Kockov Passes YouTube Milestone - July '10
Incredibly, Kockov has passed the 100,000 views on YouTube for his original video. The "Real Live Russian Roulette" video was actually the very first time Jasper performed his unique revolver stunt as Monrokvian wonder Kockov. Amazingly this ten minute long clip has been watched by somebody somewhere in the world every 18 minutes for the past 3 and a half years ! Watch it here :
Ooh Ahh - Kockov in Daily Star - July '10
Following the recent Magicseen magazine article, it was a thrill to find 'Kockov' got a mention in The Daily Star Sunday. Outspoken and controversial pundit, Gary Bushell, was apparently aware of my recent Glastonbury performance - entitled "Glasto Irritations" he went on to say "BBC over-staffing. Why did they need two dimwit presenters to introduce Mark Radclffe so he could introduce Stevie Wonder? And why not show us great acts in the Mavericks tent like comedy magician Kockov and Jon Hicks' amazing elephant feats?". Maybe next time I'll make The Telegraph !
Kockov Does Glastonbury Festival - June '10
Forget about Stevie Wonder, Gorillaz and Dizee Rascal, the big draw at Glastonbury this year must have been Kockov live at The Mavericks Tent. At midnight on the Saturday, the master Monrokvian magician joined a stella line-up of Europe's greatest speciality acts and wowed the crowds with his signature Russian Roulette stunt. At an event where really anything goes, Glastonbury proved to be the perfect 'up for it' audience and it was a thrill to watch everyone fall silent at the climax. A real summer highlight and the promise of a return invite next year.
Kockov Goes World-Wide - June '10
Jasper's thrilled to have joined the elite group of magicians who've been lucky enough to grace the cover of the world's most circulated magic publication, Magicseen. The UK-based magazine has subscribers in over 30 different countries and has more readers than GQ. Jasper was delighted to be given the prestigious cover shot along with a three thousand word interview and photo shoot spread over three double pages. In the article Jasper, along with his alter ego Kockov, discusses his original approach to performance and conjuring.
With previous Magicseen covers featuring stars such as David Copperfield, Jasper's proud to be in such illustrious company.
You can view the magazine website here:
www.magicseen.co.uk/latest.html
Audi A8 Launch with Rob Brydon - May '10
Jasper joined comedian and Gavin & Stacey star Rob Brydon again this month, for the glitzy launch of Audi's new A8 luxury car. The invited guests were treated to champagne and canapes, a string quartet, a Masterchef 'cook-off' and Jasper's trademark close-up magic. At the end of the evening, Jasper was introduced onto stage by Welsh rugby legend Ieuan Evans, to conduct the finale - 'The A8 Gamble'.
Jasper had been approached by Audi earlier in the year to come up with something special for their launch, so he decided to gamble a thousand pounds cash of his own money with 4 hopeful spectators. Luckily for him, Jasper was able to keep his money, but not before giving away bottles of champagne and the finalist winning a whole weekend with a new Audi A8.
Audi Marketing Manager, Jon Robbins commented, "We will most definitely be requiring your services again in the future, you were fantastic!"
Kockov ! - Press Review 'Magicweek' March '10
Jasper Blakeley as ‘Kockov’
Wales Millennium Centre
Sunday 6th March 2010
Reviewed by Ian Rowland
Jasper Blakeley occupies a unique position in the magic world. Although he does sometimes work as himself, for most stage and cabaret shows he prefers to transform into any one of about 16 different characters he has devised over the years. A professionally trained actor, he immerses himself so completely in his well-studied comic creations that the real Jasper more or less vanishes from the scene. His most popular and enduring creation to date is Kockov, a fast-talking, mullet-haired magician and mind-reader from the East European state of Monrokvia (a place found only in the atlas of Jasper’s febrile imagination). It was as Kockov that he took to the stage for his sell-out show at Cardiff’s Millennium Centre.
Kockov presented eight routines in all, the majority being familiar plots (Bank Nite, Add-A-Number and so on) re-imagined for contemporary audiences, with plenty of comic and creative twists along the way. However, the slick, professional delivery of some smart mentalism routines is only part of the story. Jasper is one of the very few performers who know how to make mentalism funny, which is no mean feat. A first-rate script, packed with neat gags and asides, is part of the formula. However, the real joy of the show stems from Jasper’s rapid-fire interplay with the audience. No matter what happens or what people say, Kockov is there with an instant retort or comeback.
It’s an impressive display of sharp wits and smart humour, distilled from many, many years learning his craft in front of real audiences. Jasper’s mind is like a fizzing fountain of lines, twists, gags, asides and bits of business, seemingly without end. At one point he even offered a glorious few seconds of mime – displaying a spectator’s current status on the evolutionary ladder – that brilliantly captured the comedy of the moment and won its own round of applause. The humour is sometimes a little abrasive (Kockov has not fully adapted to some of our more gentle social conventions), but never crass or offensive.
The show was well produced and presented. In particular, there was excellent use of sound effects and music throughout. Jasper used to be a radio producer and audio technician, and for this show he devised something like 24 original tracks of music, effects and ambient sound, all of which greatly enhanced the performance. The presentation for his signature ‘Russian Roulette’ routine was very dramatically effective.
Room for improvement? Maybe. Sometimes the ‘procedural’ aspects of the routines dragged a little and could do with a re-think, and one routine suffered from the kind of maddening technical glitch that even thorough rehearsal cannot entirely prevent. However, these are minor points that in no way detracted from the show.
This was a solid performance from a unique talent, combining a high degree of professionalism with truly impressive comic flair. A very satisfied audience filed out of the WMC thoroughly baffled by the ‘mind skills’ on display, but also rather exhausted from laughing so much.
© Ian Rowland, March 2010
Kockov ! - TOTAL SELL OUT in Cardiff
Thanks to all 250 of the audience who made Kockov ! , the 90 minute one-man show at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay on Saturday March 6th a sell out.
Featuring mental stunt world premieres, mind-reading, auto-suggestion and Real Live Russian Roulette, the crowd was really 'up for' it and the deluge of kind comments afterwards were very much appreciated.
Sorry for those who ended up on the long reserve ticket list and couldn't get a seat, fear not plans are being made for the next big show.
Birthday Laughs & Gasps for Kockov
It was mullet-magic time again for Jasper in November '09, as Kockov graced the New House Country Hotel in Cardiff for a very special 60th birthday party.
After warming the guests up around the tables with his unique close-up magic, Kockov provided a half hour mind-magic cabaret, complete with his Real Live Russian Roulette finale.
Spanning 4 generations, the audience thoroughly enjoyed meeting Monrokvia's greatest mind-reader and magician, and you can tell from the laughter and total shock in the photo that they all had a great time.
Thanks to host Clive, who remembered seeing Kockov at a dinner a couple of years ago and "simply had to have him" on his big day.
Kockov turns Russian Tsar for the night
It's always great when an agent offers you interesting work, and in the summer of 2009, it was a multi-millionaire's birthday party for his wife that called on Kockov.
Spending close to half a million pounds for a party, but what does that buy you when the theme is 'Russian Tsars'? How about valet parking, horse-mounted soldiers, ballet dancers, Cossack dancers, opera singers, fire jugglers, acrobats, a 20 foot human snow globe, 3 bands, giant fountains made of flowers, 30 Russian dressed staff, 3 bars, 3 buffets a giant chess board dance floor and Monrokvia's greatest mind reader and magician, Kockov!
A truly amazing party all set within the grounds of a private house in London, complete with botanical gardens. Great fun all round.
Ultimate Magic Honour
Following the release of his 2 mind reading dvds, Jasper was thrilled in January 2008 to be invited to become a member of The Magic Circle in London.
This exclusive magic club only has 1500 members worldwide and only several hundred living in the UK.
Jasper is proud to say he's one of only a few members to be based here in Wales.
Jasper realises Las Vegas dream
Jasper realised a lifelong ambition in September 2007, when he was invited to perform in Las Vegas by international illusionist, Russ Stevens.
The three-day Toni & Guy (TIGI) product launch at The Mandalay Bay, was culminating in a 45 minute 1.5 million dollar illusion show, and Jasper's skills were needed.
Even though Jasper puts guns to his head for his Real Live Russian Roulette routine, being handcuffed and locked into a glass trunk filled with several hundred gallons of water was a whole new level of fear.
It was an amazing experience, and the 5,000 strong audience were amazed, plus the client was thrilled too. Thanks must go to Russ for getting Jasper involved with this amazing corporate event.
