617: U.K. Kid Show Magicians

Kids are kids the world over and they all love magic. But there are some subtle differences in how and where magic is presented to children in the U.S. versus how it's done in the U.K. This week we chat with family and children show entertainers from the U.K. about these differences and some of their challenges (i.e. taking the tube and/or train in London between shows) and how they brand themselves by using memorable names for their characters.

Listen this week to our chat with Martin "Mr. Biscuit" Cox, Dave "Magic Dave" Allen and Paul "Colonel Custard" Megram as we hear how it's done "across the pond."

This week’s podcast episode on YouTube.

This week, Paul Megram, Dave Allen and Martin Cox represent a small sample of the complex and multi-levels of children’s show magicians in England. Someone could easily make a podcast devoted to just the kid show industry in the U.K. by featuring a different entertainer each week, but that’s not what The Magic Word Podcast is about. So please enjoy this 35,000 foot (or 10,668 meters) overview of this lucrative industry and accept our apologies if we have left out you as a guest or topics that you think we should have discussed.

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588: Stuart MacDonald - What a Character

Multiple award winner, Stuart Macdonald continues to reinvent himself. From a nine to five job in the corporate world, he developed a contest act that won awards after awards that took him around the world. Along the way, he performed magic on the college circuit and spent many years producing a haunted house that had thousands of visitors annually with a staff of over 50 employees. He developed a character (Richard Presto) for the digital age regularly performing on Zoom meetings with his hip, 1960’s persona.

Cryogenically frozen in 1962 Richard Preston was the greatest entertainer and magician of his generation. Stuart MacDonald, magician / actor www.stuartmacdonald.com

Richard Preston is the first entertainer to be cryogenically frozen in 1962 and was unthawed to bring the world back together. He was the greatest entertainer in history up to 1962 and now he's proving it again with a revival of his 2020 Christmas Capers Holiday Magic Show.

In this week’s episode, Stuart talks about his magical journey from the corporate world to the full time performances as a magician. Alon the way he also fooled Penn & Teller on their television show plus he is in demand giving keynote speeches to corporate audiences. This “chameleon” of a man is constantly reinventing his act and himself to keep up with the times by finding what his audience wants and needs at the time when they want and need it.

547: Hannibal - Making a Connection

Hannibal is another magician who got into magic later in life. He was 26 when he decided to make it a career. In this episode, he talks about being creative, finding his character, developing his unique act after he was forced to improvise. He also talks about scripting versus “Jazz magic”, performing in theatres vs. intimate venues, the benefits of street performing, and his Renaissance character as Hannibal the Liar. He also discusses what “Magic” is to him. We even have a little workshop on creativity and “not stopping too soon” when thinking about your act or a routine. The main point of this episode is inspiring you create a memorable moment in your act that your audience will take home and keep forever.

He also has a blog entitled, “The Truth Is…” which you can find by Clicking Here.

A fun little effect performed at the Magic Castle. Enjoy! Thank you for watching,

This week, Hannibal talks about how (out of necessity) he developed a new close-up act, how he developed his character, the progress of developing his act, and he even holds a little workshop on how to think beyond what you believe is “finished.” It’s almost like a mini-lecture, all tied up neatly in this week’s episode.