Blog
6th May 2008
Okay, okay, I admit, I've been a little slack the last few weeks. I've just got over a really bad stomach bug which swept through my family and unfortunately was at it's peek on the day I was meant to attend a pre launch of a new magazine with the London Diplomatic Association. This wasn't a paid gig, but it was the first time in 8 years I have been unable to attend an event - not bad going.
I was the wedding magician a few weeks ago at Quendon Hall, doing closeup magic and made amusing by the fact that it was the first time I've ever performed at a wedding where the groom followed me around for the whole two hours!!! I know what you're thinking, maybe, just maybe he "liked me", but no, I can assure you, he was 100% hetrosexual and it really was the magic that he found captivating - though I'm not sure what his wife thought of his disappearing act! This was, actually, one of the best weddings I've done this year, a fantastic and enthusiastic crowd, and, for me, the best thing to come out of it was a fabulous action shot photograph of me in action. So good was this snap that I've replaced my previous homepage pic with this one as it really does capture the essence of what I do. Thanks Paul for permission to use it.
Off now to be a London magician at a private party near Baker Street, it's a hard life all these parties !
23th March 2008
Last week I had a first in my professional career as a party magician...I did a private parlour show for......FOUR people!!!
Despite the numbers the booking was wonderful. I really enjoy parlour shows because of the intimacy of it, allowing me to really engage with the people and get to know them a lot better than in a cabaret show. Special mention to Joyce who was a delight; and a message for Vicky, the host: 'I swear, I really didn't touch you that evening!'
I've also managed to acquire the services of a professional photographer who will soon be pointing her polished lense at my handsome features, the results of which I hope will be gracing the pages of this website very soon.
Bye for now.
6th March 2008
Quick Quiz...
(1) Is it really all that being a wedding magician?
(2) Is a magician really a good choice for wedding entertainment?
(3) Why do so many people still think a magician is a geeky, Billy no mates, who insists on showing you he can turn one sponge ball into fifty?
The answers to this fun quiz is yes, yes and ignorance - how did you do? Actually, to be honest, the correct answer to the third question is "because most are!!"
Well, I've just got over my second cold in a month. It's never pleasant going to a booking feeling under par but it's always amazing how adrenaline can pull you through. However the drop down to reality after the show can be quite shocking. But, being in this profession, you simply can't afford to take a sickie unless you're knocking on deaths door.
Last Saturday I was the wedding entertainment at wonderful reception at Hartsfield Hall in Surrey. This was one of the best audiences for a while, so enthusiastic even before I had done anything! Many apologies, however, to the young lady at the end who looked quite freaked by my predicting the time she had thought of - hope you don't have nightmares!
Thought I should also mention that I don't eat, sleep and breath magic. It's a wonderful lifestyle but there are other pleasures in life too. Aside from my wonderful two young daughters who give me the utmost pleasure, I am a very keen blues guitarist and regularly jam at the Essex Arms in Brentwood on Tuesday nights. More information can be seen here which includes pictures, audio and video clips of me and the many other great musicians that attend.
19th February 2008
I often get asked the same question over and over during my performances, that being, 'how did you get into magic?'. Well, to save repeating myself several times a night I'm going to the answer the question now and then, when I'm asked again, I can direct people to my website blog to get their answer, which not only maximises the performance time but also drives people to my website - good for business :)
In 1996, when I was 22, I managed to acquire two tickets to see David Copperfield at the Hammermith Odeon in London. I'd been a fan of DC throughout my childhood and was always fascinated by his illusions, his showmanship and the apparent ease at which he connected with his audience.
That one incredible show sparked my interest in magic and it was only days later that I was at Davernports magic shop in charing cross buying a whole load of tricks - and thus it began.
It was a few years before the obsession with buying self-working tricks (tricks that are self contained and require little skill) began to subside and I started to concentrate more on pure sleight of hand, mainly card magic. This developed to a point where in 2000 I got my first gig as a "party magician" at a public house near where I worked at the time in Old Street. That went very well and got me another gig as a "corporate magician", this time PAID!! Paid for doing magic??? Now I was hooked.
The gigs grew fast through word of mouth and in the summer of 2001 I found myself providing wedding entertainment on a frequent basis throughout the South-East. When my website launched, the gigs increased, and after a year or so of performing traditional magic entertainment, I found myself being drawn into the field of mentalism (magic of the mind) and I begun studying more and more the psychology behind peoples bahaviour and what can be achieved through using suggestion as a tool to enhance a trick.
This passion grew, and the popularity of mentalism amongst the public also rose with the emergence of Derren Brown on British TV.
By providing a mixture of visual magic and mind tricks, my repertoire became very versatile and I could basically work with any group, gauging what I felt would be appropriate to them (some people simply don't like card tricks, some daren't have their minds read, but rarely do people dislike both)
In 2005, I began writing a cabaret show titled 'MIND GAMES' which I debuted in 2006 and performed at parties, weddings and corporate functions mainly around London and the SouthEast during 2007 with wonderful reviews. I love closeup magic/mentalism, but being in front of 100 or so people and keeping them engaged for 45 minutes is a huge buzz, aswell as very hard work.
All in all, I love my work and hope to continue doing it for a very long time.
8th February 2008
So, this is it, my first ever blog !! (Open the champagne)
But before I start, (even though, by saying that, I have already started) it's quite clear what's on your minds (no pun intended, honest!). Why, oh why, you ask, do I have the inclination or motivation to indulge you all with my week by week activities, and why would I be so self obsorbed to even think you'd be remotely interested?
The answer to the latter question is 'you're probably not' and, besides, I'm hoping most viewers of this site won't even have the patience or desire to find this page which I've tried to hide away in the footer links.
So, why am I writing if I don't particularly want or need anyone to read this? Simple, a knowledgeable web guru has kindly informed me that writing a blog, regardless of it's attention grabbing ramblings (or not), keeps this website fresh, dynamic and much more likely to do well in the google naturual listings!!! Yes, its all part of a business plan to get more work - is that allowed? So please excuse my use of the words "party entertainment", "wedding entertainment" and "london Magician" on a frequent basis - it all helps :P
Over the coming weeks I'll keep you up to date on the life of a closeup and cabaret psychological magician. I won't detail every gig I play as they'll be too many to mention but I will write about any highlights, lowlights or simply memorable things that occur, whether during or outside of performing. Maybe the one or two of you who find this page (shame on you) will find it a good read and come back for more (!!??). At least, that's the idea. Must dash or the host at a 40th party in Croydon won't be best pleased with my vanishing act.
Speak soon.