Q.
How small can the party be?
A.
I have
successfully entertained at a close-up magic
evening for a party of four. Preferably a few more tends to build a
better atmosphere. During a small dinner party I entertain
during the pre-dinner drinks, then for 10-15 minutes between each
course
and finish the evening
with a magic finale at the table, during the coffee. Certainly everyone
will get their own personal magic
show. Several small tables are
usually better than one or two large ones.
Q.
How
long should I book you for?
A.
Around 2 hours is the average. I can tell when I will need 3
hours. One hour is almost certainly never enough - even for a
very small party. The smaller the party, the
more personal and informal people like the entertainment to be. Guests
often start
chatting to me
about the life of a
magician, how I started out etc etc. After all people very rarely get
to spend any time with a magician. The tricks are vital but they are
not everything. I am first an entertainer.
However I am NOT a clockwatcher.
If a little more time is required - you get it. No extra cost.
I appreciate that circumstances
can make things run late - especially at weddings. In fact, I can
really
help out here to prevent guests
becoming frustrated over a long wait. A little magic and the time
races by.
Only if I have another booking
following on from yours will I have to be more punctual - and I will
always forewarn you about that anyway.
Q.
Should we make the fact that you are
going to be there, a surprise?
A. In my opinion
this is really not necessary and can work the wrong way. The magic that
I perform is surprising enough. If guests and those for whom the party
is being held know in
advance, I feel this heightens their anticipation and eventual
enjoyment. It
is not as if I am suddenly going to burst out of the cake - way, way
too
messy!
Some may have an old fashioned
perception of
a conjurors as tired old men
pulling dusty feather flowers out of a tatty top hat for the
exclusive entertainment of children - and the frightening thing is that
there are still acts like this about! :-(
If you think that someone on the party
'committee' may be of this mindset then do please keep me a secret as I
can guarantee that when they actually see my performance,
they will not be disappointed.
Q.
What tricks do you do?
A. Almost
impossible to answer because I have such a diverse repertoire.
Cards, coins & notes, bottles, ropes, balls and other everyday
objects borrowed from the table or from guests, are all used in the
magic as well as thoughts read from a spectator’s mind. The
tricks are
of the highest quality but are almost secondary to the entertainment.
It is only after the guests have stopped laughing and applauding that
they will be asking themselves, “How the **** did he do that?”
Q.
Can we have music at the party while
you are performing?
A. Background music is fine. Then the guests
and I can talk over it. If it happens to be louder then I just
have to make
everything more visual.
Once I have visited all the tables then you can crank up the volume.
Q.
Do we need to feed you?
A. No - but
refreshments, if offered, are always very much appreciated. Soft drinks
or a glass of water will keep my voice from drying up!
Because I am performing during the meal, I am not really able to eat,
anyway. If possible, some sandwiches after my
performance
or while the guests are enjoying their main course is really great.
Saves me trying to find a kebab at 2am on the
way home!
A. Definitely not. There will just be the sound of laughter
and applause coming from each table in turn. If there are to be
speeches or
toasts during the meal, it is helpful if
either the toastmaster, or an official, is responsible for signalling
to the magician
before these begin. This will avoid the guests’
entertainment being interrupted in mid flow. A routine can normally be
brought to a conclusion very rapidly, once
the magician is given the
signal.
Cabaret Magic :-
Q.
Do we need a stage for a comedy
cabaret?
A. This all
depends on the size of the audience and the sight lines. With a singer
or a comedian, you can still enjoy the performance even if you cannot
see the artiste. With
magic, however, there are generally props involved and these will
naturally be
held at waist level. If you cannot see them, then you will miss a major
part of the show. If the tables
are more than 2 deep in front of the performer then you will almost
certainly
need some kind of raised staging or dais.
I performed on a lovely little stage
one
night. They showed me afterwards how they had constructed it out of
bread crates, cable ties, an
8X4 sheet of plywood and a piece of carpet on top. Ingenious and it did
the job perfectly!
UPDATE
Since there has been a lot of demand recently for my cabaret
with a stage I have now purchased my own.
This is made up of two of the latest hi-tech aluminium 4ft by 4ft
sections (8ft wide by 4ft deep using both sections - as in the photos
below.)
The stage is only 12inches high, which is ideal for most venues, and
complies with health and safety requirements.
It packs up small enough to fit in my boot and I can erect it in a few
minutes before the guests arrive.
I will add a small surcharge but this is a fraction of the cost
of getting one from a hire company.
Q.
Do we need special lighting?
A. No. Special
lighting would be a luxury but a well
lit area is really all that is required. It is nice, but not essential
if
the other end of the room, where the audience is
seated, is less well lit.
Q.
What about microphones and sound
equipment?
A. I have my own
although, for up to 50 people, amplification is not really essential as
my acting experience has taught me to project my voice.
Over that number and I will use my radio microphone and PA. An electric
socket nearby will then be required.
Q.
Will
a dressing room be required?
A. Ideally I will
just need a
small adjoining room or private
backstage area, where I can change and safely keep my
props. An
office, study or even a spare bedroom. Please don't ask me to change
and prepare my act in the gents! :-(
Q.
Are there any other special conditions
that you require?
A. No.
Sometimes during the act I may wish to use a little flame or a flash.
This is very small and, of course, risk assessed and poses no
danger but it is best if I am not
positioned directly under a smoke detector! Unless you want the party
invaded by burly firemen in yellow hats!
Seriously though, if this creates a problem, I can leave it out of the
act.
Booking
etc :-
Q.
How do I book Hugh to perform at my
event?
A.
1.
Simply contact me by phone, text, email or even Facebook to discuss
your event. No
obligation.
2. If you are happy with what I can
offer, then I will send you a written confirmation.
3. You then check the details and send a
small deposit.
4.
Job done.
This can all be done by phone,
letter and cheque or paperless by text, email and BACS payment.
(The balance of the fee is
generally due on the day
of the event.)
Q.
How far will you travel?
A. I am based in
Kent and, although a great deal of my work is in London
and the South-East, I regularly travel nationally (and often
internationally) to perform.
Q.
How much does it cost?
A. Fees vary
depending upon size of the event, number of guests, times
required, travel and many other variables. However I can usually give
an immediate quote once I know the basic details. There are never any
hidden charges.
Q.
Do you do any special deals?
A. Yes. For instance, if you are having a series of events
there will certainly be a discount on the total. Booking the close-up
magic with the cabaret is a lot cheaper than the two separarely. If you
are a restaurant wanting 'residency' magic on a regular basis then we
can come to a very good promotional arrangement. Last-minute
deals for midweek parties at the quieter times of the year are also
often possible.
Q.
My event is for charity – can you offer
a discount?
A. Sometimes,
yes, but please remember that charity balls etc form a
large part of my work and hiring a premier magician to perform at
your
event will help to sell more tickets and at a higher price. I tend to
have a favourite list of charities that I have been
performing for
regularly over the years and for them I will donate part of my fee back
to the charity.
Q.
Do you have insurance?
A. Yes, I do
have Public Liability Insurance from Equity.
Q.
What happens if you are ill and cannot
make the event?
A. I
have been performing for over 20 years and have not missed a gig yet.
However one of the advantages of being a prominent member in an
organization such as The Magic Circle is having colleagues all over the
country who are excellent magicians and whom I could
ask to
stand in for me in an
emergency (at no extra cost to you).
Thankfully, I have never had to
resort to this.
Q.
Is it possible to meet up
before booking you and even to see some magic?
A.
Yes, of course. Obviously it helps if you are local but I often perform
at The Magic Circle events in London and at other public functions. I
may be performing at a private party in your area so could meet you
before or afterwards or, if you are visiting my area, we could meet for
a coffee somewhere. Please give me a call and we can arrange a mutually
convenient place
and time.
