|
73rd British Ring IBM Convention
23rd - 27th September 2009, Southport
Update 6, June 2009
Bob Hayden, British Ring PRO
John van der Put is an award winning magician who has been
dazzling audiences for the past ten years. As a consummate showman John delivers
stylish debonair performances of stunning magic laced with dry wit. He is the
current holder of the British Ring’s premier close-up award the Zina Bennett
Trophy and was runner-up in this year’s Magic Circle close-up competition being
only a whisper away from the winner.
Although he started playing with magic when he was 15, he was not particularly
enamoured with it. He had never liked it on television or at children’s parties.
In some ways he thought it ridiculous. So to entertain he tried juggling and
being a clown but both of these attempts failed to satisfy his ambition to
engage with people. Then he saw on television the close-up magic with cards
performed by Jerry Sadowitz in Stuff the White Rabbit. He loved it and it
was this that changed John’s attitude towards magic and got him interested.
Could performing magic be the answer to his life’s aspiration? So he found a
book on card magic and starting practising them on his own. After three weeks he
felt confident enough to show them to a friend who was suitably impressed. He
was then convinced he could perform and at 18 applied to join The Magic Circle
and after the required examination was accepted as a member.
At aged 19 it was Guy Hollingworth who was to become John’s inspiration. He set
himself two goals. One was to create a signature piece of magic, the other to
learn Guy’s Reformation. The former he achieved by accident when he conceived
VDP where a card changes a bit at a time and the latter when Guy published his
book. But John’s parents were concerned about his future as a magician. They
suggested he had a back-up career so he took their advice, went to university
and studied computer science obtaining a degree in the subject. For the next two
years he worked in IT before being struck down with pancreatitis and nearly
dying. This caused John to reflect that he was following his back-up life before
even trying to lead the life he wanted. So he left work, retrained as an actor
at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Primarily he did not want to be an
actor but desperately wanted to learn performance methods. To be an actor and
have to continually play the same role night after night did not form part of
John’s agenda. This training did however steer him into creating a variety of
roles, the most notable being Piff the Magic Dragon and has allowed him with
great effect to present his magic in ways completely distinct from that of his
contempories.
Although John is at his happiest performing his magic around the tables or in
cabaret he has also found fame from his corporate work. Among his clients are
Heston Blumenthal proprietor of the three Michelin star rated Fat Duck
Restaurant with whom he is just completing his third project, television
manufacturer LG and Pepsi. His commissions for them include product launches, PR
stunts, tradeshows and internal presentations.
So when you see John van der Put performing in the International Close-up Gala
at Southport you can be assured of seeing not only mind blowing magic but magic
presented in a completely original manner.
Also appearing in this show is Thom (pronounced Tom) Peterson.
Previously comparatively unknown in this country it was a year ago that
magicians in this country had their first introduction to this talented close-up
worker from Winconsin. Then it was restricted to those who were at his lecture
at The Magic Circle or the British Magical Society. He describes himself as an
Amazing Guy, an utterly correct description endorsed by those who have seen him
perform. Thom has a dry sense of humour which combined with his self-deluded
belief that he is a magical super hero leaves his audiences rolling with
laughter and stuck-jawed with amazement.
Thom’s interest in magic started very early at the tender age of 5 to be
precise. He attended the University of Winconsin graduating with a degree in
Organizational Communications with an emphasis in Corporate Training and
Development. After graduation he used his degree plus his magical prowness to
head into the world of corporate development. After being engaged and reengaged
by companies like Boeing, Xerox, Bank One, 3M and Lockhead Martin who found he
never failed to make their events a smash he became one of the most sought
across the country. At the Magic Castle in Hollywood he is a regular performer
and in fact is one of the very few performers authorised to perform in every one
of their showrooms. Internationally he has performed in countries as diverse as
France, Switzerland, Israel, Scandinavia, Australia, China and Japan.
It is widely reported that when Thom performs the audience are reduced to
laughing like a little child, utter only vowel sounds, quote scripture and stamp
their feet so hard that Dr. Scholl will wake-up. He makes every one of his shows
not just ones to watch but ones that become interactive occasions where each
individual member of the audience personally can experience the magic and
comedy.
We look forward to welcoming and seeing this talented Amazing Guy Thom
Peterson at our Convention.
Joining John van der Put and Thom Peterson in the international
Close-up Gala will be Hayashi, Henry Mayol, Tyler Wilson, and Ed Ellis.
With this line up there will not be a spare seat in the room.
Bob Hayden, British Ring PRO, June 2009. www.britishring.org.uk