There are a lot of things I love about being a speaker and performer. I love the spotlight. I love the laughter. I love the wowed faces. I even love the awkward "Can I ask you a weird question?" moments after the show.

But you know what I really love?

Getting handwritten notes from students.

This week, after a presentation at a school in Valley, Nebraska, I opened up my briefcase (yes, I still carry a briefcase like it’s 1994), and found one of those classic lined notebook notes, written in pencil, from a student who told me how much they loved my show. They said they’d always remember it. They asked, “How did you DO that?”—which is a question I get a lot and answer only with a sly smile and a well-placed misdirection.

These kinds of notes hit me right in the feels—and right in the funny bone.

Because no matter how many stages I’ve performed on, no matter how many microphones I’ve clipped to my shirt, this is the kind of moment that reminds me why I started doing this in the first place.

Sure, performing for corporations and conferences is amazing (and let’s be honest—the green room snacks are usually better), but school assemblies? They’re magic. They’re where curiosity is alive, where every sleight-of-hand becomes a moment, and where kids remind me that the best kind of intelligence isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about asking great questions.

Curiosity is the spark.

It’s the start of every great magician, every brilliant mind, every idea that changes a life.

I get to see that spark every time I walk into an elementary school gym in Valley, Omaha, Elkhorn, Bennington, Waterloo, or Papillion. And when I get a note like that, it tells me one thing loud and clear: I didn’t just entertain—I inspired.

And okay, yes, it also reminds me that getting paid is great too. (That’s a joke. Sort of.)

So, to the student who wrote me that note in Valley, Nebraska—thank you. You made my day. You reminded me that laughter, wonder, and curiosity still matter. And you made the long drive, the early call time, and even the principal's mic cutting out totally worth it.

If you’re a school administrator, teacher, or event coordinator looking to bring that kind of inspiration to your school, I’d love to perform for your students. I bring over 25 years of experience, a suitcase full of magic (and juggling clubs), and a heart full of stories that stick.

Let’s bring the magic to your school in Valley, Omaha, or anywhere in Nebraska!

Visit www.amazingarthur.com to learn more and book your assembly today.

And kids—keep asking questions.

Especially the weird ones.