This month at Trevor George, we’re celebrating all things magic. From sleight of hand to stage illusions, classic card tricks to iPad magic, from magic history lessons to… well probably a lot of dumb Harry Potter jokes. Sorry in advance.
Close-up magicians are some of our most consistently popular performers, and as such, we’ve worked with plenty of them over the years. But what is it that makes close-up magic so popular at corporate events and private functions? Here we’ve outlined a few things we think make magic such a winner.
IT DRAWS A CROWD
Events can be tricky things to navigate; whether it’s a corporate drinks reception where networking is the order of the day, or a wedding where not all the guests know each other, there’s always a worry one might end up stranded, looking a bit awkward holding a glass of champagne.
That’s where entertainment, and specifically magicians, can be a huge help. Magicians are masters of drawing a crowd, weaving people into their tricks, and pulling small tidbits of information out of guests. We can’t count the number of times we’ve seen people strike up a conversation in the wake of a brilliant magic trick, and working out “how they did that?” is a damn sight more appealing than the usual small talk about weather and public transport.
IT’S SELF-CONTAINED
Unlike most bands or circus artistes, close-up magicians don’t come with much in the way of baggage, nor do they need much time to “warm up”, meaning they can usually arrive shortly before the event and get straight down to business.
For event planners, this is a godsend. No piles of equipment, trailing wires, tech riders and sound checks or dress rehearsals; the extra-time for which usually means higher costs, as we mentioned in our blog on saving money on entertainment. Close-up magicians pack a lot of entertainment into a self-contained package, and because of that, they’re great value for money.
IT’S MOBILE
Another trouble with many types of performer is that they’re often rooted to the spot for most of the event (unless, of course, they’re the brilliant Wandering Hands.) So one of the big appeals of strolling acts like close-up magicians is that they can roam around the event, entertaining everyone from bar-flies to table-talkers to the people who loiter around where they think the canapes are going to come from. We’ve all done it. We’re not here to judge.
A magician’s mobility allows them to welcome guests as they arrive, entertain them with a few tricks while they’re in a queue, and generally swoop in on any clusters of guests who look like they could do with a spot of prestidigitation. That’s a fancy word for magic. Feel free to use it.
IT OFFERS A PERSONAL TOUCH
Try as you might – and believe us, we’ve tried – it’s quite hard to get most performers to talk to you while they’re doing their job. Whether it’s nailing a solo in a jazz standard, or juggling flaming batons; most performers aren’t ready for chit-chat midway through a set. Magicians, on the other hand, are always happy to talk; in fact that’s part of the act.
A good magician needs to be personable, charming and friendly, able to strike up a conversation with anyone and make them feel at ease before dazzling them with their tricks. And that human touch is often a nice way to help guests feel welcome at an event. We’d even argue that personality is as important as good tricks when it comes to magicians, and that’s part of the reason we insist on meeting them before working with them. The other part being that we like seeing magic tricks.
Check back throughout the month for more of our thoughts on magic at events and weddings, and also be sure to check out Sternberg Clarke’s blog for their take on what makes magic so important.