the stuff that makes a trick work.” Elliott chuckles when he
remembers his pals at Hillcrest High School scoffing at his early dedication. When he talks about the cruise ships, resorts and famous clubs he now plays, he says, “They’re not laughing anymore.” After university, Elliott got into
the “real job” world, jumping to several careers, all the while keeping the magic show on weekends. When he realized he was making just as much money working as an entertainer, he took the leap and became a full time magician/ entertainer. “If you have a burning desire
to do something, come hell or high water you’re going to persevere and you’re going to do it,” he says. “You may not get 100 per cent of the way there, but you’re going to come darn close.” It didn’t take long for the work
and passion to pay off. He quickly graduated from kids’ parties to corporate gigs to cruise ships, and when the novelty of riding the waves for weeks at a time wore off, he started playing resorts and hotels on the islands. His show evolved as well,
from the traditional top hat and tails to more elaborate props and full stage shows to his current role as a magician/comedian, relying heavily on audience participation and what he calls his gift of the gab. It’s a natural move for a kid raised on the antics of Jerry Lewis and The Three Stooges. Elliott knows that interplay
with the audience is key to attaining success as a magician. “The thing about magic is that
it’s not just the trick,” he says. “It’s the personality, the charisma and the showmanship of the magician.” Staying ahead of the curve
has become increasingly hard for magicians in the age of the Internet. Elliott acknowledges that it is much harder to wow an audience when
continued on page 69
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