Conjuror is out to light up Blackpool by magic

Jan 21 2008 by Matthew Aplin, South Wales Echo

BY day, James Piper makes check-out tills – but by night he’s bending spoons and making coins vanish!

The father of three from Aberdare is the only Welsh conjuror to be invited to this year’s prestigious Blackpool Magic Convention to dazzle crowds with his magical skills.

The sleight-of-hand expert, who is a member of the Cardiff Magical Society, has been practising magic for the past seven years, after being inspired by the illusions of David Blaine.

He said: “I first saw him on television and his sleight-of-hand stuff was brilliant. It just fascinated me so I started to learn some tricks. I don’t really like him anymore though. His tricks are quite simple now.”

James, 26, logged on to the internet to do some research and found it was possible to buy the methods, although they were not easy to replicate.

He said: “They are quite easy to buy but the tricks are not something you can learn overnight. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication.”

James works as a solderer at Sapphire Research and Electrics in Ferndale but performs at restaurants, bars, weddings and birthday parties in his spare time.

He said: “I don’t use many props. I just take a deck of cards, some elastic bands and a few coins. Then I use some props from wherever I am. If I’m at a restaurant or a wedding I’ll use spoons that are on the table or whatever is available.”

His biggest fans are his children, Chloe, eight, and twins Dylan and Joseph, one.

He said: “Chloe loves it and I’ve taught her a few tricks she shows to her friends. I’d like her to carry on with it because it’s great fun.”

James has even managed to share a stage with Paul Daniels at the Cardiff Magician Society’s Day of Magic at the Cardiff International Arena last November.

He said: “He did his show and then I did mine after him! He was a true gentleman – a really great guy and it was so nice to meet him.”

James will perform three sets of 12 minutes in front of three separate crowds of 200 and for three sets of judges at the European close-up championships next month in Blackpool. So is he nervous anything will go wrong on his big day?

He said: “Nothing has ever gone wrong yet but I’m certain it will sometime in the future. I don’t really get nervous.”

You can find more information about James at www.pipermagic.co.uk

matthew.aplin@mediawales.co.uk