Quality isn’t expensive, it’s priceless – Meet Sam Pearce
Quality isn’t expensive, it’s priceless – Meet Sam Pearce
Published in The Linking Ring Magazine, September 2008. Written by Dakota Rose.
Two Canadian Lumberjacks cut wood all day long. One worked straight through, without stopping to rest. At the end of the day he had a sizable pile of logs. The other would chop for fifty minutes and then take a ten-minute break. At the end of the day he had a much larger pile. ”How could you chop more?” asked the man who’d worked continuously. His friend replied, “When I stopped to rest, I also sharpened my axe.”
To keep an axe sharp, we must take the time to sharpen it. In magic, we must take the time to practice if we’re going to keep our acts sharp. Meet seventeen-year-old Sam Pearce fro Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. He keeps his axe sharp in everything he does. Sam believes that when your magic is no longer sharp, you’re soon going to be out of business.
Sam Pearce has already entertained thousands. He recently toured with Paul Royter for two weeks. sam told me, “Paul produced a magic variety show called the Myst!que Tour. He saw me perform in Barrie, Ontario, with Darryl Hutton, and said he was impressed with my talents as well as my stage presence. So he put me in his tour in Thunder Bay. Currently, when Mr. Royter tours with his hypnosis show, I am his stage manager and take care of the lighting, sound, tickets, setting up, etc. Being on the road and putting on a show every night in a different town is quite an experience. Paul helped me understand both the performance aspect of magic as well as the business side of magic. Being part of this experience has really sharpened my skills and is going to be a big step in my magic career. Recently, I did a show for Suncor Energy. It was fantastic to get the chance to perform and be part of such a large event.”
Sam has seen fascinated by magic since he was six years old. ”My story is much like many others: one Christmas I got a Houdini magic kit, and from there it just kept growing. My first tricks were cheap plastic props. i consider the Linking Rings to be my first real magic trick. My dad got them for my birthday when I first started into magic, and although I’ve upgraded to a more professional set, I still open all my shows with the rings. I believe the Linking Rings is more than just a magic trick – it’s a piece or art.”
He is quick to admit that his favorite magic is grand illusion, which he considers “the most spectacular type of magic.” But he also does some stand-up magic and dabbles in close-up. ”I do not have a specific routine,” he says, “but rather a whole show. Although it is not themed, one very important aspect I keep in mind when selecting material is sticking to my character. I am always working on new routines for my show, and I am looking to improve the quality of my magic. To be sure, my act is original. I build most of the props for my show and I always have new projects in progress in the shop.”
For the most part, Sam has been self-taught. He says that his library of magic books is getting larger and larger all the time, and though DVDs seem to be more popular, he still prefers to sit with a book and read about magic. ”From time to time I get the chance to meet with some magician friends, and we share thoughts about magic and ask each other for advice on new ideas we’re working on. The first magic shop I ever visited was Browser’s Den of Magic in Toronto. The owner of the shop, my friend Jeff Pinskey, has been very instrumental in helping me grow and succeed. He is one of the best dealers in the world and always seems to haev the perfect piece to fir into my show. Mr. Pinskey is truly a great guy running a fantastic shop, and would never hesitate to help any young magician who walks in.”
Sam is inspired by many magicians, and he gives credit to those who have helped him along the way. ”I have always been inspired by David Copperfield for his ability to present magic and tell a story,” he says. ”Doug Henning is also a favorite of mine. He showed that you can think outside the box and present magic differently. I believe Doug showed the true wonder and mystery of magic. There will never be another like Doug Henning.”
Besides magic, Sam is interested in the production aspect of theatre and is heavily involved in all areas of the show, from his love of lighting to building the road cases. He also enjoys graphic art and designing material for Web sites and business cards, and spends many hours on Photoshop working to perfect his designed. As he puts it, “Some may say i’m a perfectionist, but I just want things done right.”
Sam belongs to Ring 235, the Caesar Hat and Wand Magic Circle in Kitchener, Ontario. The Ring has helped him work on his magic by offering ideas and suggestions for improving, and Sam says it’s great to have so many professionals who have been willing to help him with his career. He is also quick to acknowledge his mom and dad, who have been very supportive, whether driving him to shows or watching new routines. He also credits his grandpa, Frank Pearce, who has also been encouraging. ”Many years ago, he bought my first microphone system – the one I still use today. And whenever I needed a ride to a show or help, he has always been there. Being a bit of a magician himself, I can’t remember a time when he wasn’t showing me new tricks. I know how fortunate I am to have such great support.”
He met Darryl Hutton at the 2005 C.A.M. convention in Kitchener, Ontario. ”Soon after we met, we started performing our ‘blended show’ for Christmas parties, fall fairs, charity events, libraries, and the like. Darryl is the author if The Dove Workers Handbook and Modern Ventriloquism. We filmed and produced an instructional DVD entitled With the Wave of a Wand, and it seems like no matter what I’m working on, Darryl is always there to help me. He has played a huge role in my magic career, and is the person who introduced me to Paul Royter – the man who has given me opportunities most young magicians can only dream about. I look forward to working with Paul again soon on his upcoming national tour.”
Sam concludes by saying, “magic has changed my life in many ways. Growing up, I was about the shyest kid you could ever meet. When company came over, I would run into the other room and hide. It’s strange but it seems like many entertainers started that way. Since then, I have appeared before thousands of families, and I’ve learned how to interact and connect with an audience. Today, magic just isn’t one part of my life – it is my life. Everything I do is magic. My future goals include working toward perfoming more corporate shows and taking my illusion show on the road. Some people want to do magic, but I feel that I have to. Seeing that joy and laughter in the faces of the audience makes it all worthwhile. Magic is a passion of mine that not many people understand. I get questioned why I spend so much time on it, but not many realize how much work goes into a show. As the magicians reading this know, it takes a lot more work to put on a quality show than the average person can conceive.”
Quality is never an accident. Not only does Sam Pearce have skillful execution, he also has high expectations, sincere effort, and the discipline and focus to succeed. Sam Pearce does whatever it takes to keep his axe sharp. Keep and eye out, for you will surely see The Sam Pearce Tour coming to a city near you.
You can visit Sam at www.canadianillusionist.com or give him a shout at sam@pearcetheatrical.com.
