“Nothing
would give me or Teller more pleasure than to hand over Vegas
tickets to someone – anyone – who has the nerve to
stand in front of us, monkey with us, leave us baffled and ultimately
blow us away with their brilliance. That would be a dream. We
SO want that to happen! Magic is always evolving with different
performers constantly innovating. We believe there are performers
out there who can do it so we’ve sent out this challenge.
And if they can fool us we’re taking them to Vegas to perform!”
Penn - Penn & Teller 'Fool Us'
Cue
the latest highlight of Richard Bellars magic & mind reading
performances - one of Britains brightest young professional magicians
Richard is recognised by his peers, clients and unsuspecting
victims as one of the most talented and exciting magic performers
in the world today. This cheeky star catches even the harshest
cynics off-guard with his easy, laid-back style of close-up,
street and down right spooky magic but don't be fooled by his
youthful appearance for a moment - for behind the engaging smile
lies a sharp and clever mind with over 20 years experience in
the black art of sleight-of-hand/mind.
There
has rarely been a day since aged 9 when Richard hasn't had a
deck of cards in his hand or an audience to play to and he never
fails to leave his audiences with a bewildered and astonished
expression. Don't expect to get any sleep after you have experienced
the immaculate magic of this world class close-up performer -
you'll be too busy working out how the hell he did it.
With
a performance portfolio already under his belt that that many
older and greyer practitioners would be envious of. He's even
managed to baffle the great David Blaine - a colleague he openly
admires and supported through his London glass box ordeal "Above
The Below", and was heavily featured in the TV documentary
about the event "Below The Above".
Richard
is no stranger to endurance feats - In 2003 he took part in a
fund-raising event to be filmed for DVD, "Cold Illusions",
performing in the open air for three days solid in December sub-zero
temperatures supported by friends, passers-by and the local press
- before being whisked off to thaw out in hospital and prevent
the onset of and hyperthermia! He must have a short memory
for frostbite, repeating the feat in Eastbourne in 2009 for a
cancer fund raiser.
On
the other end of the temperature scale, some of his audience
are so impressed with Richard's trickery they invite him to the
fashionable Gulf hot spot Dubai for a regular residency entertaining
the great the good and superrich in shoppers paradise Mall Of
The Emirates, the Kempinsky and the swanky Burj-Al-Arab - the
World's best hotel.
Richard
Bellars has held residencies at various cool bars, fine dining
restaurants and Mediteranean holiday spots, and is a firm favourite
for private parties and corporate functions and his client base
looks like a blue chip whos who - BBC, Barclays Bank, PWC, HSBC,
Honda, Pret A Manger, Audi, Jonda, BMW, Captiv8 and very many
more
As
well as his recent sublime performance on Penn & Teller 'Fool
Us', Richard also starred on the BBC2 Series Magic Party for
BBC Northern Ireland, has featured on BBC SE Today, and the entertainment
analysis "Showdown" debate for the Harvey Goldsmith
show "Get Your Act Together" broadcast on E4 in 2007.
Richard completed filming of his first TV close-up magic series,
'Urban Illusions' in 2005 after being signed up to a series deal
with Sound TV. Sadly despite all the hard work that went into
the making of the series the early demise of the station meant
that only 2 shows were aired.
Richard
Bellars is supported by the UK's top professional magic suppliers
Alakazam and has filmed a series of instructional DVDs for their
world class Urban magic training series. He also teaches aspiring
young muggles in his Hogwarts style academy
However
this will not be Richard's last TV opportunity, and the word
on the media street says we can expect to see a lot more mind-bending
and eye-boggling TV illusions in the future courtesy of the exceptionally
talented Mr Bellars
From
the Big Smoke steps out Damien O’Brien, the magic world’s
gifted boy wonder and leader of the new school of street magicians.
Damien’s
wizardry has no limits or boundaries, utilizing all types of
magic from cards to coins, watches to fire, even mind control
and levitations. A natural performer mixed with boyish charm,
his magic leaves even the biggest skeptic in the room bewitched.
First
introduced to magic at the age of 12 by fellow magician Richard
Bellars, Damien picked up the craft after learning a few tricks.
From there Damien took his unique skill set to the streets to
perform for the unsuspecting public. Their reactions were unbelievable,
sealing Damien’s fate as a professional magician. He says:
“There’s no better buzz than pulling off an amazing
illusion right under someone. To watch their childlike wonder,
there’s no other word to describe it but… magical.”
Honing
his skills as both a showman and entertainer, Damien began gigging
in local venues, until 2005, when a impromptu performance outside
a London night club kick-started a chain of events that would
catapult this 25 year old into the big leagues.
Using
his mystic arts and improvised style of magic, Damien managed
to impress a certain club owner, so he would allow this talented
young magician into his private party to wow his guest list of
celebrities,
reality TV stars and talent agents. Needless to say, Damien was
a massive hit and was asked to become a regular fixture. This
spurred a domino effect within the showbiz party circuit, where
Damien had free reign to showcase his abilities to some of the
world’s most influential and famous celebrities
Since
then Damien has performed at some of the most prestigious events
in the world, including rocking the Brit Awards for 4 years running
where he has ' hey presto’d' 50 Cent, Peter Andre, Dizzee
Rascal, Kelly Clarkson, Ashley Cole and many more into fans as
well as appearing in The Sun, MTV, MySpace TV, BBC 1, BBC 2,
The Sunday Times, OK! and RWD Magazine in the last year.
Damien's
is a firm favourite of A-list bookers and recently has performed
to music celebrities such as; Akon, Ciara, Chris Brown, Lupe
Fiasco, Estelle, 50 Cent, Kelly Rowland, Simon Webb, N-Dubz as
as well as the the England Football Team and many more stars
of stage, screen and sport.
Damiens
international exposure includes a 2 week performance in Jamaica
including performing for Beenie Man, Chris Brown, Spragga Benzz,
Sean Paul, as well as TV appearances on BBC 1, and Smile Jamaica
and a further 2 TV shows set to air in 2008, a front cover appearance
on OK magazine and various DVDs.
Damien
has endorsement contracts with sports giants Nike who supply
his own design trainers , as well as deals with New Era Caps
& Avit Clothing - who make Damien's trademark hoodies. Yep,
Damien O'Brien - he's street-wise, street-sharp and pure street-Magic!
The
Sun "Damien O’Brien’s magic had Danielle
Lloyd bouncing off in confusion and left R’n’B stars
Akon and Nelly baffled by his illusionary excellence"
Peter
Andre "One word to describe this, incredible!"
Ravi was born in Isleworth, England but
his parents immigrated to Montreal, Canada soon after where he
grew up. It was in Canada where Ravi's international adventures
began. After receiving 2 diplomas, one in Social Science, the
other in Hospitality Management and winning numerous magic competitions,
Ravi decided to explore the world. Using his education, magic
and dual citizenship (Canada and England) Ravi mixed, mingled
and mystified across 3 continents entertaining over 45 nationalities
and using his joy of magic to cross the language and cultural
barriers"
Ravi has performed at some of today's
most prestigious venues and events locations around the world.
Across Canada Ravi has entertained audiences at the CN Tower,
Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Toronto
Second City Comedy Store, Calgary Stampede, Hockey Hall of Fame,
and Whistler Backcomb Ski Resort. Ravi also spent 3 years performing
throughout the Banff National Park.
In Asia Ravi was contracted for three
years with Star Cruises, the third largest cruise line in the
world. Ravi spent a year with The Club Med 2 Cruise-South Pacific,
entertaining on board the ship and on the islands in the French
Polynesia. Presently Ravi is performing across the U.K. some
of the highlights include, The Brit Awards after party 07, The
Flora London Marathon 06/07, 50 Cent/ G Unit " Get Rich
Or Die Trying" Movie Premier after party, Michael Ballac's
New Years Eve private house party, West End celebrity haunts
(Funky Buddha, Rococo, Tiger Tiger, Cc, Play Room, and Browns
nightclub) promotional companies Halo, Sintillate, Nick House
Entertainment.
Close-up magic has become a strong marketing
tool used at trade shows, product launches, and company conventions.
Ravi is highly reputable as a corporate magician performing for
companies throughout North America, Europe and Asia. Ravi has
performed at some of today's leading companies such as Ferrari,
Cartier., Bank of Montreal, Future Electronics, Club Med, Air
Canada, Home Depot, GSK GlaxoSmithKline, CN Tower, Microsoft
and many leading world hotel brands.
Ravi has performed for some of the top
celebrities in London and t various locations around the world:including
international football stars Michael Ballack, Rio Ferdinand and
John Terry Derren Brown legendary Mentalist and Mind Reader,
G Unit, 50 Cent , X-Factor vocal troupe Rappers G4 ,Paul Barry-
Song Writer, Cher, Lionel Richie, Enrique Iglesias, Craig David
Abs-Boy Band FIVE, Hard Fi, celebrity publicist Max Clifford,
DJ Brandon Block, Keanu Reeves, Dogstar, Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca
Star Wars), Sham 69, Billy Dee Williams (Empire Strikes back,
Batman), Bruce Boxleitner (Babylon 5, Tron) DJ Too Tall CHOM
FM, Montreal, LUBAs Jeff Smallwood, Noah Wyle (John Carter ER
TV series), Toni & Guy co-owner Toni Mascolo-, Lou Diamond
Phillips (Young Guns, La Bamba, 24), Coolio, and last but not
least Kelly Osbourne.
