An Auckland magician has been given the nod by his fellow illusionists.
Mick Peck received the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians‘ Presidential Citation on October 9 by club president Alan Watson QSM.
Peck says its an honour to get such prestigious recognition from his fellow magicians.
“It’s especially nice to receive something like this from my peers in the industry, and to receive it from Alan Watson a magician with 30 years behind him.”
This is not the first accolade Peck has received. In 2016 he was named New Zealand Variety Entertainer of the Year and in 2015 was accepted into The Magic Circle of London.
“It’s a very prestigious group, to be accepted you have to be a magician in high standing, they have to see your work and you have to be recommended by two other members.”
The 37-year-old began his obsession with the mystic arts at the age of 12 performing for teachers and students at Pukekohe Intermediate School. In 2011 he entered the profession full-time and now performs in high profile corporate events across the country.
Peck says his act focuses on using simple props such as a pack of cards or an audience members’ cell-phone. And while complex tricks are fine he says, his success lies in keeping the audience entertained.
“There’s two parts of magic, there’s the trick, but the main part is the entertainment and the showmanship.”
A fact that he says many fledgling magicians forget.
“You can do a trick and it’s ‘see how clever I am and how stupid you are’ and that’s the worst thing you can do. That’s not entertaining, it’s alienating for an audience.”
While Peck has gained recognition as an illusionist, this latest award was not only to acknowledge his skills as an entertainer but the work he does to bring magic to families who often can’t afford the cost of a theatre ticket.
“Every year I help organise a charity show called the Magic Moments Family Comedy Magic Show. Ticket prices are kept low and we also give away a lot of tickets to needy organisations, because if you’ve got three kids and you go to a theatre show at $100 a ticket … people can’t afford to take their kids to those shows. I feel quite strongly that working families should be able to experience something like that. So it’s taking people back to that feeling where everything is magic and the world is wonderful.”
Courtesy James Baker, Stuff.co.nz.
Photo Red Carpet TV.