Magic career is on the cards

ON SOME nights, when walking through the night market in Gadong, you may see a crowd forming around a particular stall. Behind the throng, sometimes three to four people deep, the star attraction is literally magic.

Street magician Majid performs his own brand of magic, which revolves around a repertoire of tricks that stun, confound and amaze.

Majid is quick to credit his grandfather for spurring an interest that has remained with him since early childhood.

"My interest in magic started when I first saw my grandfather do some magic tricks when I was a little boy. I was immediately hooked." Majid became enthralled by his grandfather's variety of tricks with spoons, forks and other household items. "I asked him how he did it, but he kept it a secret," said Majid.

"My grandfather had many friends and bought many interesting and bizarre things," said Majid. "Magic was one of his interests and he was my closest friend when I was a boy, and he had lots of friends who he entertained," he said.

By the time Majid was nine years old, his grandfather had taught him a few tricks, which Majid practised time and again. Majid practised in his spare time, with support from another uncle who also liked card tricks.

Majid's first successful trick was the "four kings elevator" trick, in which the kings are seemingly pulled out from anywhere within a deck of cards to appear at the top. Majid first showed his "new" trick to his family, and then to his school friends. They were the first real audience for Majid, who at the time was in Primary Two.

"Being so young, my friends were really surprised and into it," said the magician. After cards came string magic, in which Majid restores strings that have been cut in half. Majid is a big fan of all types of magic, "Sleight of hand is my favourite," he said. Illusions come a close second. He is also trying to learn aspects of mentalism and hypnosis, but it is quite difficult, he said.

While his parents have always supported him, they maintained that it was important he realise from the outset how difficult it would be to pursue his interest. "They were adamant I realise how hard it would be for me to find support outside my family," said Majid. "At first I was a bit downbeat, but I did a few performances at my school and just before I started working, my parents began to get behind me," he said.

But support soon arrived. "I performed my tricks to the teachers and the principal. He was so impressed that he actually talked to my parents about it."

After completing the "multiplying sponge" trick, Majid was invited to perform at other functions at the school.

As Majid's schooling drew to a close, his magic training took off. His parents sent him to Indonesia, where he was taken under the wing of Deddy Corbuzier and Romy Raphael, two of Indonesia's premiere performing magicians.

Although his time there was short, just two months, Deddy and Romy said he could come back to learn more anytime. "The reason I was there for such a short time was that they said I had a good feel for the basics, and I received good feedback on the things I could improve on," Majid explained.

Majid, now 22, returned to brunei and then staged his first street magic show during a visit to Labuan. "It was in Parkson, and I managed to get a decent crowd going. Security guards arrived and wanted to know what was going on. They thought that I was starting a fight, but after they saw it was a magic show they asked me to carry on."

He spent four days performing in Labuan, in front of his first real audience. "The crowd in Labuan was very different. They were very impressed and it was better than I expected," he said.

On his next trip, this time to Sabah, he again received a warm welcome. He tagged along on a bus with 60 Bruneians who were on a tour, his parents among them. "On the long trip I performed on the bus, and I was glad that they enjoyed the performance." After winning over much of the people who made their way to Sabah, he also made plenty of friends with people on the streets.

"I brought my Handycam along to record the visit and some of the performances, many thought that they were going on TV," said Majid, who believes that the humble nature of the people in Sabah and their easy going nature is very different from some people in Brunei.

"At the Sabah centre is where I performed and met some of the local magicians, they were very friendly. They're not like magicians here in Brunei, who constantly want to compete against each other," he explained.

"The magicians in Sabah even gave me their contact details and said if I need help in obtaining magic items, they would try to help," he added.

"I have performed at the night markets in Sabah and in Brunei, and over there it's very relaxed, whereas here in Brunei they are skeptical and want to see or know what a magician's tricks are. Those are the biggest differences, but there are some here in Brunei who are good sports.

The biggest challenge for Majid and his passion for magic has been some of the harsh critics here in Brunei. Some of the criticism, he said, was unwarranted and almost made him stop performing magic. Some even accused Majid of stealing magic routines, when he feels it was the other way round. "Some of my close friends have told me that some people have seen my tricks being performed by other magicians," he said.

His enthusiasm soon waned. "I did my own tricks and developed them myself shortly after, and I came close to stopping forever. I actually stopped for a whole month." It was then his friend Romy (Raphael), in Brunei to perform at a private function, paid him a visit.

"Romy said, 'Hey, when are you going to be doing your own magic show? Have you stopped? Why?' After telling him, he gave me some advice. He said, 'Don't give up. There is more magic that you can do, extreme magic, which they can't,"' recalled Majid.

The encouragement got Majid started again, and that's where he finds himself today. His family have provided huge support and have told him to simply ask for what he needs for the stage and they will build it.

His tricks are well rehearsed, but Majid confesses that sometimes things go wrong. "Some tricks are difficult and end up going a completely different way, but all magicians have their own routines, especially on the street, where magicians will pretty much carry on with their act since the crowds don't really know what to expect," he said.

Majid explained that how often he performs depends greatly on his day job as a security guard. "How often I go and perform depends mostly on work. If I work during the day, then I can perform at night at the Gadong night market. Apart from performances at a stall where his friend sells magic props at the night market, Majid has also performed at children's parties, though sometimes the children are a little overwhelmed by the tricks.

His most recent big show was at The Empire Hotel and Country Club, where he entertained children with an on-stage performance. But it was backstage shows with the staff that saw him leave his biggest impression. "I was stopped by staff on the buggies, who asked me to show them a trick while I was making my way around the hotel. I also performed for some of the housekeeping staff. They were great and it was nice to perform for them."

Despite all this, the people at Majid's work do not know he is a magician, though he hopes to remedy that soon. "I will show to them soon enough, but I want to start with my manager," he said.

"So far my shows are solo, but I need assistants here and there. It all depends on what kind of show will be carried out, as with all magic shows," said Majid.

Majid is also considering conducting magic classes at The Empire Hotel and Country Club, though he said has yet to decide whether or not he will. It seems that magic isn't the only thing that runs through his family. "Right now, I'm teaching my partner, my younger siblings, two sisters and the youngest, another brother. My siblings have their own talents. My youngest brother can dance, and I play some instruments to which my youngest sister can sing," said Majid.

While they are also interested in magic, Majid provides support whichever way he can, and even teaches them some card tricks and magic routines with the sponge balls.

After seeing some of Majid's performances firsthand, one can see the real magic is in eyes of his audience. His array of tricks is where the real magic lies.The Brunei Times