Has the internet ruined Magic & Illusion? - Cosentino: The Grand Illusionist


Has the internet ruined magic & illusion?
By demystifying the craft, exposing its secrets, and reducing complex tricks to bite-sized content, has the foundation of all magic – mystery – been eroded?
Joining us to delve into this world is Cosentino, Australia’s most successful magician, illusionist and escape artist - known to audiences around the world as ‘The Grand Illusionist’.
https://www.instagram.com/thecosentino/
https://www.youtube.com/officialcosentino
https://www.facebook.com/TheCosentino/
https://www.tiktok.com/@thecosentino
In this engaging conversation, Cosentino shares his journey from a shy child with learning difficulties to becoming a renowned magician. We discuss the evolution of magic in the digital age, the impact of social media on the craft, and the emotional connections that magic creates with audiences.
We also look at the need for magicians and illusionists to develop their own storytelling and performance style, the benefits of technology in enhancing the art form, and Cosentino offers valuable advice for aspiring magicians and shares insights about his upcoming tour ‘Tricked’.
00:00 The Journey to Becoming The Grand Illusionist
04:07 The Impact of Technology on Magic
07:37 The Evolution of Performance Styles
12:05 Navigating Fame and Social Media
17:06 Balancing Secrets and Exposure in Magic
22:47 The Evolution of Magic in the Digital Age
27:45 The Impact of Technology on Magic Performance
31:46 The Art of Creating Wonder
37:13 Leveraging Technology for Magic
41:20 Advice for Aspiring Magicians
Let us know what else you’d like us to look into, or just say hello at https://www.ruinedbytheinternet.com/
magic, illusion, Cosentino, performance, technology, social media, emotional connection, advice for magicians, live shows, digital age
00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:01,960
Welcome to Ruined by the
Internet.
2
00:00:01,960 --> 00:00:04,520
I'm Gareth King.
Today we're asking, has the
3
00:00:04,520 --> 00:00:06,320
Internet ruined magic and
illusion?
4
00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:10,280
By demystifying the craft,
exposing its secrets and
5
00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:13,600
reducing complex tricks to bite
sized content, has the
6
00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,600
foundation of all magic mystery
been eroded?
7
00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,920
Joining us to delve into this
world is Cosentino, Australia's
8
00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:23,080
most successful magician,
illusionist and escape artist,
9
00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,400
known to audiences around the
world as the Grand Illusionist.
10
00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,520
Cosantino, thank you so much for
joining us today and welcome to
11
00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:36,800
the show.
My absolute pleasure.
12
00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,240
Thank you for having me.
I'm very excited to be here.
13
00:00:39,480 --> 00:00:42,320
Before we begin, can you tell us
about your journey from just
14
00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:45,280
starting out to becoming the
Grand Illusionist?
15
00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,040
Oh wow.
I started Magic when I was very,
16
00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,960
very young.
When I was 12.
17
00:00:51,520 --> 00:00:55,680
I was very shy kid, very
introverted, low self esteem.
18
00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:57,400
This is all due to the fact that
I had a lot of learning
19
00:00:57,400 --> 00:00:58,880
difficulties.
I didn't learn to read till I
20
00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,600
was 12 and it was challenging.
My mother was a school principal
21
00:01:02,600 --> 00:01:04,720
and she was going mad and they
were taking me to all these
22
00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:07,560
specialist classes and they were
saying, you know, he can't, he
23
00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:09,600
can't see properly.
So they took me to the
24
00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,520
optometrist and they would say
read out the letters and I
25
00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,920
couldn't read them.
So they gave me glasses which I
26
00:01:15,920 --> 00:01:18,440
could see, I could see perfectly
well.
27
00:01:18,640 --> 00:01:20,160
I just couldn't read the
letters.
28
00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,200
And then I'd basically fallen
through the cracks.
29
00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:24,920
And my mother, like I said, she
was going absolutely mad.
30
00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:28,240
And one day she take took me to
the library, which of course is
31
00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:30,160
the last place a kid who can't
read wants to be.
32
00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:33,360
And I'm there forced to look
through books.
33
00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,680
And I came across a beautiful
book that had these old
34
00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,440
vaudevillian posters of these
famous magicians from the late
35
00:01:39,440 --> 00:01:43,080
18, early 1900s.
And they look like comic books.
36
00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:45,760
They, they predate comic books,
but they, they're hand
37
00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:47,560
illustrated and they're
originally designed to do
38
00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:51,160
massive posters to be stuck on
the walls outside theatres to
39
00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:52,640
attract an audience and bring
them in.
40
00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:56,360
And basically it drew me in.
And I remember seeing this
41
00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,800
poster of this guy with with all
these handcuffs up his wrist and
42
00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:01,720
he was like kind of staring down
the barrel of the camera.
43
00:02:02,240 --> 00:02:04,360
And I said to my mother, who,
who is this guy?
44
00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:07,000
And she said, that's Houdini.
And she went on to explain who
45
00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:09,800
he was and what he did and how
he would jump off bridges
46
00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,480
handcuffed and chained.
And he would do these incredible
47
00:02:12,480 --> 00:02:13,960
things.
He'd be locked up in gaol cells
48
00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,280
all across the globe and somehow
got out of them.
49
00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:18,720
People thought he melted and
dematerialized through them.
50
00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:19,960
And I thought, wow, this is
awesome.
51
00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,160
He's like a superhero.
And my mother said, well, no,
52
00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:24,040
he's not make believe.
He's not even a comic book.
53
00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:26,040
He's a real guy.
He really did this.
54
00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,120
That is what fascinated me.
And so we borrowed this
55
00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:33,800
particular book and in the back
of it, it had magic tricks
56
00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,480
designed for adults.
And so my mother would patiently
57
00:02:36,480 --> 00:02:37,960
sit with me.
She would read the tricks to me,
58
00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:40,160
the description of how it would
look to an audience and then the
59
00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:43,040
method or the secret.
And it's quite complicated.
60
00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,360
And it would have these little
illustrations and you'd have to
61
00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:49,960
like, read each word, analyse
it, then kind of go, oh, OK, so
62
00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:51,880
I've got to put the pack of
cards in my left hand and I've
63
00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:53,880
got to put my, my right pinky on
this.
64
00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,440
So you have to, you know, really
dissect everything.
65
00:02:56,520 --> 00:03:00,360
And that process with her
patience led to me understanding
66
00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,360
what I was reading as opposed to
just listening.
67
00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,720
And quite complicated, too, for
a kid that was 12.
68
00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:09,160
And, you know, metamorphosis and
transposition and all these
69
00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:10,240
words, like, I couldn't even
read.
70
00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:11,720
Like, these are big words for a
kid.
71
00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,840
And I, I learned some magic
tricks.
72
00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:16,600
And through this process, I was
so fascinated.
73
00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:19,040
There was no Internet.
You couldn't learn magic through
74
00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:21,440
any other means.
You had to go to a library,
75
00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:23,480
borrow a book.
And I became obsessed.
76
00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:25,920
And I, I learned to read.
And of course, reading is linked
77
00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:28,080
to writing and spelling, but
more importantly, it was linked
78
00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,360
to my confidence.
And so I could finally read and
79
00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:32,640
this weight was lifted and I
gained a very unique skill.
80
00:03:32,640 --> 00:03:36,000
So that's how it all started.
I didn't see a magician on TV or
81
00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,800
the Internet or anything like
that and thought, oh, that's
82
00:03:37,800 --> 00:03:40,760
cool, let's do that.
I just learnt a little skill
83
00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:44,840
that made me feel special and
unique from a kid who was coming
84
00:03:44,840 --> 00:03:47,080
from a place where they were
very crippled.
85
00:03:47,080 --> 00:03:49,280
Like, I mean, I'll be at the
back of the classroom with my
86
00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:51,160
head down, avoid being asked a
question.
87
00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,080
You know, I'd get so embarrassed
if the teacher said read out
88
00:03:54,080 --> 00:03:55,440
loud, obviously because I
couldn't read.
89
00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:58,280
So I was disguising all these
disabilities.
90
00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:02,120
And then magic kind of really
enhanced me and my personality.
91
00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:04,040
And that's why I think I love it
so much.
92
00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,080
I'm still passionate about it,
you know, over 2 decades later.
93
00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,440
Having been in the game for such
a long time now, what would you
94
00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:13,560
say are the biggest changes
you've seen in in Magic that
95
00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:15,600
have been born out of the
Internet and technology?
96
00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,160
When I grew up watching Magic in
the 90s, it was very theatrical,
97
00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:22,560
so you had people like David
Copperfield and Sigfred and Roy.
98
00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,440
Before that, in the the 70s,
there was a guy called Doug, but
99
00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:28,120
I would go back and watch his
VHS tape.
100
00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:30,720
So very, very much based on
theatre and everything you saw
101
00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,360
was kind of the stage show but
filmed for television.
102
00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,440
Tell you what also changed in
the beginning, how you would
103
00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,360
discover magic tricks.
You didn't just go into a magic,
104
00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:42,640
they started to to kind of
dwindle away.
105
00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,400
So you'd read a description
online about a trick and then
106
00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:48,760
you would kind of purchase that
trick or get the rights to that
107
00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:50,680
trick.
Instead of going to a library to
108
00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:54,400
read a book and learn a trick,
you would kind of purchase one
109
00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:57,040
off off a website that could be
from anywhere around the world.
110
00:04:57,280 --> 00:04:58,880
Very often you would get
something that was absolute
111
00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:02,840
trash, but that was the first
change to me.
112
00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,480
Yeah.
So that's almost almost a
113
00:05:05,480 --> 00:05:09,720
different kind of accessibility
even before we get into, you
114
00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:21,880
know, watching step by What
would you say the biggest
115
00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:24,320
challenge for someone like
yourself?
116
00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:26,360
Who's who?
Does you know big stage
117
00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,560
illusions when you're in
competition for attention
118
00:05:29,560 --> 00:05:34,080
against someone who primarily
does small TikTok type videos?
119
00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:38,560
And does someone who can master
both have an obvious advantage?
120
00:05:38,840 --> 00:05:42,360
It's really interesting because
as magicians even from in
121
00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,480
Australia that have massive
TikTok followings or social
122
00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:49,000
media followings, but it doesn't
necessarily mean that following
123
00:05:49,200 --> 00:05:53,000
translates to a life scenario.
Like so in magic, there's close
124
00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:54,400
up magic.
Close up magic could be done in
125
00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:56,680
a restaurant or be done in a
party.
126
00:05:56,760 --> 00:05:58,920
Then you've got St magic, which
is a bit more like busking.
127
00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:00,520
Then you've got theatre stage
illusions.
128
00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:02,280
Then you've got kind of a
parlour setting, which is more
129
00:06:02,280 --> 00:06:03,880
like stand up kind of comedy
magic.
130
00:06:04,080 --> 00:06:05,960
So there's all these different
genres and then within that
131
00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:09,040
there's like escapes, there's
grand illusions, there's
132
00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:10,760
mentalism.
So you know, creating the
133
00:06:10,760 --> 00:06:12,680
illusion that you're reading
people's minds or predicting the
134
00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:14,760
future.
So there's all these sub genres
135
00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:16,640
as well.
And now there's different ways
136
00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,480
to present it could be on TV,
could be live, could be all on
137
00:06:20,480 --> 00:06:23,760
social media platforms.
So because of the literal 90
138
00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:27,040
seconds to 3 minutes that you
have, the tricks that people are
139
00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,680
presenting now seem to be, in my
opinion, less theatrical and
140
00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:33,880
more about the actual just a
trick because you kind of have
141
00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:34,880
no choice.
Now.
142
00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:37,960
I come from a world where you
build up the theatrics.
143
00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:41,880
So for example, if I was going
to do some kind of escape,
144
00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,840
instead of just doing the
escape, I want to prove that I'm
145
00:06:44,840 --> 00:06:47,920
using real locks, that I'm
really holding my breath, that
146
00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:50,040
there's no way for me to escape
from the water tank.
147
00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,080
That in itself takes 3 minutes
just to prove all that to the
148
00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,760
audience.
So in order for me to tackle
149
00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:00,480
that, when I present online,
it's completely different to how
150
00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:02,920
I do a stage show or even a
television show.
151
00:07:02,920 --> 00:07:07,800
Even in television, you can take
a little more time, and that to
152
00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:13,960
me makes the magic more potent
and that adds to the drama of
153
00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:18,480
what you're about to do.
So for me, presentation is, I
154
00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:20,520
mean, I know people would argue
against me, but from my
155
00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:22,080
perspective, presentation is
lost.
156
00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,760
So I don't know.
I, I think it's challenging for
157
00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,880
me because I've got to keep
switching in like, OK, and I'm
158
00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:29,640
doing this for social media.
So it's going to look like this.
159
00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:31,160
I'm doing this for stage.
It looks like that.
160
00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,120
But I, I, I think now I'm really
getting a handle on how to
161
00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,320
tackle each one.
But if you were to say to me,
162
00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,360
what do I prefer doing even over
like my own television?
163
00:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,080
I've done so much TV.
I, I, I prefer live, which is so
164
00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:46,080
much harder to do, but it allows
a little breathing room and,
165
00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:49,480
and, and, and seeing magic live.
I, I, I think nobody would argue
166
00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:52,240
against me on this.
Seeing it live is far more
167
00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,080
spectacular than seeing it,
whether it's on TV or on social
168
00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,000
media.
That's, you know, such an
169
00:07:58,000 --> 00:08:00,840
interesting, interesting point
because obviously you have had
170
00:08:00,840 --> 00:08:04,640
that huge success in the live
environment and in the TV
171
00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:06,800
environment.
And as you said, also down to
172
00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,320
say, the social media
environment, the live
173
00:08:09,320 --> 00:08:13,440
experience, even if it is being
broadcast directly through ATV
174
00:08:13,440 --> 00:08:17,800
screen, you're still only
getting one tiny piece of the
175
00:08:17,800 --> 00:08:19,840
puzzle.
But that said, can you just
176
00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:23,560
quickly tell us a few of your
favourite performances that
177
00:08:23,560 --> 00:08:24,720
you've done?
Wow.
178
00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,880
I've done.
I'll tell you what, we really
179
00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,640
was very, very special to me.
My hero growing up in the 90s
180
00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,760
was David Copperfield.
And, and just still to this day,
181
00:08:33,760 --> 00:08:37,480
I think it's hard to argue
against how spectacular he was
182
00:08:37,480 --> 00:08:40,320
and, and how much he changed my
art form.
183
00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:42,480
So I still think he's, he's the
GOAT.
184
00:08:42,720 --> 00:08:47,800
And I saw him as a teenager at
the Regent Theatre in Melbourne
185
00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,640
and I was in the 2nd row and I
made sure that I got the best
186
00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,120
tickets possible.
And I, I remember sitting next
187
00:08:54,120 --> 00:08:55,320
to his parents.
I knew who his parents were.
188
00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,360
I was a big, big fan of him.
And I was sitting right next to
189
00:08:57,360 --> 00:09:00,520
his parents.
I actually gave his parents a
190
00:09:00,720 --> 00:09:04,000
letter that they gave to ended
up giving to David Copperfield.
191
00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:05,800
And he ended up writing me a
letter and they're giving me a
192
00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:06,600
sign.
PO It was lovely.
193
00:09:06,600 --> 00:09:08,240
It was lovely.
Anyway, so the point is I'm at
194
00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,440
the Regent Theatre, I'm in the
2nd row and I'm watching David
195
00:09:10,440 --> 00:09:12,240
Copperfield and it's just
spectacular.
196
00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:17,640
And that would have been in 1998
or 99.
197
00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,960
And then in 2011, when I
auditioned for Australia's Got
198
00:09:21,960 --> 00:09:24,720
Talent, I had to walk out on
stage on the Regent Theatre and
199
00:09:24,720 --> 00:09:27,440
I thought, Oh my gosh, this is
where David Copperfield
200
00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,040
performed.
I'm incredible.
201
00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,040
And here I was now being in
front of a live audience and
202
00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:32,960
being judged.
It was very overwhelming.
203
00:09:33,160 --> 00:09:35,920
And then exactly a year later,
after Australia's Got Talent,
204
00:09:36,120 --> 00:09:39,560
Dara was again at the Regent
Theatre filming my own
205
00:09:39,560 --> 00:09:44,200
television special and being the
first Australian ever have their
206
00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,120
own TV special on the same
stage.
207
00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:48,600
And it was like this really full
circle moment for me.
208
00:09:48,840 --> 00:09:52,240
So it's not one particular
piece, but I guess it, those
209
00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:56,120
three pieces together in that
same venue hold a very special
210
00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,640
place in in my heart.
You know, seeing my hero
211
00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,480
auditioning on this show and
then doing my own show and being
212
00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,840
the first to ever do it very,
very so that that that was very,
213
00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:06,400
very special.
But in many moments when I'm
214
00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:09,920
performing in Singapore, Marina
Bay Sands is incredible,
215
00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,240
performing in Vietnam, being on
the streets of the Philippines,
216
00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,680
performing like I have so many
fond memories and I'm really
217
00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:21,040
look, it's not easy what I do,
man, Everyone, everyone says
218
00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,600
it's probably about the job, but
it but it's very rewarding.
219
00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,400
You spoke about something there,
which was that first audition on
220
00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:30,560
Australia's Got Talent of yours.
Obviously you've been at it for
221
00:10:30,560 --> 00:10:33,800
for a while before that moment
from that audition, which you
222
00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:38,000
just talked about to becoming
like this global name was a very
223
00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,920
rapid, right?
For any young magician out there
224
00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,440
that might be thinking this is
something I'm going to do as
225
00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:47,240
well.
What might they face today that
226
00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:49,360
you didn't have to face at that
point?
227
00:10:49,600 --> 00:10:53,560
I had done 15 years prior to
Australia's Got Talent of work.
228
00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,040
And when I mean work, I mean
proper work, like working on
229
00:10:56,040 --> 00:10:59,240
cruise ships, putting on shows
in shopping centres, you know,
230
00:10:59,240 --> 00:11:02,280
10 shows a week, doing school
incursions, putting on my own
231
00:11:02,280 --> 00:11:06,640
theatre shows, creating my own
posters, working out how to, you
232
00:11:06,640 --> 00:11:09,160
know, take a photo, no iPhones,
no iPhones.
233
00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,520
So working how to work with a
photographer and pose and then
234
00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:15,920
going to a graphic designer, I
happened to be a cousin work,
235
00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,240
sitting with them, working out
how to use, you know, Photoshop
236
00:11:19,240 --> 00:11:21,560
and they're doing all that and
there's no camera, there was no
237
00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:23,480
like quick video and all that
stuff.
238
00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:24,800
So I had to learn all these
things.
239
00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:26,960
So 15 years to get to
Australia's Got Talent.
240
00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:30,720
And then you kind of see that
quick progression, but not
241
00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:32,880
really quick.
From my perspective, I was ready
242
00:11:32,880 --> 00:11:34,920
for it and it kind of
turbocharged everything.
243
00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,360
Actually, it took three years
for me to agree to do the show,
244
00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,880
but I was doing my own shows.
I agreed to do their show.
245
00:11:39,880 --> 00:11:41,160
I didn't even think too much
about it.
246
00:11:41,360 --> 00:11:44,560
In actual fact, I couldn't even
make my second audition because
247
00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:46,600
I was in some regional town
doing my own show.
248
00:11:46,600 --> 00:11:47,760
And I said, oh guys, I can't
make it.
249
00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:48,760
It's all good, don't worry about
it.
250
00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:50,960
And they were like, no, no, no,
no, no, we'll get you there.
251
00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,280
And they kind of worked around
my schedule to get me there.
252
00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,120
So I was doing my own thing
shows and then that turbocharged
253
00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:56,520
everything and all those shows
sold out.
254
00:11:56,520 --> 00:11:59,360
And it was a lot of work to get
to that that point and then let
255
00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,360
it kind of skyrocket.
And I guess the second part of
256
00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,600
your question was what would be
the difference now?
257
00:12:04,880 --> 00:12:06,720
I think everything is now
online.
258
00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:08,120
And this is interesting.
Actually.
259
00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:11,240
When we did Australia's Got
Talent, they said to us, you're
260
00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:15,040
not allowed to post on Facebook
or Instagram about your
261
00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:17,320
performances.
That sounds like madness now,
262
00:12:17,320 --> 00:12:19,520
doesn't it?
Yeah, I have heard actually
263
00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,960
similar things around say,
reality shows these days.
264
00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,320
I guess the people on the shows,
we'll call them the stars, you
265
00:12:26,320 --> 00:12:30,040
know, have their accounts kind
of embargoed and and managed by
266
00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:32,520
the networks.
So it's interesting to hear that
267
00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:36,640
that was happening all the way
back then before there was so
268
00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:40,640
much that we've learnt around
the impact of social media and
269
00:12:40,680 --> 00:12:43,440
the way that people operate
online since then.
270
00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:48,440
But on that point, there's 2 two
things I want to touch on as
271
00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,080
well.
You know, we know that if you
272
00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:53,320
were a young a young person
trying to get into it now,
273
00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,760
you've obviously got the ability
to build a following and kind of
274
00:12:57,760 --> 00:13:01,080
create your own pathways which
which weren't available to say
275
00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,760
someone like your yourself.
But back to the notion around
276
00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:08,120
performance and, you know,
theatrics, which is quite a big
277
00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:12,240
part of what you do in the
current digital world that we're
278
00:13:12,240 --> 00:13:16,520
in, which elements of magic and
illusion have become more
279
00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,520
important than ever.
Is it that theatrics and
280
00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:21,880
performance and even kind of
personality?
281
00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,680
Look, I'm always going to lean
towards that because that's how
282
00:13:24,680 --> 00:13:27,040
I kind of grew up.
That's what I grew up watching.
283
00:13:27,200 --> 00:13:29,880
You know, my my heroes were Gene
Kelly and Fred Astaire and
284
00:13:29,880 --> 00:13:32,400
Michael Jackson and Madonna and
Prince and very theatrical
285
00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,520
performers.
So I'm always going to lean that
286
00:13:34,520 --> 00:13:36,680
way.
I kind of think now with social
287
00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:39,520
media, I believe people are very
fixated on the actual trick,
288
00:13:39,560 --> 00:13:41,640
like getting the trick out.
You've got 90 seconds, get the
289
00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:43,480
trick out, make it be a really
good trick.
290
00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,360
Now there is personality
involved in it, like the way
291
00:13:46,360 --> 00:13:49,520
people speak or how they might
present it or film it or light
292
00:13:49,520 --> 00:13:51,760
it.
I think everything, I think
293
00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,760
what's really worthy of success
in magic is presentation.
294
00:13:55,120 --> 00:13:58,720
It's just challenging to do that
in in such a short time span.
295
00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:03,640
Has the the move towards social
media and people kind of
296
00:14:03,640 --> 00:14:08,800
building a following via short
clips, is that almost detracted
297
00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:11,040
from the amount of people
wanting to do the big
298
00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:15,360
performances or is it, you know,
is there still the same
299
00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:18,640
aspiration amongst?
People no, I think it's the same
300
00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:21,880
aspiration because I see people
with social media following,
301
00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:26,040
building up their, their, their
following their database of
302
00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:29,320
people and then always trying to
do theatre show.
303
00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,440
You seem to see, you actually
see it a lot too with with
304
00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,760
comedians who might be really
hot online then all of a sudden
305
00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,840
like they're doing a stand up
tour show or whatever it may be.
306
00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:40,560
So I do think it always comes
back to the live show no matter
307
00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,800
what happens.
For some reason it still seems
308
00:14:42,800 --> 00:14:46,120
to come back to that.
Yeah, it does feel that what you
309
00:14:46,120 --> 00:14:50,880
do is so I mean at least to me
anyway, it feels like so much
310
00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:55,200
more special in in a live kind
of let's call it analogue for
311
00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:58,640
just the the purposes of this
versus digital where you might
312
00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:00,080
be looking at it through a
screen.
313
00:15:00,080 --> 00:15:03,240
I mean you're not getting much
of the vibe or anything through
314
00:15:03,240 --> 00:15:06,160
through screen.
But how do performers today
315
00:15:06,160 --> 00:15:11,240
balance protecting the secrets
of those live performances
316
00:15:11,360 --> 00:15:14,680
amongst the realities of of an
interconnected digital world
317
00:15:14,680 --> 00:15:17,760
where people are trying to
expose those tricks?
318
00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:21,200
How much we consider is that
when you're preparing or
319
00:15:21,200 --> 00:15:25,280
planning or performing and is it
a big hurdle to anything that
320
00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:26,720
you do?
Yeah, I mean, you can get bogged
321
00:15:26,720 --> 00:15:30,600
down in overthinking, like, OK,
so if I if I put like a snippet
322
00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:34,040
of this particular piece online,
then does it give too much away
323
00:15:34,040 --> 00:15:35,480
of the show?
Kind of like when you're moving,
324
00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,840
there's a trailer that comes out
and everyone goes all the best
325
00:15:37,840 --> 00:15:39,680
parts, we're in the trailer, you
know?
326
00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:42,600
So yeah, I'm quite conscious of
that and not giving too much
327
00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:44,720
away and keeping a lot of
surprise, the element of
328
00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:48,120
surprise for the live show.
And then there's another aspect
329
00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:51,400
of like people going to try and
debunk all of this if it's put
330
00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:53,920
online and, and, and what's you
know, what's that?
331
00:15:53,920 --> 00:15:57,320
But but you can get, honestly,
you can get so caught up in all
332
00:15:57,320 --> 00:15:59,440
of that that you forget why
you're doing what you're doing
333
00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:01,960
in the 1st place.
All the secrets of how
334
00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,200
everything is done is readily
available now.
335
00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,760
So we come back now again to how
is it presented?
336
00:16:09,280 --> 00:16:12,040
How are you wrapping it up?
How are you packaging it?
337
00:16:12,440 --> 00:16:15,280
Is it entertaining if it's too
much about the trick again,
338
00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:17,520
which is again, which is
interesting because online it's
339
00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:20,200
to me, it's all about the trick.
But if it's too much about the
340
00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:24,120
trick, then you've lost a huge
part of that connection you make
341
00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:26,640
with the audience.
And I'll give you an example.
342
00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:29,600
I do a piece in the show.
It's the linking rings.
343
00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:31,920
Everyone knows what it is.
Everyone's seen it for years.
344
00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:35,720
It's nothing spectacular.
And I do the ACT because I talk
345
00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:38,880
about it being the first routine
that I learned as a little boy
346
00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:41,640
that I performed for my mother,
who obviously taught me how to
347
00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:45,200
read and taught me magic.
And she was really blown away by
348
00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:46,800
it.
And I performed it to music.
349
00:16:46,800 --> 00:16:48,840
It was very theatrical.
And she said, oh, it's so
350
00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,200
beautiful.
And you know, I love it so much.
351
00:16:51,200 --> 00:16:54,000
Make sure when you grow up, you
never, you never lose that.
352
00:16:54,120 --> 00:16:56,960
So I tell this story and it's
quite emotional and mothers
353
00:16:56,960 --> 00:16:58,840
connect with it.
And then I performed the linking
354
00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:00,720
ring routine, which is only with
two rings.
355
00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,760
It's nothing spectacular.
I'm being honest about it.
356
00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:05,839
But the reason why we keep it is
because of the story.
357
00:17:06,440 --> 00:17:08,760
And that story connects.
Yeah, yeah.
358
00:17:08,760 --> 00:17:10,720
And.
And that makes that PE, you
359
00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:13,800
know, here I am hanging upside
down from burning ropes, jumping
360
00:17:13,800 --> 00:17:16,040
in and out of water tanks,
making people appear and
361
00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:17,960
disappear and teleport and
levitate.
362
00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,920
And I remember that.
So that tells you it's about an
363
00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:25,800
emotional connection that kind
of transforms the experience,
364
00:17:25,920 --> 00:17:29,360
which again in the digital world
is is a little more challenging
365
00:17:29,400 --> 00:17:32,200
to do than than as we said in
the analogue world.
366
00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:35,000
Yeah, of course.
And I think you raised a good
367
00:17:35,000 --> 00:17:37,320
point there that I want to go
into now as well.
368
00:17:37,320 --> 00:17:41,320
If everyone's kind of only got a
very short window of time to
369
00:17:41,320 --> 00:17:45,760
communicate something like a
highlight reel online, does that
370
00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:49,640
change your approach of
producing stuff for online or is
371
00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:54,000
it still you're still trying to
give it as much of A sell as you
372
00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:56,600
can?
No, no, no, online you're very
373
00:17:56,600 --> 00:17:59,000
conscious and you're also
conscious because you can tell
374
00:17:59,000 --> 00:18:01,200
if you do like a three minute, 4
minute video, it doesn't get
375
00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,920
anywhere near the same kind of
attention than if you did a, a
376
00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:07,680
32nd video or a 92nd video.
So yes, I'm, I'm actually
377
00:18:07,680 --> 00:18:09,680
conscious of sometimes I don't
care.
378
00:18:09,840 --> 00:18:11,480
It's just like, well, I'm just
gonna do it, whatever.
379
00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:12,800
But yeah, you do think about
ego.
380
00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:14,640
Geez, I can't really put a 6
minute piece up.
381
00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:17,520
You do it definitely changes the
approach.
382
00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:20,480
And again, some people kind of
they're in that genre.
383
00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:23,640
So instead of them being a close
up magician or a stage magician,
384
00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:25,520
they're like, you know, an
online magician, which is
385
00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:27,400
totally fine.
It's just a very different
386
00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:30,400
approach.
And maybe they shouldn't be
387
00:18:30,400 --> 00:18:32,240
compared.
Like maybe we we shouldn't be
388
00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,120
saying, oh, people who do it
online aren't as good as people
389
00:18:35,120 --> 00:18:39,080
who do it live or vice versa.
Like maybe that's not that's not
390
00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:42,160
a thing.
But it's kind of like a
391
00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,280
recording artist being able to
record in a studio and then you
392
00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:48,400
hear them live and you go, oh,
OK, what happened there?
393
00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:51,480
Because I could record my trick,
you know, a dozen times to get
394
00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:53,520
it right.
I mean, you could you end up
395
00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,200
being a recorded magician to
some degree.
396
00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,680
Again, that's a I'm not, no, but
you know, magicians, if they
397
00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:00,360
hear this, it just is what it
is.
398
00:19:00,400 --> 00:19:02,760
It's a different way to to to
kind of get it out there.
399
00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:05,640
Yeah, OK.
And I think on, on that point,
400
00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:09,200
you know, like Once Upon a time,
as, as you mentioned, it was all
401
00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:13,000
very in person, you know, kind
of that's where the, all the
402
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:17,240
mesmerising is, is happening.
And people would have to try and
403
00:19:17,240 --> 00:19:20,320
figure, figure it out.
Like what wow, how did they do
404
00:19:20,320 --> 00:19:22,400
that?
As opposed to, OK, I'm going to
405
00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:25,440
find out how they did that,
where you try and find the, the
406
00:19:25,440 --> 00:19:29,040
link of all the steps that kind
of breakdown the trick.
407
00:19:29,080 --> 00:19:32,440
So there's, there's online, you
know, a lot of people that kind
408
00:19:32,440 --> 00:19:36,120
of produce that content, which
is breaking stuff down and
409
00:19:36,120 --> 00:19:39,840
revealing the secrets.
What's, what's generally the
410
00:19:39,840 --> 00:19:43,240
feeling about that stuff?
Is it kind, is it a good thing
411
00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:45,560
to be like, Hey, people are
people are interested in what
412
00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:47,320
I'm doing?
This is great.
413
00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:49,680
It's more eyeballs on on the art
form.
414
00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:53,240
Or is it something you try and
stay one step ahead of?
415
00:19:53,240 --> 00:19:55,440
Like I've got to, I've got to
make something that can't be
416
00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:58,600
figured out by people just
looking for, you know, clicks
417
00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,520
and likes by revealing my
secrets.
418
00:20:01,400 --> 00:20:05,440
Look, I think exposing magic for
the purpose of teaching so
419
00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:08,080
people can learn the art form
and get involved, I think that's
420
00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:10,120
OK.
But exposing for the sake of
421
00:20:10,120 --> 00:20:13,800
exposing for likes, I'm not a
huge fan.
422
00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:16,240
It reminds me of like when I was
a child growing up and the mass
423
00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,280
magician was on TV and he'd
reveal a lot of tricks.
424
00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:21,320
And the problem was that he
didn't even give you all the
425
00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:23,240
steps.
He only gave you the steps that
426
00:20:23,240 --> 00:20:25,040
were interesting, so you
couldn't even do the tricks.
427
00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:27,720
That was a whole other problem
because it became very
428
00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:31,840
misogynistic and it was very, it
kind of belittled the art form.
429
00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,880
It simplified it too much and it
said that was a huge problem,
430
00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,600
but we got over that.
But yeah, you, I think what
431
00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:39,040
happens is people fall into this
trap.
432
00:20:39,040 --> 00:20:41,360
They're performing magic online
and then maybe they show how
433
00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:43,120
tricky he's done and that gets
the most attention.
434
00:20:43,120 --> 00:20:47,280
So then all of a sudden they go,
oh, oh, okay, that's
435
00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:48,440
interesting.
Then they do another trick
436
00:20:48,440 --> 00:20:51,240
online, and then they do another
trick where they expose it
437
00:20:51,240 --> 00:20:52,360
online.
It gets more attention again.
438
00:20:52,360 --> 00:20:56,240
They go, wow, So what's gaining
the likes or the attention is
439
00:20:56,240 --> 00:20:59,080
when I reveal the trick or turn
the camera from behind.
440
00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:00,960
So they see you performing to
someone.
441
00:21:00,960 --> 00:21:03,920
But the audience, which would be
the people online watching, they
442
00:21:03,920 --> 00:21:06,680
can see how the trick is done.
When they realise that that gets
443
00:21:06,680 --> 00:21:09,800
the most attention, their focus
switches to that.
444
00:21:09,800 --> 00:21:13,720
I think that's what happens.
You blend, you know, that
445
00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:16,840
traditional kind of big
performance stuff with some
446
00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:18,880
technology within within what
you're doing.
447
00:21:19,320 --> 00:21:24,120
Are all performers embracing
technology is kind of a choice?
448
00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:28,240
Are they forced to, or is there
almost a segment that prefers
449
00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:30,960
doing things, you know, for lack
of a better word, that kind of
450
00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,560
artisanal way?
I can only look at it from
451
00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:36,160
outside perspective as a
magician though.
452
00:21:36,400 --> 00:21:38,840
In general, magicians are very
quick to adapt.
453
00:21:38,960 --> 00:21:42,880
Example would be when the
pandemic hit, straight away
454
00:21:42,880 --> 00:21:45,680
magicians jumped online,
realised that now they're
455
00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:49,160
working within this frame.
There's certain limitations but
456
00:21:49,160 --> 00:21:52,480
there's certain advantages.
Like I did so many shows online
457
00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,440
with Zoom and there's advantages
to, to being online too.
458
00:21:56,600 --> 00:21:59,480
Honestly, magicians were jumping
online, putting on live shows or
459
00:21:59,480 --> 00:22:03,200
online before anybody.
I mean, I saw some comedians try
460
00:22:03,200 --> 00:22:06,040
and do it and it was very
interesting that it didn't quite
461
00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:09,680
have the same effect.
And the comedians really needed
462
00:22:09,680 --> 00:22:13,600
that laughter feedback.
Whereas the magician, I can work
463
00:22:13,600 --> 00:22:15,840
with you interactively through
the screen, you know, think of a
464
00:22:15,840 --> 00:22:18,000
number, think of a colour.
Wow, here it is.
465
00:22:18,320 --> 00:22:22,640
So magicians are really clever
with technology in in my show,
466
00:22:22,640 --> 00:22:27,600
there's a lot of tech being used
that you're unaware of.
467
00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:29,880
So yeah.
Please, please don't tell me.
468
00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:30,760
Tell me what it is.
So.
469
00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:36,080
So we've adapted So.
Much and and and that's one, if
470
00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:38,920
I'm being honest, that's one of
the major positives I can see
471
00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:41,920
that technology has allowed us
to do things that seemed
472
00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:47,280
impossible like five years ago.
And again, being disguised
473
00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:50,320
though so it looks very basic,
like you might just be using, I
474
00:22:50,320 --> 00:22:53,560
don't know, a piece of paper and
a pen or whatever it may be but
475
00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:55,280
but you know, there's a lot
going on.
476
00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,000
Magicians are adapt like they've
adapted and they've been using
477
00:22:58,000 --> 00:22:59,560
it a lot.
Yeah, cool.
478
00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:01,560
It's interesting.
Yeah, no, that's, that's a,
479
00:23:01,640 --> 00:23:04,480
that's a really good point.
And I'd like to explore that a
480
00:23:04,480 --> 00:23:07,720
little bit more now.
So you've mentioned that you
481
00:23:07,840 --> 00:23:10,920
incorporate it in all these ways
that that no one will even know.
482
00:23:10,920 --> 00:23:13,480
And let's, let's keep, let's
keep it that way for now.
483
00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:17,320
What other ways, you know,
people within the industry kind
484
00:23:17,320 --> 00:23:22,400
of using it to, to help their
careers along or, or help get
485
00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:24,720
them started?
We know in music, a lot of
486
00:23:24,720 --> 00:23:28,320
youngsters might produce music,
say in their bedroom and, and
487
00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,760
then they can just put it online
and, and get a start that way.
488
00:23:31,760 --> 00:23:35,200
And it just kind of breaks down
all those what were previously
489
00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:38,760
large barriers to entry for, for
people to getting into
490
00:23:38,760 --> 00:23:41,640
different, you know, creative
pursuits.
491
00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:43,760
Yes.
Is this the same within the
492
00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:46,920
world of of magic and illusion?
And how is that playing out?
493
00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,080
Yeah, absolutely.
Cause 'cause I remember being a,
494
00:23:50,200 --> 00:23:53,640
a kid and having to, I hired A
venue, put on a show, no
495
00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:56,040
audience, pretended there was an
audience, filmed it all.
496
00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:58,920
Had to hire camera crew.
You know, had to budget for all
497
00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:02,440
of this, save up all my money,
you know, put on a show, then
498
00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:04,080
had to have someone edit it for
me.
499
00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:07,040
And then we had to package it on
VHS tapes, put little stickers
500
00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,280
on and then had to get a
database list of agents,
501
00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:14,000
managers, promoters, physically
send out the VHS tape, call him.
502
00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:16,520
Did you watch it?
No, you know, write a letter.
503
00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:21,400
It was just so much harder and,
and and costly to get like this
504
00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:23,600
tape into people's hands and
they had to physically get the
505
00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:27,480
tape, pull up, you know, put it
in push play, spend the time to
506
00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:30,240
watch it.
So now you can just film
507
00:24:30,240 --> 00:24:32,760
yourself and it's acceptable.
You could film yourself just
508
00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,200
sitting where I am right now
presenting the magic.
509
00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:38,400
And that can straight away be
emailed to an agent or a manager
510
00:24:39,320 --> 00:24:41,440
taking photographs where you got
you can do it on your phone.
511
00:24:41,440 --> 00:24:43,880
Now you have to bring in a
professional photographer and
512
00:24:43,880 --> 00:24:45,840
filming yourself, editing
yourself.
513
00:24:45,840 --> 00:24:49,960
All of that's now done in house.
So it it, it is lowered the
514
00:24:49,960 --> 00:24:52,360
entry barrier, which is a great
thing.
515
00:24:52,360 --> 00:24:55,000
It's then when you go to the
next level that there's still
516
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:59,040
kind of this, this kind of this
gap between everyone that's kind
517
00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:02,080
of gets interested in it and
gets involved in it online.
518
00:25:02,080 --> 00:25:04,680
And then whether it becomes like
their profession and, and what's
519
00:25:04,680 --> 00:25:06,000
happening, what's happening
next.
520
00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,840
But I think that's a good thing
about magic and it's exposed
521
00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:12,120
more people to it because of
that.
522
00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:16,360
So yes, if I, if you would ask
me, what would would I, what
523
00:25:16,360 --> 00:25:18,000
would I have preferred?
Yeah, I would have preferred to
524
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:22,320
be able to have done it in
person here, not having to hire
525
00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:25,360
a venue and, and, and hire a
camera crew or anything like
526
00:25:25,360 --> 00:25:26,640
that.
Just hire my, my friend who
527
00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,760
loves filming, you know, or
whatever it may be or film
528
00:25:28,760 --> 00:25:30,680
myself.
Like I don't think young people
529
00:25:30,680 --> 00:25:37,160
know how how lucky they are in
that regard and how you can get
530
00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:40,240
your video into someone else's
as his hands.
531
00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:45,160
Does having so many more people
able to kind of access and and
532
00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:48,680
get into the world and try their
own luck essentially, does that
533
00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:52,400
lift the overall quality by
challenging everyone to almost
534
00:25:52,560 --> 00:25:54,720
compete against each other to
push themselves?
535
00:25:54,720 --> 00:25:58,480
Does you know the saying a
rising tide lift all boats apply
536
00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:00,520
to your industry?
Yeah, I think it does.
537
00:26:00,560 --> 00:26:05,000
I think having more people
involved in it from coming from
538
00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:10,400
different, different worlds like
this mixing pot brings new ideas
539
00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:14,120
to it, which I've, I've
definitely seen an elevation in,
540
00:26:14,120 --> 00:26:17,520
in, in the quality of what
people are doing.
541
00:26:19,360 --> 00:26:21,480
And like anything, it's like,
you know, I remember in
542
00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,240
Australia, we always used to
have this thing about like, oh,
543
00:26:23,320 --> 00:26:25,320
we don't have a really good
soccer team and we know we're
544
00:26:25,320 --> 00:26:27,560
not very good at soccer, but
that's because we didn't really
545
00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:32,040
have training programmes to get
young people involved.
546
00:26:32,480 --> 00:26:34,720
And so you, you got to be able
to nurture that.
547
00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,040
So I think, I definitely think
by that, that entry barrier
548
00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,160
being lower, I think it brings
more people in.
549
00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,080
Whereas in the past there was a
lot of the shut doors, like if,
550
00:26:43,080 --> 00:26:46,560
if you, if you wanted to learn
magic, you really had to kind of
551
00:26:47,240 --> 00:26:50,400
seek it out, go to the library,
borrow a book, spend the time,
552
00:26:50,480 --> 00:26:53,920
analyse it, try and work out
what's going on, go to a magic
553
00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,840
shop, join a magic club.
Like all of a sudden there's
554
00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:58,720
here, there's a lot more
involved already than just being
555
00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:02,160
on YouTube.
The magic magic shop, from my
556
00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:04,440
experience would be like, no,
you're not really ready to learn
557
00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:05,960
that or they wouldn't let you
learn that.
558
00:27:05,960 --> 00:27:08,080
Like they would go keep it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,
559
00:27:08,120 --> 00:27:10,480
yeah, yeah.
It was pretty like part of that
560
00:27:10,480 --> 00:27:12,160
sucked.
Like, I'm being honest, part of
561
00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:15,120
that was a bit like, well, why?
You know who who are you to tell
562
00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:16,520
me that?
But then part of me is also
563
00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:20,920
like, it's also like, you know,
when you see kids, I did some
564
00:27:21,520 --> 00:27:24,120
like break dance classes when I
was a kid and all the kids
565
00:27:24,120 --> 00:27:25,600
wanted to do is learn how to do
backflips.
566
00:27:25,600 --> 00:27:28,440
But you, you, they, you have to
learn like you have to, they all
567
00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,560
want to do the cool tricks, but
the teacher would be like, no,
568
00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:32,920
you got to learn this first, or
you got to understand this
569
00:27:32,920 --> 00:27:35,120
foundation or you could hurt
yourself or, you know, there's
570
00:27:35,120 --> 00:27:36,400
no point just learning big
tricks.
571
00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,760
But some kids just wanted to
learn big tricks because really
572
00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,960
what they wanted to do was show
so off show the big tricks.
573
00:27:42,560 --> 00:27:45,040
I think that's a little bit that
can happen in magic too.
574
00:27:45,200 --> 00:27:48,200
So, but I do think in general
that that more people are being
575
00:27:48,200 --> 00:27:52,400
involved and more thinking
lifts, yeah, lifts, lifts the
576
00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:55,520
entire art form I do.
And I think that one of the
577
00:27:55,520 --> 00:27:59,720
things that you know, everybody
would be aware of is that that
578
00:27:59,720 --> 00:28:03,240
can now come very easily from
anywhere around the world.
579
00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:06,120
And you can see what people are
doing all over the globe.
580
00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:09,920
Rather than kind of your local
shop, where as you said, you
581
00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:13,160
might get gate kept out of
accessing a, a certain trick,
582
00:28:13,160 --> 00:28:16,760
which is which is cool.
But does, you know, with so many
583
00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:22,280
people kind of tuning in online,
does that demand for content
584
00:28:23,160 --> 00:28:26,280
mean that people can get burnt
out trying to keep up with that
585
00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:28,440
demand?
Or do you really just focus on,
586
00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:32,640
you know, your own thing?
And if it translates down into a
587
00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,640
piece of content, that's wicked.
If it doesn't, OK, cool.
588
00:28:35,640 --> 00:28:37,840
The bigger, the bigger
performance and the bigger
589
00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:39,200
illusion.
That's the real goal.
590
00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:42,000
For me, you've described me
100%.
591
00:28:42,240 --> 00:28:45,600
My goal is, you know, I do
television, I do live shows, and
592
00:28:45,600 --> 00:28:49,360
then socials are secondary.
Not because I don't like it,
593
00:28:49,640 --> 00:28:53,320
just because to put a whole
theatrical stage show together
594
00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:55,760
and any magician or any
performer knows this, it's very,
595
00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:59,440
very challenging to actually do
a 2 hour show and do it properly
596
00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:02,520
and seamless and cast and crew
and lighting and sound and AV
597
00:29:02,520 --> 00:29:03,600
and everything.
Question.
598
00:29:04,200 --> 00:29:06,240
So you know, that's what I do
primarily.
599
00:29:06,240 --> 00:29:08,360
So that's my first focus and my
first love.
600
00:29:08,360 --> 00:29:12,240
But I think other people, their
focus would be, I just want to
601
00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:16,400
do the content online and or no,
I'm getting results from the
602
00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:20,160
content online and therefore all
their focus and energy is on
603
00:29:20,160 --> 00:29:22,120
that, which makes sense because
that's where the results are
604
00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:24,360
coming from.
But but you can tell online
605
00:29:24,360 --> 00:29:26,440
magicians, pretty much their
focus is is is.
606
00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:29,120
Online, you know, makes sense
that it would be a bit difficult
607
00:29:29,120 --> 00:29:33,480
to translate something that
you've purposely focused on a
608
00:29:33,480 --> 00:29:37,760
creator to be viewed through
such a tiny device into a world
609
00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:41,800
where it is just so much more
wondrous and, and big.
610
00:29:41,800 --> 00:29:44,600
And, you know, for me
personally, like that's where
611
00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:48,160
the wow factor comes from.
And, you know, I'm somebody that
612
00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:50,600
doesn't actually want to know
how it's done.
613
00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:54,400
I would, I would rather keep,
you know, some magic in the
614
00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:58,040
world, like if you're a kid and
Santa's coming or you know,
615
00:29:58,080 --> 00:30:00,840
Easter Bunny or whatever it is.
So I don't really want to know
616
00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:04,680
the the secrets behind what you
do, but there is a lot of people
617
00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:06,520
that do.
And obviously there's there's
618
00:30:06,520 --> 00:30:09,960
that demand for that kind of
content, knowing that that world
619
00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:13,880
exists where there's a an entire
subsection of the audience that
620
00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,000
exists to literally just peek
behind the curtain and know how
621
00:30:17,000 --> 00:30:19,440
it's done.
Does that mean that when you
622
00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:23,040
create this genuine sense of
wonder and disbelief in an
623
00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:25,440
audience, is that even more
rewarding these days?
624
00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:26,840
Yeah.
Absolutely.
625
00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:30,720
And some degree of the live
audience, everyone's got access
626
00:30:30,720 --> 00:30:33,480
at their fingertips to, to, to
how things are done.
627
00:30:34,040 --> 00:30:39,280
And so when you manage to amaze
and baffle and not fool, it's
628
00:30:39,280 --> 00:30:41,240
not about ha ha, I'm really,
really clever.
629
00:30:41,240 --> 00:30:43,680
You're not that.
That is never the way that I
630
00:30:43,680 --> 00:30:46,000
approach it.
But to bring that sense of
631
00:30:46,000 --> 00:30:49,120
astonishment is a beautiful
thing.
632
00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:54,040
And yes, now in today's age, it
feels even more special to some
633
00:30:54,040 --> 00:30:55,520
degree.
And this is something you learn
634
00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:57,600
very, very quickly as a
magician.
635
00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,000
You think it's all about you.
In the beginning, like I got
636
00:31:00,000 --> 00:31:03,600
into magic because I was shy, I
was introverted, and I learned
637
00:31:03,600 --> 00:31:06,360
how to eat fire, and then I
learned how to take a $5 note
638
00:31:06,360 --> 00:31:08,160
and change it to A10.
It's all about me, Me, me, me,
639
00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:10,560
me, me, me, me, me.
It's a very selfish endeavour.
640
00:31:10,560 --> 00:31:12,840
You practise in your bedroom by
yourself in front of a mirror,
641
00:31:12,840 --> 00:31:15,080
watching yourself, videotaping
yourself, Self, self, self,
642
00:31:15,080 --> 00:31:16,680
self, self.
I'm the grand illusionist.
643
00:31:17,200 --> 00:31:20,080
And then you realise it's not
about me at all.
644
00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,360
It's actually, and I don't know
if all magicians realise that,
645
00:31:23,360 --> 00:31:26,200
but I definitely realise that
it's not about me, it's actually
646
00:31:26,200 --> 00:31:28,360
about the audience.
How does the audience feel?
647
00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,320
Again, when I did that linky
wing routine, how did I make
648
00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,800
them feel?
I have to share a part of myself
649
00:31:34,000 --> 00:31:36,280
in order to move them, in order
to touch their souls.
650
00:31:36,600 --> 00:31:39,960
And so it's not about me and,
and, and I think that's an
651
00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:44,320
interesting growth that you go
through in the beginning, but I
652
00:31:44,320 --> 00:31:46,640
forgot what your first, what the
actual question was.
653
00:31:46,720 --> 00:31:49,440
I mean, you, you've covered it
that, that it's more rewarding
654
00:31:49,440 --> 00:31:53,640
delivering that you know you are
essentially, even though what
655
00:31:53,760 --> 00:31:57,520
you know you're doing is as a
magician, you are delivering
656
00:31:57,520 --> 00:32:00,360
that feeling that magic exists
in the world.
657
00:32:00,360 --> 00:32:03,680
You could draw a connection
between it and say that world of
658
00:32:03,960 --> 00:32:07,920
of professional wrestling where
if you kind of suspend disbelief
659
00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:10,880
just to enjoy it for what it is,
you can get it.
660
00:32:11,120 --> 00:32:14,680
Although I think you know what
you do is is on another level
661
00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,040
compared to say professional
wrestling, but there is
662
00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:19,000
parallels there.
Yeah, there is, there's
663
00:32:19,000 --> 00:32:21,960
parallels.
For sure between, yes, I am a
664
00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:26,320
fully grown adult, I know that
it is, it is a trick or it is
665
00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:29,840
kind of rehearsed or something.
But yeah, being able to just
666
00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:33,720
kind of compartmentalise that
and enjoy it for what it is
667
00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:38,600
almost comes full circle all the
way back to, you know, 100 years
668
00:32:38,600 --> 00:32:41,720
ago where people were forced to
just enjoy it for what it was,
669
00:32:41,760 --> 00:32:45,560
which was that entertainment,
which is, which is a very ironic
670
00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:50,080
thing that, you know, as
technology and access to digital
671
00:32:50,080 --> 00:32:54,360
means has just permeated through
everything, It almost generates
672
00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:58,920
that traditional wonderment back
again by the nature of everyone
673
00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:02,800
being so used to seeing things
that are as they seem online.
674
00:33:02,800 --> 00:33:05,120
So when you're right, right, you
know, you're seeing it in the
675
00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:08,240
world, you're like, Oh my God,
you know, magic does exist.
676
00:33:08,240 --> 00:33:10,360
And yes.
Yeah, and it becomes quite.
677
00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:14,680
It's very powerful, especially
live, because again, I go back
678
00:33:14,680 --> 00:33:19,520
to online or on television and
I'm very conscious of this.
679
00:33:19,520 --> 00:33:23,040
You can sometimes justify it.
Like you'd say, that's an actor
680
00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:26,160
that's set up, that's not real.
If I was there, I would know how
681
00:33:26,160 --> 00:33:27,440
it's done.
Then you come and watch the live
682
00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:32,800
show and you go, huh, well, that
person's not set up because
683
00:33:32,800 --> 00:33:35,320
that's my brother.
So that's not set up.
684
00:33:35,320 --> 00:33:37,960
How did he know that?
Or I can't see any strings.
685
00:33:37,960 --> 00:33:39,400
I thought they levitated with
strings.
686
00:33:39,400 --> 00:33:40,800
I don't see any strings.
Do you see any strings?
687
00:33:40,800 --> 00:33:42,240
I don't see any strings.
So all of a sudden you start
688
00:33:42,240 --> 00:33:45,040
getting sucked into it the same
way when you go watch a concert
689
00:33:45,200 --> 00:33:47,400
or a sporting match.
It's great watching it on TV.
690
00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:48,680
To some degree on TV it's
better.
691
00:33:48,680 --> 00:33:50,360
Like you can see the
commentators explaining
692
00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:52,160
everything about the sporting
match and you can see everything
693
00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:54,080
really clearly.
But what a difference when
694
00:33:54,080 --> 00:33:57,960
you're in the actual event and
there's that that energy around
695
00:33:57,960 --> 00:34:00,760
you.
So the magic show is 100% works
696
00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:02,440
on that.
And I going back to what you
697
00:34:02,440 --> 00:34:05,160
said earlier, I'll just never
understand the idea.
698
00:34:05,160 --> 00:34:09,520
But by exposing magic for the
sake of exposing it, as he said,
699
00:34:09,520 --> 00:34:12,960
because it's like running around
kind of saying, hey, Christmas
700
00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:14,320
is coming up, guys.
And guess what?
701
00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:17,880
You know, Santa's not real.
Like, what does that do for you?
702
00:34:17,880 --> 00:34:18,719
Yeah.
Yeah, yeah.
703
00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:21,719
Like, I'm not really sure what,
like all you've done is kind of
704
00:34:21,719 --> 00:34:26,120
like killed some fucking kids.
Like, you know, they decide, oh,
705
00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:27,719
really?
Like they'll find that in their
706
00:34:27,719 --> 00:34:29,440
own time.
You know, where the Santa is
707
00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:31,360
real or not real.
And you know what?
708
00:34:32,000 --> 00:34:33,880
What a beautiful thing to
imagine.
709
00:34:33,880 --> 00:34:37,080
Like, like, you know, when you
first fanned out.
710
00:34:37,600 --> 00:34:39,239
I hope there's not too many
children like watching this.
711
00:34:39,679 --> 00:34:42,440
You know, when you first found
out you were kind of weren't you
712
00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:44,040
disappointed?
I know I was.
713
00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:46,000
I was, of course.
Oh, really?
714
00:34:46,199 --> 00:34:47,760
I remember that.
Sucks.
715
00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:51,520
Some kid told me I was in like
grade 2 and, and I didn't want
716
00:34:51,520 --> 00:34:53,600
to believe it.
You know, I was just like, I
717
00:34:53,600 --> 00:34:55,920
held on for, you know, a couple
of days longer.
718
00:34:55,920 --> 00:34:59,080
And then I think someone else
told me and, and then I probably
719
00:34:59,120 --> 00:35:00,760
asked my parents.
And so, you know, like
720
00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:04,160
destroying someone's belief in
something just to do it and, and
721
00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:06,960
show how clever you are.
Yeah.
722
00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:09,240
And, and I'll tell you something
else that's interesting too.
723
00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,840
I, from my own experience, and
again, other people may have a
724
00:35:12,840 --> 00:35:17,080
different experience.
I have found that when I, I'm
725
00:35:17,080 --> 00:35:21,320
not trying to insult anyone,
when I have performed for highly
726
00:35:21,320 --> 00:35:25,200
intellectual people, I always
find, I always used to think, oh
727
00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:27,760
man, they're going to dissect
it, they're going to debunk it,
728
00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:29,920
They're going to try.
And, and this has happened.
729
00:35:30,280 --> 00:35:33,960
And I, I performed at
conferences with, with surgeons
730
00:35:33,960 --> 00:35:36,040
and I thought, this is going to
be a tough gig.
731
00:35:36,520 --> 00:35:38,280
This is going to be really,
really challenging.
732
00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:43,320
And they're the ones that are
the most kind of immersed in it.
733
00:35:43,320 --> 00:35:46,400
And they see every nuance and
they go, wow, Now how you said
734
00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:48,480
this and how you said that, and
I don't know, maybe it's because
735
00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:52,080
they're more, maybe they can
just see it more clearly as
736
00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:55,160
opposed to sometimes performing
for an audience that maybe they
737
00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:58,000
don't have that same outlook.
They're not, not as maybe
738
00:35:58,000 --> 00:35:59,520
they're as worldly.
I'm not sure what it is.
739
00:35:59,680 --> 00:36:03,440
Then they're the ones that seem
to feel like you are attacked,
740
00:36:03,520 --> 00:36:07,600
attacking their intelligence.
And therefore, yes, and
741
00:36:07,600 --> 00:36:09,560
therefore they kind of go, well,
I I know how you did that.
742
00:36:09,560 --> 00:36:11,040
That's that stuff like this.
Yeah.
743
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:12,720
Most of the times they're wrong,
to be honest.
744
00:36:12,720 --> 00:36:14,720
That's a.
Really interesting point there
745
00:36:14,880 --> 00:36:20,120
that they are feeling that, yes,
it's a magic trick, but maybe
746
00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:23,560
they're seeing it as you
tricking them like they're a
747
00:36:23,560 --> 00:36:28,760
fool as opposed to, you know,
the sleight of hand or wow, how
748
00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:30,520
did they did that?
Yeah, that's, that's
749
00:36:30,520 --> 00:36:32,160
interesting.
And I think that that's
750
00:36:32,160 --> 00:36:36,600
obviously the people with that
focus and that approach to, to
751
00:36:36,600 --> 00:36:40,160
being an audience or an observer
is obviously one of the, the
752
00:36:40,160 --> 00:36:43,840
downsides that's much more
prevalent through, you know,
753
00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:47,560
the, the, the proliferation of,
of digital access and, and the
754
00:36:47,560 --> 00:36:51,040
Internet through the industry.
But everything that you've said
755
00:36:51,040 --> 00:36:53,840
as well, it sounds like there's
so many positives that have
756
00:36:53,840 --> 00:36:58,520
seen, you know, the craft, you
know the industry itself and and
757
00:36:58,560 --> 00:37:01,480
you know, the whole world of
magic and illusion grow and
758
00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:04,560
expand into new and exciting
ways, which is obviously
759
00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:07,560
fantastic.
That said, what would you say
760
00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:12,560
the biggest positive of
technology and and magic
761
00:37:12,640 --> 00:37:15,440
colliding has been?
OK, so from my perspective,
762
00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:18,600
there'd be two things.
It would be like the other day I
763
00:37:18,600 --> 00:37:22,960
had, I had someone in Vegas
email me and say, Hey, we're
764
00:37:22,960 --> 00:37:24,320
looking at doing this particular
gig.
765
00:37:24,320 --> 00:37:26,600
Can you do AB And CI was like,
Yep, cool.
766
00:37:26,720 --> 00:37:28,400
Boom, send them the video
straight away.
767
00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:30,480
Done.
Like it's just that quick.
768
00:37:30,720 --> 00:37:32,920
And they go, wow, yes, you made
a helicopter appear.
769
00:37:32,920 --> 00:37:35,480
You did this, you did that.
And like the, the, the, the
770
00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:39,240
communication is just so quick
and it's so like, and they can
771
00:37:39,240 --> 00:37:42,560
see what you do straight away.
And so things move much more
772
00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:43,800
quickly.
Another thing that's really
773
00:37:43,800 --> 00:37:47,240
interesting pictures, like when
I do international TV pictures,
774
00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:50,800
local pictures, but Interstate,
we do it like this.
775
00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:54,360
And, and so it's kind of, I used
to have to get on an aeroplane,
776
00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:58,760
fly to Sydney, going to the
studio, sit down at the board,
777
00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:01,320
you know, like it was, it was,
it was very, you know, it was
778
00:38:01,320 --> 00:38:02,560
cumbersome.
It was, there was a lot
779
00:38:02,560 --> 00:38:03,960
involved.
So little things.
780
00:38:03,960 --> 00:38:06,040
I just think of other things
like little things like that.
781
00:38:06,360 --> 00:38:08,520
You know, the international TV
shows have aired in 22
782
00:38:08,520 --> 00:38:10,280
countries.
I can talk to all those
783
00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:12,640
different countries, Vietnam,
Philippines, Indonesia, like
784
00:38:12,640 --> 00:38:13,880
this.
Yeah, yeah.
785
00:38:13,880 --> 00:38:16,440
All that work and promotion is
like a benefit to me.
786
00:38:16,480 --> 00:38:19,200
Then there's obviously the
technological side that works to
787
00:38:19,200 --> 00:38:22,920
make magic more, more magical is
the best way to put it.
788
00:38:23,160 --> 00:38:27,120
And the other thing that I love
is in my show, we incorporate a
789
00:38:27,120 --> 00:38:31,560
lot of AV content and screens.
So what I do now is I have a
790
00:38:31,560 --> 00:38:33,400
roving camera.
I've been doing this for a long,
791
00:38:33,400 --> 00:38:35,880
long time, but I have a roving
camera with me the whole time.
792
00:38:36,080 --> 00:38:38,480
Not like in a concert where you
know you're seeing the
793
00:38:38,480 --> 00:38:41,360
performances from so far away
that they're on the screen so
794
00:38:41,360 --> 00:38:42,640
you can watch them sing.
No, no, no.
795
00:38:42,640 --> 00:38:45,800
What I mean is like, I want to
show you a particular apparatus.
796
00:38:45,800 --> 00:38:48,240
I say I bring the camera in,
have a look at the trunk, have a
797
00:38:48,240 --> 00:38:49,440
look inside.
It's completely empty.
798
00:38:49,480 --> 00:38:50,320
Yes.
Is it solid?
799
00:38:50,320 --> 00:38:51,600
Look, I'll show you that it's
solid.
800
00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:54,000
Great.
So I'm proving to the audience
801
00:38:54,360 --> 00:38:56,440
that this is real.
I'm about to do this crazy death
802
00:38:56,440 --> 00:38:58,480
defying escape.
You know, look at the tank.
803
00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:00,120
It's a Perspex tank.
It's solid.
804
00:39:00,360 --> 00:39:02,080
Look at the glass lid, that's
solid.
805
00:39:02,080 --> 00:39:03,800
Look at the steel bars.
Look, they're solid.
806
00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:06,120
So the audience, even though
they're sitting there, they
807
00:39:06,120 --> 00:39:09,120
really get brought in and you
get to prove everything.
808
00:39:09,480 --> 00:39:13,080
That to me has enhanced the
magic and I've I've really
809
00:39:13,080 --> 00:39:17,400
embraced that because using that
kind of technology, I don't
810
00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:20,840
know, just it, it just makes it
more immersive.
811
00:39:20,840 --> 00:39:23,680
It's probably the word I'm
looking for, not just so like
812
00:39:23,680 --> 00:39:27,320
I'm sitting there and that's.
The show, yeah, that's, that's
813
00:39:28,320 --> 00:39:32,000
quite insightful that point
there around involving that
814
00:39:32,000 --> 00:39:35,920
technology and giving people
that close up look like once
815
00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:39,360
they can see actually there is
where are the hidden wires or
816
00:39:39,360 --> 00:39:41,280
where, I don't know, I don't
know the kind of things they're
817
00:39:41,280 --> 00:39:45,000
expecting to see.
But once they can see that it's
818
00:39:45,000 --> 00:39:48,480
not there through getting that
close up view, it almost turns
819
00:39:48,480 --> 00:39:53,800
the magic back up rather than,
you know, letting them peek
820
00:39:53,800 --> 00:39:57,200
behind the curtains.
So to see, oh, OK, how it's
821
00:39:57,200 --> 00:40:00,360
done, that's not something that
I'd I'd thought about.
822
00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:03,520
So that's very interesting to
hear that giving people access
823
00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:08,200
through technology can almost
baffle and bewilder them even
824
00:40:08,200 --> 00:40:08,600
more.
And.
825
00:40:09,280 --> 00:40:14,640
And what we also do is before a
big escape, I have a pre filmed
826
00:40:14,760 --> 00:40:17,800
content that I explain, this is
the escape.
827
00:40:17,800 --> 00:40:19,760
These are the locks, these are
the handcuffs, these are the
828
00:40:19,760 --> 00:40:22,120
chains.
And all of that is like a little
829
00:40:22,320 --> 00:40:25,680
kind of build up to what I'm
about to do again, to prove that
830
00:40:25,680 --> 00:40:29,520
what I'm doing is real.
So without it, I then
831
00:40:29,600 --> 00:40:32,960
traditionally have to do it on
stage, bring somebody up and it,
832
00:40:33,040 --> 00:40:35,120
it can kind of slow the pace a
little bit.
833
00:40:35,320 --> 00:40:38,680
So by having it in a video
packaged up quite neat and tidy
834
00:40:39,160 --> 00:40:40,840
it, it kind of sets the audience
up for now.
835
00:40:40,840 --> 00:40:42,520
This, this thing that's about to
happen.
836
00:40:42,600 --> 00:40:45,520
Instead of watching the screens,
the curtains shut and then the
837
00:40:45,520 --> 00:40:47,280
video finishes.
They now know what's going to
838
00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:47,920
happen.
They know.
839
00:40:48,000 --> 00:40:51,280
They know what the challenge is.
The kernel flies out and we're
840
00:40:51,280 --> 00:40:54,520
ready to go.
So it's just working out ways to
841
00:40:54,520 --> 00:40:57,840
incorporate it to enhance what
we're doing as opposed to taking
842
00:40:58,160 --> 00:41:01,960
taking away.
And that's, that's, I think a
843
00:41:01,960 --> 00:41:04,320
perfect summation there, the
kind of workflow.
844
00:41:04,720 --> 00:41:07,600
And you said something a couple
of minutes ago around you're
845
00:41:07,600 --> 00:41:12,320
able to leverage technology to
instantly pitch ideas all over
846
00:41:12,320 --> 00:41:15,160
the world and, and communicate
like that, which I would imagine
847
00:41:15,360 --> 00:41:19,320
frees up so much more time to
focus on developing the
848
00:41:19,320 --> 00:41:22,440
entertainment as well.
What's one piece of advice you
849
00:41:22,440 --> 00:41:26,840
would give to anybody interested
in in getting involved and, you
850
00:41:26,840 --> 00:41:29,040
know, thinking they, they don't
know where to start.
851
00:41:29,040 --> 00:41:31,880
They're intrigued by what
they've perhaps seen online and
852
00:41:31,880 --> 00:41:35,320
want to learn how that they can,
you know, start performing for
853
00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:37,040
themselves.
What's one piece of advice that
854
00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:37,600
you would?
Give that.
855
00:41:37,760 --> 00:41:42,680
Let me see.
Oh, there's so much that I
856
00:41:42,680 --> 00:41:45,160
would.
Let's say 3 pieces then.
857
00:41:45,320 --> 00:41:51,360
OK, I look, I think it's really
good to learn magic online
858
00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:55,160
because you can visually watch
it and you can mimic, and that
859
00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:57,240
makes the process of learning
much easier.
860
00:41:57,480 --> 00:42:00,360
But then there's a point where I
think you should try and get a
861
00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:04,320
book and learn from the book.
Because once you understand
862
00:42:04,320 --> 00:42:06,600
magic a little bit and the
mechanics and how things are
863
00:42:06,600 --> 00:42:11,120
supposed to be, learning from a
book forces you to really
864
00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:16,000
analyse what the trick is about,
where all the little mistakes
865
00:42:16,000 --> 00:42:19,840
can kind of happen.
And then you're forced to take
866
00:42:19,840 --> 00:42:22,560
what's on the page and go, OK,
so I've got this card trick.
867
00:42:22,720 --> 00:42:24,600
What do I do with it now?
What do I do?
868
00:42:24,600 --> 00:42:25,760
I do.
I tell a story.
869
00:42:26,400 --> 00:42:29,720
Do I talk about my grandfather
giving me this deck of cards?
870
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:31,920
Is it?
Did I learn it from a famous
871
00:42:31,920 --> 00:42:34,440
magician?
You start thinking, like, all of
872
00:42:34,440 --> 00:42:35,560
a sudden you got to start
thinking.
873
00:42:35,680 --> 00:42:37,640
When you watch it online, you
just go, oh, cool.
874
00:42:37,640 --> 00:42:39,800
OK, so there you just end up
copying it.
875
00:42:40,040 --> 00:42:43,040
And So what you end up with is
many of the same people kind of
876
00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:46,040
doing the same effect, the same
way with the same personality.
877
00:42:46,520 --> 00:42:52,080
And so if you're quite sincere
about being a magician, then at
878
00:42:52,080 --> 00:42:56,040
some point you'll you're going
to want to learn to develop your
879
00:42:56,040 --> 00:42:59,360
own kind of style and your own
approach.
880
00:42:59,800 --> 00:43:04,760
And you can only do that by
almost shutting off what
881
00:43:04,760 --> 00:43:07,120
everybody else is doing.
That's definitely what I did
882
00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:09,560
when I was growing up.
I was influenced by lots of
883
00:43:09,560 --> 00:43:10,920
people and said, you're kind of
afraid to see all these
884
00:43:10,920 --> 00:43:12,880
wonderful people.
David Copperfield Houdini.
885
00:43:13,120 --> 00:43:14,880
But then there's a point where
you kind of got to shuttle that
886
00:43:14,880 --> 00:43:17,960
away and try and find your own
style.
887
00:43:18,080 --> 00:43:21,200
And now it's just so much harder
online because you're just
888
00:43:21,200 --> 00:43:23,240
constantly watching how other
people do it, other people do
889
00:43:23,240 --> 00:43:24,680
it.
And so you kind of just, well,
890
00:43:24,680 --> 00:43:27,640
that's the way you do it and,
and you'll do it well.
891
00:43:27,640 --> 00:43:30,240
But if you learn it from a book,
you'll then be forced to do it
892
00:43:30,240 --> 00:43:31,840
to an audience.
Let's say you do it to your
893
00:43:31,840 --> 00:43:34,960
parents and you go, oh, that
didn't work, Mum didn't respond.
894
00:43:34,960 --> 00:43:36,720
Then all of a sudden you think
about it, why didn't mum
895
00:43:36,720 --> 00:43:38,800
respond?
And you start to analyse the
896
00:43:38,800 --> 00:43:40,400
effect more.
It ends up being a little more
897
00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:42,440
challenging and you have to put
more time into it.
898
00:43:42,680 --> 00:43:45,880
If you really are interested in
pursuing the art form, if you
899
00:43:45,880 --> 00:43:48,320
just want to learn a trick, I
think it's just good to, you
900
00:43:48,320 --> 00:43:50,520
know, it's great to do it online
or learn from a video.
901
00:43:50,840 --> 00:43:52,760
It just depends where you want
to go with it or what you want
902
00:43:52,760 --> 00:43:55,080
to do.
So my advice, I guess, is learn
903
00:43:55,080 --> 00:43:58,440
your trick online and then at
some point learn from books.
904
00:43:58,560 --> 00:44:00,400
Like honestly, really learn from
books.
905
00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:03,720
The trick is only one aspect,
the storytelling, the
906
00:44:03,720 --> 00:44:05,360
presentation, the showmanship is
another.
907
00:44:05,360 --> 00:44:08,840
That would be my, my, my advice.
And I would say if you want to
908
00:44:08,840 --> 00:44:14,280
be a great magician, you have to
love the process of practise and
909
00:44:14,280 --> 00:44:17,400
rehearsal.
If you don't, I don't know, you
910
00:44:17,400 --> 00:44:19,640
can be that good.
So you can't just love.
911
00:44:19,920 --> 00:44:23,360
You can't just love that result.
Yeah, it makes a lot of sense
912
00:44:23,360 --> 00:44:26,400
that like everything, you know,
you get out of it kind of what
913
00:44:26,400 --> 00:44:28,160
you put in.
And you, you said something
914
00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:31,200
there too, which is exactly what
I was thinking, that developing
915
00:44:31,200 --> 00:44:34,400
your own storytelling to build
that, as you mentioned earlier,
916
00:44:34,400 --> 00:44:37,200
emotional connection is what
really is going to make someone
917
00:44:37,200 --> 00:44:38,920
kind of stand out on on their
own.
918
00:44:38,960 --> 00:44:41,920
But Speaking of storytelling,
tell us what you've got coming
919
00:44:41,920 --> 00:44:44,640
up, and then how can people
follow what you're up to?
920
00:44:45,400 --> 00:44:49,320
Yes, I've got a brand new tour.
We've called it tricked.
921
00:44:49,400 --> 00:44:52,080
Why?
Because it's a bit of a play on,
922
00:44:52,080 --> 00:44:54,200
you know, people always think
you you're coming out there to
923
00:44:54,200 --> 00:44:55,760
try and trick them.
And obviously the way my
924
00:44:55,760 --> 00:44:57,240
approach is that I'm not really
there.
925
00:44:57,240 --> 00:44:59,920
I'm not trying to fool you.
I'm not trying to prove that I'm
926
00:44:59,920 --> 00:45:02,000
so much more intelligent than
you are.
927
00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:05,240
That's not the idea at all.
And it's a brand new tour, new
928
00:45:05,240 --> 00:45:07,960
illusions, new escapes, new
close ups, slide of hammaging, a
929
00:45:07,960 --> 00:45:13,600
lot of technology involved all
this AV content, LED screen.
930
00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:16,240
So we can explain, you know, do
what I was explaining to you
931
00:45:16,240 --> 00:45:19,400
earlier, like show things on
camera, lots of close up work,
932
00:45:19,760 --> 00:45:22,720
lots of interaction with the
audience, very immersive.
933
00:45:23,240 --> 00:45:25,720
And I'm touring, it's starting
to tour all around the country.
934
00:45:25,720 --> 00:45:28,280
So people can find out by going
to my website
935
00:45:28,280 --> 00:45:34,080
cosentino.com.eusoitscosentino.com
dot AU all all my socials, which
936
00:45:34,080 --> 00:45:36,280
is the Cosentino on all
platforms.
937
00:45:37,400 --> 00:45:40,120
Awesome, Cosantino, thank you so
much for joining us.
938
00:45:40,680 --> 00:45:42,200
My pleasure, thank you for
having me.
939
00:45:43,200 --> 00:45:45,440
For more info on what we've
discussed today, check out the
940
00:45:45,440 --> 00:45:47,400
show notes.
If you enjoyed this one, you can
941
00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:49,560
subscribe to Ruined by the
Internet on your favourite
942
00:45:49,560 --> 00:45:52,680
podcast app and help spread the
word by sharing this episode or
943
00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:55,320
leaving a review.
I'm Gareth King, see you next
944
00:45:55,320 --> 00:45:55,560
time.

Cosentino
Magician / Illusionist / Escapologist / Comedian / Author / Entrepreneur
"The greatest magic show you will see" – News Corp
"One of the best escape acts I have ever seen" – Simon Cowell
"One of the world’s best magicians" - CNN
"Revolutionised the art of magic in Australia, making it one of the hottest genres in primetime" – The Today Show
"The most dominant figure currently in Australian Entertainment" – Macquarie Radio Network
"Australia's most successful magician, illusionist and escapologist" - SUNDAY NIGHT program, Seven Network
"An international phenomenon" – TVNZ
"Australia’s best magic showman, one of the finest in the world" – Men’s Style Magazine
Cosentino is Australia’s most successful magician, illusionist and escape artist. He has been recognised as “the most dominant figure currently in Australian entertainment” and now Cosentino is quickly becoming a giant on the world stage.
A true entertainment trailblazer, Cosentino was the first Australian magician to have his own TV shows. He has written, produced & starred in 10 (ten) highly successful prime-time specials, which have now been broadcast in over 40 countries and seen by over 750 million people. The Today Show said “Cosentino has single handedly revolutionised the art of magic in Australia, making it one of the hottest genres in primetime”.
Cosentino has appeared on every major television show and media outlet across Australia making him a household name and one of country’s most recognisable entertainers.… Read More