John Archer lecture, February 7th 2008

9 February 2008

He describes himself as "loud and brash" and John Archer certainly lived up to his own billing.

But his entertaining lecture also revealed that he is one of the most thoughtful magicians on the circuit.

The entertainment came in his series of one-liners and put-downs, starting with "You haven't got a speaking part" to the first person unfortunate enough to voice his thoughts out loud.

The insights came in every one of his effects from his "world record" Magic Square to "Collared" in naming a pet dog. With surgical precision, he dissected what he called the "niggles" in performance, whether it be angles, patter, presentation or logic.

And if there was ever any need to demonstrate that good magicians pick up tips every time they perform, John Archer showed that his version of the "Tossed Out Deck" (with spectators visualising their glimpsed cards on imaginary cinema screens) gives the effect additional impact.

He is an excellent story-teller and keen to promote "strong" moments of magic.

John Archer's audience handling is superb and his lecture was an object lesson in how to let your spectators know that you're in charge without being unnecessarily aggressive or rude.

But the most valuable lesson I learned was not to sit in the front row on John Archer's left if you want to avoid being "picked on" as a running gag throughout his act.

John Archer describes his on-stage personality as a "loveable bully". He certainly "bullied" me - and I loved it. But perhaps that's a different write-up...

PB

• << NEXT
• ALL ARTICLES...
• PREVIOUS >>