Ahead of his much-awaited India debut, this master illusionist reveals the grind behind the grand and the years behind every gasp
Rob Lake has performed in over 60 countries in the last two decades
For Las Vegas-based illusionist Rob Lake, it wasn’t just the magic of one illusion but a series of them, watched over the years as a child—magic shows on TV, at amusement parks, and at birthday parties. When he was 10 years old, he saw this big theatrical production—with a helicopter, a car, dancers, et al—and knew this was his path. Overwhelmed by a feeling of wonder and enchantment, something inside him had clicked. “I remember every detail—not a specific trick, but the entire experience. That sense of magic and awe was powerful,” recalls Lake over an exclusive Zoom call with Sunday mid day. Ten years later, he saw the same magician perform.
By then, he was a fan and had started writing letters to him with ideas for illusions, complete with kid-style drawings. “He actually saw something in them—he began responding, mentoring me, even calling me to talk through ideas. Years later, many of the foundations of my own show would be rooted in what I saw that first time. He had a levitation act, and when I created my version, I took inspiration from that and built on it. There’s one where I’m locked in a tower and switch places with my assistant in under a second. I also do levitation over a fountain of water—again, inspired by that early show. It’s incredible to see how those seeds planted so long ago have evolved into something of my own,” says Lake.
People are always curious about how illusions come together. “Honestly, it can take years—sometimes over a decade. I might have an idea for a method or hear a piece of music that sparks something. The mood or energy of a song can inspire an entire illusion. Or I’ll know what I want to do—a certain type of effect—and spend years figuring out how. Take the tower illusion. I played around with that concept for 10 or 12 years. We tested several versions before getting it right. In about a year, the final piece came together quickly because I had already explored so many directions. Once an illusion is built, we rehearse it relentlessly. But not just for what should go right—we also train for everything that could go wrong. It’s a live show. We can’t call ‘cut’ like in a movie. So we prepare the team for every scenario, every contingency. The goal is that even if something goes wrong, the audience never knows.”
Lake says it can take years to put together an illusion
For Lake, magic isn’t just about tricks, it’s about wonder. And to create that, you’re working with precision, psychology, timing, and storytelling. The audience is completely focused on what you’re doing, and that’s a huge responsibility. You’re managing their attention, emotions, and expectations—all in real-time. One of the biggest misconceptions? That illusions are easy , that they’re somehow self-working. “People don’t see the years of practice, sleepless nights, trial and error that go into crafting 20 seconds of stage magic. And just because I’ve been doing this for years doesn’t mean I stop learning. Every new illusion pushes me to the start of the ladder again. That’s part of the journey,” he adds.
Lake has performed in 60 countries; this is his first time performing in India at NMACC, BKC, next weekend. “Every person I meet from India talks about how beautiful and vibrant the country is; it builds excitement. We’ve shipped all the gear months in advance, and I’ve picked my favourite illusions for this performance. While magic can look different in different cultures, the emotion it evokes is universal. Whether someone speaks English or not, we all understand gravity. So when I levitate, everyone feels that same sense of awe. Across the globe, magic connects to something primal—our myths, stories, our need to believe in the impossible. And in cultures like India’s, where mysticism and mythology are so ingrained, I think there’s even deeper resonance.” To any young dreamer watching his show, Lake says, “Whether your dream is in magic or something else, you have to follow your passion. Your purpose. It’s probably the hardest path,but also the most fulfilling. Nothing else will satisfy if it’s truly what you’re meant to do. And it will be worth every challenge.”
WHAT: The Magic of Rob Lake
WHERE: The Grand Theatre, NMACC, BKC
WHEN: April 25 to 27, 2025
TO BOOK: nmacc.com
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