Over the years I have been fortunate enough to be interviewed on many occasions for articles or video programmes, and one of the questions that often gets asked is, who inspired you when you first started out?
It’s a natural enough query to make as most of us get into magic after seeing a magician who excites us and who we want to be able to emulate. However, after that initial burst of inspiration, more often than not that first individual melts into the background, and continued enthusiasm and impetus needs to come from somewhere, or someone, else.
And this is where I think luck can play a huge part in how we all develop as magicians. Obviously a certain amount of motivation will come from within ourselves, but magical direction can often be hugely influenced by who we mix with on a more regular basis as we develop our interest in the art.
When I look back over my own magic development, there have been a small number of hugely influential people who have had a direct bearing on the path that my career has taken. The way that these individuals came into my life seems totally serendipitous, and had just one or two circumstances been different in either their lives or mine, our paths might never have crossed.
Of course, we can never know how things might have turned out had different people brought their influences to bear, but looking back on my personal situation, I feel incredibly lucky to have had the benefit of those close to me. The help, advice and friendship that these people have given me over the years I consider to be priceless and I know that my magic path would have been very different without them.
I have just finished reading stand up comedian Michael McIntyre’s second autobiography called A Funny Life. In it, Michael tells a similar tale of the huge influence his agent and mentor Addison had on his life and career. Addison turned Michael from a jobbing stand up comedian who was scraping a meagre living from entertaining 3 men and a dog in shabby clubs, to an international star who was able to sell out massive arenas around the world and become a TV household name with prime time Saturday night shows on BBC1.
Addison, by all accounts, was a real larger than life character who had the skills and enthusiasm to push Michael way out of his comfort zone and into the bright lights of a mega career that has earned him huge riches and fame. Had Michael hooked up with an agent with less imagination and drive, which he could quite easily have done, he might never have progressed much beyond his lowly beginnings, a fate that befalls so many in the business.
So, the most important question we should all ask ourselves is, who exerts the most ongoing influence on our magic, and is it the right person to help us to achieve everything we are looking for? Yes, having a good boost at the start is worthwhile, but I would suggest that strong support of the right calibre needs to accompany our journey if we want to stand the best chance of being truly successful.
Do you have that key influence in your magic life? If not, maybe it’s time to look around to see who might help you.