Joe Daly is the mastermind behind the recent show, Magick Macabre, that ran in the Olympia, Dublin in October and November last year. Joe has kindly agreed to answer some questions…

Hey Joe, let’s kick this shit off! How long have you been involved in magic as a hobby and as a professional?
I have been interested in magic from the age of 6 and turned professional when I left college at 21 so professional now for 11 years.

How did you get started in magic?
I’m afraid to say it was Paul Daniels’ fault! I was on a family holiday in England and he brought me up on stage – I was bitten by the bug ever since.

Now for anyone who hasn’t seen the show can you briefly describe the premise?
The character I play Daemon Cordell was once a very accomplished and successful illusionist. However it was later found out that in order to achieve the perfect illusion he used to kill his assistants. He was sent to an asylum…the show takes over from there.

Are you mad?
Joe Daly is perfectly sane! Daemon eh… not so much…

The show is currently undergoing a rewrite, can you tell us what sort of changes we can expect?
Yes, we will be telling the back story on stage as opposed to in the programme and it will be a lot clearer with tons more magic in it

There’s some seriously heavy names involved in this project, can you tell us a bit more about that and how they were brought on board? (Wes Craven, A Big Magic Name Who Is Currently Secret, John McColgan, etc.
It’s not as complicated as it sounds. Anyone we approached just really loved the premise and the possibilities it afforded. It’s a fun project and very different and that just really attracted them

Magick Macabre’s a bit of a step away from Riverdance, what attracted Riverdream to the show?
I approached John McColgan, the producer of Riverdance. At that stage I had staged my own version of the show and toured it to venues around the country. He saw the video and the presentation pack I sent him. He was just taken by the mixture of horror, magic and comedy that existed in the show and knew it had huge potential. Also I think he was attracted to the fact that I did the whole thing myself and took a considerable financial gamble at 25 years of age.

What was your favorite illusion in the show?
The Death Drill!!!

And of all time?
Haha the Death Drill!!! (be careful what you wish for eh!)

What advice would you give to any aspiring young magicians?
Develop your own style. There is so much magic out there now on the internet and dvd’s that im am often amazed when I see young guys doing some really cool stuff…the problem is that there are loads of guys doing it…you have to be different. Then ask yourself what do you want out of magic and whatever that is follow it with a vengeance and literally let nothing deter you from it.

Anyone who’s seen your show would agree you have massive charisma and stage prescence when you perform, is this something you’re born with or can it be learned and if so how?
Why thanks you! To be honest it’s a bit of both. Either you have it or you don’t. if you do, no matter how small it might be you can develop it. I was lucky enough to have acting classes, movement classes and even fencing classes to develop to my full potential.

Who would you consider your heroes, both magical and non-magical?
It has to be David Copperfield. 500 shows a year and a living legend. In the non magical world it has to be Michael J Fox. Only after reading his autobiography will you understand.

What commercially available material do you rate most highly?
Love Lossander’s stuff. A gentleman to deal with too.

Any horror stories of gigs?
Of course! I was a kids magician for 15 years! I once arrived at a kids Christmas party, went in to meet the organiser to see where they wanted me and what the set up was…went back to mar car to get my props from the boot…guess what it was empty!!! But I could tell you exactly where in my house they were!!! I had them all set up ready to be loaded in the car from the previous night…went out to the gig the next day and walked right by them!! It was for Statoil who were then in the IFSC. Unbelievably I was able to drive home, get the gear and do the show an hour later. Oh dear!.

How do you feel exposure on youtube and TV is affecting magic today?
Of course I think its terrible. You can find out how anything is done on youtube, it’s so sad. Wanna see how Copperfield made the statue of liberty vanish…look it up. However, this awareness has caused me never to show any newly developed stuff on TV for fear it will be on youtube and some nerd will try and explain how its done and end up being copied badly by some teenager in his garage in Utah!

If you weren’t a magician what would you be doing?
Hmm, I honestly haven’t a clue. I have NEVER had a ‘real’ job.

Can I have a job?
hmmmmmmmmm…

Please?
I’ll have my people call your people!!!