If you’re looking for something different to be a part of this Saturday then check out James Harrison’s Mady Centre show. You may want to get tickets before they disappear; he has a tendency to do that with things.
The downtown Barrie theatre will be the place to be for not just the best magic show in the area, but for a show that is consistently entertaining for the whole time Harrison is on stage. The 39-year-old husband and father is excited about this near-all day show and says it’s going to have something for everyone.
“I’ve actually got two shows this Saturday,” said Harrison. “One is the family show and the other is the one I like to call the grown-up show. It doesn’t mean that young adults can’t come, it’s not blue-material or anything, I just want the separation for folks so people know I’m not all about kid’s shows. The 2:30 p.m. show is billed as the Pickpocket Magician Family Edition and will be just having light-hearted fun and really enjoying ourselves. The 7:30 p.m. show will be hitting more topic-oriented tricks, still having fun of course, but more for the adult crowd to have a good laugh.”
One example Harrison uses to separate the two was from a trick he’s done called Let’s Guess Your Favourite Swear Word. Harrison says it goes over very well and the audience has a great time with it.
“It’s obviously based off the old trick of guessing someone’s favourite colour or favourite animal and I’m thinking to myself, let’s be real here with the adults,” said Harrison. “This is Barrie and we’re a blue-collar, working type town. People get it; we’re adults so let’s have fun in a grown-up setting. It’s a bit taboo sure, but there’s nothing funnier than having a college kid and a 76-year-old grandmother and trying to guess whose swear word is whose.”
While most magicians have been honing their craft from young ages and studying mail-ordered magic kits the majority of their life, Harrison’s journey started much later in life and not as one would ever expect. The mild-mannered Harrison only started teaching himself the art-form in his early 20s after an injury that ended his fighting career.
“I injured myself preparing to fight in the cage,” said Harrison. “I am a second degree black belt in karate, a black belt in judo and was ranked second in Canada for Mixed Martial Arts in 2000. I tore a ligament in my knee and was bed-ridden for six weeks; that turned into six months when they found a blood clot, so I had a lot of time on my hands.”
Harrison says he spent his days watching Crocodile Hunter, and once he felt he could wrestle the gators himself it was time to get a hobby. Switching channels he found David Blaine performing and became very interested in the art of magic and started learning everything he could. Once he became good at it, a chance double booking by a friend got Harrison his first gig.
“My friend called me and had double booked himself and asked if I could cover his spot at a restaurant,” said Harrison. “I couldn’t believe they paid him to perform at a restaurant, but what I had to do was just go around and entertain folks throughout the night; never while they ate, or were looking at a menu or a bill. But in between I would just go up and offer up a trick and keep them happy. I was so nervous I had every trick I knew written on a post-it note in my pocket in case I forgot. But I did very well, didn’t make any mistakes and went home with a good payday. My dad saw what I made and suggested I don’t give it up if someone was willing to pay me for it.”
Life took its course and after Harrison was downsized out of a job, he took upon moving to Barrie from Brampton, his wife suggested he give magic serious commitment. Harrison got so busy with bookings he decided to make it a career and began taking bookings everywhere he could. When the city of Barrie began their busking program, Harrison was one of the 'founding-fathers' of that group and even found fresh life in corporate events and all of this despite not being a natural public speaker.
“I was in no way a public speaker and couldn’t usually fumble many words together in a public setting; it just wasn’t me,” said Harrison. “Then I’m working businesses where companies are always looking for ways to have new and fun entertainment for their Christmas events or work picnics,” said Harrison. “I really enjoy that because you know everyone is trying to turn their mind off from a tough week or year at work and just want someone to help them forget, and that’s what my shows are about. This isn’t just a bunch of tricks and thanks folks and goodbye. I engage the audience, speak with them and make them laugh while I’m up there. I was once told that the audience may not remember the tricks or who did them, but they’ll remember how they felt that night.”
Harrison has performed not only all over the area and province but also in the Mecca of entertainment, Las Vegas. The experience was one he would never forget and that he was completely honoured in being chosen over anyone else they could have had.
“I got hired to perform in Vegas for a Christmas party after a company called me out of the blue and said they saw my act on my website,” said Harrison. “I asked them if they knew that they could probably open their door and trip over a hundred entertainers in Vegas; they laughed and said they knew but wanted me. That was a thrill and something I’ll never forget.”
The experience Harrison remembers with the most humour was the fact that he had to catch the red-eye back in order to make a kid’s show he was booked for.
“I performed in Vegas, was praised and got a standing ovation in the home of live entertainment, and then rushed back to seven-year-olds waiting for card tricks,” said Harrison. “I laughed and loved it, but it made me realize that I was officially in entertainment.”
James Harrison The True Master of Illusion show is at the Mady Centre at 1 Dunlop Street West Saturday May 27. The family show will be at 2:30pm with the 13+ show hitting the stage at 7:30pm. For tickets to both shows, check out the website To find out where James Harrison will be after this weekend and how to book him for your event, check out his website.
