Canada's Got Talent: Atsushi Ono moves on to the May 16 finale!

Congratulations Atsushi, on a fantastic performance at the semi-finals!

 

From the May 2nd upload "Atsushi Ono’s MAGIC Dazzled The Judges With Quick Card Tricks" on the Canada's Got Talent YouTube channel:

Don’t ask Atsushi Ono where your card is!  He’s just the kind of magician who could tell you it’s anywhere and it will show up.  The speed of his card tricks and stage presence blow the judges away and his incredible talent is rewarded with a spot in the #CGT Live Finale!

 

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent: We asked the judges

Ahead of the Canada's Got Talent semi-finals, where Atsushi Ono and Magic Ben will represent Canadian magicians, we asked judges Trish Stratus and Howie Mandel:

At this stage of the competition, which do you value more: the magician's showmanship or their effects?

Here are their answers:

“For me, it’s showmanship. It’s important for the effect to be achieved obviously, but as far as engaging the audience, and making me feel like ‘do I want to see this again’, it’s got to be showmanship.”

 – Trish Stratus, Judge, Canada’s Got Talent

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"Showmanship always trumps effect!"

– Howie Mandel, Judge, Canada’s Got Talent

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Thank you Trish and Howie, for making the time to answer our question! 

 

Cheer on Atsushi Ono when you watch tonight's Canada's Got Talent semi-finals episode on CityTV. 

 

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent: Checking in with Atsushi Ono

Last week we learned that Atsushi Ono advanced to the Canada's Got Talent semi-finals!

Semi-finalist Atsushi Ono
source: @CanGotTalent

 

We had the opportunity to check in with Atsushi ahead of his appearance on the Canada's Got Talent semi-finals tomorrow.   He very kindly to answered the questions below.

Read our March interview where we learn about Atsushi's:
 - first memory of magic,
 - magical inspirations,
 - other inspirations,
 - magical influences,
 - motivation to audition,
   and
 - thoughts about quitting.

 

When you first learned you made it to the semi-finals, was your first impulse to add complexity to your semi-final performance?  Or was it to simplify?  Will you be honouring that impulse or did you change your mind? 

When I first learned that, I was in all emotions like surprise, relief, grateful. However, I didn't actually have any specific plan for the semi-finals as I gave everything I had to the audition lol, so nothing changed my mind but I started working on it right away! 

 

 

ICYMI:

 - Watch Atsushi's audition video "MAGICIAN Atsushi Ono’s Audition FREAKS OUT Kardinal"

 - Listen to Jacob Elyachar interview Atsushi Ono on the April 6th episode "Canada's Got Talent: Season Two Special #4: Atsushi Ono" of his podcast "Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar" 

Will you be performing something from your regular repertoire or have you created something new for the competition?

I have created something new so I’m very excited and nervous to see how people will react to it!
 

Will you give it everything you’ve got or will you hold something special back for the finals?

Yes! Of course I will give it everything I've got as always!   :) 

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Who is on your team of advisors for your progression to the next round(s) at Canada’s Got Talent? 

My friend Kevin Rusli has been helping me since the beginning in every way, and the feedback from the team at CGT has also been very helpful.

What will it mean to you to advance to the CGT finals?
 

It means a lot but it would also give me more opportunities to deliver my message.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s Magic? 

I hope you will enjoy my act and always appreciate it if you could sending me your thoughts and feedback! Thank you for your time.  :)

 

Thank you Atsushi, for making the time to answer our questions!  Break a leg on the CGT semi-finals!

Learn more about Atsushi at his website AtsushiOno.com and follow him on Instagram.

 

Watch Atsuhi's performance at the Canada's Got Talent semi-finals May 2nd on CityTV. 

 

 

 

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Atsushi Ono and Magic Ben advance to the CGT semi-finals!

Congratulations to Atsushi Ono and Magic Ben for advancing to the CGT semi-finals!   

  

From the April 25th Facebook post by Canada's Got Talent:

The auditions have come to a close on Canada's Got Talent! We're proud to announce the 18 Semi-Finalists that will continue to the next round with our judges and give the country the opportunity to vote for their Season 2 Champion!

The best compete for your vote! Canada's Got Talent Semi-Finals start next Tuesday 8/7c on Citytv!

  

 

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent audition: JP Parent

Congratulations Jean-Pierre, on a fantastic audition!

 

From the April 17th upload "MAGICIAN JP Parent Shocks The Judges With His Unbelievable Tricks" on the Canada's Got Talent YouTube channel:

JP Parent is a magician from Montreal, who received his first magic kit at age 9. When he was invited to work on a cruise ship, the gig that was only supposed to be a four-month contract ended up being a 25-year career! After mesmerizing the audience with his first trick, making Kardinal disappear with his second - by his last, the judges are completely speechless and shocked by this incredible illusionist!

 

 

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know JP Parent

Next in the the series of Canada's Got Talent contestants is Montreal's JP Parent!

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Who inspires you that is not a magician?
 
I think passion is so important in life and it emanates through someone’s work when someone’s passionate about their art. Anthony Bourdain was a good exemple, Martin Short, Dave Chapelle, Eddie Izzard, Ricky Gervais, Steve Martin (started as a magician), Kristen Wiig, Jim Carrey to name a few.

 

What is your first memory of magic? 

My very first memory of a magic trick was my father making a penny disappear inside his arm , then making it reappear in my ear I must’ve been 5 years old. Completely mesmerized!
 

Who from the magic community inspires you?

So many people inspire me, but for me Paul Harris for his incredible creativity, JC Wagner for his way to adapt his work with the environment that he’s in, Harry Loraine for his close up magic but also his memory lectures (incredible BTW), Lennart Green for his ground breaking techniques and logic, Alain Choquette incredible performer but also a serious magic creator , Penn & Teller for their unique style and of course David Copperfield who I think is still to this day the leading name in magic.

 

Was there anyone or anything instrumental to you becoming a magician?

When I started to get really interested in magic I was 9 and my father took me to my very first magic shop in Montreal called Perfect Magic. This sweet lady showed me a card trick and my selected card ended up printed on a silk. I was hooked! Then I had Mark Wilson’s complete course in magic that was my very first “real” magic book, then came VHS tapes with Michael Ammar’s easy card miracles such a great series for beginners, everything and I mean everything by David Williamson the guy is a Genius worker. My very first lecture was Paul Harris he was so funny but also incredibly good. I was 17 when I attended my first magic convention, Magie Montréal where I met all these other super passionate magicians that would generously share their art with myself and others. That’s when I met this older magician that started talking about working on cruise ships. Little did I know that 3 years later I was about to embark into a 25-year cruise ship career. Alain Choquette and Greg Otto have been mentors throughout my career, always there to give insights and advice through the different aspects of our art.

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Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?  
 
Not really to be honest. I was never really good in school so when I thought of quitting college to do magic full time my father was really supportive of my choice (thank God lol).

Do you have any tour or pre-show rituals?
 

I work around 30 weeks a year on ships. In a 7 day cruise they ask us to do 2 different 45 min shows twice a week. So one night you do your first show 7pm and 9pm and another day you do your other 45 min again twice.

The day of the show we have a rehearsal 2 hours prior to the show, checking the sound, equipment and if there are illusions in the show, we run the numbers full out with the sound, lights and automation. I usually eat 3 hours prior to the first show and then after the second show. I don’t go to the gym on that day. I practice around 1 hour every day especially for close-up. But apart from that I don’t have a special ritual.

 

 

What inspired you to be a part of this season of Canada's Got Talent?
 

I wanted to be able to try something new and establish myself a little more on dry land.

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 

I think magic is a very special art, one that brings people together and help them escape for a few minutes from our everyday lives. I think it’s more important now then ever.

 

 

Thank you JP, for making the time to answer our questions!  Break a leg on CGT!

Learn more about JP at his website JPParentMagician.com and follow him on Instagram.

 

 

 

 

Watch Canada's Got Talent Tuesday nights at CityTV.

 

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent audition: Will Stelfox

Congratulations Will, on a fantastic audition!

 

From the April 4th upload "MAGICIAN Will Stelfox’s Audition Is Almost Impossible To Watch" on the Canada's Got Talent YouTube channel:

Vancouver-based magician, Will Stelfox loves getting a big reaction from a crowd! And a reaction is just what he got the moment he stepped onto the CGT stage when he made the audience and judges recoil, wince and gulp with his razor blade trick.

 

 

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know Will Stelfox

Next in the the series of Canada's Got Talent contestants is Vancouver's Will Stelfox!

Will Stelfox on the set of Canada's Got Talent
photograph by Jag Gundu/Citytv

 

Who inspires you that is not a magician?
 
I watch a lot of stand up comedy, I’m a big fan of Tom Segura and
Anthony Jeselnik.

 

What is your first memory of magic? 

I saw a close-up magician at a restaurant when I was 9 years old. He
appeared to make things appear and disappear on the table in front of my eyes.
 

Who from the magic community inspires you?

David Blaine and Criss Angel both have a unique take on magic that broke the mold of what was popular before them.

 

Was there anyone or anything instrumental to you becoming a magician?

I met Andrew Gerard early on in my magic career, he‘s definitely been the biggest influence on my magic.

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Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?  
 
I enjoy performing on a regular basis, any time I take a break, I find
myself missing the art of performing.

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
 

I always make sure there’s nothing stuck in my teeth.

 

 

What inspired you to be a part of this season of Canada's Got Talent?
 

I think the show is always looking for something different, and I’d
regret it if I didn’t try to show the judges what I can do.

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 

Thank you for your time checking out my interview!

 

 

Thank you Will, for making the time to answer our questions!  Break a leg on CGT!

Learn more about Will at his website WillStelfox.com or follow him on Instagram.

 

 

 

 

Watch Canada's Got Talent Tuesday nights at CityTV.

 

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent auditions: Magic Ben, Christian Mascia, and Dean Gunnarson

Updated March 30th to add a CGT teaser using Dean's audition.

 

Congratulations Ben, Christian, and Dean, on fantastic auditions!

Watch video of Ben's audition at the bottom of this post.

Watch episode two of Canada's Got Talent at CityTV.com to see clips of the auditions by Christian and Dean.

 

Some of Dean's audition from the February 13th post at the Canada's Got Talent Facebook page:

 

From the March 28th upload "19-Year-Old MAGICIAN Magic Ben’s Audition Freezes Judge Lilly Singh" on the Canada's Got Talent YouTube channel:

Growing up in a small Inuit community in Northern Quebec, Benjamin was stunned after seeing his first magic act at age 9.  Since then, he’s been mastering his sleight-of-hand.  What results is an audition that stuns the judges with up-close magic precision, but it’s his finale that leaves Lilly completely frozen!

 

 

 

 

 

Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know Magic Ben

Next in the the series of Canada's Got Talent contestants is Whitehorse's / Saskatoon's Magic Ben!

Who inspires you that is not a magician?
 
My father, Hypnotist Corrie J and Dwayne The Rock Johnson. They are all extremely hard workers and I look up to that every day.

 

What is your first memory of magic? 

I was 9 years old the first time I saw a magician, it was at my parents’ wedding. I remember seeing him perform a linking rings routine and I ran to my dad and asked him how he’d done it. My dad told me that if I wanted to know, I'd have to become a magician. The next day I was playing with a deck of cards and it brought us here!
 

Who from the magic community inspires you?

Le Grand Sahibe, Joan Caesar, Hiawatha Johnson Jr. Shawn Farquhar, David Blaine, Dani Daortiz, Juan Tamariz. I could name so many!

 

Was there anyone or anything instrumental to you becoming a magician?

I started competing at the Festival de Magie de Quebec in 2014 and was a finalist 6 years in a row. That and attending Tannen's Magic Camp in 2018 sealed the deal for me. Living in the arctic comes with its challenges and learning magic was one of them. 

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Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?  
 
I was 6 months old when my parents decided to move to a small fly-in and fly-out Inuit community in the Canadian arctic.  I was the only “white kid” and I grew up learning their language and culture. Magic helped me figure out my identity, who I am,  and overcome the challenges of living so remotely. Sometimes I'd quit, but it usually was only for about 2 hours!

Do you have any or pre-show rituals?
 

Two things could happen: If I am lucky enough to eat some country food from where I come from (Beluga, seal, caribou, arctic char etc.) it would be that or I will listen to some Coldplay.

 

 

What inspired you to be a part of this season of Canada's Got Talent?
 

I represent hope and inspiration to all the youth of the northern fly-in and fly-out communities that no matter where you come from in life, anything is possible. That is why I'm on Canada's Got Talent, for my friends up north!

 

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 

I speak three languages: French, English and Inuktitut. I am hoping to be a bridge linking all Canadians together through my experiences living North, East and West. I once did a show at -48, I think that makes me the Magician of the North! 

 

 

Thank you Ben, for making the time to answer our questions!  Break a leg on CGT!

Learn more about Ben at his website MagicWithBen.com or follow him on Instagram.

 

Was that Ben's smiling face at the end of last week's episode?  Tune in tomorrow to find out! 

 

Watch Canada's Got Talent Tuesday nights on CityTV.

 

 

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Canada's Got Talent: Getting to know Dean Gunnarson

Next in the the series of Canada's Got Talent contestants is Onanole's Dean Gunnarson!

 

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Who inspires you that is not an escape artist?
 
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys has been a long-time friend and supporter. I have performed many shows for him over the years, and I admire his determination and willingness to take risks. Much like an escape artist.  I know there are people that don’t agree with him, but he will risk it all on what he believes is right for his team. I feel as an escape artist to have had to make many similar decisions.

 

What is your first memory of escapology?  How old were you?

When I was 10 years old and, in the 5th, grade my Mom bought me a book on Houdini. I was growing up in Texas at that time and everything was big there like Houdini was in my young eyes.  I read the stories of Houdini and how he could do anything. He was like a real life comic book hero.
 

Who from the escapology community inspires you?

James "The Amazing" Randi inspired me greatly. I remember an episode of Happy Days in 1978 where he played himself. That is true greatness when you get to play yourself in a fictional sitcom. In 1987 I met Randi and he believed in me enough to help get me on my first USA TV special, "In Search of Houdini." It was a two hour live special with many greats of magic on it. David Copperfield, Penn & Teller, Harry Blackstone Jr., Banachek, The Pendragons, and a young 23-year-old Dean Gunnarson from Canada. Randi got hurt in rehearsal and I went on live television to perform the Houdini Milk Can escape on live TV. It was the first time I ever attempted it. Randi later retired and named me as his successor and gave me all his handcuffs and escape equipment, including his Milk Can he used on Happy Days.
 

I’m always doing a variety of TV shows, corporate dates, and travelling. I will be performing in China again soon now that restrictions for performers have changed. Also, I will be back again at a great Magic Festival in Quebec City this September. I also have a film that we just finished taping being released later this fall. It is based on my book, "Dean Gunnarson : The Making of an Escape Artist" and my friendship in 1983 with a teenager named Philip [Hornan] who was battling cancer. We had such great adventures escaping from the RCMP detachments, performing magic shows at the Cancer Foundation for the other children, to trying to find the real magic to try and save his life. It’s an amazing story and one that I have carried with me for 40 years. Now I get to share it on the screen.

Was there anyone or anything instrumental to you becoming an escape artist?
 

Peter Reveen was the first true Showman I ever saw live on stage when I was 15 years old. The way he could stand on stage and command an audience! Wow. I thought that’s what an escape artist must be able to do. My time with James Randi over the years was always such a learning experience from a true master. My best friend and mentor for over 25 years was Bill Brace. He was a retired RCMP Officer that started the Society of Young Magicians (SYM) in Canada. I truly miss my friendship with all of them. Having a mentor is so important in life. People that we can look up to and ask for advice and information.  

I used to also travel to Minneapolis a lot in the 1980s and spent time at Eagle Magic Shop downtown. Toad Hall Toys in Winnipeg I also enjoyed when they started selling magic tricks and I would take some of the old magicians there for the afternoon and listen to their old stories of magic from another era.

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Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting escapology?  
 
Sure, many times. A life in magic is a tough choice. Being self-employed is a challenge. You go through periods of great joy, success, and triumph, then waiting and looking for your next show and paycheck. You must be truly passionate, dedicated, and believe in yourself to succeed in this world. Never surrender to your fears or those telling you can’t succeed. It has been a long journey of over 40 years of escaping around the world, but I would do it all again in a heartbeat. When you feel like quitting you need to remind yourself why you started in the first place. The only people that have never failed at something are those that have never tried !

Do you have any pre-show rituals?
 

I like to get ready early and be prepared. I don’t like to feel rushed before going on stage. I like to get my energy up. I always warm up by stretching and warming up my voice (even though I can't sing ... lol) I actually took singing/voice lessons in the 1980s because I was losing my voice on stage. My coach taught me to always warm up my throat before a show. And lastly, I love a shot of Dr. Pepper before I take the stage. Must be my Texas roots …

 

 

 

What inspired you to be a part of this season of Canada's Got Talent?
 

I have said no to "all" the "Got Talents" for many years. When they asked me this year, I had always wanted to go back to Niagara Falls. They told me about this season and how exciting it was going to be, and I really wanted to part of it.  I also have some really special memories there with Henry Muller and The Houdini Museum. I wanted to attempt a big escape at the original home of the Daredevil, Niagara Falls so this was my chance.  So I had to say yes and give it my best.

 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 

Magic has been a great career. I have travelled the world and seen and done many things people could only dream about. But most important to me are all the friendships I have developed from performing with so many great and wonderful magicians over the decades. Those friendships truly mean the world to me.

 

 

Thank you Dean, for making the time to answer our questions!  Break a leg on CGT!

Learn more about Dean at his website AlwaysEscaping.com or follow him on Instagram.

 

Was that Dean hanging upside down and on fire at the end of last week's episode?  Tune in next Tuesday to find out! 

 

Watch Canada's Got Talent Tuesday nights at CityTV.