David Hawkins
Like
many others I first became interested in magic when I purchased a few
small pocket tricks during a family seaside holiday whilst still at
school. I quickly found out that magic tricks were available by mail order
and spent my days sending off postal orders and eagerly waiting for the
parcels to arrive... usually to be disappointed that the actual tricks
never seemed quite as exciting as the adverts claimed!
After a few years I joined my local magic club, The Home Counties Magical
Society, which gave me the opportunity to meet up with other magicians,
watch professional lectures and take part in Society shows; my first
opportunity to perform in front of the general public. Eventually I began
to realise that an all-consuming hobby could be turned into a money making
business. I quickly developed a love for close-up magic and, over the past
16 years, have performed in virtually every kind of situation possible.
Early on I decided to concentrate on corporate events, weddings, and
private parties and have loved every minute of it. I’ve had the
opportunity to perform all over the UK in some wonderful venues – huge
stately homes, five star hotels and conference centres, banqueting suites
in many of the top finance and legal companies in the City, marquees in
the middle of fields (one of which fell down during a function!!)... you
name it, I’ve performed there.
As
well as performing and attending to the admin side of the business
(marketing, accounting etc.) I also try to gain inspiration by watching as
many other magicians as possible either live or on TV or DVD. My personal
rule of thumb is that if a magician is making his sole income from
performing for the general public then I must take anything he or she says
seriously. I’m always wary of the so called “magicians magician” who
invariably makes a living by lecturing to other magicians and publishing
magic books or DVDs...but never actually performs in the real world. I
also love watching other kinds of theatrical shows – especially Cirque du
Soleil and Blue Man Group.
Apart from magic, my other great passion is new technology and gadgets. I
spend way too much time surfing the web and playing around with the very
latest PDA, Sat Nav system, digital camera, phone etc.
Top Trick
Trying to think of my favourite trick is almost impossible – there are
just so many. However there is one effect that really fired my enthusiasm
for close-up when I first started. At a Home Counties Society Junior
Convention I met another magician who performed the most incredible card
trick using just two cards. I was seriously fooled and actually lost sleep
trying to work it out. Despite my pleading, the magician refused to show
me how it worked and said I should buy the manuscript. Eventually I
brought it, fell in love with the effect and over the years must have
performed it thousands of times. The effect was Roy Walton’s Card Warp and
the magician was Archie McIntyre.
Top Book
I must admit to being a magic book addict and have built up quite a large
collection, so choosing a favourite is a real challenge. However there is
one that inspired me in the early days and gave me all the information I
needed to perform commercially and start earning money, and interestingly
it doesn’t contain any tricks - “Hustle, Hustle” by US corporate magician
Joel Bauer. An incredible book that was invaluable in turning a hobby into
a business. I’d love to see an updated version published – just as I would
love to attend one of Joel Bauer’s Magic Business Seminars. I don’t think
he’s appeared in this country... yet! Incidentally I must thank fellow
Home Counties member Bob Swadling who first mentioned the book to me.
Top Magician
Trying to decide on my favourite magician is really difficult – there are
so many that I would willingly pay money to see; the sheer entertainment
value and energy of Doc Eason, Tom Mullica and Bill Malone, the spookiness
of Max Maven, Eugene Burger and Derren Brown, Juan Tamariz for being such
a crazy character and performing some incredible card magic, Graham Jolley
for making mentalism so much fun, and the epitome of an all round
entertainer Geoffrey Durham. However my top magician is the guy who
represents the standard we should all be striving for. He has shown that
magic can be an art form of the highest order, and his performances have a
depth and beauty that is unequalled. He is Ricky Jay.
Top Magic Quote
“The magic is you.” I first heard this quote from Albert Goshman, and I
think this is the one thing that all performers should repeat to
themselves before every performance. I’ve always felt that a great
exercise for any budding close up magician is to try mixing and mingling
at a few parties without actually doing any tricks. Try approaching
complete strangers, introducing yourself, starting a conversation, and end
up the life and soul of the party... without a pack of cards in your
hands. It will teach you to project your own personality, how to interact
with other people, and show you that YOU can be entertaining, rather
relying on the actual tricks.
Top Magic Moment
I’ve been lucky enough to witness some incredible magical moments which
will stay with me for a long time. For example having a front row seat for
Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants, attending a performance of Steve Cohen’s
wonderful Chamber Magic in a top London Hotel, and seeing David
Copperfield “fly” at Earls Court. However the moment that really stands
out above all others happened only last year when I was part of a standing
ovation at the start of Derren Brown’s “Something Wicked This Way Comes”
show in London. To witness the general public reacting with such love and
enthusiasm really hit home just how far magic has moved forward. An
incredible moment and, I must admit, I had a slight tear in my eye.
©
MagicWeek 2006
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