J C Sum

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J C Sum

J C Sum: The Thinking Man's Magician
Born Sum Jan-chung
December 5, 1976 (1976-12-05) (age 31)
Singapore
Residence Singapore
Occupation Illusionist, Illusion designer, Entrepreneur
Website
jcsum.com

J C Sum (Sum Jan-chung) (born December 5th, 1976) is a Singaporean illusionist and illusion designer. Nicknamed “The Thinking Man’s Magician”, J C is one of the most highly regarded illusionists and illusion designers from Asia. AsiaOne named him as “one of the most celebrated illusionists in Asia” [1] and MagicSeen called him “The Ace in Asia”. [2]The Straits Times stated that he is "Singapore's most famous magician"[3] and The Business Times, Singapore credited him for bringing “magic to the mainstream market in Asia” [4]He is best known for performing South East Asia’s first ever Mega Illusion - "The Impossible Teleportation", where he teleported up 50 stories in 5 seconds in front of over 9000 spectators.

Contents

[edit] Magic Career

[edit] Early Career

J C first found his interest in magic at a very young age of 12 years old and began performing professionally at the age of 16. [1] In 1993, J C joined the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Singapore Ring 115 and took part in the 1994 Close-up Competition where he took 2nd Place with an original Cups and balls routine. He subsequently won the ‘Most Entertaining Magician’ title at the 1996 IBM Ring 115 Close-up Magic Competition. [5]

In 1998, his “One-Man-Parade” was published in the March issue of The Linking Ring, the official publication of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. This collection of original magic effects earned him two coveted Linking Ring Awards the next year.

Throughout his junior college school days and time in national service in the Army, J C performed shows and was also booked to perform close-up magic weekly at various hotels & restaurants such as Shangri-la, Hilton, Four Seasons, Tony Romas and Lion City Hotel.[5][1] After national service, he was admitted to the National University of Singapore where he majored in English Language & Sociology, with a minor in Philosophy. He gave up a 4th year honors degree to pursue magic full-time.[6]

His early influences in magic include David Copperfield, Dai Vernon, John Carney, David Williamson, Darwin Ortiz, Paul Harris, Wayne Dobson, Jim Steinmeyer, Lance Burton, The Pendragons, Franz Harary, Frank Garcia, Michael Ammar, Richard Ang, Tang Sai Thong, Michael Lim and Pastor Lawrence Khong.[7][5][8]

By the new millennium, J C was performing illusion shows for corporate & special events across Asia.[9][10][11][12]

[edit] Current Live Shows

Poster of "Ultimate Magic"
Poster of "Ultimate Magic"

Currently, J C performs all his live shows with 'Magic Babe' Ning, Singapore’s only professional female magician.[13][14]They continue to present their illusions shows across Asia.

In 2007, J C and Ning staged Singapore’s largest illusion ever for a private event which included multiple large illusions including a motorcycle production, sports car vanish, appearance of 12 girls in cultural costumes and an escape from a bed of spikes.[8]

J C designs many of his own illusions for his shows. He also designed "The Impalement Cage" Mega Escape that Ning will be attempting on 5 Jul 2008 at Clarke Quay.[15] His favourite original illusions are ‘Full Throttle’, a motorcycle production, and ‘Revo-llusion’, an illusion with a giant industrial fan.[12][8]

Starting in Aug 2008, J C & Ning will be starring in their own Illusion Show at The Arena in Clarke Quay, the top entertainment district in Singapore. J C will perform a version of his teleportation illusion where he will teleport into The Arena from different locations.[16]

J C’s teleportation mega illusion and new version to be included in The Arena permanent show was highlighted in The Straits Times in an article that discussed how creative artists protect their intellectual property rights.[17]

[edit] Television & Broadcast Media Projects

J C’s first television break came in the 2004 President’s Star Charity where he performed a series of illusions including his ‘Crystal Striptease’ illusion with former radio personality Jamie Yeo (now with ESPN Sports Asia), a personalized card routine of the President of Singapore, S.R. Nathan, and finally making a car appear along with Singapore sports Olympians. Together with a host of local celebrities, the show raised S$2.83 mil for various beneficiaries.[18][19][20][1][21][22]

In 2006, J C starred in Singapore’s first street magic television series, as part of Jack Neo’s popular ‘Top Fun’ variety show for Channel 8, MediaCorp Studios. The series was created specifically for J C by MediaCorp Studios. [12][8]The segments were subsequently compiled and released as a VCD/ DVD titled Street Illusions, distributed by TS Group in Singapore and Malaysia. The same year, he also appeared in 3 episodes of a variety television show performing street magic for the Shanghai Oriental Television Station, China.[7]

In 2007, J C starred in ‘Magic in Motion’, a 24-part Street Magic series produced for Singapore Press Holdings’ MediaBoxOffice (SPHMBO).[1][23]

According to his official website, http://www.jcsum.com/, J C has been hired as an illusion consultant for ‘ilusi 2.0’, the second season of a Malay-language magic television show. He will be consulting on the street magic segments as well as designing the grand illusions for the show. Production for the show begins in May 2008.

[edit] The Impossible Teleportation

On 18 Aug 2007, J C successfully presented the largest single live illusion ever staged in South East Asia,[24] “The Impossible Teleportation” Mega Illusion. He teleported himself in 5 seconds, from street level while surrounded by more than 9000 spectators and reappeared on the roof of a skyscraper, 50 floors above, within a ring of witnesses. The Mega Illusion was staged at Raffles Place, the heart of the business district in Singapore.[24][25][26][27][28][29]

On the day of the mega illusion, bad weather early in the day caused major delays in set-up and even damaged one crucial illusion apparatus that was repaired just in time.[25][27]

J C’s next mega illusions include reading the minds of 1000 people and vanishing a train. [4]

[edit] Published Works

J C has written four books on illusion design. His first publication 'Illusionary Departures' published in July 2004 has been sold to almost 500 fellow magicians in 32 countries – including the UK, US and Japan.[1]

J C’s published works include:

  • One Man Parade, The Linking Ring (Mar 1998)
  • The Magic Notebook (1998) - Lecture Notes
  • One Man Parade, The Linking Ring (Nov 2002)
  • Illusionary Departures (Jul 2004)
  • The Event Illusionist (Dec 2004)
  • Equilateral (Aug 2006)
  • Beyond the Stage (Jan 2007) - Lecture Notes

[edit] Business

In Singapore, J C is recognized as a creative entrepreneur & marketer for making magic a successful career and business.[9][3][11][30][31][4] He is the founder & creative magic producer for Concept:Magic, which produces his shows, special projects and manages magic talents. [11][1] He is also the co-founder (along with ‘Magic Babe’ Ning) and executive producer for Mighty Magic Factory, a Kids’ Educational and Entertainment Company.

J C was a Spirit of Enterprise Nominee 2007 which recognizes individuals/ business with exceptional entrepreneurial spirit[32] J C is highly influenced by Jack Trout’s & Al Ries’ ‘Positioning’ marketing strategy which he adopts extensively in his businesses.[4][30][31] J C and Ning are also currently the highest paid magicians in Singapore.[15]

[edit] External Links

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Singapore’s David Copperfield" AsiaOne 10 Aug 2007
  2. ^ “J C Sum, The Ace in Asia” MagicSeen, Issue 9, Jul 2006
  3. ^ a b "Magic Techies" The Straits Times, Digital Life, 6 Mar 2007
  4. ^ a b c d "Sum Kind of Wonderful Magic", SME Spotlight, The Business Times, 26 Feb 2008
  5. ^ a b c “One Man Parade” The Linking Ring Magazine Mar 1998 Issue (Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Magicians)
  6. ^ "Sum Kind of Wonderment" New Man Magazine (Singapore), Dec 2003
  7. ^ a b “J C Sum, The Ace in Asia” MagicSeen, Issue 9, Jul 2006
  8. ^ a b c d "The Quantum Ring Aug 2007 Issue" (Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115)
  9. ^ a b “Copperfield Can’t Copy Me” The Straits Times – LIFE!, 2 Apr 2004
  10. ^ “Abrabadabra… it’s marketing magic” The New Paper, 17 Apr 2003
  11. ^ a b c “Selling Magic” The Edge Singapore, Options, 5 Mar 2007
  12. ^ a b c "Use Your Own Illusion"TODAY, 16 Feb 2007
  13. ^ “The Ning Dynasty” MagicSeen, Issue 19 Mar 2008
  14. ^ "Foxy Magic" FHM Singapore, Dec 2007 issue
  15. ^ a b "She's the 'sexiest woman in magic'", The New Paper, 7 Jun 2008
  16. ^ "Magic holds the Quay", The Straits Times, LIFE! 30 Apr 2008
  17. ^ "Cooking up a magical way to protect IP", The Straits Times, Review, 10 May 2008
  18. ^ President’s Star Charity Coverage, TODAY, 19 Sept 2004
  19. ^ President’s Star Charity Coverage, Lianhe Zaobao, 14 Sept 2004
  20. ^ President’s Star Charity Coverage, The Straits Times – LIFE!, 14 Sept 2004
  21. ^ President’s Star Charity Coverage, The New Paper, 13 Sept 2004
  22. ^ President's Star Charity Coverage, TODAY, 13 Sept 2004
  23. ^ Bookends, The Sunday Times, 19 Aug 2007
  24. ^ a b "Singapore Magician Teleports from Ground to Rooftop of 50-storey Building", Channel News Asia, 19 Aug 2007
  25. ^ a b "Illusionist wows crowd as ST marks 162nd anniversary", The Sunday Times, 19 Aug 2007
  26. ^ "The Impossible Teleportation: A Mega Success", AsiaOne, 21 Aug 2007
  27. ^ a b "Just to Sum it Up" MagicSeen, Issue 17 Oct 2007
  28. ^ "50 Stories, 5 Seconds", iTricks News, 20 Aug 2007
  29. ^ "Asian Teleportation!", MAGIC Magazine, Nov 2007
  30. ^ a b “Spellbound” The New Paper, 6 Mar 2008
  31. ^ a b "Simply Magic", The Straits Times, 8 Mar 2008
  32. ^ http://www.soe.com.sg/ ‘List of Nominee’ Retrieved, Mar 17 2008.


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