{"id":1152,"date":"2019-04-23T11:48:53","date_gmt":"2019-04-23T11:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/partywizz.com\/blog\/?page_id=1152"},"modified":"2022-08-16T10:09:49","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T10:09:49","slug":"spotlight-carl-campbell","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/partywizz.com\/blog\/spotlight-carl-campbell\/","title":{"rendered":"Performer Spotlight: Carl Campbell"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Get to know Carl Campbell<\/h2>\n

Carl is one of the most versatile magicians in Ireland.\u00a0 He is a well-known kid\u2019s magician but is also just as adept at wowing adult audiences with his amazing close-up magic.<\/p>\n

He performs at all occasions from weddings and private parties to corporate events and family fun days and has been a professional magician for 15 years.<\/p>\n

Quickfire questions<\/h2>\n

We asked Carl how he got into magic, what happens in his shows and for his thoughts on being a magician in 2019. Here are his answers!<\/p>\n

What is your background?<\/h4>\n

I was a printer for 11 years before I was a magician but I was always fairly creative having studied art at college after school.<\/p>\n

How and when did you get into magic?<\/h4>\n

I have always been fascinated by magic.\u00a0 My grandfather used to do some tricks and when I was 10 he gave me a magic set as a present.\u00a0 That got me hooked!<\/p>\n

Funnily enough, I found the same set on eBay this year and when it arrived in the post it brought back amazing memories of discovering magic for the first time.\u00a0 It was really quite emotional.<\/p>\n

Did anyone particularly inspire you to start?<\/h4>\n

Apart from my Grandfather, I used to watch the Paul Daniels magic show and I guess, like many budding magicians of the time, he was a real inspiration.<\/p>\n

Did you always want to be a magician?<\/h4>\n

I always wanted to be either an artist or a magician \u2013 magician won!<\/p>\n

How did you become a professional?<\/h4>\n

I was made redundant as a printer and one day I was searching the internet and came across an online magic shop.<\/p>\n

I had dropped magic in my teens and early 20s \u2013 it wasn\u2019t very cool in those days to be a magician and I was more focused on chasing girls!\u00a0 But chancing upon the magic shop really brought the passion back.<\/p>\n

Since there were no magic shops in Dublin, I bought a few tricks online and that was it.\u00a0 Within 5 years I was a professional magician and I\u2019ve never looked back.<\/p>\n

How did you learn magic?<\/h4>\n

I am self-taught really and learnt by reading lots of magic books and instructional DVDs.\u00a0 Later I became a member of the\u00a0prestigious Society of Irish Magicians (SIM) where I would share my love of magic with others and pick up more ideas.<\/p>\n

Why do you enjoy what you do?<\/h4>\n

I love seeing the reaction on people\u2019s faces.\u00a0 Taking people back to that sense of wonder and doing the impossible is really rewarding.<\/p>\n

Tell us about the kid\u2019s parties that you do<\/h4>\n

So I offer a one hour show which is a mix of visual magic and slap-stick comedy.\u00a0 I perform around 15 different tricks which culminates in the appearance of a live bunny rabbit.<\/p>\n

Making a rabbit appear is a classic of magic but very few people actually perform it these days, and the kids love it.\u00a0 There is loads of audience participation in my show and the kids get to come up and help make the magic happen<\/p>\n

And you also do magic for adults. What kind of occasions?<\/h4>\n

I perform at all occasions but I\u2019m pretty well-known as a wedding magician.\u00a0 I also perform at all family occasions as well as corporate events.\u00a0 I recently did a birthday party for a 104-year-old!<\/p>\n

When someone asks me what age my magic is suitable for, I like to say that I perform for everyone from 4 to 104 \u2013 and two hours past death!<\/p>\n

Do you think kids or adults are more difficult to fool and entertain?<\/h4>\n

Definitely, kids are more difficult to fool!\u00a0 They look at things in a more direct way than adults so they are more likely to work out what is going on.<\/p>\n

Which do you prefer?<\/h4>\n

I honestly love performing for both, but for different reasons.\u00a0 And I love the variety.<\/p>\n

What is your favourite kind of gig or have any been especially memorable?<\/h4>\n

I enjoy most of the shows I do \u2013 but someone once gave me a 500 euro tip \u2013 so that one is especially memorable!<\/p>\n

Do you have any amusing performing stories you can share?<\/h4>\n

I often get repeat bookings which is nice.\u00a0Once I was asked back to do a show for a family but between the two shows my rabbit died and I had bought a new one.\u00a0 I\u2019d struggled to find a white rabbit so I\u2019d ended up with a black one.<\/p>\n

After making the rabbit appear, which is always the climax of my show, the son who had seen it before came running up to me and said \u2018wow!\u00a0 Not only did you make the rabbit appear but you changed its colour by magic too!\u2019<\/p>\n

Has the kid\u2019s party industry changed since you started in it?<\/h4>\n

I think the industry has got more competitive.\u00a0 You have to keep on your toes and make sure you are really doing a good show to impress the kids.<\/p>\n

In the days of iPads and games consoles, it\u2019s also harder to keep their attention for long.\u00a0 I had one gig the other day where all the kids were on their smartphones during the performance!<\/p>\n

How many shows do you estimate you have personally done?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

I estimate that I\u2019ve performed between 3,500 and 4000 shows during my 15-year career in magic.\u00a0 Magic has been good to me!<\/p>\n

But even now when people ask me what I do and I say \u2018I\u2019m a magician\u2019, they look and me and say \u2018yes, but what\u2019s your real job?\u2019 They can\u2019t seem to believe you can make a living out of it \u2013 but I have made a successful career of it.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your top 3 party tips for someone hosting a stress-free kids party?<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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  1. Feed the kids after the show and definitely don\u2019t give them sugar before or during!<\/li>\n
  2. Put toys away or cover them up before the performance<\/li>\n
  3. Invite the kids to arrive at least 30 minutes before the show to allow for latecomers<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    What do you think of PartyWizz?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    It\u2019s a great way to make the process easier for those booking and at the same time provide more business for performers.<\/p>\n

    If you could perform for anyone, who would it be?<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    My Dad.\u00a0 Sadly, he passed away when I was 8, before I got into magic.<\/p>\n

    Do you have a favourite child-friendly joke?!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

    Knock knock<\/p>\n

    Whose there?<\/p>\n

    Phylis<\/p>\n

    Phylis who<\/p>\n

    Phylis a glass of water please!<\/p>\n

    Interested in booking Carl for your next event?<\/h2>\n

    You can book Carl online for an action-packed kid\u2019s party<\/a> or for his amazing close-up magic for events for adults. These events can be weddings<\/a>, corporate function events<\/a> or private parties<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

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    \n\"Book<\/a><\/span>