Zappo the Magician aka Paul Bates. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
With online events ramping up, popular magician Zappo has taken his show virtual and has a regular daily slot for Kiwi kids young and old.
Greytown-based Zappo, aka Paul Bates, is making magic happen every day on his Facebook page at 10.30am. The show is broadcast live from his home seven days a week during lockdown on the page ‘Zappo the Musician’.
It has a different theme every day and starts with a birthday shout-out and message. This is followed by magic tricks and songs.
“I can’t work till level 2, so the shows will probably carry on right through level 3,” he said.
“There’s a lot of worry out there. If you can make children have a laugh it makes a big difference. It’s about creating good memories for children. That’s what it’s all about.”
Bates said while the show was aimed mainly at the three to eight-year-old age group, all ages could enjoy it.
“Even a care home recently watched it,” he said.
Every show is uploaded to the Zappo YouTube children’s channel called ‘Zappothemusician’.
“Last year in lockdown I also did shows every day. All of that is available on YouTube as well as some older shows,” he said.
Bates said many were doing children’s entertainment online right now.
“There’s a great variety of shows for children to watch. I take my hat off to the parents,” he said, saying lockdown was challenging for many.
Multiple award-winning Zappo has been a full time children’s entertainer for 25 years. In 2019 he won the “Grand Master of Magic” award. He has previously also won the Best Children’s
Entertainer award at the New Zealand International Magicians Convention, among others.
Outside lockdown, he regularly performs across the Wellington region. He also takes his magic shows to Manawatu, Wanganui, New Plymouth and Hawke’s Bay.
Earlier this year he won the Resene Shed of the Year for his profession-appropriate Tardis lookalike garden shed.
- Zappo’s shows can be found every day at 10.30am at https://www.facebook.com/ZappoTheMagician
