Corporate MagicianCorporate-event organisers, exhibition organisers, bar-owners and private clients in London now hire Sav chiefly for the element of surprise. He acknowledges the ambivalence of the British public towards magicians ("Let's face it, most of us would rather be sawn in half properly than be button-holed by a conjuror at a party") but points out: "If most people are wary of magicians, we all, at the end of the day, love magic".
Sav deliberately exploits this ambivalence when he works a crowded room. His understated approach involves choosing a small group and engaging them in some banter before whizzing through a 10-minute medley of magical highlights: it rarely fails. He also employs it whenever he pitches for new business, an activity that occupies many afternoons.
"Whenever I meet a new client, I ask if I can show a few tricks. Normally, they're a bit coy and say it might not be appropriate in the office. But by the end of the meeting, we'll normally have half the office round the desk."
The approach has garnered him numerous corporate clients, including Cartier, Disney, Evian and blue-chips such as Citibank, Deutsche Bank and Diageo. They always receive a tailor-made performance and invariably rehire him. When he doesn't have meetings, Sav spends his time "researching new tricks, reading old magic books or just catching up with other magicians". After seeing his agent, Sav heads for his first professional engagement of the day, at 6.30pm in the Milk and Honey (Private members bar), Poland St, London W1.
Surveying the room for his first victims ("Never interrupt a business meeting, and always let people sit down, catch up, relax"), he finally selects two twenty somethings. He decides on the downbeat gambit: Would you like to see some magic? Clare and Roberta, two web/media workers, look unenthused until Sav produces a flaming cigarette from thin air. He proceeds to run through a set of increasingly impressive card tricks before climaxing with his coin-spinning trick, in which a 10p is made to hover in mid-air. By the end of the set, both women are drop-jawed, delighted and demanding more. But Sav has moved on!
Re- printed from an Interview with Ben Rowell (Evening Standard) CLICK HERE FOR PR LAUNCHES AND
EXHIBITION INFO
|
