Marcel Oudejans

Introducing corporate magician and infotainer: Marcel Oudejans.

Recognized both locally and abroad as one of the busiest corporate event entertainment specialists in Africa, Marcel, at age 28, he has been performing professionally for over 10 years and has been invited to perform and attend events as far as Los Angeles and India. Apart from his world-class magic skills, Marcel is regarded as both a reliable and enthusiastic professional who is consistently recommended by his clients. Marcel serves as the current Vice-President of the Cape Town Chapter of the Professional Speakers Association of Southern Africa. As the author of “The Serious Business Owner’s Guide To Creating Customers For Life”, he regularly speaks on marketing, customer service and sales.

Website: http://www.corporatemagician.co.za
Twitter: http://twitter.com/Marcel_perform
Location: Cape Town

Marcel was kind enough to answer the following questions:

Personal

Q: The all important personal profile. How would a close friend introduce you at a social event? i.e. Name, age, company, interesting fact etc.

A: Marcel, Corporate Magician & Infotainer. “Marcel” is my real name: you’d be surprised how regularly people ask if it’s a “stage name”. I tend not to use my surname because either people don’t know how to pronounce it or they can’t spell it.

Q: Tell us something that not many others know about you. This could be anything from a phobia to your favorite movie.

A: I’m a qualified Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer & worked in the IT industry as a technical support manager for 3 years before going full-time. For the last 18 months of that job, I worked from 9 till 5 and performed in the evening at a restaurant from 9 till 12. I’ve been self-employed for just over 6 years now.

I hate thrillers, horrors and medical dramas – I can’t understand why people would watch stuff that makes you afraid! I reckon that since you only have limited time to watch TV or movies, you may as well watch something funny, educational or positive.

Q: What do you enjoy doing when you want to get away from it all?

A: Travelling with my family to the Garden Route, switching off all communications devices and doing as little as possible!

Q: How would you describe your dream home and where in South African would you like it to be?

A: My home would definitely be in Cape Town, probably in Pinelands (where I currently live). Nothing fancy, just as long as it is comfortable and easy to maintain. I’d love to have my own study with a library, luscious green garden, shaded entertainment area, a comfortable lounge, and a guest cottage for visitors.

This question was proudly sponsored by Private Property. Looking for the ultimate home with a self-contained separate cottage? How about this 1834 s/m, 5 bedroom family home overlooking Bishops fields.

Magic in South Africa

Q: You’ve turned your passion into a successful career. Tell us about how you came up with the idea of combining your love for magic with corporate events?

A: My Dad works in the financial sector & he would often attend company events & tell me afterwards that they had an entertainer of some sort at the event. At the time, it seemed like a good way to earn pocket-money from my skills . I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit, so I started performing in restaurants.

I’ve been performing professionally since I was 15, and from 2002 to 2007 I was performing at restaurants 6 nights a week, so it was during this time that many people saw what I could do & asked for my business card. All those hundreds of hours performing for thousands of people paid off, and through that I’ve been able to select my best material, and hone my skills. I’m pretty confident you can parachute-drop me anywhere with my suit and my bag and I’d be able to create and entertain a crowd!

When I started my own business in 2003, I realized that clients would most likely choose an entertainer based on the kind of service they received from him (or her) as they are planning the event. Since then, I’ve performed for over 150 respected South African companies because I believe in offering reliable and consistent great service, as well as world-class entertainment.

Recently I’ve decided to make some big changes and refocus from magic for “pure entertainment” to magic “with a message”, because there’s great potential for using my performance, technical and marketing skills to integrate magic with sales presentations & keynote speeches for companies.

Q: You’ve been a professional magician since September 2003. Which career milestones are you most proud of?

A: Definitely the opportunity to study with my mentor, Joel Bauer, in Los Angeles in 2007. He’s one of the most successful speaker-trainers in the world, and he’s also an experienced magician. Joel trained me on how to use my magic and presentation skills to deliver captivating & persuasive presentations for corporate clients.

I’m also proud of the fact that in 2008 I lectured and performed at the Vismayam 2008 International Magic Convention in Thiruvananthapuram, India. I was the only African magician invited to attend this convention that was attended by over 1000 magicians. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet & work with highly respected international colleagues & fellow lecturers.

Q: What are your thoughts on the industry as a whole? Do you feel that enough is being down to attract a new generation to the discipline?

A: Magic is a fairly easy hobby to get into, but it takes a lot of performance experience to become a professional magician. In South Africa there are about 10 full-time professional magicians, so the industry is very small. This means that the public here doesn’t get to see live magic performances often. There are several organizations that those that are interested in magic can join (the College of Magic in Cape Town is globally recognized and respected), and the books and DVDs are now far more easily accessible than in the past. The “magic community” is still very very small in South Africa, and even though the majority of magicians are hobbyists, I’d say we have one or two very skilful performers who could become world-famous some day.

Q: What was the first magic trick that you mastered and do you remember the first time you were paid for a performance?

A: The first trick I “mastered” was one that my Mom showed me: three pieces of rope change from being different sizes to all becoming the same size. She refused to tell me how it was done, and instead told me to read the instructions in the magic book she’d borrowed from the library. So I read the instructions, practised it & that trick stayed in my show for many years.

The first paying show I remember was when I was about 15 or 16 and the local library had a holiday programme. I remember having to do a 30 minute show for about 50 kids and preparing for days! I was very proud to get an envelope with my own money in it – which I spent on buying more magic props.

Q: Tell us about your creative process. How do you come up with new tricks and how many hours would you say goes into a trick before you include it in your performances?

A: I’m not a trick inventor – I prefer to learn a published effect or routine that I think matches my personal performance style, and then when I’m technically capable of performing the trick I spend most of my time making it ‘mine’. My goal is to become unconsciously competent to do the sleights required so that I can focus on improving the timing, script and audience interaction. It takes about 3 months before I can even begin to consider whether or not the new trick stays in my act. Only about 1 in every 10 new effects stay in my working repertoire.

Q: What advice would you offer parents of children who have an interest in magic?

A: Magic starts off like any hobby: it’s exciting in the beginning but most people lose interest once they’re faced with a few challenges (like needing to practise a difficult sleight, or standing in front of an audience). Rather than buying a “magic kit” from a toy shop, it’s worthwhile going to the local library and borrowing a book on magic and sleight-of-hand. By learning magic from books, you’re encouraging your child to read, follow instructions, and even do the occasional craft project to make a trick. If your child keeps practising and remains interested, then do your best to watch every new trick that he or she performs and offer constructive criticism and encouragement. My parents watched every single trick as I was growing up and I certainly wouldn’t have become as good as I am if it wasn’t for their advice, insight and most importantly, their patience.

Life in South Africa

Q: Have you or any of your immediate family been affected by crime? If yes, has it changed your perception of the country and the way you and your family live your lives?

A: Ironically, I’ve recently had my laptop and all my mobile devices stolen while I was doing a presentation. Two years ago my wife was hijacked outside of our house. But we’ve been blessed that we haven’t experienced any major issues with crime, and I’m really positive about South Africa! Crime is a reality that we have to face in South Africa, so you’ve got to learn how to look after yourself. Fortunately I’m blessed with highly efficient guardian angel :)

Q: Have you ever considered emigration? If yes, where do you think you would emigrate to?

A: Nope, never considered it. If I really had to think about it, I’d say we’d go to the Netherlands or UK but that’s only because my wife and I have family in those countries.

Q: If, with wave of your magic wand, you could improve one thing about South Africa, what would it be?

A: I’d want their to be more trusted, upstanding, honest leaders in politics. Like I say in my presentations, “politicians are a lot like my daughter’s nappies: they both need to be changed regularly and for the same reason”.

Q: With less than 100 days to the first African Soccer World Cup, what advice would you offer to first-time visitors looking for the ultimate South African experience?

A: Be prepared to be pleasantly surprised by our country’s natural beauty and the hospitality of our people. Try to balance as much of your time between visiting the “must see” spots (Table Mountain, Robben Island, Kruger National Park, the beaches, etc) and spending time with the locals. Get out of the hotel as often as possible and experience what we South Africans do for fun! Don’t be neurotic about your safety, but don’t be naive either – it’s worth spending money to get an experienced and recommended tour guide as he or she will probably share some local “secrets” and make sure your visit runs smoothly!

Life in Cape Town

Q: What do you most enjoy about living in Cape Town?

A: The lifestyle and the sheer beauty of the city.

Q: Favorite restaurant in or around Cape Town for dinner with friends?

A: Tough choice! If they are family or close friends and we wanted a quieter restaurant, I’d take them to “Joe Fish” in Pinelands, or “Greek” in Mowbray. If I wanted to take them somewhere more extravagant and vibey, “Bombay Bicycle Club” on Kloofnek Road.

Q: If you were tasked with commissioning a postal stamp depicting the beauty of Cape Town and it’s people, which image would you select?

A: Table Mountain in the background – the icon of Cape Town – with a group of Cape Minstrels in the foreground, so signify the vibrancy and energy of Capetonians.

General

Q: Do you have any favorite tricks that you wish you knew the secret to?

A: Perhaps one or two of Derren Brown‘s effects – I rate him the best magician of our time! The particular effects would be those that include persuasion, influence, and “mentalism”, because I’d like to integrate them into my corporate presentations.

Q: What has been the weirdest reaction to one of your tricks?

A: I’ve been accused of being a “devil worshipper” – which is ironic, as I’m pretty conservative. Occasionally the black waiters and staff members of the venue I’m working at will run away as I approach them because sleight-of-hand really freaks them out; you can’t blame them as magic is still part of their culture and they rarely see magic as entertainment. Luckily most of them are laughing as they’re running!

Q: One book that you would make required reading for all matric pupils?

A: “One Minute Millionaire” by Mark Victor Hansen & Robert Allen.

Q: Which South African personality would you most want directing you on your car’s GPS device?

A: Errrrr … Tannie Evita Bezuidenhout!

Q: Who would you most like to read about on Izimvo and what would you ask them?

A: Cokey Falkow – one the funniest South African comedians I’ve had the pleasure to work with, and another future South African movie star. How’d he decide to go into comedy, and how’d he get the name ‘Cokey’?

A massive thank you to Marcel for taking the time to answer our questions. We’d like to wish him every success for the future.

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