Growing up on one of the biggest estates in Bradford isn’t easy, especially when dealing drugs or selling pirate DVDs is one of the easiest ways of making some quick cash. Dynamo learnt magic and got a Trust grant to start his own business. He now has his own show on C4. This is his interview, in full.

What opportunities are there for young people in inner city housing estates to fulfil their potential?

When I was growing up I lived on some of the biggest estates in the Bradford area –West Bowling, Wyke and Delph Hill.

The thing I found was that people all seemed to follow one another. There seemed to be nothing unique about anyone. They all went to the same school, same college, did the same course… Even the kids who got good grades seemed to struggle because there just weren’t many opportunities about – and the opportunities that were there went to people who came from different backgrounds.

It sounds like a cliché, but dealing drugs or selling copied DVDs can be an easy option. It’s a way to make a quick buck and for those people who are more interested in today than the long term, it’s a way to get by.

Do you think employers and educational establishments have a prejudice against young people who live on inner city housing estates?

Yeah, definitely.
A friend of mine has spent his whole life with foster parents, living on an inner city housing estate. He’s had all sorts of basic jobs in places like call centres, but when he went to try and get work in a store they said he didn’t have enough experience. That’s stupid because he’s an intelligent guy – I’d give him a job.
I don’t think people should be judged just on their CV. If he’d been given a week’s trial or something he’d have been able to prove himself and would have done well. People just need a chance.

How did you fight against prejudice and prove you’re worth more than the clichéd label?

I always believed and I had a game plan from the start.
I knew I had to win people round, so it was like show and tell – I had to show people what I was about, because otherwise how was anyone ever going to find out?
To do that I performed tricks all over the place, I gave out CD Roms with clips of my magic and I put together a website. From that it went from me knocking on people’s doors to people knocking on my door. That’s always the best way to be.

What kind of mental barriers did you encounter when you were growing up?

People around me were saying stuff like ‘get a proper job’, or ‘you’ll never make it in magic’. That’s not a good thing, but I was really stubborn and just went for it anyway.
I do think if you’re really into something and you keep trying, you’ll get there in the end. You may struggle, and it may take years, but you’ll have fun along the way. And, even if you don’t get to where you ultimately want to be, you’ll have lived a little trying.

When you were living on a housing estate, was there a culture where people gained respect not through educational achievement or personal success, but strength or force?

Yeah, I suppose. If you couldn’t look after yourself you got trodden on. But that only happens once and then you learn. It’s dog eat dog and you’ve got to be smart to get by.
Respect can come from two places – people like you or they fear you. I was always the smallest kid where I lived, but with magic I had a strength no-one else had and that brought its own respect – respect for what I did.

Were you influenced by the urban environment where you lived?

Yeah, definitely. Without being brought up as I was, I wouldn’t be Dynamo.
There were lots of negative times, but there were more positives.

If there weren’t many opportunities available, how did you go about achieving your goals?

I hustled and I never once let a lack of resources hold me back.
I’ve always thought ‘if I’m not going to do it for myself, who is?’. So I funded myself and promoted myself by playing cheap gigs or parties. I taught myself the skills from books, practised in my bedroom and dreamt up my own routines. I’m always at it and I give everything my own style. That way, when I perform I’m unlike anyone else.
When I joined the Magic Circle, all the other magicians said I should wear a top hat and a suit, but I wanted to be me, so I said I’ll do things my way. It may have taken longer like that, but it means I understand more, I appreciate things more and now everyone else is coming round to my way of thinking!
In the end it takes ambition, confidence and determination, and that’s the same for everyone.

OK, so what’s more important: ambition, confidence and determination or opportunities?

If you’ve got ambition, then opportunities will always come your way.
Even if it takes years’ of hard graft, when you’re really determined, the opportunities follow.

So, do you think that’s true whatever you want to do – whether you want to be an entertainer like yourself, a beautician or an accountant.

I think so. What I’m doing in magic has taken a bit of common sense, a lot of hard work and loads of self belief. With those things you can get wherever you want to go.

Is it easy to be put off by the hurdles you come up against?

If you really love what you’re doing, it doesn’t matter what happens; you’ll get over any hurdle.
When someone puts you down or something gets in your way, it should make you want to do it more. If you’re put off by the hurdles, it’s probably not for you anyway.

What was the biggest barrier you faced?

The fact I had no funds was the biggest barrier. That and a lack of support.
Because no-one believed in me, I couldn’t ask to borrow money off friends or family, and I didn’t get any support because people thought I was just being stupid. I’m proving everyone wrong now though!

How did The Prince’s Trust help you?

They gave me a business start up loan of £2,800.
That gave me the ability to travel to different events and network with people who could make things happen for me.
I also bought a laptop and a camcorder. With that camcorder a friend of mine helped me shoot my first DVD, and all the clips on my website were done like that too.
If I had the money again now, I’d probably have spent it slightly differently, but I learnt from the experience and it definitely made a difference.

Would you still have been able to do what you’re doing now without the help of The Trust?

Yeah, I think so. But definitely not as soon.
The money sped things up, and my mentor really helped me too – advising me on my finances and giving me all sorts of business tips.

Did The Prince’s Trust care where you lived?

Not at all.
At first they were a bit sceptical about my business idea, but once I gave my presentation they said they’d never seen anyone with so much determination and gave me the grant straight away.
One of the people on the panel was a prominent figure in a big finance company and after I’d done my presentation he said ‘you’ve got the money and you’ve got a booking next week’. The following week I was performing magic at his company’s annual party.

What was your biggest inspiration?

My Grandpa was my biggest inspiration. He taught me my first tricks and when I showed my mates, their reactions were crazy. That made me think ‘yeah, this is cool’ and since then it’s been a compulsion for me.
It’s not the actual magic that I find so addictive, but people’s reactions. Giving happiness to people is the best thing in the world and I’m really lucky to be doing something that allows me to do that.

What’s stopping other people doing exactly what they want, like you?

Nothing at all – just themselves.