Smithson takes the invisible cards and asks the man to tell everyone what card he picked.

"Nine of spades," he says.

Smithson then produces a real deck of cards and fans them out, revealing that every card is turned face-up except the nine of spades. Oohs and ahhs usually follow.

Smithson learned the trick from a novelty store clerk when he was a young man driving a tow truck.

"You can learn how to do it for four dollars," the clerk told him.

Smithson eventually left the towing business for a career in magic and has never looked back.

"When I ask people what they think of when they think of a magician, a common answer I get is 'someone who makes a fool of you,'" Smithson said. "I just want to make people feel good."

Smithson rehearses his tricks hundreds of times before introducing them to his act. He practices at home in front of a video camera and then scrutinizes his performance from every angle. Each trick can be ended in four or five different ways if things don't go exactly according to plan.

Another of Smithson's favorite tricks involves making a small, foam rubber rabbit magically appear in the hand of an unsuspecting volunteer.

Smithson asks a participant to hold three red foam rubber balls in their fist, a rabbit appears when they open their hand again.

"I'll never forget how amazed I was when I first saw that trick," Smithson said. "I'll never forget the amazement of feeling something in my hand that isn't supposed to be there."

Smithson likes to share his awe of magic with others, and above all, make people happy, he said.

He performs about 300 shows a year and has taken his magic act to 42 states.

He once performed at a wake.

Smithson walked into a bar and looked at the bartender and said "I'm here to perform at a party for so-and-so."