Andrew Lee, Malaysia’s Top illusionist & mentalist has performed all across the world. His close up magic skills allows the audience to feel the magic happened in their own hand, which is one of the strongest elements of magic. Take a glimpse into his magical world with us at Sevenpie. Remember, the closer you look, the less you see!
1. Hi Andrew! Tell more about yourself to our readers.
I am an Illusionist and Mentalist, voted #1 by Malaysians (TallyPress). I was home schooled, everything I learned were self-taught, and correspondence with an institute in America and Australia with the supervision of my mom.
I currently perform locally for corporate functions and annual dinner. I also perform internationally and for leading cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean Int, Holland America and Celebrity Cruises.
2. Share your journey with us in discovering magic.
I started magic at the age of 16, started out as a hobby from growing up watching David Copperfiled, and David Blaine on TV, to performing amongst family members and friends, to corporate gigs, to performing my first international show in India for 10,000 onlookers, to traveling across the world after that in places like, Cairo, Dubai, Kuwaitt, Qatar, Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, China, (to name a few). Magic was my best friend, it thought me confidence and gave me social skills, although I am generally an introvert, when I’m not on stage.
3. Among all kinds of performing arts, why magic?
Magic to me is a universal language that breaks all barriers and boundaries, it has the power to make someone laugh, smile or even cry, it is poetic and emotional content to communication, very much like music, although I grew up learning the piano, violin and guitar. Magic had the better of me, then again, Music is magic it sets the tone, emotion and mood to enhance my magic performances.
4. To you, what’s the definition of magic?
Magic to me is more than just entertainment, it’s not just about the TRICKS. The tricks are just pleasant surprises.
Magic is a gift, Magic is achieving something you thought you never could achieve and achieving it, it is poetic, it is emotional content to the process of communication. Magic is the experiential moment of awe an inspiring astonishment for witnessing something beyond comprehension.
The Tricks may not be real, but the inner feeling that is stirred, that is real.
5. Share about the idea of [ILLUSIONIST] and [METALIST], what are the difference between both of them?
An Illusionist is one who performs with larger scale illusions/props on stage ie: vanishing or appearing a helicopter or larger props in general, levitation, sawing a women in half etc.
A Mentalist, some would refer them as psychic entertainers, magic that involves the power of the human mind, using our God given 5 senses to CREATE the illusion of a Six sense through non-verbal communication, psychology and linguistic deception.
6. Among the journey of being a successful magician, could you share with us the downtime you faced and how you overcome it?
I was in Australia a few months ago, I appeared on Australia’s prime time talk show Today Tonight on Channel 7, performing a stunt of predicting the Melbourne Cup (One of the World’s largest horse races) Two days before the interview, I got a called from my mom, one early morning, and once I heard her tone, I knew something was wrong, so I asked her what was wrong, she said to pray, the house is on fire. We lost everything to the fire, but thankfully no one was hurt. I was so far away, and couldn’t do anything about it.
The thought of losing everything, from props, to important data stored on my hard drives, computer, documents and years of work to the fire, the thought of resetting and starting all over, no words could describe the emotional stress that went on. But at the same time, it was one of the BEST things that every happened, it thought me to rise from the ashes, it thought me that limitation forces creativity, and it also reminds me that magic is not merely reliable on props or material things, but rather its something inside of you.
7. There are different variations of magic; do you have a favorite of your own?
I would say my favorite variation of magic is combining all the elements of magic to one and that is to create the emotional experience of it to my audiences, it is like momentarily stopping time, and you see their faces come to life.
8. Believe that every performance you definitely trained hard and well-prepared, but are there any small or random habits that you will do every time before you perform?
Visualize the moment seeing yourself and your audience, playing it over and over again, visualizing doing a great show, feeling the energy, and just have FUN.
9. Except for magic, are there any other activities that you love doing?
I love traveling and magic allows me to do that =), I love outdoor adventures going camping, going off road spending time with nature getting away from the busy city. I love finding new adventures, all these one way or another does inspire my magic.
10. What is a typical getaway for you?
Traveling and spending time with nature, at times online shopping.
11. Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
Have my own residential show around the world (periodically) and of course Vegas is in the list too.
12. Any inspiring advice to those upcoming magicians out there?
Take what is useful, discard what is not, add what is uniquely YOURS. Be yourself, there are no new ideas only new interpretation.
