I’m often asked how I became a children’s entertainer. Well here’s the story of how Ozzy Wizzpop became to be.
It all started from early influences that planted a seed. Paul Daniels was all the rage as a child. Getting a Paul Daniels magic set was the cool thing to have. My mum tells a story that I have no memory of that I invited all the class over for a magic show. The only problem being that there was no magician, just me with my Paul Daniel’s magic set. Mother had to send away many disgruntled parents. The early makings of Ozzy Wizzpop were evident!
What really inspired me was a magician I used to see at a holiday park as a child. I would watch his show every week, arriving at the venue before he would. I’m told it was the same show every week – this didn’t deter me. There I was week in week out, usually right at the front.
Fast forward to July 15th about 2 am, 2012. I found an ebook on coin magic book. I had a play around with some coin sleights, this is good I thought. Then a thought came to me – why don’t I be a children’s entertainer? I can only think it was the influence of the holiday camp that gave me this thought from nowhere. Like a deep subconscious thought that bubbled up from the surface.
I had no idea how I was going to be a children’s entertainer. Quite often my ideas would fizzle out and nothing would come of it (I once wanted to be a chimney sweep). So I told my best pal of my plans. Oh that’s good he said “you can do Harrys party in 4 months time”. I agreed to do it. I had no idea how I was going to pull this off. I had no show, I knew one crappy trick with a coin, and I only had 4 months. I really had thrown myself in the deep end.
I got my hands on any DVD and books I could, spent hours on YouTube, badgered all my friends with kids about what children’s entertainers do. It was tough, there were times when I thought that I’m just not going to be ready to do this. I didn’t want to let my best friend and Harry down on his 4th birthday. I stuck with it and slowly I had the bare bones of a show. I started to learn a few balloon models and things were taking shape – it was going to happen.
The show went well. I got through it. I didn’t know if it was any good and I thought that would be the end of that. Thankfully two mums approached me after and asked me for a business card. I couldn’t believe it! This was the best compliment I could have had, it gave me the belief to carry on. And so I did, 12 years later me and Bonkers the monkey carry on making little peoples birthdays special.