If you're a Yankees fan, stop and enjoy the show.

"It's not like you have anything else to do this October," quips Robert.

With those words Robert Bloor began his run of nearly 70 shows at the 2007 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

During his 25-minute show, he demonstrates what a true showman really is. He starts with magic tricks that are more for laughs than magic.

Having an lady from the audience select a card, he has her sign it before flashing a smile and asking for her phone number.

"Just the first 3 digits," he says. After she's written them, "Now the last four." The audience laughs.

With that he proceeds to make the signed card float in mid-air without the helps of strings, magnets or camera tricks. Okay, maybe he has some help, but I'll let you discover that for yourself.

He waves his wand as if he were an orchestra conductor. In this show, laughter and applause are their own symphony.

As the demonstrations progress, it's clear that the gag tricks are only a cover for the entertainer Robert really is. A bottle of soda vanished in front of our eyes and the buffet of fruit he makes appear in his finale is worthy of a Las Vegas showroom.

With a commanding presence, he waves his wand as if he were an orchestra conductor. In this show, laughter and applause are their own symphony

The people in his audience are men, women and children; Moms and dads; Adults and teenagers. They come from every walk of life. They're business professionals, police officers, fire fighters, public officials, and old friends.

After the show many of them approach Robert to compliment his act, or ask him a question. He takes pictures with kids, and signs autographs.

Robert Bloor up close
At 28 years old, Robert Bloor is not what I expected of a street performer. He's not rude or arrogant but rather very endearing. While he pokes fun with his audience, he's always respectful, and when necessary self-depricating.

"You have to be able to laugh at yourself a bit," Bloor said.

Nowhere is this more apparent than the end of his show when he reminds people this is what he does for a living and, flashing a grin, enthusiastically encourages children to go to college.

At home in the New Mexico while touring America
Robert Bloor was born in New Jersey just 30 minutes from another famous magician - David Copperfield.

"And that means absolutely nothing," Robert jokes.

When he was just a year old, his family moved to New Mexico. His father was called to be a priest in a church. His mom stayed at home to raise Robert and his older sister, Jessica.

He graduated from Cibola High School on Albuquerque's west side in 1997. He attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, NM where he graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Communication in 2001.

Since graduating his travels have taken him all over the United States and the Caribbean. Yet of all the crazy things he's seen and heard, New Mexico itself is the center of those happenings.

"People don't seem to get it. I had more than one person in Florida ask me how it felt to visit the United States," Bloor said, "We're a state," he insits.

It's true. New Mexico was admitted to the Union in January of 1912.

In 2005, Robert and long-time girlfriend, Sara, finally tied the knot.

"She's my rock. This show would never have gotten off the ground if not for her," he said.

The Magic of Robert Bloor
Robert's brand of magic was in fact inspired by many other entertainers. Among those most influential, Robert credits David Copperfield, Tony Brent, Kevin & Kristen Ridgeway, and Gazzo Osborne.

...his show is self-contained with its own sound system and doesn't require a stage or special lighting.

Robert has taken inspiration from those performers and transformed it into a well-oiled entertainment machine for state fairs and other festival events.

With a client list ranging from the New Mexico State Fair to Walt Disney Entertainment, Robert walks the walk with his self-contained, interactive magic show.

"I want to make sure I'm easy for my clients," he said. His show is self-contained with its own sound system and doesn't require a stage or special lighting. In fact so long as he has a flat-surface footprint of space about 20 feet by 20 feet, Robert can perform almost anywhere.

Currently Robert is booking nationwide shows for state and county fairs, as well as other festival events for January through May of 2008.

Seeing the Future
I asked Robert what he saw happening for the future of his show. His answer was enigmatic and sounded like something you might here in a Washington D.C. press conference.

"The future is certain to present a lot of opportunities," he said, "Right now I'm taking things day-by-day."

What those things were, he was reluctant to say. His body language, however, indicated there may be something big on the horizon.

"Whatever it is," he adds, "it won't be another title for the Yankees."

At least not this year.

Article by James Publius

For more information on Street Magic LIVE!, contact Robert Bloor at tour@robertbloor.com.