"Psychologist Doubles with Magical Duties"

Published in the Town Crossings
Written by Gale Batsimm
July 2, 2000

Not many adults get to make a profession out of a childhood hobby. Bob Moverman is an exception.

"I still can't believe I'm a professional magician. It's the kind of thing kids dream about," he said. After nine years entertaining audiences, this North Andover psychologist and father of three still enjoys performing magic tricks as much as he did growing up.

"It's a really nice feeling to know you can make people happy and entertain them," he said. He estimates he has done about 500 shows since 1991 when he first entertained at his then four-year old daughter, Carla's, birthday party.

The success of that party, and the interest it generated, spurred Dr. Moverman to turn "Mr. Magic" into a part-time business. "I wanted to see if there was some potential," he said. "I made business cards, joined a local magicians assembly (The Society of American Magicians), and bought some new tricks." He also left business cards at toy stores, placed some advertisements and became listed in the phone book.

Watching as he turns three ropes of different lengths into three of the same size, it's easy to see how captivating magic can be. He carefully weaves stories and jokes around his tricks.

"The humor is the thing that makes it, rather than just doing the tricks," he said. "You want to make an interesting storyline and add some comedy to it. You have to mix it in with your personality.'

As funny as he is, Mr. Magic takes his tricks seriously, and he isn't divulging his secrets. "They're not there to learn the trick," he said of the audiences he entertains. "Once you know the secret usually people groan or say it's clever. People will tell others and there will be no magic left in the world."

Growing up in Rhode Island, Bob Moverman frequented novelty shops for new magic tricks. He delighted in the tricks his father would bring home from business trips to New York City. In high school he was nearly punched out for not telling the secret to a trick. He finally made something up to pacify the other teenager.

Although part of the lure of magic is that "it's nice to fool people and know something they didn't", he emphasizes that magic should not belittle an audience or make them feel inferior.

"First of all, kids don't want to be put down," he said. "You want to get them involved and make them be part of the magic."

His own children sometimes like to get into the act as well. "The middle one begs me to take her along as my beautiful assistant," he said of his 10-year old daughter, Hannah. "My youngest daughter (five-year old Sadie) just likes to get her hands on all the magic and do it herself. This includes making her dad close his eyes while she causes a coin to "disappear".

He finds a natural balance between his two careers, using one to help the other. By day Mr. Magic is a clinical psychologist at New England Neurological Associates on Sutton Street and at Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem, New Hampshire. At times he performs magic tricks to break the ice with a new client and build rapport.

He even shares his secrets with some patients, such as individuals who have suffered a stroke and can benefit from learning a trick and trying to later remember it.

On the other hand, he also uses psychology and stress management in his magic act. "There's a lot of perceptual psychology in trying to get them to focus their attention where you want it to go," he said. During one of his tricks, where he inserts a needle through a balloon, he instructs his audience to relax so that the balloon does not pop. "It's one of the best parts of the show," Dr. Moverman said. "It gets very quiet and the kids learn how to control themselves."

One of his most satisfying performances was for a group of children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). At the end of the show the father of the birthday child thanked Mr. Magic and said, "the teacher will never believe the kids sat still and paid attention for 45 minutes!"

Dr. Moverman said the attraction of magic is that "it's colorful,
it's novel, it's very different from the routine experience in peoples' lives. It's a very special kind of escape - a trip away from reality as we know it."

While Mr. Magic performs for adult audiences as well, the majority of his shows are for four to seven-year olds. He also entertained at First Night 2000 at the Square One Mall, and has been a strolling magician at Smolak Farm festivals.

For the past several years he has donated his talents for the Make-A-Wish holiday party on a cruise ship. He has even lined up other magicians from the assembly to join him. "It's one of the most gratifying things we do," he said.

His appreciation for children has also brought him into his daughter's classroom at the Sargent School to discuss magic. Naturally, he also still provides the entertainment at some of his own children's parties. "That's a special treat because I know the kids," he said.

Bob Moverman also draws his wife, Barbara, into the act. She hand-designs a playing card with the birthday child's name and age on it, which he incorporates into a card trick. His wife also serves as his initial audience while he perfects a new trick.

He has been working on one of the more difficult tricks, involving linking rings, for several years. "Most of magic is not very technical," he said. "It doesn't require a lot of sleight of hand in terms of entertainment value. Most of the value of magic is its presentation."

The cost of new magic tricks can vary. "Some of the best tricks are 50 years old," he said. "People can make something out of rope and it can be as successful as a trick somebody pays $300 for."

According to Dr. Moverman, the essentials for a good magician are patience, a love of mystery, a sense of humor, and a desire to be the center of attention. He learned by reading books, talking to other magicians, buying tricks and reading the instructions, and experience. What magic does the future hold? "I would like to get into more school shows to reach a broader audience and do magic with an educational theme," he said.

For more information about Mr. Magic, call 978.682.6065.

Gale Batsimm is a North Andover resident and freelance writer. You can share information about your North Andover community by calling Town Crossings at 978.475.5300 or Email her at towncrossings@andovertownsman.com