Talking With Colin Cloud – March 13, 2023

Ira David Sternberg: It’s time to talk about Las Vegas with Ira! Each week, I talk with the celebrities, entertainers, writers, and personalities who make Las Vegas the most exciting city in the world. And now, here’s Ira.

Ira: What am I holding in my hand? I haven’t told my guest, but he already knows. He’s Colin Cloud, known as the real-life Sherlock Holmes, starring with Shin Lim in Limitless at The Mirage Mondays and then Thursdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, go to hardrockhotelcasinolasvegas.com. For everything about Colin, visit colincloud.com, and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Colin, welcome to the show.

Colin Cloud: Thank you very much for having me. Hello!

Ira: Hello there! Well, before I ask anything important, I want to ask if you use your great accent to distract your audience.

Colin: I mean, I’m actually from Albuquerque. I put the accent on purely to distract the audience! That would be ridiculous to have this accent for real. Come on! No, it definitely works in my favor. When I first started performing in America over 10 years ago, I definitely spoke way too fast with my original Scottish accent. I’ve learned to tone it down and hopefully use it effectively now.

Ira: Sherlock Holmes wasn’t Scottish, so how did you develop an interest in Sherlock Holmes?

Colin: Well, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was Scottish, but yeah, I just read the books as a kid in the school library. The way they’re written, I actually thought they were about a real person. I believed it was all based on someone’s life, and when I found out it wasn’t, it was like finding out Santa’s not real—devastating. But by then, I was hooked. I loved the idea of understanding people, how the mind works, and knowing everything about someone just by looking at them. That led me to forensic investigation and then stand-up comedy. I realized stand-up comedians are like real-life Sherlocks—they observe everything, stand on stage, and are relaxed and calm under pressure. Before I knew it, I was combining criminal psychology with stand-up comedy. Fast forward 20 years, and here I am in Vegas.

Ira: When you first worked in forensics, I’m sure your parents were very proud. But when you said, "I’m going into entertainment," they probably said, "Wait a minute." How did you make that transition?

Colin: It’s not the obvious career leap from being in a lab one day to being behind a microphone the next. I was a very shy, introverted kid, and the idea of being in front of an audience gave me nightmares. But people were appreciating what I was doing, and I loved sharing this crazy mentalism stuff. My parents were delighted and said, "You can do it as long as one day we get to meet Donny Osmond." Last week, they got to hang out with him, so they’re delighted now.

Ira: That’s a good deal for approval! Now, given what you do, do you consider yourself an illusionist?

Colin: Well, I was in the Broadway show The Illusionists, so yes, I suppose I am. But typically, when people think "illusionist," they think of rabbits and sawing people in half. What I do is illusion in the sense that I make it seem like I can read someone’s mind. I’ve created a toolbox of methods and strategies to make people give off information without realizing it. In a theater context, it looks like mind-reading, but I’m a very skeptical person by nature. It’s about creating the illusion of mind-reading with other techniques at play.

Ira: I’ve watched many of your appearances, and it’s amazing how you pick up on cues. I’m surprised you’re not in the World Series of Poker because you can see people's tells so well.

Colin: Well, one of the first things the Mirage did was ban Shin Lim and me from playing cards or gambling in casinos. I think we’re on some list somewhere because we’re too recognizable.

Ira: I should have asked him that question too when he was on the show. But with you, it’s an obvious question because you can read people so well. Now, I’m not going to put you under any pressure to read anything about me because I can barely read myself, but if you notice anything weird during our conversation, feel free to jump in.

Colin: Absolutely!

Ira: When did you develop your act, and did you have any mentors who helped you structure it?

Colin: I grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland, where we have the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. I absorbed a lot from hypnosis comedians, mentalists, and performers who came to Edinburgh every year. My first mentors were more comedians than magicians. I loved comedy, especially how comedians connect with the audience through honesty and truth. With magic, there’s a barrier because it’s about deception. But with mentalism, that barrier is stripped away, and it’s just me and the audience. Comedians like Rowan Atkinson and Stephen Fry influenced me the most. I wanted to connect with the audience and make it fun and playful, not slow and drawn-out like traditional mentalism. That’s why comedy has been a big part of my journey.

Ira: It’s obvious you have a good sense of humor, and with your talent, it’s a great combination for performances, especially in Las Vegas. But have you ever had a situation where you just couldn’t read someone?

Colin: Different people are better at different things. There’s a scale of suggestibility, and I’ve learned to pick up on certain cues like body language, attitude, and confidence. Every audience member is perfect for something, so my goal is to give the audience the perfect show. Since I’m picking everyone at random, every night is different, which keeps it exciting and fresh. People feel like the show is just for them because of the ad-libs and reveals that happen. It’s always a new experience, which makes it enjoyable for both me and the audience.

Ira: That’s the best part. It’s different every time, so people can see you more than once and have a new experience. Does your skill cause any issues in your personal life? Do friends and loved ones ever feel uncomfortable around you?

Colin: You’re assuming I have friends and loved ones! But seriously, I’m always creating and improving my act, so friends are usually the first "victims" of new material. They’re usually happy to watch what I’m working on and give me notes. I want to make sure the audience gets an experience unlike anything else, so I’m always striving to improve.

Ira: I like that you’re always progressing. Now that you’re in America, you were on Season 12 of America’s Got Talent. What was the impact of that on your career, and how did it lead to you performing in Las Vegas?

Colin: I never really wanted to do America’s Got Talent. They approached me, and I initially said no. But the producers of The Illusionists, which I was part of, encouraged me to do it. I was frustrated at first because they kept vetoing my ideas. At one point, I asked for a kitten for a trick, and when they agreed, I decided to go for it. The reaction was phenomenal. America’s Got Talent is the most-watched show in America, and my clip went viral. It was mind-blowing—the impact was global, not just in America. It definitely boosted my profile and led to opportunities like performing in Las Vegas.

Ira: Now you’re in Las Vegas, performing with Shin Lim. How did that partnership come about?

Colin: Credit goes to Shin Lim, who won America’s Got Talent twice. When the Mirage approached him to headline, he wanted a voice and narrator for the show. We’ve performed together for years, and we have a great appreciation for each other’s work. Shin’s magic is artistic and intense, while my work is more about connecting with the audience. Together, we create a perfect balance for the show. It’s a unique combination that’s been very well-received.

Ira: You complement each other perfectly. It’s great that you’re symbiotic in your performances. Now, this may be a little esoteric, but when you’re performing, do you have to be fully in the moment because you’re focusing on reading people from the audience?

Colin: Very much so. Every night is different, and it’s all about being present. But instead of explaining it, I’d rather show you. Let’s do a quick exercise. I want you to think of a random word. Don’t go too crazy, just pick a word and lock it in your mind. Now, imagine you’re back in school, and someone from your class is writing that word on the blackboard. Imagine you’re shouting their name in your head. Now, what was the name of the person?

Ira: Jack.

Colin: And what word was Jack writing on the board?

Ira: Green.

Colin Cloud: Perfect. Now, just to be clear, I didn’t tell you to think of that word. You could have thought of anything, right?

Ira Sternberg: Right.

Colin: Well, I wrote something down earlier. Can you say what I wrote?

Ira: You wrote the name "Jack" and the word "green." How did you do that?

Colin: That was the first time it has ever worked, so I'm as surprised as you are! But really, I’ve gotten very good at distracting people, observing cues, and knowing how to guide their thoughts. I’ve taken skills from criminology, psychology, and mentalism to create moments that feel like real mind reading. Everything I do in the show is about connecting with the audience and making them reveal information without realizing it.

Ira: That was absolutely amazing. Although, how do I know you didn’t have that kitten writing those words in your pocket?

Colin: That method actually appeals to me more than the years of training it took to do this! Not how I did it, but from now on, I think I'll just use the cat method.

Ira: Fair enough! I’m a terrible magician myself—I only know the French drop, and I’m still terrible at it even after years of practice. I’m very impressed by any of this, and I’m not going to try to analyze how you did it. Before I let you go, what’s next for Colin Cloud?

Colin: Right now, I’m performing in Limitless with Shin Lim at The Mirage through 2023, and I’m thrilled to be part of this journey. I’ve just finished writing my new solo show, which will debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year. I’m also considering writing a book that shares some of the skills and techniques I use, along with my personal journey. So, there’s a lot to look forward to!

Ira: That’s a great way to leave it. My guest has been Colin Cloud, known as the real-life Sherlock Holmes. He’s starring with Shin Lim in Limitless at The Mirage Mondays and Thursdays through Sundays at 7:30 p.m. For ticket information, go to hardrockhotelcasinolasvegas.com. For everything about Colin, visit colincloud.com, and follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Colin, thanks for being on the show.

Colin: Thank you so much for your time, and thanks to everyone who hung out with us for the last 30 minutes. I truly appreciate it.

Ira: See you next time!