I’m an electrician magician

Abracadabra!

When he’s not working on fi lm studio jobs, Iain Bailey can be found doubling up as the ‘electrician magician’

How did you get into magic?

I’m 28 now and it started when I was about 12 years old, when I watched a programme with David Blaine putting a card through a window. The next day I went into Reading and bought a book on card magic, and it took off from there.

How did you get into events?

I did two events when I was 12. One was my niece’s birthday party and one was a wedding where I performed for the children. Since then it’s slowly taken off . I joined the Magic Circle fi ve years ago, and I now mainly perform at weddings. But recently I’ve started to do an electrical-themed show using things that are found on building sites, which grew from people asking me to do tricks at work. I even escape from a high-vis jacket while handcuff ed.

How much time does it take up?

I’ve limited it so I have two full weekends off each month, so I tend to fi ll my diary. I get around eight bookings a month but it’s mainly weekends.

Where do you cover?

Most of it is within an hour of where I’m based in Bracknell, but I’ve done a wedding in Brazil, which was a bit of a trek. I travel quite a bit but I tend not to charge much more – I just make it a weekend away with my wife.

Could this become more than a hobby?

I did do it full-time for a year when I was

‘I escape from a high-vis jacket while handcuff ed’

volunteering for a church, but I prefer volunteeringforachurchbutIprefer having the certainty of a normal job during the week and I don’t want to lose the trade that I have. Having them both takes the pressure off .

Does the magic help with the day job, or the other way around?

The performance aspect of the magic helps me with client-facing skills on jobs, and the technical skills you learn with the sleight of hand can help with fi ddly connections as well.

How big could this go?

I’d like to build up the electrician magician shows (electricianmagician.co.uk) but I’m happy to keep the two jobs and have some weekends free.

What about your electrical career?

My dad runs Bailey Electrical Contractors and he suggested it as a career. I did a fouryear apprenticeship with NG Bailey and then worked as a sub-contractor. Two years ago I joined Longcross Film Studios and I do a lot of maintenance there. Because I’m selfemployed I can choose my working hours, so having that fl exibility helps with bookings for the magic shows.

What do you get up to in your spare time? Email offthetools@redactive.co.uk