Sam Powers has taken the world of magic and illusion by storm but for him life is more than just smoke and mirrors

It may be an over-used phrase: “If I could just wave a magic wand …” but one man has done just that and in the process has thrown his weight behind charitable causes.

Magician and international illusionist Sam Powers has dedicated his life to becoming one of the world’s best and has also donated money from his shows to causes such as helping disadvantaged children and raising awareness of cruelty to animals.

The 28-year-old is in Cairns with his spectacular show Xtreme Illusions at the Velvet Underground in the Reef Hotel Casino. Sam says his show appeals to a broad demographic and remembers being influenced by the “magic men” when he was a young lad.

“It all started when I was three years old and I saw a magician at my kindergarten Christmas party,” he says.

That magician’s name is Peter Wood and he and Sam have since become good friends.

Sam says he still has vivid memories of the “amazing” show. But the nurturing process was just about to begin.

“The following year he returned for another show and he pulled me out of the audience for one of the routines,” Sam says.

“I thought it was real magic. I can still remember the feeling it gave me. As a child I really believed I could feel the magic.

“I received a magic kit for Christmas the following year and made it a hobby.

“When I was 14 I saw David Copperfield on television and it inspired me to take magic as far as I could go, which was a long way from my early dream of becoming a vet.”

Since then, Sam’s life has never been the same. Having turned professional at 14, he became a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM). So quickly had he learned from and impressed his peers that he was elected the society’s youngest ever president at age 19, a world record.

“In general most magicians become a member of a magic society when they start out,” Sam says.

“The big name acts like David Copperfield, Lance Burton and Siegfried and Roy are all members of the International Brotherhood
of Magicians.”

The secret world of magicians is one built on trust and respect and society members have to prove themselves before being accepted into the fold.

“The members of the board decide if you qualify as a magician to become initiated. It is like a circle of trust,” Sam says.

He says there are certain societies that require the prospective inductee to perform a piece of magic before the initiation.

During the ceremony an oath is taken to swear never to reveal the secrets of magic.

Sam’s skills and commitment to creating new and unique interactive illusions have won the coveted Magician of the Year award five times. Awarded in two hotly contested categories – Close-up Magic and Stage Magic – he has won the stage category three times.

“Hundreds of professional magicians from Australasia gather together at a very secretive convention in Sydney and one aspect of the convention is the competitions,” Sam says.

“The performances at the competitions are open to the public as a ticketed event so that we have real people to work for.

“The performances are judged by professional magicians who are
IBM members.”

While Sam’s performances have drawn rave reviews, he says there have been occasions when even the best laid plans fail to materialise and when that happens, speed of thought is the only way to save the day.

He recalls one particular night when he was performing the “Houdini trunk” illusion
– where he is handcuffed and padlocked inside a trunk and with assistant standing outside and in the blink of an eye they change places.

However, execution did not follow script.

“After the switch I proceeded to unlock the padlock to reveal my assistant who was now inside the trunk,” Sam says.

“However, upon inserting the key, the guts of the padlock fell out all over the stage and she was trapped inside for the rest of the show. “There was nothing I could do until the curtains came down. [It was] Very embarrassing but I think the audience thought it was part of the act,” he says.

He says his shows are run to an extremely tight schedule, with little margin for error and he points out that a two-and-a-half minute segment can take about two-and-a-half years to perfect.

“The miracles you see are literally milliseconds and millimetres away from being a complete disaster,” he says.

“It’s a stress that I have learned to transform into something that I now find very exciting.

“When you’re dealing with new people every night, anything is possible.

“After thousands of shows there is nothing much left that can surprise me and what may seem like an improvisation is actually an ‘out’ that I have probably performed many times over. The secret is to make that
look spontaneous.”

The interactive nature of his show means Sam has had to work on the spontaneity side of things – plan Bs – because where animals and children are involved anything can happen.

“Somehow I have managed to make a living out of doing just that. You need to have a lot of patience to work with kids and animals, especially when doing it simultaneously.”

Sam’s on-stage work with animals is an insight into his love for them and repulsion he feels at their mistreatment, often for profit.

During his 14-year career, he has raised more than $2 million for more than 100 charities including Animals Australia.

“When you come to Xtreme Illusions you will see my signature piece Flash Doves, where I produce a succession of doves at lightning fast speed. It’s quite spectacular.

“I love those little guys and treat them with the same kindness I would give to my children.

“Unfortunately a lot of other animals out there are not treated with the same consideration. It is for this reason that I am donating profits from Xtreme Illusions merchandise to Animals Australia to help end the horrific practices used in battery hen farms and factory farmed pigs.”

But Sam’s philanthropic endeavours do not end there.

On his last visit to the Far North, he helped raise $40,000 for the children’s unit at Cairns Base Hospital.

He has recently completed a three-month tour during which he raised $800,000 for various Lions and Rotary clubs to donate to respective local charities. Sam invites and donates seats to underprivileged children as well as those with disabilities.

Outside of the larger charities, such as make A Wish Foundation and Mission, Australia, he frequently receives emails from private individuals reaching out for help.

“Earlier this year I received an email from a lady whose two-year-old son had been diagnosed with autism,” Sam says.

“She explained that with early intervention of at least 20 hours per week it has been proven that autism can be successfully managed although it can never be cured. Early intervention comes at a cost of $50,000 per year and there is no funding from
the government.

“I wondered what it would be like if that was my child, so I stepped in and helped to raise the money with my show.”

It is not unusual for Sam to knock out 20-hour days. When he does have more time to relax he likes to water ski, run or go to the gym. While this healthy approach to life won him a spot on Cleo magazine’s Bachelors of the Year in 2006, the shutters come down when asked if the attention led to a stream of fans clamouring at the stage door, post show.

“Good magicians never reveal their secrets,” he says. “Let’s just say it was a great year and the demographic of my audiences definitely changed for a while that year.”

Sam Powers is a man who loves his work but also appreciates he is in a privileged position.

“I’m lucky, I perform, make money, have fun, meet some truly amazing people and yet I am in a position where I can, through my shows, raise money to help people,” he says.

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