Home Sweet Home

INDIA - HONG KONG - SINGAPORE - AUSTRALIA - NEW ZEALAND - COOK ISLANDS - USA

One year, seven countries, eleven cities, dozens of TV, radio and newspaper appearances, and countless shows later - I'm home again.

What a year it was. In 12 months travelling the world, I've certainly grown as a person, and as a performer.

Single-handedly marketing, organising, publicising and performing shows from New Delhi to San Francisco, everywhere from ball rooms, restaurants, and corporate offices to social clubs, TV studios, and iconic national buildings - I'm a stronger and smarter performer than ever, undaunted by luxury venues or huge audiences. Everyone, of all countries and cultures, has a great time, and leaves informed and thoroughly entertained.

I'm catching up with family, friends and my girlfriend - and I'm very happy. It's great to be back.

So that's it. I'll now begin looking for an agent, so I can concentrate entirely on performing great shows. The show has been adapted, fine-tuned, and highly polished - and I think audiences across the country will love it...

Singapore Video

A quick video from early in the year in one of my favourite countries of the Trip - Singapore

Rethinking Mind Illusion in San Diego

The last destination before returning to LA for the last 10 days, San Diego is friendly, inviting, and, being so close to the Mexican border, the weather is perfect for sitting in the park and thinking.

I've spent a lot of time researching 'psychics', and the scientific studies into such claims. Recently I've had a rush of enthusiasm for science and reason, and have had to rethink what I do, and my role in such things. I'm currently reworking my show to be presented in a more open and honest way, free of any magical notions, and informative on the realities of the 'supernatural'.

The feats that 'psychics' perform, and the way they are presented, are wonderfully compelling and if done well can feel like real magic. But those performing them are, at best, deceivers. Perhaps harmless enough if they're bending spoons, but dangerous and cruel if they're creating messages from grieving people's loved ones, or flogging non-medicines instead of real cures.

Pseudoscience is buoyed by the entirely convincing tricks touted by 'psychics' as evidence of the supernatural.

I want no part in creating an environment where such things are allowed to flourish. So many times after a show, someone will approach me and congratulate me on my 'gift', not having grasped the theatrical nature of the performance.

To me, these illusions are brilliant, exciting pieces of art - I think they can be honest and informative too. Let's see...

San Francisco

Beautiful San Francisco, home of the 1800's Gold Rush and the Golden Gate Bridge, frequent quakes that shift the earth, and a 60's centre of civil rights that changed the country forever. Diverse neighbourhoods are home to diverse people; from Silicon Valley that transformed the world's technology, to a Chinatown home to the largest Chinese population outside Asia. Each street and neighbourhood has such distinct character, you can feel as though you're walking through areas of the USA, Europe, and Asia all in one short stroll.

The bustling pier, home to a loud band of sea lions and the imposing sight of Alkatraz was the destination for the 4th of July celebrations and fireworks last night, with plenty of enthusiastic 'oo's and ah's'.

I'm performing tonight at Club Deluxe, as part of a comedy night. And what could be more silly and ridiculous than apparently bending spoons with 'mind powers'. Throughout this year, I've become far more passionate about the truth, and disappointed in the B.S. touted by many in my, and similar, professions. I am, more than ever, determined to present my effects as the 'illusions' they are, free of misleading flim flam - and more entertaining than ever.

Los Angeles, California

Here in Los Angeles, in the final country of the 12 month World Trip.

Hollywood's an exciting place, full to the brim with entertainment, movie stars and the bright lights that attract so many tourists from around the world. Apparently a world within a city, on Hollywood Boulevard you catch glimpses of celebrities at movie premiers (I stumbled upon the Toy Story 3 premier on my first day), downtown LA showcases truely incredible architecture, and you can enjoy sun, sand, and the famous ferris wheel at Santa Monica pier. It's all here, along, of course, with the seedy and dangerous areas everyone warns about - no trouble so far, though being in town before a Laker's game is almost terrifying. But I have to say, it's quite a toy town for me - places, and even people, I recognise from films, some wonderful scenery and all manner of crazy excesses that you'd expect.

Next stop is San Francisco, where I think things will be a little more relaxed and uncaffeinated, and perhaps some of the people there will own dogs too large for their handbags.

Rarotonga couldn’t be a more beautiful and friendly place to spend a month. I could easily stop thinking about this performing lark and just chill at the beach everyday – I mostly have, but also managed to squeeze in some cool shows.

I spent a good time with the people from Cook Islands Television, performing and chatting and the usual, and that as well as featuring in the newspaper, Cook Islands News, has meant that there’s always plenty of smiles,‘hello’s’, and ‘hey, you’re that guy’s’ from the nice people on this wee island. And they sure are nice, you really can’t spend a day being grumpy here as the waves of smiles and kind offers are always there, rain or shine.

The shows I’ve done here have been different for a few reasons. First, performing in shorts and a t-shirt makes me feel about 10 years old and I do find myself flitting around the stage and getting over-excited a little more than usual, and nothing wrong with that! Second, if my show is part of a night of entertainment, I can be on right after a ukulele band or a troop of island dancers, doing their thing to exotic numbers and shelling coconuts with their teeth, and its fun to be such a change of pace from what’s normal here. Which is my third point; most people here have never seen anything like what I do, so it’s extra fun to be showing people these things for the first time.

Still a couple more shows here on ‘the rock’, and I’ll be savouring the peace and quiet before Los Angeles in a few weeks time. Looking forward to it already!

Rarotonga, though the largest of the Cook Islands is still just 32km all the way around (take a look on Google Earth, you can make out the airport and even a few planes parked by the runway). Ara Tapu (Sacred Road) circles the island, taking you past the small villages, shops and homes of the island’s residents. Inland is a wealth of jagged green mountains, saw-tooth hills, mango groves and tall coconut trees. Encircled by a stunning turquoise lagoon, there are no private beaches as such, the whole island is bordered by a continuous stretch of sand, with views I couldn’t have dreamed really existed.
Getting around the island is an adventure. Avarua, the Cook Island’s only town is a hitchhike ride away, and the people here are keen to stop, as long as you sometimes don’t mind riding in the back of the truck with the dog if the seats are all taken inside. Chickens, pigs and goats are also a frequent sight around the island, and the giant wasps and other flying pests help keep me on my toes on an island where sometimes the most rewarding way to spend your time is to do nothing at all.
That said, I spent yesterday riding around the island, dropping in to places of interest, and I now have some shows coming up, which I think will be the first I’ve done in a t-shirt and shorts, as well as spots on the local TV station and newspapers.
Hitchhiking is a great way to hear about the local info, and to meet some of the real characters here on Rarotonga. Standing with my thumb held out, an old man pulled up on his beaten-up motorbike. I showed him my Lonely Planet map of where I wanted to go - he took it from me and turned to page with a section all about him that starts.

‘The longest running (and certainly hardest-working) showman on the island, the venerable Piri Puto III is still zipping up coconut trees , conjuring fire from dry twigs and cooking up island feasts for the entertainment of his guests, despite the fact that he’s now well into his sixties. He’s a well-known (some would say notorious) character on the island, an ex-champion boxer and erstwhile masseur – but these days he’s wisely decided to concentrate on his one-man show’.

A real pleasure to meet an island celebrity, though the bike ride back was pretty hair-raising. Think I’ll stick to my wee bicycle for now.

Pohutukawa Bar - 13th May

A nice, light-hearted interview this morning on TVNZ, thanks to the presenters and to everyone behind the cameras. You can watch a clip here Tom DeVoe on TVNZ Breakfast Show

ALSO, you can now listen to the interview on Radio Live a few days ago here: Tom on Radio Live NZ

TVNZ

I'll be on TVNZ's Breakfast Show tomorrow at around 8.15am to chat and perform.

Huge thanks to Graeme Hill at Radio Live for a great show yesterday morning, probably the most fun I've had performing on the radio so far. With a great interest in science, Graeme is passionate about the truth and we had a good discussion on psychics and mediums, with me in the chair Richard Dawkins sat in a few weeks previously on the programme.

I'll try to get a clip of the radio show and hopefully of TVNZ to put up here soon.

Radio Live

A great show last night at The Carpark, thanks to the management there and to everyone who took part.

Tune into Radio Live tomorrow at 11.15am (NZ time) for more tricks and talk on Mentalism and the World Trip so far http://www.radiolive.co.nz/

'The Carpark Bar', Auckland - Friday 30th from 6pm

Auckland, City of Sails

Built on no less than fifty volcanoes, not all of them extinct, the largest and most multicultural of NZ’s cities – this is Auckland, the ‘City of Sails’, and I like it more every day.

Typically, the people of New Zealand are so nice, and the landscape so beautiful, that it’s sometimes hard to remember I’ve got a job to do here. With shows booked at great venues in the next few weeks, and some great publicity on its way, I mustn’t forget to venture forth and explore some of the many incredible islands and remote areas only a bus or ferry ride away from the busy city.

Sun, sea, cities, islands, distinctive wildlife, world-class wine, and a unique and broad cultural history - New Zealand has it all, but doesn’t like to boast. Have you ever heard of anyone who came here and didn’t love it?

I’m well into the swing of the travelling lifestyle now, the shows are better than ever, and I’m also looking forward to getting back home in August. I’ll be sure to make the most of the time I have left here, not forgetting the obligatory bungee-jump!

Tune in to RadioActive.FM tomorrow morning at 9.15am (NZ Time) for the latest news from the World Trip, and of course a few tricks with the presenters.
Also, if you're in Wellington, come down to Dockside Restaurant & Bar on Friday 9th from 6.45pm if you missed out on my performances there last week.

Wellington, New Zealand

So that was Sydney - and a great time I had too! My thanks to ABC Sydney for having me on the show so often, and to Eastside FM for a great debate on the subject of ‘psychics vs skeptics’, where I performed and spoke from the skeptic’s side of the ring.

After the success of my Headline Prediction, I took a week to see family in Melbourne and to have a few weeks ‘holiday’ with my girlfriend, where I took a great rest from the backpacker lifestyle to enjoy all the touristy things of Sydney, feed a kangaroo, and eat some nice food for a change.

Reenergised, a little over-fed, and now in Wellington, I’m going to jump back on the work wagon, and get back to performing great shows here in New Zealand’s capital. The scenery is stunning; a city on the waterfront, it’s a fascinating blend of Western and Maori cultures, though nearly constantly windy, you can forgive that for its incredible mountainous backdrop.

After only a few days here, I’ve seen the Prime Minister of NZ and one half of Flight of the Concords, and I was much more excited about the latter. No disrespect, sir.

I’ve only three weeks left here to make my mark before it’s up to Auckland.

Details of upcoming shows here in Wellington:

April 1st – Bettys Function House & Bar – 8pm

April 5th – Upper Hutt Cosmopolitan Club – 4pm

Hope to see you there x

PREDICTION PERFECT!!

'The whole city is on the edge of its seat..." said James Valentine yesterday morning on Sydney ABC. He had gathered together the major Australian newspapers of that day and called in an independent judge to make sure everything was done legitimately.

The box was opened by James, my prediction - 'Dosed Up On Donations' - matched, word-perfect, the front-page headline of The Daily Telegraph that morning - 'DOSED UP ON DONATIONS'.

My offer of $1000AUD to anyone who can prove that I used confederates, stooges or worked with anyone from the press to achieve my prediction still stands.

The culmination of a year and a half years' work, and very little sleep for seven days, the highlight of the World Trip and of my career so far took place on Sydney ABC yesterday and you can listen to the show here on ABC

So the big prediction has been taken by James Valentine on Sydney ABC, where it will stay until 23rd February when it will be revealed to the world. Sealed and signed, it cannot be tampered with by anyone. There will be no confederates or stooges, and I am not working with anyone from the press to achieve this prediction.

Is it possible to predict the headline of a major newspaper 7 days in advance? Find out on 702 ABC Sydney next week!

Headline Prediction - Sydney ABC

The time is here.

Tomorrow, on 702 ABC Sydney, I will hand my prediction of a major newspapers headline to James Valentine who will keep it safe and secure until 23rd February (7 days later) when it will be revealed LIVE on air.

This is by far the most ambitious effect I've ever attempted. Though I've done similar things in the past, nothing can beat this - if it works!

Should my prediction match the headline published one week later, it'll be the highlight of the Trip, and of my career so far.

(Nearly) all will be explained on the show tomorrow - 1.30pm EST (GMT+10)

ABC Sydney

For those who missed it, you can listen to my performance on 702 ABC Sydney here.

Also, it is 6 months today since I left Wales and began this Trip, and 6 months until I get home again. It's tempting to write a slushy post about how much I've learned and grown, as a person and a performer, but I think I'll save that for another day, there's still lots more to do until then...

Sydney ABC with James Valentine

Hi all, just a quick note that I'll be on 702 ABC Sydney with James Valentine this Tuesday at 1.30pm (GMT+10). If you want to hear some mind-reading, or hear a little about my upcoming Newspaper Headline Prediction here in Sydney, or maybe you want to take part in the show, call in and we'll see what happens...

Hope you listen in, thanks x

Vale illusionist ‘amazes’ audiences on his world trip

The Glamorgan GEM - Friday 22 Jan 2010

AN illusionist from the Vale is amazing people with his mind-reading abilities as he continues a globetrotting world tour that will take up to a year. Tom DeVoe, a former pupil of Cowbridge Comprehensive School, who lives in the village of Aberthin, began his journey, which he called the ‘Without Borders World Trip’, on August 13 last year – his 21st birthday. Tom told The GEM: “To travel the world doing what I love, performing for people across the globe, is the most challenging, exciting venture I could ever have imagined.” He started in London, but his itinerary takes in India, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands and the USA. He is currently in Singapore and astonished a local journalist and photographer from ‘The New Paper’ with his mind-reading abilities, by correctly guessing which numbers they were thinking of, and confidently predicting which word they would pick out of President Obama’s autobiography, Dreams From My Father. Germaine Lim, the impressed journalist, reported: “The word was ‘goat’. Can it get any more random? “I bet DeVoe, who is in town to perform his Mind Illusion Show, probably knew my darkest secrets the moment I said ‘hello’!” Tom has also made his mark in India. “I performed in Delhi for Fever104FM, a Virgin-owned radio station, reading the minds of the DJ and callers to the show. “By the time the show was over, there was a huge crowd of people waiting outside the studio to see me. “The boss of the station pulled me into his office and asked me about what I do, and even asked me if I would go with him to a meeting of his main rival stations’ bosses to read their minds!” Tom uses psychology, suggestion and what he describes mischievously as “more devious methods” to read minds and baffle his audience. While in India, he was also featured in one of the country’s leading newspapers. Tom said: “I was featured in the Hindustan Times, a major Indian newspaper, opened in 1929 by Mahatma Gandhi. “With a readership of 6.6 million people, it is the second largest English-language newspaper in India. “I was also on CNN’s News and Entertainment shows in India. “In Hong Kong, I performed for social groups, the British Council of Hong Kong and City University of Hong Kong, receiving a beautiful engraved metal plate from the University as a mark of thanks. “I spent Christmas with friends in Singapore, and have had a great time – it has been 32 degrees C outside, so there was no chance of a white Christmas for me. “While I’m here, I’ve been working with a large entertainment agency that was involved with the recent Formula 1 race in Singapore.” He completes his world trip in August. Tom’s adventure can be followed on tomdevoeworldtrip.blogspot.com

Sydney, Australia

I was very sad to say goodbye to Singapore. Some friends I made there will be friends for life, for sure. Each time I move to a different country I feel uprooted, having previously just settled into the swing of things. To feel homesick for many places is no fun. But we move onwards and upwards, or downwards, to sunny Sydney where Bondi beach, a few tinnies, and several shrimps on barbies beckon.
I’ve been here for more than a week now, and I’m happy to have plenty of Western food back on the menu – I tried the Fish Head Curry, a Singapore speciality, on my last few days there and it actually wasn’t too bad, though the eyeball I promised my friends I’d eat was just too much!
Very surprised to see beautiful parrots flying around as regular as pigeons back home, along with a host of other exotic and unusual animals I’d never seen before. Hopefully there’ll be many kangaroos and wallabies to point at like a good old tourist in the next few months. Everything here is BIG. The food and drink servings, the money, the sun, the waves, and some comically hefty guys – all extra large and extra loud.
I’m reading the newspapers here, locals and nationals, eagerly…but more about that later. It’s going to be good, this one ;)

The New Paper – 6 Jan 2010

Welsh Mind Illusionist:
No magic in ‘reading minds’, bending spoons
REPORT: Germaine Lim

In front of Thomas DeVoe, I felt exposed.
Fifteen minutes before meeting us yesterday, the 21-year-old Welsh mind illusionist already knew what numbers The New Paper photographer Jonathan Choo and I would be thinking of.
He also knew the word I had picked out from US President Barack Obama’s autobiography, Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance – which DeVoe had taken along – though I kept a poker face.
It was “goat”.
Can it get any more random?
I bet DeVoe – who’s in town to perform his Mind Illusion Show at Downtown East on Sunday – probably knew my darkest secrets the moment I said “hello”.
Despite my coaxing, he refused to tell me what his impression of me was because he did not want to risk offending me.
DeVoe joked: “I don’t want a Sherlock Holmes moment to happen to me.”
In the movie, Sherlock Holmes, Mary Morstan (Kelly Reilly) splashes wine on Holmes’ (Robert Downey Jr) face in a fit of anger after the intuitive titular detective spilled her secrets to her fiancé, Dr Watson (Jude Law).
Besides “mind-reading”, he also demonstrated bending a spoon forwards and sideways just by rubbing the handle lightly with his index finger and thumb, and focusing on it.
At one point, it even broke into two pieces right before our eyes.
No brute force was involved.
There’s no magic in his craft, DeVoe said.
The self-professed sceptic said he doesn’t believe in so-called “supernatural psychic powers”, which well-known Israeli-British entertainer Uri Geller claimed to possess.
There’s an explanation for everything, even when bending a spoon, he insisted.
“It’s easy to say that I was born with supernatural abilities. But my parents always tell me that I cannot mislead people. Telling the truth is the most important thing.”
No one in his family is in the business of magic.
His father works in a university, his mother with charity organisations and his brother is a musician.
It is not by mere coincidence that DeVoe predicts numbers and words correctly.
“What I do is just psychology, suggestions and some other more devious techniques.”
Which is his polite way of informing you, “Too bad, I’m not telling you”.
You could say he’s like Simon Baker’s character in the US TV show, The Mentalist. DeVoe uses skills like astute observation and principles of stage magic to present the illusion of mind-reading.
Ironically, DeVoe – who recently graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in sociology and social policy – said he was very bad in psychology. His best subject was English.

Observing since young

He also has strong observational skills, which he says he has used to assess potential playmates and friends since he was little.
When he was 6, he learnt more about magic as he received books on the subject as Christmas and birthday presents.
His reading led to books on veteran illusionists like Geller, and his craft developed from there.
At 14, he started practising his craft on friends by guessing letters and numbers they were thinking of. But he was often wrong.
Seven years on, he says he has fewer slip-ups, though he still gets nervous just before a member of the audience reveals his answer.
“I’m not embarrassed when I make mistakes because I have the rest of the show to make up to my audience.
“Sometimes, people apologise for ‘messing up’ my tricks. But it’s never their fault. It’s mine”.
Of course, he has used his skills in his personal life, like trying to get his friends and himself into bars and clubs when they were below UK’s legal age of 18.
He doesn’t have to do that anymore, but added that he doesn’t do it also because “it can get people into serious trouble”.
When it comes to impressing someone he’s interested in, the bachelor prefers to use good manners like being genuine and polite.
Next up for the ambitious young man?
He wants to up his game by predicting an Australian newspaper’s headline when he goes Down Under later this month.
“I’ve been reading their newspapers. My plan is to foretell the headlines a week in advance.”

Downtown East - January 10th - 7pm

Aaah, well I've just about recovered from New Year's Eve, the four shows all went well, but getting to each in NY's Eve traffic was not much fun.

Here in Singapore I'm throwing a show for my friends who've yet to see me in action at the top of Zsofi's Tapas Bar this Thursday which should be a larf - all welcome.

Sunday 10th will be the big show at Downtown East where huge, larger than life-sized posters are already up, and I met with two newspapers at the venue this morning to discuss the show, the trip, and perform for them a little. They were both incredibly sweet and we had a good morning and afternoon together. The first, New Paper, is a big Singapore publication and should be out tomorrow, the other, Berita Harian, is a Malay paper which I'll have to have translated before I put a copy up on the blog. Looking forward to both articles :)