John Scott Close-up Magician
A Handful of Mysteries
Biography
Looking back I guess my first exposure to 'magic' was when I was a child in Crewe. I
remember my father entertaining friends with magic tricks during the evening. My
brother and I left Crewe and moved down to Sutton in Surrey to live with our
grandmother. She had some friends (Jack and Anna) that I used to go and visit. It
was Jack that taught me to play chess, various card games and my first card trick,
I was quite excited and got him to teach me a couple more. I became the kid in school
that could do a few card tricks.
As I approached my mid teens I used to go up to London on the tube and visit a small
novelty shop that sold tricks. I used to buy things to increase my repertoire. When I
left school I went to work at a light engineering firm, here one of the ‘old chaps’ taught
me the ‘French Drop’ and how to flick a coin up my sleeve.
Over the coming years I continued to amuse my friends with the odd trick inspired
by the likes of David Nixon, Paul Daniels, Doug Henning etc. on the TV.
Moving on to the mid
1980’s I thought I might delve a little deeper into the art of magic
and searched the local bookshops and libraries in Nottinghamshire. I was surprised to
discover only a handful of books on the subject. I read all that was available and kept up
the search for more. I later found a shop in Nottingham that sold bits and pieces of magic
and the guy that ran it mentioned a local magician called David Charles who had
recently won a magical championships in Blackpool. I tracked him down to his home and
went to see him. He told me about the Nottingham Guild of Magicians (and sold me a
few close-up props!). Some months later, during a visit to the American Adventure
theme park, I met a magician performingclose-up tricks at a table. When I mentioned
that I also did the trick he had just shown me we had bit of a chat. He happened to
be a member of the Nottingham Guild and encouraged me to pay them a visit.
I eventually did and decided to practice some tricks and apply for membership.
I was accepted as a member following my audition in November 1989. Soon after
this I found myself in Davenports in London, buying a bunch of kid’s magic props as
one of the staff at work had promised her granddaughter I would do a magic show
for her birthday party now that I was a ‘real magician.’
After spending some years performing at kid’s parties and close-up at weddings,
restaurants, gala dinners etc. I applied for membership of The Magic Circle and was
invited down to London for an interview andone month later returned to London,
auditioned and was accepted as a member in June 2007.
