STAGED SORCERY
Piff the Magic Dragon to perform ‘grumpy’ comedy act
John van der Put’s life is going well at the moment.
It can change in an instant, and he’s aware of it.
But the 37-year-old entertainer is still riding high.
How could he not be? The English magician and comedian broke through mainstream during his stint on “America’s Got Talent,” where he appeared in 2015 on the show’s 10th season, performing as Piff the Magic Dragon.
Before that, he would perform in Las Vegas, Nev.
And in 2012, he opened for Mumford & Sons during the band’s UK tour.
Now, van der Put tours the country when he’s not in Las Vegas performing at his residency at the Flamingo.
“I like doing shows,” he says. “I’m happiest when I’m on stage working. It’s an easy life for me. The traveling is horrendous sometimes, but the live shows make it worth it.”
Van der Put’s stage persona is simple — it’s 50 percent comedy, 50 percent magic, 100 percent dragon.
He dresses up as Piff the Magic Dragon and his trademark Chihuahua named Mr. Piffles.
With over 12 million YouTube hits to his name, Van de Put has performed to hundreds of thousands of fans in iconic venues such as Radio City Music Hall, Shakespeare’s Globe, the O2, London and Sydney Opera House.
This fame has van der Put working all the time.
“It takes a long time for new material,” he says. “The individual bits take about two years each. We have certain material in the bank. I’ve been doing this show since November 2016.”
Van der Put enjoys the crazy process behind his show, though.
“I’m always thinking of new ideas as well, and they are developed behind the scenes,” he says. “When I get on stage is when they get finalized. I work things out on stage all the time. I enjoy the ability to change things up a lot. It works for me.”
Van der Put created Piff the Magic Dragon more than 10 years ago.
The impetus behind the character was taken from a friend’s suggestion that van der Put had a “resting grumpy face.”
“Before, I was just a grumpy guy,” he says. “Now, I’m a grumpy dragon.”