{"id":1508,"date":"2019-08-01T16:17:52","date_gmt":"2019-08-01T16:17:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/partywizz.com\/blog\/?page_id=1508"},"modified":"2022-08-16T10:10:13","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T10:10:13","slug":"spotlight-jack-wise","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/partywizz.com\/blog\/spotlight-jack-wise\/","title":{"rendered":"Performer Spotlight: Jack Wise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"Partywizz<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Get to know Jack Wise<\/h2>\n

Jack Wise is one of the best known and loved entertainers in Ireland.\u00a0 He is well established as a comedy magician but he is also a sword-swallower and ventriloquist.<\/p>\n

He is incredibly versatile performing at a wide range of events from international festivals, to corporate and private parties,<\/a> for both adults and children<\/a>.\u00a0 He also performs at comedy clubs and is a regular headliner at the Laughter Lounge<\/a> in Dublin.<\/p>\n

We sat down with Jack and asked him about his philosophy on magic and entertaining, and what makes him different.<\/p>\n

Quickfire questions<\/h2>\n

What is your background<\/h3>\n

I\u2019m from Ballsbridge in Dublin and I guess I\u2019m really the black sheep of the family.\u00a0 I started off working for a private investigative firm and was then offered a place on a course of Electrical Engineering.\u00a0 I turned it down, and looking back, I\u2019m glad I did as that paved the way to getting into entertainment instead.<\/p>\n

Have you always been interested in magic?<\/h3>\n

I have had an interest in magic since I was 8.\u00a0 I was fascinated with magic on TV and then I bought a series of magic tricks that were marketed by the well -known TV magician at the time, Paul Daniels.\u00a0 Shortly afterwards an elderly neighbour taught me the Three Card trick, and that was it; I was hooked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

At what point did you think that magic might make a good career?<\/h3>\n

Whilst still young I performed one of my tricks for my Aunt.\u00a0 This is a lady who is known for being pretty vocal, and let\u2019s say she would never spare the opportunity to make constructive criticism.\u00a0 She was overhead swearing and saying \u2018How is that child doing that\u2019.\u00a0 At that moment I knew I was on to something!<\/p>\n

How did you learn to do magic professionally?<\/h3>\n

When I was about 20, I took a Summer job working in the magic shop that used to be in St Stephen\u2019s Green Shopping Centre.\u00a0 I used to demonstrate the tricks which was a great way to practice in front of a live audience and learn presentation skills.\u00a0 I also joined the Society of Irish Magicians where I met many fantastic professional magicians.<\/p>\n

It was also at that point that I met two wonderful magicians, Quentin Reynolds and Barry Sinclair<\/a>, (the latter who is also on the PartyWizz platform<\/a>).\u00a0 They were huge inspirations and became my magic mentors.<\/p>\n

What is it about magic that engages you?<\/h3>\n

For me there are two payoffs to an interest in magic.\u00a0 The first is the mystery.\u00a0 Unlike some people who only want to know how a trick is done, I genuinely enjoy being fooled.\u00a0 The second is obviously the secret \u2013 finding out how a trick is done is very satisfying.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[siteorigin_widget class=”WP_Widget_Media_Image”][\/siteorigin_widget]<\/div>\n
\n
\n

How did you start to incorporate comedy into your magic?<\/h3>\n

One of my earliest regular gigs was in the Pod nightclub and I remember one day adding a joke into one of my routines.\u00a0 I saw the reaction on the audience\u2019s faces and I knew at that point that the comedy element could be hugely valuable.<\/p>\n

Depending on their perspective, people now either see me as a magician who also does comedy or a comedian who also does magic.<\/p>\n

But you are also a sword swallower and a ventriloquist, right? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes \u2013 I love variety.\u00a0 My act was once described in the press as \u2018modern day vaudeville\u2019.\u00a0 I think that\u2019s a pretty good description of what I do.<\/p>\n

I saw sword swallowing done in a festival and I thought \u2018that\u2019s the coolest thing ever, I need to do that\u2019.\u00a0 And so I taught myself.\u00a0 I don\u2019t recommend that though.\u00a0 When I look back it probably wasn\u2019t a good idea!<\/p>\n

How would you describe your style when entertaining children?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I don\u2019t treat the audience like kids.\u00a0 I don\u2019t talk down to them or patronise them; I just have a laugh with them, and I think they react well to that.\u00a0 I love performing to families with mixed ages at events like communions and christenings.\u00a0 When everyone from the grandparents to the youngest are laughing, I know I\u2019m doing my job.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n