HOW IT STARTED
Hi, I’m Shane.
I’ve been doing what I do for quite a while at this stage, so I tend to forget that there was once a time when I wasn’t making magic happen. But if you’re curious about how it began, let’s rewind to my childhood.
It all started when I was just a wee lad of four or five, constantly on the lookout for the perfect prank. I clearly remember thinking that a Whoopee Cushion was the last word in sophisticated humour, and I must have pranked visitors to the home hundreds of times by asking them, with an angelic smile, to ‘take a seat’.
Over the following years, my entertainment repertoire grew (a little), and pranking was replaced by skateboarding, breakdancing, kickboxing and learning to play the guitar. When I look back at the rictus smiles of approval on the faces of my parents, I’m suddenly reminded that I must have had the most patient Mum and Dad in the world!
When I hit the teen years, I dabbled in the art of magic, but it wasn’t till David Blaine’s first TV Special in 1997 that I really got bitten by the bug, sparking a lifelong interest and kickstarting a career that gives me enormous satisfaction.
Contrary to popular belief, there isn’t really a school for magicians, so I’m mostly self-taught. I’ve sharpened my skills over the years through reading books, watching my idols on TV, and, most of all, by practising relentlessly.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
When I’m not working, you’ll find me in the gym, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, strumming my guitar, and travelling the world with my amazing wife, Karine.
Recently, I’ve taken up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art that requires discipline, critical thinking and leaving your ego at the door. It’s like human chess with strangleholds – a cardio session like no other! But the skills it teaches – problem-solving, mental strength, focus and perseverance – are transferable to other areas of life.
MY WORK TODAY
Whoever said that you need to invest 10,000 hours to be good at something was probably under-estimating it when it comes to magic and mentalism, so I spend most of my waking hours either performing or planning how to make my next performance even better, whether it’s a wedding or a corporate event.
I’ve performed at literally thousands of gigs since watching that David Blaine TV special over 25 years ago, but it’s my first ever booking that sticks in the mind the most. I performed for a private 40th birthday party and was so confident of my abilities that I negotiated a fee of a whopping €50!
And though I may not have profited much financially from the experience, I got an even greater reward for my performance. People laughed and smiled throughout my act and were suitably gobsmacked at the appropriate points.
I’ll never forget the buzz that it gave me, and it took me weeks to fully come down from the experience. And today, decades later, it’s still the audience reaction that keeps me coming back for more.
I get to interact with people in a really positive and engaging way, put smiles on their faces and see them at their very best. Not too shabby for a job description, I think you’ll agree.
MY MISSION
The ultimate goal is to help my wedding and corporate clients easily solve their entertainment needs by delivering exceptional service and world-class tailored performances that will live long in the memory of guests. My primary aim is to lift the spirits of those I have the privilege of entertaining while having a lot of fun in the process.
I’ve won awards, but at the end of the day, the biggest reward is knowing that I’ve made people happy. When a bride or event organiser reaches out to tell me that people are still raving about my performance, that’s proper magic.
So, that’s me in a nutshell. A self-taught magician and mentalist, prankster turned pro, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu enthusiast, and all-around lover of life. If you ever need some entertainment at your event or just want to chat about the finer points of whoopee cushion humour, I’m your guy.
If you would like to check availability for your wedding or event, please fill in the enquiry form below.