Rob Lek, an American magician and illusionist, known for his original great illusions and thoughtful theatrical interactive performances. He was also a quarterfinalist in America Got Talent (13 Season) in 2018. He performed all over the world and even forced singer Adele to disappear during one of his headlines.
In an exclusive HT Lifestyle interview, he talks about his inspiring journey, the creative process and why Magic still matters in the digital world. (Also Read: Inspired Safari National Park Casing Sakhin Tendulkar from Anjali, Sarah? Here’s how to plan your own trip )
Expressions from the interview:
How did you first enter the magic and how did this interest develop over time?
So, when I was only ten years old, I saw the magic show and I just knew what I would do with my life. It was the way I was loaded and programmed by this life and this life purpose. As soon as I saw this show, immediately the next day I went to the library and received every book I could find on Magic and I just plunged in my head. I really became obsessed. As a kid, I would go with friends, relatives, teachers, and everyone constantly crawled from magical tricks. And then my little hobby became a hobby and, after all, a career that has taken me around the world.
Do you remember the very first magic trick you did when -do?
Yes, yes. I mean that I was doing so much at the beginning that I had no props, no help and equipment. So I had to make magic with things I could find around the house. One of the first tricks I learned was with the newspaper, and even now, in many of my shows, I still do it because I never want to forget how it all started.
Do you have any inspiration in the world of magic and illusion? Who is anything you always looked?
Yes, I do. But I think my answer can surprise you a little, because my heroes in magic were technically no other magicians like me. These were the people who, in my opinion, were very magical in their own way, like Walt Disney, Jim Hanson, Stephen Spielberg and Ron Howard. People who created magic through narrative and fantasy. Even as a child, they inspired me, and they still inspire me today.
Did you make Adele disappear, can you share what this experience was?
So, in addition to creating and developing my own illusions for my show, I also create illusions and special effects for the Broadway show, for world -renowned thematic parks and concerts and tours. And one of the projects I started working on, I created and developed special effects for Adele for her concert in Las Vegas. So, when you saw a video where it magically disappears at the end of her show, this is one of the things I worked for her show.
How was your work experience in America who got talent and how she formed your career both creatively and professionally?
It was a few years ago, and frankly, it was fun and exhausted. They asked me to do shows for years, but we all talked “no” because we always toured. When we finally said so, it was one of our most lively years. I performed in Europe and had to fly back into the middle of the round to shoot Talent American’s Got Talent, and then flew back to continue the tour. It was necessary to move the show to make it work.
I don’t watch a lot of TV, so I underestimated the show. I thought I would make one episode, get a million views and move on. But one performance received more than 70 million views on YouTube. I didn’t even imagine what a massive influence would be.
Can you share the time when something went unexpectedly on stage and how did you handle it at this point?
In this beauty of the live shows can happen something. When I started, everything went wrong all the time, and here I learned. Now that we are creating a new illusion, we plan everything that can go, no matter how wild it seems. We rehearse the failures as much as successes, so when something happens, the audience never knows. The team and I quickly adjusted; We are ready for everything. And everything really goes wrong. We had full electricity shutdown or technological failures in the middle of Show. But this is part of the adventures. As soon as the show starts, I am in this journey with the audience, and we find it out with it.
What is the most difficult illusion you have developed or performed?
Usually the illusion I work at the moment feels the most difficult, mainly because I am the biggest obstacle. I am a perfectionist, and I see things in my mind. No matter how difficult it is, I want to create it exactly as I imagine it. Sometimes it’s not even the biggest piece. There is a trick that I recently added to the show, that it is pure hand -handed, and it took a long time to improve.
Surprisingly, one of the biggest illusions I do, the act of motorcycle was actually easier. One of my teachers helped me develop it, so the process was smoother, although this massive final that stops. So really, it depends. Sometimes this is just one tiny detail on which I was hanging, but for me, right, it changes it all.
What is a misconception of people about magicians?
This is a great question. I think a lot of people think that magic is just … real. Like, “Hey, do something here right now.” They do not always realize what I do is a full-scale show. It will take a large amount of equipment, more than 20 people, and huge scenes behind the scenes to look effortlessly. Even the simplest trick can take several months or even years, and all the show is the result of countless hours of planning, rehearsal and refinement.
If you had to describe the magical mantra you keep track of one line, what would it be?
This is the one I want for my audience: everything is possible. I hope everyone who sees that the show leaves is feeling inspired, like everything that is really possible. This is the feeling that I am with me every day.
Where do you see the future of magic and illusions, especially in this digital and hypervisual age?
This is a great question. I think that because we are so glued to our phones and constantly scroll, we now crave real connections and true experiences more than when -no. There is nothing like that to be a participant of a live show, surrounded by thousands of people, watching something unique at that moment. Such magic, energy, miracle, it just can’t be repeated on the screen.
This is funny because I cheat people for life, but even there is something deeply real. It’s not about filters or really, but about seeing what something is impossible in front of you.
In this digital world, I think people turn to magic, so as not to avoid reality, but again discover the miracle. We already keep incredible technologies in our hands, which seem to be a magician a century ago. But when people come to our shows, we show them the impossible in their reality. And that’s what he supports the magic of the living.
