We recently connected with Billy Kidd and have shared our conversation below.
Billy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?
I am extremely happy working as a professional artist. Not a single day goes by where I wonder what it would be like to have a regular job. I think most artists do what we do because we are not doing it for the money. It is too easy to find a regular job and make more money and have security. As an artists sometimes I feel I have no choice because I am driven by what I do every single hour of every single day. Nothing can distract me, not even the prospects of having a secure regular job.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a magician. I perform sleight of hand magic and stage shows all over the world. I also do street theatre and perform at numerous outdoor festivals sometimes just for the money that goes into my hat. This is called busking. I run my own weekly theatre in Bath England called Krowd Keepers Magic theatre as well. I basically provide entertainment for corporate functions, weddings, private events, festivals and where ever one might think they need a magician. My goal is to give people an experience they have never had before. My objective is make people play again and let off their every day troubles and just be in the moment with me. It is almost like going back to our basics in life. The Art of Play. Magic is hard a business and to stand out amongst my peers I have learned that the best way to do that is not do what every other magician is doing. To present ideas into my work that hopefully nobody else is doing the way. To make my magic have more meaning and theatrical presentations is what I strive for.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
To do what I love every day. To be my own boss. To work or not work whenever I want to. To have absolute freedom in life and to play. To travel the world sharing what I do and what I know and get paid for it. To meet people from all walks of life wherever I go. To have friends/family at every corner of the world. To know that I retirement would be the death of me. To know I never want to retire from what I love,
Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?
Free Play by Stephen Nachmanovitch is one of my favourite books to re-read. I read it when I was in theatre school. I read it again as a magician. I think it is a book anyone can benefit from. It teaches you how to improvise and play in life and as an artist.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.billykiddshow.com
- Instagram: @billykiddshow
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/billykiddmagician
- Twitter: @billykiddshow
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@billykiddshow
Image Credits
Scott Chalmers Photography