Magic is in the blood for Gaston Quieto. For five generations his forefathers have been practising the art, while he started doing tricks at the age of three and made his first TV appearance a year later. Now, 30 years on, he’s one of the most respected magic aces out there, regularly performing in Las Vegas and at the famous Magic Castle club in Hollywood. He’s about to bring his spectacular stage show, Impossible! Seeing is Believing to Abu Dhabi next week, so we had a chat with him to find out about his enchanting skills
What can we expect from your stage show?
I perform all kinds of magic, from mentalism to big illusions to close-up tricks. It’s a very interactive show and I get people on stage and do tricks with them. Like I make members of the audience levitate and will make things appear and disappear, as well as one big surprise, which I won’t reveal now.
Is your show suitable for kids?
Of course it’s for the whole family. Children would enjoy it, but maybe the younger ones – those under the age of six – might get a little bit impatient and might not understand it. When they’re a bit older, they’re truly amazed by the show because they’re less cynical than adults. But at my shows, I get people of all ages and from all walks of life coming along – from young children to presidents.
Presidents? Which ones?
Well, I’ve done private shows for Bill Clinton twice. Once was in the Whitehouse, and then again in the UAE in 2005. He is a real magic aficionado, and loved what I did. But I’ve performed for most of the Presidents of the Russian Federation countries, because they also love magic in that part of the world. And in America, Tom Cruise and Nicolas Cage are both really into magic and come to watch me at the Magic Castle whenever they can.
Which of your tricks are you most proud of?
People often ask me this, and for me it’s when I make tricks out of nothing. Like I turn up at a party or a presentation and amaze people with anything I can lay my hands on. Sometimes these big showpiece tricks are what people enjoy most, so I do this kind of thing in my stage show, but for me the most enjoyable part is the small close-up intricate tricks.
Ever thought about locking yourself in a Perspex box for 40 days like David Blaine?
Ha! No, not really. David is a friend of mine and we used to hang out 15 years ago in New York. He’s more of a kind of stunt guy these days, and you don’t see him performing much magic any more. He’s a very good close-up magician, but nowadays he’s moved away from that kind of thing. But I’ll leave all those big stunts to him.
What do you think about acts like Penn and Teller who reveal the secrets of magic?
To be honest, I don’t agree with this. I like their act; it’s very smart and original, but magic doesn’t belong to us, it belongs to history. So when you’re revealing a piece of magic that was created thousands of years ago, it’s kind of disrespectful to the guys who created it. We have to respect the art of magic, because anyone in our profession is blessed to know the secrets and we should try to keep them for future generations to enjoy.
Do you think anyone could become a magician?
I think so. Some people get disappointed because they’re not very good at the beginning so they throw the towel in. My professional repertoire took me 30 years to learn, with some of the tricks taking 10 years of practise every day. It’s like being a good musician, some people have an aptitude for it, but it’s mostly practise. It’s not just about having quick hands, if you’re really smart you can go towards the mental side of this. There’s an aspect of magic for every personality.
Dhs190-Dhs350. Minimum age three. March 3, 7pm. Aloft Abu Dhabi, Khaleej Al Arabi Street (02 654 5111) www.timeouttickets.com.
