My First Magic

I didn't come from a well-to-do family, neither was I poor. My dad works in a Japanese company but my parents supplement the household income by teaching tuition at night. (They did this since I was probably a baby until I am in University. I told them to take a break as I was beginning to earn enough to give them some money. I stopped taking pocket money since Junior College, but that's another story!) So technically, I didn't have tuition at all, except from my parents!

So all my magic are pretty much self-taught, read, home-made. I didn't really buy much magic when I was young! Here are some of the items made of toothpaste boxes and matchboxes.

One of my first magic that I learnt, was from a calendar that teaches very simple magic. I can make a pen, wand, etc stick on my hand without glue, tape, etc (Learn it from the video below)!

Another one was how I can make a knot disappear. I tried it using the string of my bolster. I was a kid, I think these were magical!

I would perform my new magic for anyone who wants to see it...

Next: My first show in my class in Primary School

How did I start learning magic?

I really started magic when I was a boy. I really started magic because of my father.

I come from a middle income family, in which neither of my parents were even remotely related to magic or any kind of performing arts. I don't have the luxury of having any magic items already provided for me as well.

My father merely used magic to amuse and play with me when he is back from work. One of the magic that I remembered is that he would pretend to throw a handkerchief into the air and I would look in that direction and when I turn back it's gone! When I was a kid then, it's truly real magic.

One of my favourites was how he showed a handkerchief and hands empty and then make an egg appear inside the folded handkerchief. You can tap on it, you can hear it, sounds like an egg. You can see the form under the handkerchief. But just when he pulled it away, it's gone! (See below!)

My dad never told me the secret! It kept me curious for many years. It was only a long while later that my aunt tried to perform it and my young cousin "broke the egg".

I am glad that my dad didn't expose the secret to me. I believed in magic and that made me want to learn magic on my own. My interest grew with the help from SBC (Singapore Broadcasting Corporation) then, which was showing David Copperfield specials on TV. I would tape them and watch them again and again!

I explored magic a lot on my own. I tried to think of ways how David Copperfield could do it. I made magic things out of cardboard. I use ordinary objects that I find around the house I am proud to say that I knew quite a bit of the master magician's secrets before I turned 12. (I even wrote a book on secrets of David Copperfield.)

I think parents nowadays tend to spoon feed children with information and knowledge. But a lot of times, kids are smart enough to explore and learn on their own. Give them questions, not answers. I think they will learn a lot this way.

Next: One of my first magic tricks

If you think you can, you can!

In my students days, I was very inspired by this tagline: If you think you can, you can!

I think this has led me to do many things that I would think that would be impossible for me, like... becoming a magician!

A lot of people thinks that being a magician means resting at home from Monday to Friday and then suddenly we kick into action whenever there's a show!

Unfortunately, no! There's so much to do! From the rehearsal to practice, preparation to planning of routine, testing to improving them. I am created and invested lots of money (many in excess of thousands) on many routines, only to abandon the idea later because I didn't feel that good about it.

Even for my Birthday Magic Show, I am still improving it; thinking of new methods after doing that show for years,. (The work in progress now is a new visual way to make the sugar appear.) Nevertheless, it gives me great joy to create them even if I were to give it up later.

For example, the current Recycling is Fun act is an idea from year 2000. I bought different types of mini trash bins in America and Hong Kong (because I couldn't find any suitable ones in Singapore) to experiment when I had the idea, but only to make its debut in 2008. (More on the thought process of this routine next time!)

Mr Bottle doing the Recycling is Fun act

Of course, show business is business too! There's administrative work to be done. We have to do sales and marketing. We have to meet clients, just like any other business! The only difference I guess is that I don't really consider this work since I enjoy every part of it!

I just met a person, after I told him that I do magic, telling me, "Oh, so you don't work..." How do I answer that question?! Even my parents were telling me when I graduated from University to find a "real job" first.

Anyway, work or not, I know that my magic and business revolves around me 24/7.

I remember in my students days when I am not a magician yet, when my friends are doing holiday jobs, earning money for their favourite brands, I am at home thinking and practising my magic. I wrote down in my diary that I want to become a magician.

If you think you can, you can.

Nothing is Impossible!

If "Nothing is Impossible", then how do we put to action?

I wanted kids to shows as much creativity as they can. I decided to create the nothing book! This is a project that I am pretty proud of because the whole branding just fits into place! Here's the front cover.

Here's the back cover design! In this case ("nothing is impossible"), pun intended! Some of you may already have it when you receive our goodies box at our parties!

What's in the nothing book? NOTHING!! In other words, children can really express their creativity. Something that even the adult may not be able to think of. But I felt, if I were to leave everything blank, perhaps it's too subtle. So I decided to give kids some help.

Inspired by the opening chapter of the story "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, I tried to create a story of my own.

The story changed a many times before it was finalised. The final version was part of a joke that I heard when I was a child: about someone handing in a blank piece of paper. Well, it's funny and meaningful. So why not!

Here's the story:

In the next few pages, I put in few samples like what could be done so kids will not be limited to just drawing on them! (When I was a kids, I drew a lot of comics, wrote a poetry book, story books, magic books, etc. I will show you if you are interested! I threw quite a bit away though.).

Do you know that there's a few "secrets" in the notebook? You can actually use these secrets to perform magic! Look for them if you have a copy!

Whether you are a kid or adult, sometimes, don't we get crazy ideas and dream of outrageous things? Record them in your very own "nothing" book and years down the road, you will enjoy flipping through.

If you need a Nothing Book from me, just follow me on my blog, drop me a comment, and I will send you a copy free of charge*! (I am just too confident that nobody bothers to read my blog in details. hahaha)

*Overseas shipping Applies. Terms and Conditions Apply. Alternatively, you can purchase a copy at US$2.99each.

Story of Mr Bottle

Do you know about Mr Bottle's story? This story actually reflects a lot on the philosophy of our company and Mr Bottle. Here's the story:

Once upon a time, there was a very shy child. So shy that he did not dare to talk to anyone in school.

One day, his father bought a bottle of magic for him. "In it, is a potion that will make you grow brave and strong."

Every morning, he would open the bottle for some magic. Day by day, he begin to make more friends.

One day, he saw his good friend cornered by Billy, the big bully. Believing he chased Billy away.

Many years later, he discovered that the bottle was actually an empty bottle. Believing in the magic has changed his life.

This child is none other than Mr Bottle the Magician, who believes that nothing is impossible.

Throughout the years of performing, I have learnt a lot from kids. I love chatting with kids with boundless imagination. For instance, some think that they can be as powerful as certain superheros!

However, there are of course times, children come up to tell me that "there's no such thing as magic." Now, think, if we believe that there's magic, then we can think beyond what we already know, do things that we ordinarily may not be able to achieve. If we think that "Nothing is Impossible", we can accomplish much more! I don't think Leonardo da Vinci would have invented his flying machine if he thought that humans couldn't possibly fly.

A lot of times, we are limited by what we know. If you think that we cannot fly, then obviously you cannot fly isn't it? David Copperfield didn't think so! He flew! (I am not asking anyone to jump off a cliff and imagining that he can fly!)

When I create my magic, I don't think about what I know first. I think about the effects first, what it will look like, then think of ways to create it. Along the way, I am happy to say I have created new methodologies that have surprised many magicians.

Maybe give your children a chance to try, even if it's impossible. If they fail, what's the worse that can happen? They can learn from their mistakes.

Perhaps it's not so bad to tell your kids that Santa Claus is real and reindeer can fly.

Next: Nothing is Impossible!

It's been a long time!

It's been a long time since we posted anything! We have been really busy. Personally, I have been thinking what will be interesting for our readers?

We are busy with preparing of launches of several projects! I think we are overly ambitious in trying so many things at once, but we are so excited with all the ideas. You will see more of these once we launch them!

Of course, at least one of the projects has to do with kids party! We have been incubating this concept for way too long (more than 1.5 years to be exact) and I guess it's time to execute it!

In the meantime, stay tuned to this website for more information!

Photo Galore

We've just updated our store of photos from the events in the past 2 weeks! There are more Face and Hand painting designs by Twinkle Artist, more Airbrush Tattoo templates and creations, photos from a different Princess party, and photos from this Sunday's Brunch at Barnacles.

Go check out our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/mrbottleskidsparty for more photos, but here's just a little taste of what you'll find.