Prepare To Be Amazed By This 'Shark Tank' Company

Shark Tank is serious business. That's because there's big money and reputations on the line. So is there anything that could put a smile on the faces of these usually no-nonsense Sharks? Well, Jarrett Parker and Raja Rahman are certainly going to try. But what is Jarrett & Raja Productions doing on Shark Tank , and why might it instill a sense of wonder in the Sharks during Friday night's new episode?

I'll get to that in a little bit, but let me just say that I have a feeling the Sharks are either going to love or hate Jarrett & Raja Productions. It's nothing against these guys; that just comes with the territory of the line of work that they're in. But then again, the Sharks love almost anything that's going to make them a lot of dough, so if Parker and Rahman can prove that's the case with their company, they could score an investment from at least one Shark.

Whether or not Jarrett & Raja Productions strikes a deal, Friday night's episode of Shark Tank should be an especially entertaining one, not only because Parker and Rahman have big personalities that are a reality show's dream but also because what they do is entertaining in and of itself.

So, have I piqued your interest about Jarrett & Raja Productions enough yet? Well, prepare to be amazed. Prepare to be very amazed.

It's A Very Different Kind Of Magic Show

Parker and Rahman are better known as "the magic and piano guys" Jarrett & Raja, according to their official website. What makes their act unique is that it combines illusions from Jarrett, music from Raja (a classically trained pianist), and comedy from both of them for one entertaining show.

They're Not Like Other Magic Duos

Jarrett & Raja are following in the footsteps of many mega-successful magical duos, including Siegfried & Roy and Penn & Teller. But Parker has said in the past that his act with Rahman is very different from the trails those iconic performers have already blazed. A big part of that is Rahman's piano accompaniment, which has become a greater part of the show over the years. "We used that and a lot of the humor in our act is about how obviously my magic is the star of the show and in his mind the music is the star," Parker said in an interview with The Julliard Journal published in March 2013. "So I’ll be doing magic and my magic will get mixed up in his music and his music will get mixed up in my magic and there’s this fun conflict between these two complete opposites."

They Had A Very Unexpected Origin

Parker and Rahman are both graduates of Julliard, one of the most prestigious performing arts schools in the world. However, they didn't form their partnership until a few years after they were out of school, in 1997. Rahman was called in to be "a kind of emergency accompanist" for Parker during a performance at The Friars Club in Manhattan, according to The Telegraph. At the time, Rahman was pursuing a career as a concert pianist while Parker was working on his own performing career. But the gods of show biz put these two guys together, and they've been wowing audiences ever since.

You May Have Seen Their Act Before

Jarrett & Raja have performed live all over the world, from New York's Lincoln Center to the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland to the circus show Voyage de la Vie in Singapore, according to the bio on the act's website. But even if you've never been to one of those cities, you may have caught Jarrett & Raja on TV. They were finalists on Season 7 of America's Got Talent, and they've also appeared on Masters of Illusion on The CW and Wizard Wars on Syfy, their bio said. I highly doubt Shark Tank will be their last TV appearance, either.

These Masters Of Illusion Are A Little Hard To Find

Now you see them on Shark Tank, but where can you find Jarrett & Raja performing in the real world? Unfortunately, they don't seem to have any upcoming live performances scheduled, according to their Facebook page. However, Jarrett & Raja are based in Las Vegas, so I have a feeling they'll be performing again in at least this magic capital of the world in no time.

The Real Magic Is In Helping Others

Jarrett & Raja recently announced their plans to put on free magic shows for various organizations that support homeless and at-risk youth in Las Vegas, as you can see in the above YouTube video. Not only do Jarrett & Raja intend to put a smile on these kids' faces with their act, but they also plan on teaching them magic tricks and how they can perform on their own. Jarrett & Raja are currently in the process of raising money for their new endeavor on Patreon and have set the launch date of this philanthropic show for April 30, 2016. Here's hoping they can make this bit of magic happen.

If you have mystical powers of your own, perhaps you can predict how Jarrett & Raja will fare on Shark Tank. The rest of us will just have to wait until Friday night to see if they sink or swim.

Image: Michael Desmond/ABC