Chris Harding: The Early Years

So many people ask me about my early performances, what they were like and where they were. Well, one of the very first times I performed in front of a large audience was in The Magic Circle J-Day Close Up Competition….back in October 2002!

This now seems like SO long ago on paper, but I can still remember it to this day! Recently during a clear-out of my desk drawers, I found the original video footage of the show I gave and thought that for nostalgia sake I would post it up here for all to see.

This video was filmed in late October 2002 at The Magic Circle in London. This was the first time I had entered a magic competition and also very early on in my performing career! I was seventeen in this video, wearing a suit that is a little too big and probably have far too much product in my hair!

It is mainly a selection of technical sleight of hand card magic with a coin trick and dodgy running gag thrown in for good measure! Looking back I still feel pretty proud of this. It is no easy feat to stand up on stage in front of a room full of magicians, with a big screen behind you showing close ups of what you are doing.