David has provided his talent and expertise to a myriad of projects in the arts, in business and in not-for-profit sectors. He often imparts his knowledge, observations and creative process in keynotes for companies, organizations, and associations across North America such as The Walrus Talks, Walrus Live, IdeaCity, and the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Consulting projects include advising Carleton University on establishing the first-ever degree program for the Conjuring Arts with the formation of the Allan Slaight Chair for the Conjuring Arts; advising the McCord Museum and La Fondation Emmanuelle Gattuso on the acquisition of the Allan Slaight Collection; and serving as the guest curator for the McCord Museum exhibition of Illusions: The Art of Magic.

For theatre, David has consulted on such diverse productions as Soulpepper’s Sisters (2018), Rosencrantz and Guilderstern Are Dead (2015), Of Human Bondage (2014), Travesties (2009), School for Scandal (2002); the Stratford Festival productions The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (2016), Possible Words (2015), and The Scarlet Pimpernel (2002); the Shaw Festival’s Ragtime (2012) and One Touch of Venus (2010), and Penn and Teller’s Living in Las Vegas, Live at the Rio (2009). Other productions include Ross Petty’s The Wizard of Oz (2011) and the Lorraine Kisma Theatre For Young People’s production of Merlin (2002).

Film and television consulting credits include The Science of Magic (2018), Twelve Monkeys (2016), Canada’s Walk of Fame (2010), Murdoch Mysteries (2009), Kit Kittredge – An American Girl (2008), The Strange Genius of Stewart James (2006), The Last Illusion (2005), Heroes of Magic (2000), Dai Vernon: The Spirit of Magic (1999), Martin Gardner Mathemagician (1996), and The Wizards of Awe (1992).

David was a consultant to Luminato, the international festival of creativity and the arts, developing the Masters of Magic programming that became a feature of the festival. Productions included Bullet Catch (2014), Card Table Artifice (2014), Compositions (2013), Concerto for Pasteboards (2013), Chamber Magic (2013), The Alpha Project (2012), The Cheat (2012), From the Dark (2012), Natural Magick (2011), Vodavil (2011), Toast of the Town (2011), Thinking In Person (2010), The Mac King Comedy Show (2010), Bob Sheets (2010) and Juan Tamariz (2010).

In 2001, David co-founded Magicana, along with Patrick Watson and Daniel Zuckerbrot, the world’s first independent magic-related performing arts organization that produces work primarily for the public. Today, he serves as Magicana’s Artistic Director, guiding its programming and productions including The Screening Room, My Magic Hands and Senior Sorcery, as well as its conferences and publications.

In 2002, David co-founded with his late wife, Jan Howlett, the Howlett Academy (JK-Grade 8), one of the premier academic private schools in the Greater Toronto Area, now run by their son, Court Howlett-Ben. Their other son, Harrison, trains elite athletes through his company Stackhouse Performance.

David is the magic consultant and licensing advisor to the Estates of magic luminaries Dai Vernon, Paul Fox, P. Howard Lyons, Ross Bertram, Stewart James, and Sid Lorraine.