ALAN HUDSON ALAN HUDSON ALAN I’ve always been interested in making traditionally non-funny items, funny – so I bought some (thimbles), HUDSON I practised (a lot) and found the right FROM?????? HULL TO NEW YORK! music to make it funny. Boom!’ long-time favourite at magicseen, Alan Hudson is a genuinely funny performer who has combined magic and mentalism with comedy. His dry, deadpan sense of humour is typically British, but his appeal is wider than that. His performances on TV over the last couple of years have Acemented his reputation as one of the country's leading magical performers. Graham Hey asks the questions. I begin by asking Alan about his background. I know he’s from East Yorkshire, but is he from a ‘showbiz’ family? ‘I’m originally from Hull – and from a very unshowbiz family!’ says Alan. ‘My Dad was a builder. I worked for him for about 6 weeks one summer as a labourer. It was tough. I had to wake up at 5.30am, get back home at 6pm and would be in bed by 7pm. Repeat. That’s when I realised a real job wasn’t for me and I couldn’t take on the family trade! funny. I think people assume that comedy is ‘Then I walked a bit further, stopped and ‘I managed to get work experience with more sophisticated in the south, but that all said the same thing again in my head but Magic Carpet Theatre (a children’s touring depends on the performer and the venues rephrased it; ‘Oh yeah, no one else does magic show). It all took off from there really. they are playing. Daniel Kitson is from the thimbles these days... I’ve always been Like most people, I always assumed magic North and he’s highly regarded as one of interested in making traditionally non-funny would be a hobby, but then it consumed my the smartest and best comedians in the UK! items, funny – so I bought some, I practised every thought of every day. I realised I had to I don’t really play on my Northerness - no (a lot) and found the right music to make it do magic for a living. I didn’t have a choice. jokes about whippets and flat caps!’ funny. Boom!’ I felt like it had chosen me like Jumanji and there was no way out. In a good way though. You are well-known for your thimble So, would you describe yourself as a comedy I still love it!’ routine (a phrase we don’t use very often magician then? ‘Yes. That’s probably pretty in Magicseen!), tell us about how it came accurate. Everything is done with humour Do you think there’s a North/South divide about… ‘I saw Shoot Ogawa had a dealer and getting a new gag that works makes me when it comes to humour? If so, what’s stand at the Blackpool Magic Convention as happy as a new magic bit. the difference? ‘I think there’s a difference one year. I walked past and saw thimbles to the performing styles of Northern and on it. I started laughing to myself, thinking ‘I’m probably most well-known for the Southern performers. For instance, Peter Kay ‘Thimbles! Who on earth does thimbles Balloon routine, I also do a sand-pour type is very different to Jimmy Carr. But funny is these days? No one does thimbles!’ routine with a sandcastle, the thimbles and 30 MAGICSEEN MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2019 SUBSCRIBE AT: WWW.MAGICSEEN.COM 31 ALAN HUDSON ALAN HUDSON my new favourite routine is a card trick where I get wrapped in cling film (or plastic wrap for any Americans!) my new favourite routine is a card trick where I get wrapped in cling film (or plastic I think my act wouldn’t be anywhere near wrap for any Americans!).’ what it is today without the comedy clubs. Do you still do the comedy clubs? Is this a good place for people wanting to do a stand- They don’t pay as much as close-up, but they up magic act? ‘Yes!’ says Alan – who is also well-known for doing his thimble routine in are a thousand times more satisfying. the often tough environment of the comedy club circuit. ‘They’re a great place for keeping the act fresh. Most magicians get in to magic to play at corporate events. ‘I do understand ‘The best bit, and the bit that everyone and go down the close-up route (they get that people like a dance floor, but when the likes best, is the lemon and orange finale. very well paid for all doing the same, generic audience is so spread out to the far sides and You just don’t see it coming as you’ve been act). the sight lines are so bad (sometimes you can programmed to think about the little red be almost surrounded), it can be hard work. ball. Or in an illusion, when the girl gets out ‘Unfortunately, most then chase the money That’s when the experience comes in.’ the box after being sawn in half or whatever, rather than working on the act to make and then a cloth goes up and a second girl is it original. I think my act wouldn’t be I ask what’s the secret – in his opinion – to produced. That’s the best magic bit for me!’ anywhere near what it is today without the a really great routine? He laughs. ‘If I knew comedy clubs. They don’t pay as much as that, I’d have more of them. It’s a bit of trial When you examine your own act, which close-up, but they are a thousand times more and error isn’t it? Although, if I had to give effect gets the most reaction? ‘I think satisfying. And doing the stand-up magic one snappy bit of advice…. I’d say ‘surprise’. ‘balloons’ probably has the most laughs, act has taken me all over the world and bits ‘cling film’ gets the biggest gasp (good of TV. In fact, I’d say all the interesting and ‘If you think of almost any great magic trick surprise in it) and ‘thimbles’ gets the best exciting jobs I’ve ever had, have all come you like it’s nearly always got a surprise instant reaction. It’s to music and finishes on from working on my act in comedy clubs to element that you never saw coming. It’s like a beat, so it’s usually a crowd pleaser.’ start with.’ the punchline to a joke. For instance, the end of the Chop Cup (or Chop Glass - still You’re a very experienced performer these Alan tells me that the hardest part of being available from me www.alanhudson.net/ days, so what do you think your strengths a comedy magician is the rooms you have chop-glass/ Free shipping). and weaknesses as a performer are? ‘I think 32 MAGICSEEN MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2019 Photo by Sandra Vijandi SUBSCRIBE AT: WWW.MAGICSEEN.COM 33 ALAN HUDSON ALAN HUDSON I’m always trying to come up with original effects. I love the idea of people seeing my shows and not going away thinking that QUICKIES they’d seen other magicians do the WITH ALAN! same tricks. Tell us 3 things about you that no one will know 1. I used to do a dove act 2. I’m the Long Riston Tennis Boys champion of 1988 3. I used to perform in a double act called The Entertainers and Neil (Neil was the roadie). Fav TV show It’s usually the one I’m watching at the moment. I bloody love a boxset. Recent good ones are Staircase, Making a Murderer 2 and Leftovers. Fav biscuit Jaffa Cake. If it’s not a biscuit (I know there’s a big debate about the Jaffa), it would have to be Dark Chocolate Digestive. Magician who annoys you most (don’t say John Archer – everyone picks him! Haha) John Arc...oh. I’m good at keeping my nerve now on big gigs. Last great I did the big Sunday Gala Show at Blackpool performance you saw live Magicians Convention a few years ago and (magician or non-magician). even though I was a bit nervous beforehand, I see a lot of non-magic performances. Plays, I managed to enjoy it with a few adlibs. musicals, stand up. I’ll do one of each… last thing I really loved was Mean Girls The Musical on Broadway. I’m good at keeping my nerve now on big I ask Alan about his act, and what is the Absolutely excellent. gigs. I did the big Sunday Gala Show at last effect he’s introduced? ‘It’s “Cling Film”. Blackpool Magicians Convention a few years That was the last big bit. It’s still a work in For magic, it probably has to be Harry ago and even though I was a bit nervous progress, but it’s my new favourite bit. I did De Cruz’s Edinburgh show. Not much beforehand, I managed to enjoy it with a it at Magic Fest in Edinburgh for a week last magic in it, but really warm and likeable few adlibs. I still think I rush sometimes and year and then for another week at The Magic on stage. speak too fast. It’s a constant learning curve!’ Castle in LA. I would say it only worked 34 MAGICSEEN MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2019 Photo by Sandra Vijandi SUBSCRIBE AT: WWW.MAGICSEEN.CO.UK 35 ALAN HUDSON around 50% of the time.