From the 26th New Zealand Magician's Convention 2001

Now in his thirty sixth year in Show Business, greet Bernard Reid: Grand Master of Magic. Bernard's interest in magic goes back many years. With
Jon Zealando, and Tony Wilson he joined the NZSM when they were all about 14 years old, and were the young guns active in the local scene. He
helped write and edit the NZSM's Newsletter with the late Ross Hill, and sharpened his skills at club meetings and conventions. In 1953 while he
was watching the grand illusions of 'Virgil" at His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, Bernard Reid resolved to become a Professional Magician. Not
for him the tyranny of the "kids shows" the bread and butter for New Zealand magicians, Bernard had his eyes set on becoming a professional
world touring illusionist.

His first venture was a tour of the Pacific Islands, followed by a couple of years on the Australian club circuit. In 1968 he was in
Vietnam entertaining the American Troops. "R and R" for the G.I.'s (rest and recreation) was big business, so working out of Hong Kong
Bernard performed in Okinawa, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia. In 1971-72 he tackled the
Eastern Mediterranean: Beirut, then Cyprus, Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Egypt, Bahrain, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. By 1973 he was touring Europe, France,
Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, and The Netherlands. Then in 1974 he opened with "The Green Men" at the "Aladdin Hotel" in Las Vegas, USA.
This was the turning point of Bernard's career and since 1974 he says he "has never looked back".

In the USA he began to work on Cruise Ships, and for the first four or five years he was working 50% of the time in nightclubs ashore and 50%
at sea. Nowadays he works almost exclusively on cruise ships and has become the master of magic afloat. The QE2, The Cunard Princess, and
the world's most luxurious floating palaces, have seen Bernard entertained on them all. He travels light, and with only 100 lbs of luggage
he can give three one-hour shows.