Francisco Mime Troupe on the 4th of July in Dolores Park. (It’s not that kind of mime, trust me.)

If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?: My dream Victorian with a secret garden style back yard and a huge den full of dark wood, arcane books and strange and magical items for me to share with all who dare enter. Heh…heh…heh….

Despite not having money, do you still love your life?: Mom’s feeling pretty good these days despite the realities of her health. My girlfriends hot and still madly in love with me after 3-4 years ( go figure.) I’m lucky to have a theatre and producer that believe in me enough to let me constantly use their time, money and resources to make dark, theatrical magic for the general public. And, I’m surrounded by talented and generous people who are all willing to listen, support, donate and assist in making my dreams come true or take my mind off the roller coaster that is my family life right now. So yeah, all in all, life’s pretty dang good.

Do you own my book? No……(sheepish grin emoticon.)

Best hangover cure: Magic shows.

Are you a hipster?: If by hipster you mean, 'œAm I a kid from a cow town or affluent suburb with a desperate need to prove how urban and UN affluent or cow town I really am AND I only have a survey knowledge of San Francisco and by that I mean the Mission?' …then no…I am not a hipster.