Most kids carry around a teddy bear. Matthew Laslo carried around a microphone.

“He was somewhat shy – despite his ability to entertain effortlessly,” said Laslo’s mom Donna, his manager.

A 15-year-old professional magician on Orcas Island, Laslo is preparing to launch the first of what he hopes to be many full-length magic shows. Laslo says his previous local performances, were not at the level he wanted to take beyond the islands.

Laslo will be performing his new show, “Matthew Laslo’s Magic Now,” on Saturday, Dec. 26 and Sunday, Dec. 27 at 7:30p.m. at Seaview Theatre. Tickets are $10, and are available now at Darvill’s Bookstore and Smith & Speed in Eastsound. Joining him are his assistants Maria Bullock and Madison West.

“Magic happens all around us, it’s happening now,” Lalso said, explaining how the name of his act came to be.

Since touring the islands this past summer, Laslo has been practicing and creating this new event. He says he believes this show to be more entertaining than previous offerings. Laslo combines his passion for magic and music in the show,performing everything from up-close card tricks to grand illusions.

Laslo’s interest in magic began at a young age. He was around seven when his grandfather showed him YouTube videos of magic tricks. From there, they started clicking links to videos revealing the trick behind the magic. A young Laslo began learning card tricks himself, and started showing off his skills to family and friends.

One time he and his family were out to dinner in Spokane, Wash. and he began to perform tricks for restaurant patrons. His audience was so entertained, he was asked by the restaurant’s owner if he could stick around and continue performing.That’s when the Laslos realized they needed to start sharing this talent beyond friends and family.

At just nine years old, Laslo got his first paying gig, performing at Lake Chelan. He was also asked to fill in for the regular magician who had called in sick.

The moment Laslo considers his biggest “epic failure” occurred when he was 13. He was performing a trick, where it is revealed he is wearing an outfit the same as what a participant from the audience had just drawn. Laslo was to pull down his pants to reveal the shorts that had been illustrated. The shorts were meant to stay up. They did not. He did not know this immediately, however, and stepped forward with exuberance, presenting his partial wardrobe failure. Thankfully, the mistake wasn’t too revealing, nor did it tarnish Laslo’s passion for performance. In fact, it was suggested by some audience members that he keep that part in the show because it was hilarious.

While audience members aren’t likely to see any wardrobe failures during his upcoming show, Laslo says it is expected to be unlike any of the shows the community has seen from him previously.

“This is the first time it’s getting on its feet,” said Laslo.