Local magician performs in California for multiple audiences

LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Robert "Bob" Poynter, a life-long lawyer and magician recently traveled across the nation to perform his magic at the Sterne School in San Francisco.

"I've been a magician (since) 1956," said, Poynter, whose been a Lafayette residence since 1966. "I did my first magic show where I was paid $15. That's the first show I did where I got paid for it. ... And I've done magic shows anywhere and everywhere. I produce shows and variety shows."

Family brought Poynter San Francisco, where he was then invited to perform at a local school he has a familial connection with.

"We went out to San Francisco to visit our son, and I was invited to do a show at the Sterne academy," Poynter said. "And so I did that.

"Then later, I was invited to a (dinner) and I (did) a magic show. (The dinner) was hosted by several businessmen and people in Oakland."

Types of magic tricks

Poynter explained the type of magic tricks he likes to perform.

"First of all, when I'm (performing for) a mixed audience, I try to do things that would be entertaining to adults and to the kids," Poynter said. "So I do things with ropes, silk handkerchiefs, some other props, a magic coloring book. One thing I like to do — and I've been doing it for a long time for kids — is what I call my magic coloring book.

"Where I use an egg beater, a rotary type, hand-held, as the 'great magic coloring machine,' and I have student to run around the audience with that egg beater and take the colors out and then put it in the magic coloring book. And the magic coloring book has blank pages in it, then it has pictures in it, and then it's colored on the third time around."

Poynter also discussed a trick that took some consulting from the "greatest magician in the world."

"And I do routines involving where I say, 'A long time ago I wanted to be a magician, so, who's the greatest magician in world? And I say it's Santa Claus,'" Poynter said. "I captured Santa Claus one Christmas Eve and asked him to teach me a magic trick. And he did. ... Anyway, I do the trick that he taught me. (I make) handkerchiefs change colors in my hands."

Sterne School performance

This school was treated to Poynter's performance recently. According to Poynter, the audience was made up of about 30 to 40 K-5 students along with school faculty.

"Fantastic," Poynter said when asked how the show went. "The kids loved it. I get some of the kids up to help me and (be) my assistants. And they're fine kids. They come up, and they enjoy (it). We have fun together, and they like working with me to do the magic trick."

Poynter went on to explain one of the tricks he commonly performs, including at the Sterne School performance.

"One of the ones I've been doing for a long time I call the 'Great Babushka Trick,'" Poynter said, "which is simply taking some 36-inch handkerchiefs and making them disappear and reappear, and (the students) help me do that. And they have fun with it."

After Poynter's performance at the Sterne School, he performed at a dinner party for about 70 people.

"And the kids were there (at the party too)," Poynter said, "and we had a ball."

Previous performances

Poynter recounted how he has performed his magic acts many times for private parties and for schools in California, Indiana and other states.

"(I've performed) in Ohio," Poynter said. "Largely it's in Indiana. I don't really try to be a traveling magician. And so I don't pursue (traveling) as rapidly or as often as I could. But yes, I've done shows in Minnesota for instance, when my wife and I would go up there.

"And wherever anybody wants me to perform, I do it."

Future plans for his magic

Poynter has a few shows coming up in the area, including in West Lafayette.

"Twice a year, the director (of Westminster Village) asks me to come over there with some singers and dancers and do an hour-magic show," Poynter said. "I bring over dancers, singers, comedians, guitar players and me, and we do an hour (long) show.

"...I've been doing shows over there for a long time, for many years."

Poynter asks that anyone wanting to know further information about his upcoming shows to contact him or to check in with local venues, such as Westminster. Poynter said he will perform his variety show, Funtastic Varieties, in the spring of 2023 at Westminster.

Poynter's contact email is robertpoynter@gmail.com for inquiries.

Advice for future magicians

Poynter gave a few tips for prospective magicians who might be reading.

"First of all, I can give them books," Poynter said, "very basic texts ... on learning on how to become a magician.

"First, they have to be somebody who's willing to have fun with an audience. You're a performer, so you have to treat the audience with respect and enjoy having fun with them. Don't look at them like they're stupid.

".Just go along and have fun with them."

Margaret Christopherson is a reporter for the Journal & Courier. Email her at mchristopherson@jconline.com and follow her on Twitter @MargaretJC2.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Bob Poynter, a Lafayette man, performed his magic show in California