Drummond Money-Coutts

INTRO

Drummond Money-Coutts, aka DMC, is a British magician who has rapidly established himself as one the most exciting and innovative names on the global magic scene. His past clients and audiences have included HM Queen Elizabeth II, Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud, Prince Nikolaos and Princess Tatiana of Greece and Denmark, HRH Prince Harry, Lakshmi Mittal, Len Blavatnik, Jeremy Clarkson, Michael Parkinson, Stephen Fry, Emma Watson, Eddie Jordan, Bryan Adams, Rahul Gandhi and countless other individuals and companies around the globe.

Having created a series of short documentaries for YouTube, DMC was approached in 2012 by National Geographic Channel and in 2013 launched his debut TV special (Card Shark) worldwide. The special proved a huge global success and soon lead to the production of DMC’s first full 7-part series, Beyond Magic with DMC, which aired in early 2015 to more than 170 countries worldwide. 

IN CONVERSATION

 Tessa Packard [TP]: When did your interest in magic begin and at what point did you decide to make a career of it?

DMC: For me the interest was always there in one form or another – since the very beginning.  I’ve always been fascinated by the idea that more exists beyond what we know and believe to be true.  Insofar as making it professional – that was very much a decision that made itself; by the time I finished university there was enough happening to step straight into it full-time.

TP: Who have been the greatest influences in your life when it comes to your career as a magician?

DMC: Inspirations within magic would include David Blaine, David Copperfield, Derren Brown, Del Ray, Daryl, Rene Lavand, Dani DaOrtiz – and the list goes on.  Outside of magic – it’s been Gregory David Roberts, PG Wodehouse, Eckhart Tolle, Viktor Frankl, Kahlil Gibran, Saki – mostly authors.

TP: Do you still find your mind being blown by fellow magicians’ tricks, or do you find it increasingly hard to be genuinely fooled?

DMC: It’s a paradox that exists as a magician that the further one advances, the fewer moments of true magic and bewilderment that exist – but I see it very much as taking up the mantle to continue to deliver that single moment to as many people as possible.

TP: If you could work alongside any magician, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

DMC: Matthias Buchinger was one of the most remarkable magicians to have ever existed.  Living in 17^th century Germany he was adept at many forms of sleight-of-hand, musical instruments, art and calligraphy … despite having no discernible hands or feet.  He is well worth investigating.

TP: Have you ever had a trick go horribly wrong? 

DMC: In 2012 we experienced a near-fatal accident on a filming project in Scotland, but then reattempted the stunt for what would become the ‘Torn Apart’ episode of my series BEYOND MAGIC WITH DMC for National Geographic.  That was a particularly difficult chapter.

TP: What would you say is your signature magic trick?

DMC: My very favourite piece would change on a weekly basis, but I’ve always held a profound love for the aesthetic beauty of playing cards.

TP: What advice would you offer anyone looking to make a career for themselves in the magic industry?

DMC: Patience is perhaps the greatest key I’ve found; to be able to carefully and diligently continue to focus and study whilst waiting for the perfect opportunities. Certainly the fastest road to mediocrity is to seize every single opportunity; learning to say no is very important in lasting success.

TP: How do you like to unwind in your spare time?

DMC: These days it’s mostly chess, piano, reading and running away – mostly to India.

TP: What are your future ambitions and what in your opinion is the magician’s career pinnacle?

DMC: Ambitions are mostly to continue to make myself happy through this medium of magic, to continue to travel, to meet wonderful people and inspire children in the manner that I too was inspired.  If I could copy / paste the life I have today it would be more than enough.

ON THE SPOT

Town or Countryside? Split the week
Favourite city? Right now, LA
Your perfect dinner guest, dead or alive? Bobby Fischer
If you could time travel to any era it would be…? Ancient Egypt
The best meal you’ve ever eaten is? Sushi. Always
The one essential you can’t leave home without? Handmade leather doctor’s bag
Pet hate? Laziness
Biggest extravagance? 10k decks of my own personal playing cards
Favourite book? Man’s Search for Meaning
What would your gravestone read? Screw the norm

FIND OUT MORE

Instagram @dmcmagic
dmcmagic.com