JC Sum

J C Sum (born Sum Jan-chung; 5 December 1976) is a Singaporean hybrid marketer, author, content creator, former illusionist and illusion designer.

During his time as a professional illusionist, Sum was nicknamed "The Thinking Man's Magician", Sum was one of the most highly regarded illusionists and illusion designers from Asia. AsiaOne named him as "one of the most celebrated illusionists in Asia"
AsiaOne 10 August 2007 and MagicSeen called him ''"The Ace in Asia"''. ''The Straits Times'' stated that he is "Singapore's most famous magician""Magic Techies"
''The Straits Times'', Digital Life, 6 March 2007 and '' The Business Times'' of Singapore, credited him for bringing "magic to the mainstream market in Asia"."Sum Kind of Wonderful Magic"
, SME Spotlight, '' The Business Times'', 26 February 2008

Sum has been credited for popularising magic in Singapore by the local media and magic organizations. Before his retirement from the stage, Sum performed around the world as a stage magician and illusionist for corporate and special events, showrooms and luxury cruise liners."Magic is his Reality" AlumNUS, Oct – Dec 2014 He now works as a strategy consultant with Evolve & Adapt, a marketing firm based outside Singapore.

Magic career

Early career

Sum was born in Singapore in 5 December 1976. He studied at Victoria School and Victoria Junior College.

Sum first found his interest in magic at a very young age of 12 years and began performing professionally at the age of 16. In 1993, Sum 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."Cool Jobs – Magician"
, JobsDB.com, 24 September 2008"One Man Parade" The Linking Ring Magazine March 1998 Issue (Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Magicians)

Sum performed his first show in 1993 for a children's party. 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 days and time in national service in the army, Sum performed shows and was also booked to perform close-up magic weekly at hotels at restaurants such as Shangri-la, Hilton, Four Seasons, Tony Romas and Lion City Hotel."The Sum of All Illusions" (Cover Story), Current Events Issue 7.1, September 2008 After national service, he was admitted to the National University of Singapore where he majored in English language and sociology, with a minor in philosophy. He gave up a 4th year honors degree to pursue magic full time.

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."J C Sum, The Ace in Asia" MagicSeen, Issue 9, July 2006"The Ultimate Hocus Pocus", KuPon, August – September 2008 issue"The Quantum Ring August 2007 Issue"
(Official Publication of the International Brotherhood of Magicians Singapore Ring 115)

By the new millennium, Sum was performing illusion shows for corporate and special events across Asia."Copperfield Can't Copy Me" The Straits Times – LIFE!, 2 April 2004"Abrabadabra... it's marketing magic" ''The New Paper'', 17 April 2003"Selling Magic" The Edge Singapore, Options, 5 March 2007
Today, 16 February 2007

Career

Television and broadcast media projects

Sum'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, a personalized card routine of S.R. Nathan, the 6th President of Singapore, 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.President's Star Charity Coverage, Today, 19 September 2004President's Star Charity Coverage, Lianhe Zaobao, 14 September 2004President's Star Charity Coverage, The Straits Times – LIFE!, 14 September 2004President's Star Charity Coverage, The Straits Times, 13 September 2004President's Star Charity Coverage, ''The New Paper'', 13 September 2004

In 2006, Sum 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. 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.

In 2007, Sum starred in ''Magic in Motion'', a 24-part street magic series produced for Singapore Press Holdings' MediaBoxOffice (SPHMBO).Bookends, The Sunday Times, 19 August 2007

From 2009 to 2012, Sum, together with Magic Babe Ning appeared on several television shows around the world including: Channel 8's ''"Five Stars Carnival"'',"The Living Room", News Radio 93.8FM, 27 February 2009 ''"Asia Uncut"'',"Singapore Illusionist & Sexy Female Magician Make a Magical Appearance for Asia Uncut Talk Show on Star World"
Retrieved 16 May 2009 AXN EBuzz,EBuzz, AXN, 3 July 2009 Sony Style TV Magazine, The Amazing Race Asia 4, "Duel Mahakarya Magician" on RCTI, Indonesia TV, Le Plus Grand Cabaret du Monde in Paris, France (2011 & 2012),"First Singapore Artistes on Le Plus Grand Cabaret Du Monde"
Backstage Business. Retrieved 16 January 2012 Itte-Q! and Italian TV, La Grande Magia.

Live performances, mega illusion and stunts

From 2007 to 2013, Sum performed with Magic Babe Ning many notable projects. On 18 August 2007, Sum successfully presented the largest single live illusion ever staged in South East Asia,
Channel News Asia, 19 August 2007 "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."The Impossible Teleportation: A Mega Success"
, AsiaOne, 21 August 2007
The Sunday Times, 19 August 2007"Just to Sum it Up" MagicSeen, Issue 17 October 2007"50 Stories, 5 Seconds"
iTricks News, 20 August 2007

Since then, Sum has designed and staged a wide variety of mega illusions and stunts including teleporting 3 people across the iconic Singapore River in 2.5 seconds.,"Trick with Treats", The Straits Times LIFE!, 12 September 2008"新加坡河大型幻术表演 三人在数千人眼皮下消失"
Lianhe Zaobao, 25 September 2008Channel 8 News
, 24 September 2008 (VIDEO)"魔术宝贝2.5秒让你消失",WOBAO, 8 August 2008Hot Stuff Magazine Singapore
, Cover September 2008 Issue 67"神奇魔术表演千名观众惊叹", Lianhe Wanbao, 25 September 2008"幻术师瞬间传送真人 穿新加坡河畔"
xin.sg, 24 September 2008Channel 5 News, 24 September 2008"Singapore Tonight, Channel NewsAsia, 24 September 2008 performing 15 grand illusions in 5 minutes.,
(Main Feature) Channel News Asia, 28 June 2009"Local duo sets world record"
TODAY, 29 June 2009"中視午間新聞", CTV (Taiwan), 29 June 2009
, OMY.sg, 1 July 2009"Visual Evidence of 15 Illusions in 5 Minutes"
iTricks, 1 July 2009
, Razor TV, 4 July 2009
, Razor TV, 4 July 2009 teleporting a Volkswagen Golf 1.4 TSI from the Volkswagen showroom to the stage in 8.5 seconds,"ST reader wins car in one try", The Sunday Times, 23 August 2009
, 24 August 2009 predicting the Singapore 4D lottery,
Channel News Asia, 28 January 2010
AsiaOne, 27 January 2010"They had winning digits but did not bet", ''The New Paper'', 30 January 2010 making five audience vanish while they were elevated high up in the air,
Channel News Asia, 14 December 2010"Now you see them, now you don't"
, TODAY, 13 December 2010
, Lianhe Wanbao, 10 December 2010 reading the minds of 100 random people in under 60 minutes
, OMY.sg, 9 January 2012“Singapore sets world record for reading 100 minds in 1 hour”
, XinMsn, 9 January 2012
Channel News Asia, 7 January 2012 and performing a tandem straitjacket escape suspended upside 75 ft in the air from a burning rope."Up in the air at S'pore Night Fest", Today, 2 September 2013

Sum's next mega illusions include the teleportation of a large inanimate object, reading the minds of 1000 people, vanishing a train and an illusion that will showcase Singapore's racial harmony. He was in talks with Sentosa years ago to make the Merlion tower vanish but the project got canceled due to the SARS outbreak.

Sum and Ning established ''Ultimate Magic'', Singapore's first permanent illusion show from 2008 to 2009."Movie Magic with J C Sum", FiRST, October 2008Teens, February 2009"A touch of Asian magic"
Channel News Asia, 19 January 2009
Channel NewsAsia, 21 July 2008"Magic Babe Ning & J C Sum – It takes two to magic", Kozine, February 2009 issue

Sum's new technology digital magic act, the "iFrame" was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 23 March 2016 to corporate clients, event planners and media. The original creation took three years to conceptualize and design, and one additional year to build and rehearse."国际魔术师岑政聪,独家呈献iframe", 南洋, 23 March 2016"Bytes of Magic", New Straits Times, 4 April 2016"A Private Show of J C Sum", Vision KL, 29 March 2016

In 2016, Sum performed on Asia's newest and largest cruise liner, Royal Caribbean Cruise Liners', "Ovation of the Seas" as the resident headline entertainer from June to November 2016."iPad Digital Magic Taken to the Next Level"
WebWire, 7 April 2016

Retirement from the entertainment industry

On 2 May 2020, Sum announced his retirement from the entertainment industry on his Facebook page. He revealed that he had spent the past year working with consulting clients and got certified as a management consultant and marketer.

Achievements and awards

Sum has achieved several records and awarded numerous awards including:

*"Outstanding Achievement & Contribution to Magic" Award (2013), International Brotherhood of Magicians, Singapore Ring 115
*"First Tandem Suspended Upside Down Strait Jacket Escape" (2013), Singapore Book of Records
*"Patrons of Magic" Award (2012), International Brotherhood of Magicians, Singapore Ring 115
*"Largest Mind Reading Feat: 100 Minds in 60 Minutes" (2012) Singapore Book of Records
*"Special Recognition Award for Contributions to the Arts & Media Community" (2011) from the School of Film & Media Studies, Ngee Ann Polytechnic
*Merlin Award "Most Original Illusionist of the Year" (2009), International Magicians SocietySingapore Magic Duo Awarded “Most Original Illusionists 2009” Merlin Awards
Webwire.com. Retrieved 17 July 2009IMS Award Letter
, jcsum.com. Retrieved 23 July 2009"Merlin Awards Recipients"
Retrieved 18 October 2009
*"Most Number of Grand Illusions Performed in 5 Minutes" (2009), Singapore Book of Records"J C & Ning go for gold", MagicSeen, July 2009
*"Master of Magic" (2005) International Festival of Magic, Bangladesh
*Two Linking Ring Awards (1999) International Brotherhood of Magicians (U.S.A)

Illusion design and products

Sum designs many of his own illusions for his shows. He has written numerous books on illusion design and presentation."Singapore style spellbinding", ''The New Paper'', 24 January 2009Lianhe Zao Bao's "ZB Now" (Cover Story), 23 September 2008

Besides books, Sum has also released DVDs and video products on magic and illusions.

His published works include:

*One Man Parade, The Linking Ring (March 1999)
*The Magic Notebook (1998) – Lecture Notes
*One Man Parade, The Linking Ring (November 2002)
*Illusionary Departures (July 2004, 2012)
*The Event Illusionist (December 2004)
*Equilateral (August 2006)
*Beyond the Stage (January 2007) – Lecture Notes
*Urban Illusions (2009)
*Pack Flat Illusions for Kid's & Family Shows (2011)
*The Event Magician Volume 1 (2011)
*The Event Magician Volume 2 (2011)
*Urban Underground (2011) - DVD
*Behind the Illusions (2011) - DVD
*Illusionism (2012)
*Ultimate Illusion Collection – Compilation of 4 books (2012)
*3 Sides of Magic (2012) – Lecture Notes
*Corporate Illusions Made Easy (2013)
*The Complete Illusion Library – Compilation of 8 Books (2014)
*How to Be an Illusionist (2014)
*Project One: The Solo Illusionist (2015)

Consultancy career and business

Sum is a certified management consultant (TR 43:2015), an American Marketing Association Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) in marketing management and SSG-WSQ Certified Digital Strategist.

As a strategy consultant, he leads a team of marketers at Evolve & Adapt, to help with businesses on strategic marketing consulting, digital marketing training and SEO services. He also authored the book “''Evolve, Adapt or Collapse: Bottom Line Marketing in a Digitally Evolving World"'' that was featured on Money Mind on CNA938.

In Singapore, Sum is recognized as a creative entrepreneur & marketer for making magic a successful career and business."Spellbound" ''The New Paper'', 6 March 2008"Simply Magic", The Straits Times, 8 March 2008 He is the founder and creative magic producer for "Concept:Magic", which produces his shows, special projects and manages magic talents.

Sum was a Spirit of Enterprise Nominee 2007 which recognizes individuals/ business with exceptional entrepreneurial spirit.http://www.soe.com.sg/ 'List of Nominee' Retrieved, 17 March 2008. He is highly influenced by Jack Trout's & Al Ries' 'Positioning' marketing strategy which he adopts extensively in his businesses.

Sum runs a number of websites includin
IllusionBooks.com
which is the world's largest free online resource for illusionists. Sum also spearheaded the development of largest single resource on Kabuki Drops, a theatrical curtain drop reveal syste
MagicKabukiDrop.com
He is also the creator of the Pro Magic Kabuki Drop system that is an original portable, manual Kabuki curtain drop system.

Sum is also the founder of Backstage Business Academy that educates entertainers on business, marketing and investing. He published "The Showbiz Master Plan: A Blueprint to Building a Successful Live Entertainment Career" that is available o
Amazon
and from J
directly

Sum has given talks at numerous business events including for Passion Unleashed, for the Young Indians association in Kolkata, India as well as TEDxNTU and TEDxCQ events where he shared his thoughts on creativity, business and marketing.""Behind the Magic: The Value of Being Different" at TEDxNTU"
Webwire.com. Retrieved 1 April 2011"Speakers"
, TEDxNTU. Retrieved 1 April 2011

External links

*

Related videos

J C Sum Intro Showreel 2016 – YouTubeJ C Sum The Impossible Teleportation - YoutubeJ C Sum iFrame Show Promo - Youtube

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sum, J C
Living people
1976 births
Singaporean people of Chinese descent
Singaporean magicians
National University of Singapore alumni
Victoria School, Singapore alumni
Victoria Junior College alumni