Need a little magic in your life? DARREN TIEN and JERRYL TAN, Singapore’s youngest professional magician duo, have taken their unique, theatrical brand of magic online! We chat with the pair and find out how these longtime friends aim to redefine magic in Singapore and craft innovative story-driven performances.
How did you two meet?
Darren: Jerryl and I met by chance in 2015. A mutual friend introduced us and we instantly connected through a shared passion for magic. During my internship with JC Sum at Concept Magic, I took the opportunity to rope in Jerryl and we both learned under his tutelage.
Several years later, Jerryl sprung the idea of working together since there weren’t any other professional magic duos in Singapore. I found the idea fresh and interesting so I jumped at the opportunity.
How have your performances evolved since you started?
Darren: As a solo performer, I started off performing at private events and small parties. I even tried busking on Orchard Road. From that, I moved on to performing large-scale illusions. My magic performances have certainly evolved tremendously. Working solo and as a duo also introduced a whole different level of experiences to master. I learnt a great deal about teamwork and how to maximise our individual strengths to produce quality shows that showcase our identity.
We’re now beginning to expose ourselves to the world of theatre; we’re hoping to elevate magic into an art form. Here, magic is a vehicle to tell a story that takes the audience on a journey. This is another stepping stone on our journey to becoming better magicians.
Jerryl: When I first started magic I was always focused on perfecting sleight of hand; I had no understanding of the presentational side of magic. I always thought that being able to do the most difficult sleights meant that I was a good magician. As I learned more, I realised that showmanship is just as important, if not more important, than sleight of hand because it gives you the ability to hold someone’s attention.
Tell us more about how storytelling plays a part in your performances; how does your brand of magic distinguish itself?
D: Storytelling is a major part of our performance; we’re trying to marry storytelling and the facades of theatre with magic. Theatrical magic is still a relatively new concept, but we want to move away from the traditional and evolve as performers.
Like all magicians, we tend to develop a cool trick and spin a cliché story around the trick. Instead, I want to create and write fresh ideas and then use magic to enhance the thoughts and viewpoints I want to share.
J: We feel that stories draw people to your performances; they also allow us as performers to express ourselves and share our experiences. We want to bring meaning to our magic and encapsulate a message.
Is doing magic on live video hard? Are some things easier than in a live setting?
D: There are many challenges for a magician who’s presenting magic through the medium of live video. One of them is the efficacy of producing astonishment in the audience. Video magic can easily be passed off as video editing. We need to consistently engage with the audience and connect with them to allow them to believe that everything is real. Only then can they suspend disbelief and truly appreciate the work.
The virtual medium is also very different from a live setting. In a live performance, you’re in close physical contact with the audience; and you can let them touch and feel the props. Online, you’re limited by the 15-inch screen they’re viewing you from. So, the challenge is in maintaining the intimacy and interactivity of the magic performance. It would become very static and stagnant to perform all the standard material that you’re used to performing in real life. If we were to do just that, it would be no different to a YouTube video. The online medium also allows the audience to experience our magic both in Singapore and from other any corner of the world. We’ve been super lucky to be engaged by people from Malaysia to Canada during the pandemic.
Thirdly, because this is a new kind of performance, there is no precedent to follow or emulate. The good news is this puts everyone on a level playing field, since even the most experienced professional performers worldwide need to start from scratch. Because of this, we can very easily and quickly outperform a lot of our peers within the industry.
J: I feel that performing for the virtual medium is much more challenging due to the fact that everyone is used to magic being a physical experience. It takes time to convince someone that good magic is good magic and it is not defined by the medium it’s presented in.
What’s a misconception about magic you’d like to correct?
D: One of the biggest misconceptions is that magic is just entertainment for kids. Parents would scramble to get their kids’ attention to watch us ‘clown around’ but some adults would politely decline. I think there is so much more to magic – it can be theatrical; it can be compelling art; it can incorporate storytelling and leave behind a more impactful message.
What advice do you have for any budding magician reading this?
D: I would share with them that if it’s something they’re truly passionate about, go all out and just do it. As the saying goes, “Go big or go home”! Don’t second guess yourself and put heart into your work. Be humble, bold and brave enough to take that leap of faith.
J: Draw inspiration from other aspects of your life and never be afraid to ask for help or reach out for collaborations because you never know who might say yes.
For more information on Darren and Jerryl’s performances, click here.