May 13, 2013 8 Questions with: Maritess Zurbano
I think everyone should have a magician in their rolodex, mine happens to be Maritess Zurbano. Maritess is the only Filipina-American mind-reader and sleight-of-hand expert in the world. She spent 7 years in Las Vegas studying sleight-of-hand and magic history from Gary Darwin. She’s been a blackjack dealer, a professional baccarat player, and starred in her own illusion show in Japan. And if you wanted to know more about her, it just so happens she is working on her memoir. For now you can settle for our usual 8 questions.
Photo: Alicia Nichols
What are you currently working on?
I am working with my literary agent on polishing my memoir book proposal. I’ve also switched my performance focus to stage hypnotism. I perform at events across the country.
Where do you find inspiration?
Every time I think of the following people, I smile: Gloria Steinham, Toni Morrison, David Henry Hwang, the blogger, Twisty Faster, Nelson Mandela, Napoleon Hill and the glamourous hypnotist, Pat Collins.
As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a famous visual artist.
What are you reading at the moment?
The autobiography of Malcom X. I don’t know why I never read it before. Oh. I know why. Because when I was growing up, there was a stigma around him. That Spike Lee movie opened my eyes.
Photo: Misa Martin
How would you describe your job?
A lot more difficult than it looks. My job is to amaze people, to make them believe in magic, to suspend their disbelief, to make them laugh, to give them a rollicking good time that they will never forget. My job also entails a lifetime of never-ending research and a constant revision of my work. My profession requires eternal curiosity, skepticism and optimism.
What does your average work day look like?
I wake up at 7:30am, do an hour of writing, make breakfast, drop off my son to preschool, do some hot yoga, go back to writing, rehearsal or research for 4 hours, pick up my son, make dinner, bath, we go to bed, then I wake up at 2am to do a couple more hours of writing, then we do it all over again. A couple days a week, we do play dates and I do my work while he naps or sleeps.
Photo: Alicia Nichols
Is there any company or person who you’d like to work with?
I would LOVE to work with the Dalai Lama or the new Pope. Ideally, I’d like to spend a day with the Vatican exorcist. I’m just fascinated with major spiritual figures. My dream would be to work with Spike Lee on my one-woman magic show about how I became a professional Las Vegas conjurer in a male-dominated field. I’ve always been jealous that John Leguizamo got him to direct his one man show. Someday I’ll talk Spike into directing mine.
What’s your favorite post-work destination?
That depends where I am. When I worked in Japan, right after the show for six straight months, we could soak in the natural hot springs. In New York, I love hanging wherever my friends are. When my friend from Estonia is around, we go to the Russian Vodka Room. If I want to kick back with a stiff drink, I really enjoy White Star. I know La Esquina is always crowded, but I still like it. In Seattle, I go straight back to the babysitter, which is equally as thrilling as any New York party.
Check out Maritess.com for booking information.