Kevin Gallagher
Kevin did
not have the start that most people who know him would imagine. His
violent, coal miner father walked out on him, his two younger sisters, and
his mother, who was partly crippled with arthritis, when he was 15,
leaving the family with several tough years.
Despite an impressive record at school, he missed out on the opportunity
to go to university and instead had to take the offer of an apprenticeship
at a local engineering company. He has achieved a number of successes in
an amazingly diverse number of pursuits including a 'blue ribbon' for
rowing with the Leander Rowing Club, awards for martial arts, and
representing his county at Chess.
A relatively late-comer to Magic at 32, he has won a number of awards for
close-up magic including several times winner of the BMS Close-up trophy,
'North of England Close-up Magician', and 'All winners Close-up trophy.'
He has also lectured at a number of societies and magical events, and
appeared in the 2001 British Close-up Symposium and British Close-up
Championships.
He is now a highly successful close-up magician working both as a Magician
and as a Gambler in a wide variety of situations including a six month
residency on the Orient Express, Trade stands for Hewlett Packard and many
large sporting events including major race meetings, the Belfry golf
events, and pro-celebrity days.
Some recent clients: Hewlett Packard, BT, Kenwood, KPMG, Vauxhall Cars,
Lever Brothers, BP, Vosper Thornycroft, Nuclear Electric, Lombard Finance,
GEC, Rothmans...
Top Trick?
"Card manipulation, because it is the most beautiful magic trick in
the world when done well, and because I can't do it."
Top Book?
"'Applications of Non-linear Simultaneous Differential Equations' -
because it reminds me not to take Magic too seriously, though I also have
a soft spot for 'Classics of Larry Jennings' because it is one of early
books that assured my total addiction."
Top Magician?
"Gary Kurtz in his pre-mental days because his excellence shows in
all aspects of magic above and beyond mere technical brilliance."
Top Magic Quote?
"F*****'ell", from a completely enthralled spectator who sat bolt upright
to make his exclamation causing a mixture of laughs, tuts and headshakes.
I responded with 'Thank you sir, for those gratifying words' and I knew
that I had captured another of those performing moments that I will always
treasure."
or
"Gallagher, you are a waste of a good brain."
Top Magic
Moment?
"Pro-celebrity golf day featuring many well known celebrities and
when I looked around, it felt as though the television was watching ME."
www.mystifier.co.uk
© MagicWeek 2001