{"id":1379,"date":"2019-06-16T11:12:16","date_gmt":"2019-06-16T11:12:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/partywizz.com\/blog\/?page_id=1379"},"modified":"2022-08-16T10:09:34","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T10:09:34","slug":"spotlight-ali-baba","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/partywizz.com\/blog\/spotlight-ali-baba\/","title":{"rendered":"Performer Spotlight: Ali Baba"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Get to know Ali Baba<\/h2>\n

Ali Baba, AKA Barry Sinclair, has been in Show business for the last 40 years.\u00a0 He is not only a celebrated magician but also one of Ireland\u2019s top hypnotists.<\/p>\n

Barry started out doing children\u2019s parties<\/a> and after a phenomenal career performing in theatres, cruise ships and private events, he has come full circle and is again delighting children at birthday parties and family occasions.<\/p>\n

We asked Barry to tell us about his colourful career and why he does what he does.<\/p>\n

Quickfire questions with Barry Sinclair<\/h2>\n

Have you always been in entertainment?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I come from a legal family in Swords and since I was always a good talker, it was generally expected of me that I would join in the family tradition and become a barrister.<\/p>\n

However, instead, I studied aeronautical engineering and went on to be Chief Boeing buyer for Aer Lingus. Although I dabbled in magic from an early age, I didn\u2019t turn professional until later.<\/p>\n

So how did you first get into magic and hypnotism?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I was first interested in both at school.\u00a0 Magic came first; I remember someone making a coin disappear and being intrigued.\u00a0 So I got a book on magic and read up on it.<\/p>\n

A little later a hypnotist came to our school and inspired me.\u00a0 Soon after I managed to hypnotise a teacher and I realized that I had an ability to make people relax and trust me.<\/p>\n

Before long I was able to make people do extraordinary looking things like believe they are a chicken laying a square egg with sharp corners!<\/p>\n

How did you develop the necessary skills?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

As I say, I was into magic from my school days.\u00a0 I bought books on magic and studied it but more important than that, I took instruction in other aspects of performance.\u00a0 I had lessons in speaking, stagecraft and choreography from a well-known movie star.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t just learn tricks, I learnt a craft.<\/p>\n

What have been the highlights of your career?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve performed for two presidents, both Reagan and Carter and they would certainly have been highlights.\u00a0 I\u2019ve also performed one-man shows in many beautiful theatres at home and internationally such as the Olympia in Dublin and the Edinburgh Playhouse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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How did you get into entertaining professionally?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I was once at a party and I sung Danny Boy in front of everyone.\u00a0 I immediately had everyone dying with laughter and at that moment I knew I had what it takes to entertain people.\u00a0 It didn\u2019t matter to me what kind of entertainment it was going to be \u2013 that would be just a means to an end \u2013 but I wanted to be a performer.<\/p>\n

So I took 6 months leave from Aer Lingus and started performing magic shows.\u00a0 I was offered a job entertaining on a cruise ship and I loved it so much that I never went back to Aer Lingus.<\/p>\n

What is it about performing that you enjoy?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I love making people laugh and that\u2019s why I do it.\u00a0 That reaction has always been more important to me than the pay cheque. Although I\u2019ve done very well out of performing for a living over the years, I would have done it for nothing.\u00a0\u00a0 Show business doesn\u2019t feel like work.\u00a0 You see, if you like what you do, you\u2019ll never work a day in your life.<\/p>\n

Why do you think you\u2019ve been so successful?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019ve had the right combination of a burning desire and the energy to do it.\u00a0 Talent is actually less important because if you\u2019ve got no energy you will get nowhere.<\/p>\n

I think it\u2019s also because I don\u2019t take myself or life too seriously.\u00a0 I\u2019ve never needed the stature or the acclaim.\u00a0 I just do what I enjoy doing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n