Magic Sunday - November 9th

On Sunday 9th November, Couverture will be hosting a day of sorcery, illusion and tricks especially for children. The store will be open from 10am until 4pm and activities will include decorating your own glowing globe; watch it light up and change colour; magical cartoons and a live magic show by Magic Mikey from 11am to 1pm. Magic Mikey, a renowned member of the Magic Circle, has performed magic for over 25 years and is regarded as one of the top 5 close up magicians in the UK, performing in intimate venues or to vast parties, to both celebrities and the general public alike. Mike Fairall, aka Magic Mikey, shares with Couverture some insights in to life as a top magician. Most magicians become enamoured with magic at a young age. Can you describe your first encounter with illusion and why it captivated you? I worked as an entertainment rep for Thompson Holidays where I met a lot of magicians. It was here, in Corfu, that I first had the opportunity to learn magic and to start performing. When I returned from Greece, Christmas was fast approaching and I put a show together for children. That was 25 years ago and I now perform approximately 300 shows a year. It'™s not every day that you meet a magician. What is the first thing people ask you; or ask you to do; when they find out what your profession is? When I'm not working, I prefer to remain anonymous. Otherwise people want you to perform for them straight away! Most frequently asked question? "How do you do that?" to which I always answer, "˜Very well indeed!"™ What is your favourite trick to perform? Making tables fly! I will be performing this at Couverture next weekend. Toughest audience,“ children or adults? Children,“ they won'™t tolerate an ounce of anything that'™s not 100% spot on! Where is the best place you have performed? At the Royal Albert Hall, performing close up magic to a table that included Gordon Ramsay, Uma Thurman, Jeremy Clarkson and Michael Caine. It was quite intimidating! Also several after show parties for the Stereophonics (Kelly Jones is a big fan of magic) and a one to one with American jazz singer Stacey Kent. What do you enjoy most about what you do? I never know what'™s around the corner,“ who 'll meet, whose house I'™ll walk in to, what my next challenge will be!