Upcoming Champions of Magic Canadian tour dates:
- 12/8/19 Brandon, MB
- 12/12/19 Ottawa, ON TD Place <<< ** recent addition **
- 12/14/19 Oshawa, ON
- 12/15/19 Laval, QC
- 1/16/20 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
- 1/17/20 Regina, SK Conexus Arts Centre
- 1/26/20 Prince George, BC
Read more and buy tickets.
I was delighted to receive an invitation to email interview
Fernando Velasco, as part of a
Champions of Magic promotion. You may already know that Velasco was presented with the 2018 Junior Achievement Award at the Magic Castle earlier this year.
What is your first memory of magic?
I must have been around 7, and my dad (who lived in the US while i still lived in Mexico) took me a DVD from the US with a number of magicians on it. there i started to fall in love with magic.
I used to think "THAT is real magic" and would invite all my neighborhood friends to come over and watch this DVD with "REAL magic."
Who inspires you magically?
Mexican magician Joaquin Ayala, along with Copperfield, and naturally HOUDINI.
What would have been in store for you had you not caught the magic bug?
Maybe if I could sing, a singer
Why do you think audiences are still drawn to escapes, sleight of hand, and illusion?
Magic still gives people a feeling of "wonder."
Who inspires you that is not a magician?
Mexican singer Alejandro Fernandez as it feels like he gives it all on stage every time.
What's special about Champions of Magic draws large audiences on 6 UK tours and 3 North American tours over the past 6 years?
There is nothing like a good magic show LIVE. Not on TV or online, BUT LIVE.
You've performed in many different countries. Have you experienced anything specific about Canadian audiences in particular?
They are up for the fun.
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
I sing, terribly but I try to sing. As well as sometimes I watch live performances of my favorite singers/bands. I feel like I take on their energy for the show.
Do you have a favourite touring anecdote and / or advice for touring magicians?
Too many to tell!
(Sam) Strange and I often go urban exploring and that's fun.
Advice: Have fun on and off stage!
What interests do you have outside of magic?
Sports.
What do you do to keep your performance fresh for both your audience and you?
Doing little things to have fun with the other performers and crew on stage. Like playing tag on stage (without the audience noticing anything) among other small things.
If you could be endowed with the talent to take on any Broadway role past or present, who would you pick and why?
Aladdin. Because I had a dream I played him!
What's your Canadian connection to magic?
I saw Greg Frewin's show last year.
Velasco also experienced, for his very first time, the magic of real snow in Toronto last December!
Thank you Fernando Velasco for making the time to answer our questions!
Catch the
Champions of Magic on tour in Canada!
Upcoming Champions of Magic Canadian tour dates:
- 12/8/19 Brandon, MB
- 12/12/19 Ottawa, ON TD Place <<< ** recent addition **
- 12/14/19 Oshawa, ON
- 12/15/19 Laval, QC
- 1/16/20 Saskatoon, SK SaskTel Centre
- 1/17/20 Regina, SK Conexus Arts Centre
- 1/26/20 Prince George, BC
Read more and buy tickets.
