Interview with Kiki Tay

After “Waah! Magic!”, we hijacked Singapore’s very own funny man of magic. We were trying our best not to laugh as we talk to this man. Mind you he is serious when he talks, but strangely he is still funny. The kids love him, the parents love him. The family loves him. Find out what drives this young vibrant entertainer!

We have converted it to .pdf format so that you guys can download it and read it offline for your convenience! Enjoy!

Kiki Tay Interview Transcript PDF

Transcript of the Interview with Kiki Tay

Vogue: How long have you been performing?

Kiki: For a very long time…since I was 14. Professionally, since 2000 so I guess that’s 8 years.

Vogue: What are your notable magic achievements?

Kiki: I’m directing a segment in the Asian Youth Games opening ceremony which has yet to happen. It takes place next month in June. I’ll be adding bits of magic elements to it. It is a mass display comprising of 250 people and this thing will be showcased all over the world so I guess it can be called notable. And maybe this show? (Referring to Waah! Magic! )

Vogue: How would you describe your style of magic?

Kiki: I started off as a magician , but I’m venturing more into other genres like comedy, I would say I entertain and magic is one of my tools now. My style of magic tends towards comedy. I started out doing illusions and trying to project a very cool image but slowly I realized that I enjoy making people laugh more than making people worship me. Hahaha…

Thor: How did you accommodate to room for errors in your performances?

Kiki: I think the key is being natural, being yourself. If you drop an object , how would you pick it up? You just pick it up. I think in my case the audience should be quite forgiving; if I drop an object, my character allows me to just carry on rather than if I acted like David Copperfield, a screw up is a big screw up. For a comedy act, a screw up is ok! =)

Vogue: Is there any person who influenced your magic?

Kiki: David Copperfield. Really! 1995; “Dreams and nightmare”. I sat down in the audience where his snow act happened. Yes! The whole indoor stadium was filled with snow. Alright it was foam… The snow’s density was just nice; it stays in mid air and it doesn’t move, then it moves. Waah (no pun intended) so amazing, I was really the last person to leave the theater. Back then I wasn’t a magician and really didn’t know anything about magic yet. I really stayed there and was touched emotionally. In a way you see all the things I do, I strive to touch people emotionally as well.

Thor: So how did you start performing professionally?

Kiki: I started performing for my school. Teachers’ day performance, National day performance, everything, I’ll volunteer to do. Now that I look back, they were good opportunities. It’s a ground where I can test out my materials. I do a lot of charity shows also. Any chance I got to perform, I just performed because I’m not out for the money. In fact until today I’m also not out for the money. Because this is my passion. If I earn money, the thing I’ll spend on is my passion…which is this! In fact, I’m very happy with my life now. =D

Vogue: If there’s any advice you can give to magicians, what would it be?

Kiki: Always remember to do anything out of passion. The key word is passion. If you focus on money, you can only get so far. You have to focus on what you love to do. You don’t have to know how you are going to get it, you only have to know what you want, and life will find a way. Yes, law of attraction. The Secret. I have no doubt about The Secret. Everything I have here, it has once been a dream. What you focus on, is what you get.

Kiki: People relationships are also very important especially in the entertainment business and you cannot be too arrogant. We are here to entertain people and to make people happy. Entertain people and not to show off. Because many are showing off with their magic…

Kiki: You must always focus on the concept, the performance rather than the trick itself. Whatever you need to know it’s on the internet. So now it’s not about the secret, but rather the presentation.

Thor: Is there anything you learnt from school that you applied to your magic now?

Kiki: When I was in ITE, I took electronics. I’m very into electronics. You see the LED backdrop and D’lites in my show? I made them myself.

Thor: Tell us something that nobody knows about you…something that will freak us out.

Kiki: Errr har….arrr….gah..sigh. OH! I have a lot of soft toys! I like soft toys hahahaha. I got them on my bed.

Thor & Vogue: Thank you very much for your time!

Kiki: Thank you.