Media

12.13.09- Interview with the Examiner

Pete is a performing magician and actor. He has starred in many short films, performed lectures for other magicians, has published his own magic creations, teaches magic to the public, and participates in Whodunit mystery dinner theaters.

DD:Whats your history to the bay area?

PG: My family moved to San Jose when I was 4 years old. We bounced around from Blossom Valley to the Evergreen area before finally landing and taking up roots in Almaden in 1992. The closest school (per the jurisdiction) was a 10 minute drive, but I wanted to get into computers and drama so I went to a school that required catching the bus at 5:15 a.m. The bus ride lasted about an hour for me to get to school.

DD: I've seen your acting performances, and also understand you are a magician. Do you prefer stage magic or close up?

PG:I like to do all types of magic but love to do close up.

DD: Why close up?

PG: I like amazing people with tricks that happen right under your nose. That way they can be sure there are no trap doors or hidden assistants. It also allows me to connect with people on a deeper level also. There are many types of magic. Illusion as David Copperfield does, closeup like David Blaine does, parlour, and street magic. While there are subgroups, and different performers like comedy magic or wearing a suit or Criss Angel that wears makeup. I like closeup because it uses everyday objects. I never liked the idea of showing you something you've never seen before by doing magic and putting it away. I don't like that.

If instead I borrow a dollar bill from you and move parts of the serial number around the bill and hand it back to you, it's right under your nose. That has a greater impact, in my opinion, than to cut someone in half on stage.

DD: Speaking of Criss Angel and David Blaine, what do you think of them?

PG: As magicians, I am not a fan. They rely heavily on camera edits and stooges though they helped bring the popularity of magic back to the masses. Now is a very very good time to get into the magic scene.

DD: How long have you been practicing?

PG: I've been doing magic for 20 years. Holy smokes...has it been that long?

DD: Are you a fan of David Copperfield?

PG: He raised the bar of magic and illusion. When people think of magic, they think of Houdini. Copperfield is the new icon. Magic is a small part of the performing arts. It also one of the least respected (clowns, and linked together with mimes). When most people think magic, they think of clowns, or people in suits and top hats.

David Copperfield changes all that. He doesn't pull bunnies out of hats, or make coins disappear. For what he did for magic I thank him. There are other people doing illusions but not on the scale he does them. Who else has made the statue of liberty disappear.

He is the new icon in magic. Criss Angel and David Blaine are the most recent, but Copperfield is still on top. Who knows who will take over the reigns when he passes on.

DD: Why are magicians so paranoid or secretive of "how it's done"?

PG: This is a loaded question. First of all, because it'll be boring. If I wow you, then tell you I do a double lift, glide pass and erdnase change...you'd walk away and never return. I don't think it's a "I don't want you to know", Its that people want to learn how, but not put in the effort to actually practice. So they settle for just knowing how. The truth is that with the masked magician, no one cares. Magicians still do the same effects that have been exposed, and are still amazed. Performance, theme, and story go a long way.

DD: Any final words?

PG: Pick a card, any card...