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
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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
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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
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around 50% of the time. Since then, I’ve was Williamson, Mac King, Noel Britten, Ian and there. Just trying to improve it a tiny bit changed almost everything about it and it Keable and John Lenahan.’ each time. ‘One thing I am trying to work on now always (almost) works every time. more is the close up - I’m trying to eliminate You began to reach a much wider audience things that everyone else does. There are ‘I’m always trying to come up with original when you appeared on FOOL US. How was some tricks like Omni, Double Cross etc effects. I love the idea of people seeing my the experience for you, and did it result in that too many people have seen now. I hate k shows and not going away thinking that more work for you? ‘Fool Us was a funny doing a job when people say “I’ve seen that k WhyWhy notnot treattreat they’d seen other magicians do the same one. They contacted all the people that are before”. I’ve got rid of Omni Deck, just need u
tricks. Also, if they haven’t seen the trick doing something original or have an act in to replace the rest now!’ u
before, it’s easier to surprise them.’ the UK I think! I auditioned for the pilot and . was on the shortlist but didn’t get hired. I It’s been a great year for Alan, who performed . You do a great version of Ali Bongo’s balloon went in to a rehearsal and showed P+T and in both LA and New York. He did a week o trick – how did you discover that? ‘Thanks. Jonathan Ross the Balloons but then wasn’t at the Magic Castle (‘Always a treat!’) doing o yourself? It was in 2004. I needed one more trick for allowed to do it on the telly as they’d now early parlour while Justin Willman did the yourself? c
my first 30 mins of cabaret. John Archer seen it. If you go to Episode 38 of Richard late parlour show. Following this, Alan went c
mentioned the trick to me as he’d seen Ali Young’s The Magicians Podcast, you can hear to New York and performed at Monday . . lecture it. I found the lecture notes and me tell the full story.’ Night Magic. That’s the exciting part of the gave it a go. I assumed at the time, it would magic world, but I ask Alan what really gets c just be a silly filler. But it was the trick that How do you think your career has gone so him frustrated about it? ‘This could take up c i everyone talked about after. It fooled the far? Are you happy with it? ‘Is anyone? I guess an entire issue. I have so much I hate. But i magicians and the lay people loved it. It so, but you always think you could be doing I always think you end up coming across
turned out to be my signature trick. At that better and working harder. I look at people very bitter. A few magicians on Twitter are g g time, I assumed once the show was done, I’d I’ve gigged with in the past. Like Piff for always saying how bad other magicians are. probably never do it again!’ instance. We used to do a few shows together Personally, I think it makes them look bad. a and now he has his own Vegas show. I have OK, here’s one thing - close up magicians who a Comedy obviously plays a big part in to remind myself that I’ve done pretty well are obsessed with money/gigs/business. Loads Alan’s performances, so I ask him about his considering the amount of natural talent I of magicians have come up with courses to M
influences. Says Alan, ‘I think stand-ups are have. For me, I think it’s all work, zero talent.’ sell to magicians. It’s all about the business M influences rather than magicians. So people rather than making your act good. If you have t t . like Jack Dee, Jerry Seinfeld and Frank Alan tells me that he’s constantly working a great act, you get booked. It’s pretty simple . Skinner were early influences. In magic, it on his stage act. Tinkering with bits here really!’ e e l n l n b b MysteryMystery BoxesBoxes fromfrom u a u a d d o r r ALAN ON o o o f f c c f THE NEXT f £9.99£9.99 -- £49.99£49.99 a a s s
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great show overall. I’d heard about it through fantastic line up. When it came to announce w k k No items from the end of line box the magic grapevine. One night I was driving the winner, it turns out I actually came joint No items from the end of line box a back from a gig and Andrew O’Connor rang first with Tommy and Amelie and Jamie a me. He said Andy Nyman and a few others Allen. This hadn’t happened before so they w M M had mentioned I’d got this Balloon trick and were a bit unsure of what to do. After a w AndAnd areare worthworth atat leastleast 1/31/3 moremore thanthan could I send a video so he could see it. I did. re-vote amongst the magicians, Jamie Allen Obviously. won in the end. Rightly so I think. theirtheir price.price. It took months of back and forth, changes It was so great to be a part of a huge, to the routine (they wouldn’t let me say the shiny floor show without judges. I always biggest joke of the routine. Too risky for ITV remember watching Paul Daniels and Best at 7pm). I finally got confirmed to be on. of Magic as a kid, so felt like I was finally on Prices quoted correct 29/11/2018 and available whilst stock last. E&OE My episode had Hector Mancha (who had the telly. just won FISM), Tommy and Amelie, Jamie 36 MAGICSEEN MAGAZINE - JANUARY 2019