Almost every child goes through a phase where he or she is entranced by magic and magic tricks. Andover's Reed Spool has never lost that love.
In fact, Spool's love for magic has brought him on a journey to becoming a magician that will see him performing as a part of Kalliope's Karavan in Cambridge on Aug. 27. The event is described as "an evening of side show delights and vaudeville theatre."
Spool's introduction to magic happened at a Halloween party when he was 14.
"A magician showed me a coin trick and how to do it," said Spool. "I thought it was the coolest thing in the world."
Ever since that night, Spool has been fascinated by the subject, reading books about magic, learning tricks and attending magic camp.
"Magic camp changed the way I looked at magic," said Spool. "It really helped me become a magician."
The first time Spool ever performed magic was at camp during a competition, and, he admits, "I did horribly." Through practice he has mastered a number of tricks and has enough confidence in his work to display it on Youtube.
The Andover resident's family and friends have always been supportive of Spool's magic and as he's developed as a magician, they have become impressed. "When I show them a trick for the first time they are always like 'how the hell did you keep that from me,'" he said.
Spool's magic is heavily focused on the movement of his hands, using props like coins, thimbles andr an array of other objects. New tricks involving coins take Spool little time to master.
"Coins are a tool I use a lot," said Spool. "My hands know how they feel. My hands know how it works."
Spool's has taken an interest in a new prop - sponge balls. "I've seen how other magicians use them and its pretty lame so I am trying to make them less lame," jokes Spool.
Lately, Spool has been reading many different books on alternative props and coming up with his own ideas for tricks.
"Whenever I want to try something different, I just try it," said Spool.
Through the years, he has continuously performed his magic on stages through New England even though performing on stage can be somewhat tense for him.
"The moments before going on stage can be really nerve-wracking," said Spool. "Another magician told me the minute you stop being nervous is when you stop caring. You just have to accept the nerves."
Once on stage though, the nervousness quickly fades for Spool.
"It goes by in a flash," said Spool. "It's a great feeling being up there."
Spool's advice to young magicians is to read about the craft. "Go to a magic store and buy a book for a beginner," he said. "There is a lot of temptation to go online or go onto Youtube. However, that doesn't teach you the fundamentals. It just teaches you how to do that one trick. Once you learn the fundamentals, you can learn different tricks."
In the fall, Spool will enter Umass Lowell and major in computer science. He admits that while earning a degree, magic might have to take a back seat for a while, but hopes to keep growing as a magician.
"I just want to keep getting better at this," he said.
Magic meeting
Kalliope's Karavan
with Andover magician Reed Spool
Friday, Aug. 27, 2010
8 to 10 p.m. (doors at 7:30)
YMCA Theatre
820 Mass. Ave.
Central Square, Cambridge
$12 in advance/$15 atdoor
18+ over only
