05 November 2022

A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer [2022]

A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer 


This is the fourth of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough [Dec 9].    

Canadian tour to start April 2023!



Read our 2021 interview where Alex shares:
- how he dealt with The Great Pause
- how COVID impacted his set
- his comfort binge
- about touring in Mexico during a pandemic
- his go-to Karaoke song
What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?
 
It’s always great to get the band back together and hit the road again - there’s never a dull day. I mean, I sometimes wish there was a dull day.
 


 
 
 
What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 
Trying to remember to eat well and exercise but then rewarding yourself with a vast amount of vegan junk food and wine.   
 

 
 
 
 
 
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
 
That time we were in Saskatoon in January and I thought it would be a good idea to walk to the venue. A piece of me died that day. It broke off and I could never find it.

[Editor's note: Rookie mistake.  We'll let you know if anyone in the province finds it.  Be sure to leave us a forwarding address.]
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
 
I have a new act in the show that I’ve been working on for a long time; it’s gone though various incarnations but its got some really exciting and different moments of magic in it, and what’s really fun is an audience member is doing it all.

 
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?  
 
In the first half of the show we are all on stage together, and that's a fun moment to watch the rest of the cast do their thing. Like Strange forgetting his lines or almost injuring himself.
 
 
 
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
 
Probably the amount of grey hairs that are appearing in both my head and facial hair.
   

 
Kelly and Dave help out Alex McAleer. 
Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences. Oshawa 2019.

 
 
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 
Canadians eat more mac 'n' cheese, specifically Kraft macaroni and cheese, than any other nation.

[Editor's note:  Tru dat!  According to the Daily Hive "Kraft Dinner has deep roots in Canada. A representative for Kraft Canada tells Daily Hive that the patent for a packaged and processed cheese product was invented by Ontario native James Lewis Kraft in 1916."  And according to Wikipedia "The brand is popular with Canadians, who consume 55% more boxes per capita than Americans."  And now we've got that Barenaked Ladies song stuck in our heads.]
 

 
Thank you Alex, for making the time to answer our questions!


 
Catch Champions of Magic in:

 

 







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A peek behind the curtain with Hollie England [2022]

A peek behind the curtain with Hollie England 

This is the third of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough [Dec 9].

Canadian tour to start April 2023!



Read our 2021 interview where Hollie shares:
 
- her first memory of magic
- who inspires her
- how she dealt with The Great Pause
- how COVID impacted his set
- her comfort binge
- her go-to Karaoke song
What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?

I love when theatres display some of the famous performers who have played there in the past. It is crazy to think that they stood on the very same stage as us and got ready in the very same dressing rooms.

 

 

 
 
What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 
Getting a tea from the tour bus/ hotel or venue and taking a solo morning walk in whatever city we are in at the time. Just getting some fresh air, sunlight and alone time can make a difference when our work is always inside dark theatres surrounded by people.


What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
 
The first time I performed in Canada was by Niagara Falls so I automatically think of beautiful views but always being very cold! I have been back to perform and direct there many times though so it just shows how much Canada loves and embraces entertainment.
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
 
Probably the part where I get to have my very own tea party onstage...




 
 
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?  
 
The energy and chaos runs all the way backstage during the finale -- I hope no-one ever switches the rest of our microphones on during that act because we are all singing along full belt!
 
 
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
 
Er... "2012 me" wouldn't have even believed that I was a magician! She was still dancing, singing and performing as the magical assistant.
   


Thank you Hollie, for making the time to answer our questions!


 
Catch Champions of Magic in:
 






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A peek behind the curtain with Fernando Velasco [2022]

A peek behind the curtain with Fernando Velasco 


This is the second of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough [Dec 9].   

Canadian tour to start April 2023! 

 

Read our 2021 interview where Fernando shares:
 
- how he dealt with The Great Pause
- how COVID impacted his set
- his comfort binge
- about touring in Mexico during a pandemic
- his go-to Karaoke song
 
What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?

Two things, the first; Being able to perform with such high  production value  like the one Champions of Magic offers.  I love the pyrotechnics at times is like a war zone on stage.
And the second is riding birdies (Electric scooters)  across the world with my friend Young, they are the best way to see each city and we both love them, brings joy to our days.

 

Fernando Velasco in danger.
Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences. Oshawa 2019.

 

 
 
What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 
Finding the time to decompress on my own. It allows me to then bring the best of me for people.


What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
 
I think about how cold it can get, and I hope not to freeze.

I know this sounds like an  exaggeration  but I’m Mexican and I live in LA, I don’t do well with the cold.

[Editor's note:  No worries.  We're not fans of the cold either, and we were born here!]
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
 
My favorite part to perform  is when all 5 of us are on stage together sharing the stories of how we got into magic. It allows me to get really personal with the audience and share a beautiful piece of magic.    
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?  
 
My favorite part to watch is the finale of the show when my friends Young & Strange go to town with their spectacular Vegas montage. It is a real WOW, full of energy and pyro, also  I just love to scream “VEGAS!!” From the wing.
 
 
 
 
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
 
The collaborative pieces we do together on the show, and the best part is.. they are only getting better and better, also bigger. 
 
 

   


Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 
Can’t wait to be back in Canada, if you’ve seen us in Canada before the show has changed a lot, it will feel like a brand new show.  I'm sure you guys will really enjoy it.

 

Thank you Fernando, for making the time to answer our questions!

 
 
Catch Champions of Magic in:
 






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A peek behind the curtain with Richard Young [2022]


A peek behind the curtain with Richard Young border= 


This is the first of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough [Dec 9].    

Canadian tour to start April 2023! 

 

 

Read our 2019 interview where Richard shares:
 
- touring advice
- his interests outside of magic
- he keep performances fresh
- and his Broadway role of choice!
What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?

Other than the never ending supply of Bird scooters across North America, it has to be seeing the relentless progress the show makes. It’s never finished and we all keep working and working and working at making it better and better. I think people across Canada will be surprised how much it has changed since we were last there in early 2020.


 

Richard enjoying a ride on a Bird scooter

Richard enjoying a ride on a Bird scooter

 
 
What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 
I think we all struggle with this in different ways to be honest. It’s really hard to take care of yourself on the road, although our tour buses and hotels are pretty swanky these days I think we all suffer from sleep deprivation to an extent. The crew which has grown significantly since we were last in Canada work extremely hard making this huge show work every night. We are up to 3 trucks now, last time we were in Canada I think we only had one. 


What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
 
Poutine!! You still have that right? They didn’t get rid of that during COVID or anything!?

[Editor's note:  Not to fear, poutine's still here!]
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
 
I won’t spoil anything too much but since we were last in Canada there’s a new sequence in the show where Young & Strange perform an illusion with Fernando Velasco. We are such great friends off stage and now we are starting to be able to relax with the routine (after many disasters with it in the early days) I think you’ll be able to tell we really enjoy sharing the stage with him for those few moments. 
 
  
 
 
Fernando on stage with Young and Strange

Fernando on stage with Young and Strange

 
 
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?  
 
I’m really enjoying watching our new co-star Hollie England finding her way. She had a really tough job coming into the show when the other 3 acts have been here for so many years and have such established ‘Champions’ suiting acts. She gets better and better every night. 

 
 
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
 
I think the frequency with which we are able to perform now. The pandemic obviously set us back but we are now by far the worlds busiest ‘touring’ magic show from a schedule on the road perspective with the most dates coming up. When we started it was so hard to get stage time which is the only way you get good, now we are able to tweak and play almost every day.
   


Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 
We have some really loyal friends in Canada who come back to see Champions time and time again, we can’t wait to get back there in December and show you all the new things! See you there!

 

Thank you Richard, for making the time to answer our questions!


 
Catch Champions of Magic in:
 



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