Alan Scott Watson (born 26 November 1950) is a professional magician living and performing in

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The most populous urban area in the country and the fifth largest city in Oceania, Auckland has an urban population of about ...

, New Zealand. He has been performing professionally for more than 30 years and has been presented with some of magic's highest awards and accolades.

Biography

Born in

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by metr ...

in 1950, Watson learned the art of magic from his great-great uncle, Oswald Ashton, at the age of seven. He has appeared at the

Magic Castle The Magic Castle is a clubhouse for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It is in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California and it bills itself as "the most unusual private club in t ...

in Hollywood five times for a total of over 100 performances. He was the founder and administrator of the MagicNZ BBS in 1993. Watson also founded the Magic New Zealand

e-zine An online magazine is a magazine published on the Internet, through bulletin board systems and other forms of public computer networks. One of the first magazines to convert from a print magazine format to being online only was the computer mag ...

and has acted as editor from 1999 to present. In 1995 he was awarded the MIMC with Gold Star, the highest degree member of The Magic Circle. Watson and his wife Michele were presented the DRAGON Award in New York 2002. In 2006 he was a recipient of the Benny Award from the Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc, their highest honour. Watson served as President for the New Zealand Society of Magicians from 1981 to 1983 and then from 1986 to 1989. He is a life member of the

International Brotherhood of Magicians International Brotherhood of Magicians (I.B.M.) is an organization for both professional and amateur close-up and stage magicians, with approximately 15,000 members worldwide. The headquarters is in St. Charles, Missouri. There are over 300 ...

, the

Variety Artists Club of New Zealand The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc (VAC) is a non-for-profit organisation and show business club. It was founded in 1966 and became an incorporated society in 1972. The VAC was formed to promote goodwill within the New Zealand enterta ...

and

The Society of American Magicians The Society of American Magicians (S.A.M.) is the oldest fraternal magic organization in the world. Its purpose is "to advance, elevate, and preserve magic as a performing art, to promote harmonious fellowship throughout the world of magic, and t ...

. In 2019 he was named Patron of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 160. Watson performs in the areas of corporate and family magic shows. In most of his acts, his wife Michele plays his assistant. He was presented with the 2014 Award of Merit from the

Academy of Magical Arts The Magic Castle is a clubhouse for magicians and magic enthusiasts, as well as the clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts. It is in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California and it bills itself as "the most unusual private club in t ...

. He was awarded the

Queen's Service Medal The Queen's Service Medal is a medal awarded by the government of New Zealand to recognise and reward volunteer service to the community and also public service in elected or appointed public office. It was established in 1975 and is related to ...

, for services as a magician, in the 2015 New Year Honours. He served as President of the

Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians The Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Inc (BAM) is a New Zealand-based non-for-profit organisation and magic club. It was founded in 1946. Formation and history The Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians (BAM) was founded in July 1946 in Grey Lynn ...

2012-2021.

Awards and honours

* 2023 - Presidential Citation - from The Society of American Magicians President - for major contributions to magic * 2018 - Patron, International Brotherhood of Magicians Ring 160 * 2017 - Life Member, Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Incorporated * 2016 - Order of Merlin - Shield - from IBM International President - for a long-standing membership (35 years) * 2015 - Queen's Service Medal (QSM) for services as a magician * 2014 -

Award of Merit The Award of Merit, or AM, is a mark of quality awarded to plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The award was instituted in 1888, and given on the recommendation of Plant Committees to plants deemed "of great merit for exhibitio ...

* 2014 - Hall of Fame - The Academy of Magical Arts - Hollywood, USA * 2006 – New Zealand

Grand Master of Magic Award The Grand Master of Magic Award is a lifetime achievement award presented by the Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Incorporated on behalf of the magicians of New Zealand. It was first awarded in 1969 and to date it has been awarded on nineteen ...

* 2006 – Order of Merlin – International Brotherhood of Magicians * 2006 – Benny Award – Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc * 2005 – Presidential Citation from IBM International President * 2005 – Best Mental Effect – Linking Ring Awards * 2003 – Agnew Excellence Award – Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc * 2002 – DRAGON Award – J. Marberger Stuart Foundation (2002) * 1999 – Scroll of Honour – Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc * 1997 – Shure Golden Microphone – Most Professional Entertainer – Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc * 1995 – Member of the Inner Magic Circle (MIMC) with Gold Star – Magic Circle England * 1990 – 1st Place Close-up – 22nd Australian Convention of Magicians * 1982 – The Peter J. Shield Award – 18th Australian Convention of Magicians (for Outstanding Contribution to the Art of Mentalism) * Six times Top Children's Entertainer – New Zealand International Magic Conventions * Four times Top Close-up Magician – New Zealand International Magic Conventions * Four times Top Magician – Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc

Magic publications

Alan has been featured in the following magic publications :
The Magic Circular
- August 2015 - Front cover - Pages 234-237
Vanish Magazine
– April 2013 Front Cover – Pages 30–45
The Linking Ring
– November 2006 – Front cover – Pages 35–40 plus 68–70
The Linking Ring
– July 2004 – Kiwi Magic, pages 83–107
Magicana
– August/September 2002 – Front cover, pages 8–11
The Linking Ring
– November 1998 – Front cover – Kiwi Magic, pages 87–105
M.U.M. magazine
– September 1997 – Watson family front cover – Kiwi Magic, pages 15–25
The Magic Circular
K– December 1995 – Front cover – New Zealand special section, pages 223–230. Also in this edition Peter Blanchard wrote a double page spread on the Watson family "This Is Your Life", pages 234–235
Genii Magazine
S– October 1992 – Front cover – New Zealand special issue for which Alan compiled, pages 805–819
Magicana
– October/November 1989 – Front cover
Magicana
– July/August 1984 – Front Cover, pages 5–7

DVDs

* 2007 – Alan Watson's 7 Secrets to Success (2 DVD SET)

Television appearances

* 2016 - The Guy Cater Show on Face TV, Sky 083 * 2014 - One Network News, TV3 News - upon being presented with the Queen's Service Medal * 2007 –

Studio 2 LIVE ''Studio 2 LIVE'' was a New Zealand children's television show. It was originally named ''Studio 2'' up until 2010, when it was renamed Studio 2 LIVE. It premiered on 22 March 2004 after ''WNTV'' (''What Now''s afternoon show) was cancelled. It s ...

(NZ children's show) – with granddaughter Aleshia * 2006 �
Pacific Beat Street
– with granddaughter Aleshia * 2006 �
What Now?
– with granddaughter Aleshia * 1996 �
Good Morning
* 1996 – The Great Kiwi Magic Show
Top Shelf Productions

Magic New Zealand E-zine

Watson publishes a weekly E-zine, Magic New Zealand. Magic New Zealand has more than 17,000 subscribers worldwide including many well-known magicians. It contains articles and writeups as well as performance dates and regular columnists.

References

External links

Alan Watson Homepage

Magic New Zealand E-zine
* * * * *
Alan Watson's Grand Master of Magic Citation
*
The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand Inc

Brotherhood of Auckland Magicians Club
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Alan New Zealand magicians Entertainers from Auckland Living people 1950 births Recipients of the Queen's Service Medal Entertainers from Wellington City