When your name appears in someone's phone as "Crazy Leo," there's a story behind it. Leo Smetsers, a Dutch magical phenomenon who's been mystifying audiences for over three decades, brings his boundless energy and innovative thinking to this captivating conversation about the eight tricks he'd take to a desert island.
Leo's selections reveal much about his performance philosophy, especially his signature Three Shell Game, which upends conventional wisdom by ensuring the spectator always wins. "I don't like to win," Leo explains with characteristic generosity. This approach has earned him countless bookings, including one particularly memorable engagement where a client hired him specifically to perform the Shell Game for a bottle of wine.
Throughout the episode, Leo's creative brilliance shines through in descriptions of his original creations. His Flight Case, a miniature wood and aluminium case that allows a borrowed ring to appear inside a sealed teabag, demonstrates his dedication to crafting impossible moments with everyday objects. His Card in Mind routine, which he performs at every table, creates such a powerful impression that, as Leo puts it, "after you do Card in Mind, you don't have to do any card trick anymore because they think, 'Oh, he knows everything about cards.'"
Perhaps most refreshing is Leo's perspective on sharing magical knowledge. When asked what he would banish from the magic industry, he immediately identifies ego: "I don't like magicians that talk about 'I'm so good.'" Instead, Leo advocates for open collaboration and mutual support. As someone who identifies as dyslexic, he's developed a highly visual approach to magic that he sees not as a limitation but as a tremendous creative advantage, ”one of the best things in my life."
Whether you're a seasoned performer or simply curious about the mind behind some of magic's most ingenious creations, this conversation offers valuable insights into crafting meaningful experiences that audiences remember long after the performance ends. And if you're inspired to learn more? Leo's advice is simple: don't email, FaceTime him directly. True to his generous nature, he's always ready to share.
Leo’s Desert Island Tricks:
- Card in Mind
- Three Shell Game
- Turbo Stick
- Totally Nuts
- Leo’s Diary
- Button Tray
- Remarkable
- Flight Case
Banishment. Ego
Book. Mark Wilson’s Complete Course in Magic
Item. Pen
Find out more about the creators of this Podcast at www.alakazam.co.uk