Tay Around Town

Local magician Liam Jumpertz (LJ) can sometimes be seen busking in the heart of Melbourne, and at other times he has alter egos performing a range of other activities (including wrestling!) Recently, I sat down with this down to earth and fascinating performer to find out more about his upcoming show at The 2022 Melbourne Magic Festival.

Describe your show in 3 words: Funny, Relatable, Amazing

What makes you ‘THAT’ magic guy? What makes you stand out / sets you apart?
Having performed on the streets of Melbourne and at local events around Victoria for over 10 years. I have grown up in front of the people of Melbourne and created a unique brand of relatable, comedy magic that uses everyday objects to accomplish amazing moments.

Who (or what) influences you?
My biggest influences / inspirations in magic are Penn and Teller. Without them I would not be performing magic today. I was lucky enough to see their live show in Melbourne just this week and I got to meet and have dinner with Teller which made a childhood dream come true.

Why should audiences come and see your show?
That Magic Guy is for all who love supporting a home grown, exciting young performer. There are a lot of people who have known I am a magician for years but never seen me live, this year a lot of them will finally be able to watch me perform. I want to share that special experience with as many people as possible and create a personal, relatable show with a performer who loves to make people laugh and scratch their heads in amazement.

What are you looking forward to at this year’s Melbourne Magic Festival?
As much as I am looking forward to performing for the wonderful people who come to see That Magic Guy. The thing I am looking forward to the most about MMF 2022 is the unique vibe of the Magic Festival, where creative like minded people get to share their art with the public and collaborate with other artists. It’s just such a special time of the year and we are so lucky to have such a brilliant community.

We’re lucky to have such a rich assortment of home grown magical talent here in Melbourne. LJ is: That Magic Guy, and he’ll be appearing from July 5th – July 9th (9pm each night) at The Slydini Showroom – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston St, Melbourne. Don’t miss out – grab your tickets here.

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The next magician I’m lucky to sit down and interview is no stranger to The Melbourne Magic Festival. In fact, in any given year if you attend the festival it is likely he will have a show on! My next guest is none other than talented local magician and card whiz Josh Staley!

Describe your show in 3 words: Conjure. At. CardTable (if we pretend Card Table is one word)

To be serious, the show is about pulling back the curtain and revealing skills both the conjurer and the card cheat use, skills like sleight of hand, psychology and misdirection and I think this is a really intriguing concept for audiences (especially those who have been to the Melbourne Magic Festival before) and are perhaps are a little bit more interested in the methods behind magic. So my 3 words would be – Intriguing, rule-breaking (hyphen saves the day) and fun, because I still want to keep the high energy, humorous style I’m known for, even when breaking the magician’s code. 

Your show title is card focused – do you have a favourite card? why / why not?
My first year at the Magic Festival was not performing a show, but instead, I competed in the Australian Junior championships. In my act, I had someone choose and sign a card, which was the 4 of hearts. I was lucky enough to win the event and be crowned “Australian Junior Champion of Magic” and I had the card and a few other pieces from the act framed as a memento, so the 4 of Hearts has become a bit of a lucky card for me after helping launch such a successful run of Melbourne Magic Memories. 

You’ve performed shows at The Melbourne Magic Festival for many years – what keeps you coming back to perform at this festival? 
I have 2 answers to this; First of all the Magic Festival is without a doubt one of my favourite times of the year, because it brings me so many different opportunities and each year is always a little different. Last year I performed a sell-out run of close-up shows for 50 audience members, whereas this year I get to perform for nearly double that in a larger parlour show. Combined with highlights such as Magic Sports (easily the year’s funniest show) and running along with hosting the Australian Junior Championships and special appearances at events like The Galas or Best of the Magic Fest means there’s such variety each year that it always excites me to see what happens next. 
Second, for each of those shows and events, the audience is so enthusiastic that it would be impossible to stay away. It’s really rare to do a show where each and every audience member is nearly as obsessed as I am, and yet every year I’m blown away by the passion the MMF fans bring to every show they attend. 

Do you have a favourite memory of performing at The Melbourne Magic Festival? 
Before international change (thanks, Covid!) the MMF was lucky enough to host some of the greatest living magicians from all over the world, and being able to meet and then perform for my heroes was a dream come true. From world champions like Shoot Ogawa and Helder Guimarães to prolific creators like Eric Jones and Dani DaOrtiz to magic legends like Wayne Houchin and Joshua Jay, sharing our love of magic, and being able to become friends with these industry giants have led to some incredible memories and opportunities.

What do you enjoy most about performing magic? 
Ever since I was a little boy, the wonder and joy magic created for me was the greatest feeling. Being able to create those sensations for others is easily the best part of performing. Every spectator enjoys the show for different reasons; some people love to be fooled, whereas others want to try to unravel the mystery. Some people really like the comedy and humour, others like the storytelling. Regardless of what attracts you to the show, when that moment of something impossible hits, everything else fades away, and you’re left with that feeling of wonder. I think it’s one of the best feelings in the world, and it is a true gift that I’m able to share that with people every night. 

This interview helps sum up what makes Josh so passionate about magic and sharing his magical talents with his audiences. If you’re headed to The Melbourne Magic Festival this year, make sure you stop and enjoy Josh’s show.

The Conjuror at The Card Table runs from July 5th – 9th (8pm each night) at The Cardini Cabaret – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston Street Melbourne. Tickets are available here.

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This week, I sat down with Tyler Sandiford, who is making his magical debut at The Melbourne Magic Festival in 2022! The Melbourne Magic Festival is known for making performers new to the festival feel welcome and supported so I hope you’ll read on to discover more about Tyler and his magical background.

I hear this is your Melbourne Magic Festival debut! Tell us a bit about yourself / your background
I’m a self-taught entertainer and magician who from a young age was always interested in the mystical and mysterious nature of magic. The duality of the art between those in the know and those on the outside. I’ve been practicing Magic for about ~20 years and I have performed for countless private parties and corporate events. In fact, it was a great source of income when I was studying. I was first introduced to magic by the clown that attended my 5th birthday and then like many it was the masked magician that grow the passion and taught me some basic concepts to sow the seed. I’ve been in the audience of countless MMF shows and I’ve always enjoyed the inclusive feeling that the various performers brought to the event. Last year my wife and I were able to attend ALL the shows because we lucked out and won the Golden Tickets, this gave us the opportunity to meet all of the wonderful performers and gave me the push to put my hat in the ring. 

Describe your show in 3 words: Games, Fresh, Mentalism

Without giving too much away, what can audiences expect from your show?
The idea of the show stems from the fact that my cheeky younger brother was always cheating at board games. Even now if we fire one up he’ll double-throw dice to get the number that he wants. Coupled with what was a growing strategic mind I found myself in a war of wits. Where I needed to use savory and unsavory skills to get the upper hand and match his similar tactics. 

Do you have a favourite tall tale?
Not sure about my favourite but the first one that comes to mind is a time when my brother offered a stack of PS2 games for a deep discount. Something like 12 games for $50, I had the money and was recently given a PS2 from a friend. Most of the games he had weren’t necessarily in my wheelhouse (FIFA and Madden) but a couple like Bully were certainly on my list of games to play. The thing is we lived in the same house. If I wanted to borrow the game it wouldn’t have been an issue; he just wanted an extra couple of dollars for something he had his eye on. Anyway after a little to and fro I agreed. Not thinking much of it I took the games into my room only to find the cases empty!? We laugh about the cheek to this day and the deception was quickly remedied but that moment when I went back to his room and he was able to say with a straight face “We never agreed that you got the discs?”. 

Tell us about a time where a tall tale helped you achieve a goal or got you out of a tricky situation.
While I’ve called the show “Tall Tales” most of the stories I tell are funny real-life situations where sometimes the thing that happens sounds like it shouldn’t have happened. That being said there is a story from my youth where I was choosing to fare evade and got into a conversation with an undercover ticket inspector. I’ve not been on public transport for a while so I don’t know if much has changed but they used to be reasonably easy to spot in a crowd. Anyway, because I struck up a conversation with him and spun a yarn about school stresses and extracurricular activities, while true they were exaggerated. When it came time to start asking everyone for a ticket he was seemingly extra agreeable with my plight and he wrote me a custom ticket for the rest of the day’s travel. 

From this interview and sneak peek, I can say that Tyler has many stories to tell so I’m sure his audiences will be in for a treat this year. Catch “Telling Tall Tales with Tyler” from July 5th – 9th (at 6:45pm each night) at The Close Up Gallery – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston St, Melbourne. Tickets are available here.

Returning to The Melbourne Magic Festival in 2022 is interstate magician Aiden Schofield. I caught up with Aiden pre festival, to hear about what he has in store for his audiences this year.

Describe your show in 3 words: Fun. Visual. Quirky    

Tell us a bit about yourself. How did you get started in magic?
I’m Aiden Schofield, a 21-year-old magician from Brisbane. I got my start in magic in 2011 after seeing Cosentino on Australia’s Got Talent. Funny story – He was doing big illusions and death-defying escapes and I thought, “hey, let’s do card tricks”, but I transitioned quite quickly into stage magic. Aside from my stage shows, about a year and a half I took up busking in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast and will be doing the same in Melbourne.

Your show is called “Aiden Schofield: MAGICIAN”….in a festival of magicians, what makes your show different / Why should audiences come and see your show?
The name of the show actually comes from me not wanting to have a cliché ‘magic show’ title, which was a lot harder than I thought so I ended up going with a self-titled show with the word ‘magician’ at the end, so people know what I do. The way it’s styled, with the word ‘MAGICIAN’ in capitals, is a reference to Michael Jackson’s HIStory album. (You might also find a couple of MJ references in the show!)
There is no theme to this show, there is no message, it’s just a guy (me) on stage doing magic for an hour. I’ve tried my best to make it a fun and interactive experience with a variety of magic for everyone to enjoy.

Is there any magical skill you’re particularly proud of?
I saw a magician in 2019 do a routine with bubbles. I became obsessed with it and have finally added my version into my show. Another bit is one I’ve been doing the longest, my Rubik’s cube routine. I’ve been playing around with the Rubik’s cube for almost 7 years.

Without giving too much away, what can audiences expect from your show?
In the show, audiences will get to see magic performed with bubbles, paper butterflies, and sand. Objects levitate, I go back in time, predict the future, and solve Rubik’s cubes instantly and much more.

What are you looking forward to at this year’s Melbourne Magic Festival?
I’m looking forward to finally performing my new show in Melbourne. It was supposed to premiere last year, but it wasn’t completed yet. It premiered at the Adelaide Fringe Festival earlier this year, and after a couple months break, I get to come back to Melbourne (after a six-show run at last year’s MMF) and continue onwards to other places. Some other things I look forward to are getting to hang out with other magicians, performing in other shows like the Open Mic Night and the Stage Gala, and of course go busking.

Aiden’s show certainly sounds like it will be entertaining. Aiden Schofield: MAGICIAN will be appearing in Melbourne for one night only: Tuesday July 5th (7pm) at The Houdini Theatre – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston Street Melbourne. Tickets are available here.

Aiden’s website: www.AidenSchofieldMagic.com

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Right now, the spotlight is on charming local Melbourne magician Braydon J Taylor. Often found performing / busking on the streets of Melbourne and making special appearances at local markets, this year he brings his exciting upcoming show “(Wannabe) Overnight Sensation” to MMF audiences…wanna learn more? (of course you do!)

Describe your show in 3 words: Awkward, Exciting, Hilarious 

Tell us (briefly) how you got started in magic?
I got started in magic 15 years ago, with the cliché story of my grandparents buying me a magic kit, and me becoming absolutely OBSESSED with magic and showing everyone in my family all of the little tricks from the box. From there, my passion & magic knowledge grew, I started watching street performers from all over the world, which inspired me to become a street performer myself!

Without giving too much away, what can audiences expect from your show?
If you’ve ever seen one of those movies where a guy climbs out of a time machine, runs up to the first person he sees & asks “excuse me, what year is it?” and then runs around looking all confused about the new technology, cars & other things he sees? Think that – but a magic show.

How did you come up with your show name – is it your goal to become an overnight sensation (or are you one already)?
I’m by no means an “overnight sensation”, nor do I particularly want to be. The name of my show – (Wannabe) Overnight Sensation came from the 2020 COVID lockdown – the year where performers lost the ability to express themselves in front of a live audience, and instead had to build from the ground up on social media – some of which, became overnight sensations… I however, did not.

What or who are your influences?
My influences in terms of my whole performing career are my friends, mentors & my environment. 

Sounds like Braydon has a lot of talent and magical content to show to his audiences! I know you don’t wanna miss out on tickets, so catch “(Wannabe) Overnight Sensation” from July 5th – 9th at The Cardini Cabaret – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Tickets are available here.

Luke Blaze has quite the online following and growing legion of fans, so I felt very lucky when Luke was able to take time out of his busy performing and rehearsing schedule to sit down with me for an interview! How exciting! Join me and discover more about Luke’s new show “Odyssey”

You’ve performed shows in various places and you’ve now landed at The Melbourne Magic Festival. Why should audiences come and see your show?
I believe audiences should come see my show as I offer a new experience at The Melbourne Magic Festival for both regular and newcomers, being the festival’s first ever illusion show at The Houdini Theatre (Arrow Hub). My show has it all, from grand scale illusions, close up routines and dance numbers. Throughout the show I take people on an ‘Odyssey’ into a world where their imagination can become reality.

Your surname is ‘Blaze’ – is that a Tinder reference or because you like hot things? 
‘Blaze’ definitely comes from me liking hot things, from the general weather to hot sauce on all of my meals…..as to Tinder – I never had success with Tinder, perhaps it was because I always made the girls disappear….

A popular question I’m asked is how I came up with the name ‘Blaze’ and it came down to this. I wanted a name that would represent my personality on stage, I feel like I’m able to light up a room when I’m on stage with the charisma I share with my audience and so “Blaze the stage” came into mind, I added it to ‘Luke’ and it was quite memorable, “Luke Blaze”, don’t you think?

Your shows are often billed as immersive experiences for audience members. Without giving too much away, what can audiences expect from your show?
My passion lies within the incredible stage illusions however I also enjoy interacting with the audience as I believe magic is experienced better with others, that is why 50% of my show is solely dedicated to getting audience members out of their chairs and up on stage with me to experience the magic right in their own hands and even have a keepsake to take home to remember the show.

What does the Melbourne Magic Festival mean to you?
To me, The Melbourne Magic Festival means family. A bunch of relaxed entertainers, doing their passion all over Melbourne. A lot of magicians tend to have the same reason to perform, to put smiles on other people’s faces. When you attend the festival, you can’t help but feel the genuine love and passion from everyone there.

Who or what influences you and your magic?
Back when I was just 10 years old I saw Cosentino perform on Australia’s Got Talent and straight away I was attached to his style and illusions. Ever since then I have looked up to Cosentino and was lucky enough to be mentored by him. The reason I have continued my journey in magic is because growing up I realised that life isn’t always sunshine and rainbows. I noticed a recurring pattern, whenever I would perform for people, whether it was a one minute card trick on the street, or a sixty minute show in a theatre: I had the power to temporarily take people’s problems away. The person on the other side of my magic wasn’t thinking about the bill they had to pay, the partner that recently broke their heart or where their next meal would come from. Rather, I was able to take them into an alternate universe where problems didn’t exist and anything was possible, which is magical within itself.

Sounds like a wonderfully immersive show indeed! If you’re keen to be spellbound by big stage illusions and to be taken away on a special journey of your own, Luke Blaze’s show “Odyssey” runs from July 6th – 7th (7pm each evening) at The Houdini Theatre – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston St, Melbourne. Tickets are available here.

Luke Blaze’s website: https://www.lukeblazeproductions.com/

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Today I say Ciao (Hello)! To Italian born, Melbourne native Davide Kaufmann who is a very busy magician indeed. At this year’s Melbourne Magic Festival, Davide presents 2 family friendly magic shows: “The Great Armando’s Espresso Magic” for younger audiences, and “Once Upon A Time in Milano” for families / suitable for older children. Andiamo allora, let’s learn more.

Describe each show in 3 words:
The Great Armando’s Espresso Magic: high-energy family entertainment
Once Upon A Time in Milano: improv comedy storytelling

What do you enjoy most about entertaining children / families?
I always loved entertaining families. There is something special about the disarming honesty of kids: an adult might make a polite comment, but a child will tell you exactly what they thought about your show. This is why when I see a child coming back to see Armando perform, I know I am doing something right.
After more than twenty years on stage, I have seen how much of a positive impact a show can have on a children’s imagination, especially in this world that doesn’t really have much magic left in it. As a father myself I strive to create a safe space for families, full of magic and stories that can be shared together, which is why even my night show (a more “adult” one) is also 100% family friendly.

Your Italian background is alluded to in both show titles. What made you decide to include your cultural background into your shows?
I used to hide it when I first arrived in Australia ten years ago because I desperately wanted to fit in. Now that I do, and I can proudly call Melbourne my home, I decided to make it my trademark. My accent is real and it’s not going anywhere and people seem to love hearing me talk. This is why I branded myself as “The Italian Magician” owning my italian origin story.

What does The Melbourne Magic Festival mean to you?
The Melbourne Magic festival means a great deal to me. I used to live in Hobart, Tasmania, where I lived and performed for two years. When I moved to Melbourne I found it very hard to start everything again once more. To make matters worse, my then partner broke up with me after ten years together, and I found myself kind-of stranded in a new city. The Melbourne Magic community really helped me a lot and I will always remember how Tim Ellis (our artistic director) took a chance on me, allowing me to perform at the festival for the first time in 2016. I still cherish the feeling of acceptance and love I’ve got from the festival and that was really the turning point for me and the start of my new life in Melbourne.

Melbourne is a city that sure loves its coffee! If you were a coffee, what coffee type or style would you be?
Magic of course! There is a special feeling in ordering a coffee that’s not really on the menu. It’s also a double ristretto, just like me: a coffee made of two halves: Armando and Davide, coexisting in the same cup.

Well, this interview sure has me reaching for my next cup of coffee! If Davide’s shows sound like they match your tastes, please find more information and ticketing links below! Andiamo (let’s go)!

The Great Armando’s Espresso Magic runs from July 5th to July 9th (at 2pm each day) at The Cardini Cabaret – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston Street, Melbourne. Tickets available here.

Once Upon A Time in Milano runs from July 5th to July 9th (at 7:45pm each evening) at The Slydini Showroom – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston St, Melbourne. Tickets available here.

Recently, I tracked down Melbourne magician Lachlan Wilde to chat about his upcoming show “World of Wonders”. Lachlan has performed at The Melbourne Magic Festival a bunch of times in the past, so I was keen to hear more about what he has in store for his audiences this year. Read on to discover more!

Describe your show in 3 words: Unconventional, intriguing and personal.

Without giving too much away, what can audiences expect from your show?
You can expect to see wonderful magic and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. I hope you leave the theatre compelled to not search for the magic around you, but instead allow the magic to find you.

Your show title alludes to travel. Do you have a favourite place to travel to?
In my show I tell a story from when I was in Paris, on the Eiffel Tower. Without saying too much, in this moment I felt like I could fly into the clouds! It was an outer-body experience. Lately I have been discovering that everywhere you go can be a marvellous experience if you allow it to be.

What does the Melbourne Magic Festival mean to you? Is there anything you’re looking forward to at festival time?
The Melbourne Magic Festival takes the best magicians in the world, and puts them front and centre under a spotlight for Melbourne to see. The festival has always been a supportive place for performers such as myself, and gives us a platform to perform new magic for fresh audiences; I can’t think of too many other places like it in the country. I’m biased, but I’m really looking forward to the Storyville Open Mic Magic Night. My magic teacher Anthony DeMasi produces the show and brings together so many unique and talented magicians for a night of non-stop entertainment, with an amazing host – Nick Nickolas.

What is your proudest achievement so far?
All the people I have had the fortune of meeting. I have met some truly great people in my life so far, and I learn so much from everybody I meet.

Well, sounds like Lachlan is ready to take his audiences on some wonderful adventures indeed! “World of Wonders” runs from July 8th – 9th at The Houdini Theatre – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston St, Melbourne. Book your tickets here

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Recently, I was lucky to track down Mr Jeff to talk all things magic, whimsy and circus. Join me to learn more about the fascinating Mr Jeff and his show, “The Quizzical Mr Jeff”

Describe your show in 3 words: Exciting, dynamic, amazing

What’s the inspiration for your show / what inspires you?
Things that inspire me are wow moments and things that give me an emotional response.
As a child I always dreamed of being a wizard so with my goal to accumulate as much magical power as possible , I set out into the world trying to find ways of becoming a wizard. Learning from a young age that there isn’t any natural magic in this world didn’t stop me, I dedicated myself to discovering and creating wonderful magical experiences for the stage, and now I offer a plethora of whimsical wonders in my show “The Quizzical Mr Jeff”

Without giving too much away, what can audiences expect from your show?
I present audiences with an opportunity to be transported into a fantastical and vivid adventure of novelty and illusion and a place where I can unleash my magical powers for the world to see! Audiences can expect and prepare themselves for an unreasonably sized balloon with the ability to eat a human whole,  a golden cane unrestrained by the grasp or gravity and to witness my ability to pull light out of a light bulb and hold it between my finger tips.

I hear you are very skilled in multiple arts (circus and magic) – do you have a favorite skill / is there any skill you are particularly proud of?
My favorite skill in my show is my flying cane act, I love the way that it feels to perform and the look and beauty contained in the act. Levitations are always my favorite acts. I have a few in my show and I always really love them – they are just really whimsical and uplifting, I love to see things fly.

The skill that I’m the most proud of, is probably my ability to see something and then imagine it, then create it, and be able to create moments that I know people will really enjoy from things that I have imagined!

What does the Melbourne Magic Festival mean to you?
It’s an opportunity to bring my show to a stage where the general public and friends can see me, and an opportunity to engage with other performers in the magic community. My main skill sets are in circus and variety entertainment and I require a large stage to pull of the magic effects that I work with, so the festival brings a great opportunity for that.

Mr Jeff is truly a spellbinding character, sounds like his show is a must see for everyone! The Quizzical Mr Jeff runs from July 5th – July 9th at The Houdini Theatre – Arrow Hub, 488 Swanston St, Melbourne. Tickets are available here.

This week I sat down with well known Melbourne magician (and veteran Melbourne Magic Festival performer) Tim Credible to have a glimpse at what’s in store for his audiences and fans this year. Tim offers a family magic show PLUS a magic school for any young magic fans keen to learn some skills – talk about a busy performer!

You’ve been a regular performer at the Melbourne Magic Festival for many years now, what keeps you coming back to this festival?
My show is all about fun, laughter and amazement for the whole family. The Melbourne Magic Festival has made it possible for me to share my magic with thousands of families. It also gives me the chance to see and support other great performers in the magic community.

What do you enjoy most about entertaining children and families?
Quite simply hearing the kids laughing and bringing the inner kid out of the grown ups that are accompanying them.

Describe your show in 3 words: Belly Laughing Kids

I hear that you also run children’s magic classes (in the form of Magic School) during the Melbourne Magic Festival. What can you tell me about these classes (I’m sure they are bound to be popular)?
I think this will be the 15th year I have run Magic School at the Melbourne Magic Festival. Wow, that’s a long time! It really is a highlight to see the kids performing magic on stage to their family and friends. 

Do you have a favourite memory of performing at the Melbourne Magic Festival that you can share?
This is a hard one after 15 years of performing  and teaching at the Melbourne Magic Festival. I think seeing the kids that I taught 15 years ago performing their own shows at the festival as adults has to be a highlight for me. 

I hear you have some expressive and curious co stars in your show! Care to tell us about them (or are they interview shy)?
My friend Douzie the Dragon has become the star of the show. I’m just there to support him (but don’t tell him that!) 

This sounds like such a fun show – fancy seeing a magical dragon as part of the show too! Don’t miss Tim Credible’s Family Magic Show, running twice a day from July 5th to July 9th. Find tickets here.
If you have some young budding magicians, Tim Credible’s Magic School is running once a day from July 5th to July 9th. Tickets for magic school can be found here.

To find out more about Tim Credible, visit his website: TimCredible.com.au

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