A Wolfratshauser is inspired by the Messi of magic

A magic box was the trigger in childhood: Wolfratshauser Andreas Maier's career as a magician followed the classic pattern.

Wolfratshausen - Anyone who lets the New York Statue of Liberty, at least 93 meters high, disappear or walks through the middle of the Great Wall of China can look up. So the great David Copperfield also inspired twelve-year-old Andreas Maier to refine the tricks from the magic box - the obligatory gift of every childhood. The now 38-year-old Wolfratshauser has seen the American superstar of magic live three times, twice in Munich and once in Las Vegas, where the now 64-year-old Copperfield lives and - tired of world tours - mostly performs. “At Copperfield you already saw a special talent as a student. He started out as a ventriloquist, a magician, learned to dance and sing and played in musicals. ”Everyone quickly knew:“ He was born for the stage. ”

Maier's career as a magician after the initial spark followed more the classic pattern: appearances at family birthdays, in old people's homes, sports clubs, "until the bigger things came along like weddings, company parties, what I mainly do nowadays" - and the father of two Most of the livelihood for his family is now being made.

Maier studied electrical engineering and information technology

However, the 38-year-old did not set out on a magical career from the start. He studied electrical engineering and information technology and until recently worked in this profession - parallel to magic. From this grew the second mainstay in his professional life: He gives lectures on how to convey content in an exciting and lively manner. Inspired to do this - this word is actually a contradiction in terms in this context - the Wolfratshausers are inspired by the often deadly boring presentations by engineers during professional training. “Many don't do it well. You switch on Power Point and everyone falls asleep. "that they have not learned ”. Specifically, this means: “You do without Power Point and try to verbally keep people engaged.” Everything that goes on around it - be it colorful foils or open windows - distracts listeners. Tire lectures completely in technical jargon. Such details can be taken into account in advance. In 2017, tips like these resulted in an entire book entitled “Tricky Presenting”.In 2017, tips like these resulted in an entire book entitled “Tricky Presenting”.In 2017, tips like these resulted in an entire book entitled “Tricky Presenting”.

The corona virus cannot make Maier go away either

Maier can make rabbits disappear, but not this damned virus - which, by the way, his idol Copperfield would also fail. Ergo, like most artists, the lockdowns hit him. Fortunately, he was still employed as an engineer until shortly before the pandemic, so “I have a few reserves”. Nevertheless, it was a courageous step to give up the secure job in the midst of the biggest crisis of the 21st century and to focus on an artistic profession. “That's right,” admits Maier, he knows fellow magicians “who got it bad”, who went the opposite way and who have now looked for other jobs. Of course, as a father of a family, he was also preoccupied with such thoughts, "but somehow it was clear to me that I had to take this step now".In the meantime, business is starting up again. “Last week I performed at a company's summer party in Munich, and a couple of birthday parties and exclusive private parties have been booked for the fall.” He takes care of the management himself - with the support of his wife.

Above all, the message that comes across with a trick is important to me. 

Andreas Maier

Why does he like to do magic so much?

Maier likes intellectual communication with people, loves to "entertain a group of 20 or 30 people" - including the wow factor.

That is why he sees his place “not on children's birthdays, I don’t have them”.

However, he does not want to be the one "who makes elephants disappear in the Olympic Hall".

His place lies somewhere between the county league table and the Lionel Messi of magic, David Copperfield.

At his shows, the 38-year-old does not commit to a special prop. Whether cards, rabbits or ballpoint pens, whether a little trick or a big illusion - "What is most important to me is the message that comes across with a trick". The basic principles of magic are a few hundred years old, says Maier, "they are only changed, refined or combined with one another over and over again". He himself is currently working on a new trick called time travel. The question: “What happens to an object that I change over time? Can I heal something that has broken? ”Of course, he doesn't reveal more, as it should be for a member of the Magical Circle of Germany.

Incidentally, Andreas Maier also remains silent about the question of how he once enchanted his wife.

He smiles and says only this much: "She was already impressed." (Peb)

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