Could you first introduce yourself to the reader?
Hello reader! My name’s Aaron Calvert. I’m a mind reader and hypnotist and I’m incredibly excited to be bringing my new show, ‘Declassified’, to the Edinburgh Fringe.
I say hypnotist and you probably think of people clucking like chickens, but that couldn’t be further from what I do. A slightly odd career path, I originally trained as a doctor and I now combine that experience with my hypnotic techniques to push the boundaries of what people can, and will, do. I specialise in astonishing feats of hypnotism, you may have caught my recent Channel 4 special where I erased the memories of a couple before sending them out into the world to meet again. I can promise there’s no cheese, sequined jackets or swinging pocket watches in this Edinburgh show, just moments that will make you gasp.
Tell us about your show?
In Declassified I take the audience on a thrilling journey to showcase the capacities of the human mind by pushing the boundaries of what people are capable of. With a combination of astounding mind reading and fascinating hypnotic demonstrations, you will witness members of the audience perform the inexplicable in a series of superhuman feats. Inspiration taken from a mix of true stories and urban legends, I want audiences to leave with their own legends to tell.
Why do you want to perform at Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and is it different from other festivals?
I absolutely love performing in Edinburgh. I’ve performed two years in a row in at the festival and I’ve been overwhelmed with the response to my show, selling out both previous runs with ‘Mind Games’ and ‘Awaken’.
As well as getting to spend a whole month in the beautiful city of Edinburgh, part of the reason I want to perform at the Fringe is because there is so much opportunity. Opportunity to put a show through its paces for 26 days straight (doesn’t happen anywhere else), meet incredible people in the industry and most importantly meet audiences from all over the world.
There’s something different about Edinburgh, it’s special compared to other festivals. The city comes alive in August, the cobbled streets add atmosphere and there’s never a dull moment. The thing about Edinburgh is, where ever you are in the world people know about it, it’s THE festival to be at.
What first motivated you to enter the industry? Who were your inspirations?
I caught the performing bug at the age of 8. I loved standing on stage in front of people to do anything; deliver a speech, dance, perform. I would have taken an audience of 500 people any day compared to an intimate 3-person performance.
As I grew up my focus shifted towards magic and then ultimately mind reading and hypnosis. I have to say a huge influence was obviously Derren Brown, but since his work pointed me in the right direction it’s really taken on a life of its own.
There was a crucial moment for me 4 years ago, I had to choose whether to stay working as a doctor or start performing full time. Stifled by the lack of creativity and freedom within medicine my heart won out and that brings me now to my third Edinburgh run.
Do you ever feel any pressure to be a social commentator, or constantly update material to respond to events?
I used to. I used to be addicted to constantly updating social media material. Material within my show often takes a gradual response to events as the show is often performed over a few years, and so stay fairly constant other than the odd topical interjection. But publicly and socially there’s a huge pressure to commentate on ‘life’. I say ‘life’, it’s actually responding to what people want to hear. I was addicted to updating social media on every platform three, four, five times a day and it took over my life. Eventually I realised that people don’t really care about that, they’re more interested in responding to your unique work than hearing your opinion mixed in with 1,000 others on current affairs. When I realised that, it was genuinely like a weight had been lifted.
Equally, do you feel there has been a shift in public sentiment that has affected your work?
I wouldn’t say there’s really been a shift in sentiment but generally people are more open now to new, quirkier experiences, but quicker to publicly shun them if they don’t like it. We have so much option these days with everything that if we don’t like something we can find something else. This is good and bad. Bad as you don’t always reach a huge audience but good because the niche of people that love your work become hardcore fans and they can be incredibly supportive with your work.
Describe the last year in 5 words or less?
Exciting and ambitious TV debut.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to take a show up to the fringe?
Do it. Love it. Do it again. Don’t come up with a half-baked idea or just because you think you’ll like the fun of it. Treat it like it could be the only show you ever do. That way you’ll bring your best work, you’ll hopefully do well and you’ll leave feeling proud. There could be nothing worse than getting bad reviews, no audience and losing money if you look back and say I could have done a better show. Put on the show you would want to go and see.
And what advice do you wish you’d been given when entering the industry?
Everyone is making it up as they go along. To some extent everyone is blagging it. So rather than worrying about every little detail and the what if’s, be yourself, do your job well and take a few risks.
When and where can people see your show?
6.00pm at The Gilded Balloon at the Museum
And where can people find, follow and like you online?
I have the usual social pipes, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter - all Aaron Calvert.
(Facebook / Instagram - @aaroncalvert.co.uk) (Twitter - @aaron_calvert)
Or check out www.aaroncalvert.com for more videos, audience reviews and more about the Edinburgh Fringe show.
Aaron Calvert: Declassified is at The Gilded Balloon at the Museum from August 1st– 26th
For further information https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/aaron-calvert-declassified
0 Comments