We first saw Murray SawChuck in 2001 when he performed at the inaugural
CAMaraderie convention. To say he's been busy since then is an
understatement.
You may be aware that Murray:
- is a headliner at Laugh Factory in Las Vegas,
- has appeared on and is a regular in many television shows (including Blind Date, Pawn Stars, and Masters of Illusion),
-
has a comedy special,
Itz Gone, Live from Las Vegas
streaming on Tubi,
- has published the children's book At Nighttime, We’re All the Same Size available at Amazon, and
-
is on this week's episode of What's Going On? on The Magicians' Podcast Network talking about his move into
exposure videos (this sure to be controversial episode requires a paid
subscription and is available through
Apple Podcasts
or
Spotify).
We're delighted to interview Murray ahead of his Brampton show at The Rose Theatre (tickets at Brampton.ca)!
Who inspires you magically?
Ironically not any magicians. I look at other entertainer that are MAGIC on
stage but no neccasaryly perform magic. I look up to the Justin Timberlakes,
Dolly Partons, Bruno Mars on how they walk on stage and how they leave their
audiences in awe with selling their personalities. There are many great
magicians tecnnically but not when they walk on stage. The magicians I looked
up growing up and still do are Cardini, Tommy Cooper, Ballentine and Mr.
Electric. Real personalities, brands and images.
Who inspires you that is not a magician?
Dolly Parton, Bruno Mars, Jim Carrey, Justin Timberlake, William H. Macy,
Lucy Ball, Liberace.
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Did you ever get discouraged and think about quitting magic?
Yes many times. Show business is not for the weak at heart. You will see
mostly NOs but when the YESs come they are wonderful and they keep you
going until the next YES between all the NOs! When you have a contract or
job you are excited but while you are on that contact or job you have to
be looking for the next gig or job or contract. It's like playing pool...
when you are aiming to shoot the white ball to knock the other ball in the
pocket you are working on where the white ball needs to land after
the shot so you have another good shot. Showbiz is just like that always
looking at your next shot if you want to keep working in the
business!.
You studied music and you were a professional dancer. You also
earned a degree in Radio and Television, and Broadcasting with a minor in
business. How did these experiences impact both your magic business
and your stage show?
Well all of the above vocations are in show business, so each one taught me
something that helped the other. I played music so I understand how music
can change a mood or feeling when being presented on stage which makes a
trick much more effective. Dancing I trained ballet for 11 years and that
taught me how to walk on stage and present myself. Radio and Television
Broadcasting taught me how to write copy for ads and press releases for
publication as well as speak with a purpose. Having all these skills makes
you a better personality and headliner.
Do you have any tour or pre-show rituals?
I really don't... I am super relaxed before I go on stage. Once we fly in and
upload out equipment and show props and set the stage that is the most nerve
racking making sure nothing has broken during travel and setting it up right
for the show. Usually I like to have a coffee before I walk on stage, send a
few texts to my wife Dani and that's about it..
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What do you most look forward to, when you come back to Canada?
I look forward to being back in my home country and all the greenery and landscapes. In Las Vegas it's the desert... lots of sand and dry hills to look at! I can't wait to bring my show to Brampton!
I look forward to being back in my home country and all the greenery and landscapes. In Las Vegas it's the desert... lots of sand and dry hills to look at! I can't wait to bring my show to Brampton!
You're a headliner at the Laugh Factory in Las Vegas, you've appeared on multiple
television shows (including Blind Date, Pawn Stars, and Masters of
Illusion), you have a comedy special (Itz Gone, Live from Las Vegas)
on TUBI, and you've written a children's book (At Nighttime, We’re All the Same Size). Is it time to sit back and take it easy, or do you have
other big projects in the works?
I don't sit back very well and I am always five years behind where I'd like to
be, so when people see things that I am doing or have done, they usually have
been in the making quite a while. I would love my own sitcom or TV show where
I could play a regular. I am a regular on Pawn Stars for the last 21 seasons
and on CW's Masters Of Illusion for the last 10 years. I have my 2nd comedy
special coming out the year we filmed last year and we are getting ready to
film more Pawn Stars in February. So, YES I am always working on other projects
and ideas. Keeps me young, motivated and focused. I just started this year my
keynote talk called 'Find Your Magic' helping people figure out why they
should be interested in going to work and staying interested.
www.themagicalspeaker.com
Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s
Magic?
For anyone trying to make it in show business or magic, don't stop... you
will fail, you will succeed but just remember everything is a new day and
another shot at making your dream happen. Listen to yourself, your heart and
your passion and stay focused. The more popular you get or famous the more
people you find will love you as well as hate you... It's a double edge
sword. Don't let people effect you as it's your life and your living it, not
them.
Thank you Murray, for making the time to answer our questions! Hopefully we'll get to see more Canadian dates on your schedule in the near future.
Learn more about Murray at his website MurrayMagic.com and follow him on
Facebook, Twitter, and
Instagram.
Catch Murray at The Rose
Theatre in Brampton on March 2nd (tickets at
Brampton.ca)!
From the January 10th Facebook post by Brampton On Stage:
Direct from Pawn Stars and CW’s Masters Of Illusion, MURRAY THE MAGICIAN is bringing Vegas to YOU with magic that will blow your mind, performed live and up close at The Rose on March 2!
