homepageabouthughcorporateprivatepartiesweddingsgalleryvideolinks

MagiCo


Magician for Kent, Sussex, Surrey, London and the South East

In case you have never organised an evening with close-up magic before....

FAQs
&
Some tips to make the event more successful


Contents
  1. General Questions
  2. Close-up Magic
  3. Cabaret Magic
  4. Booking etc




General Questions :-


fan of aces
     
  
        Q.    How large can the party be? 

        A.    I have entertained at dinners for well over a thousand guests ........ but not on my own! Up to 12 tables, with up to 10 people on each, is fine for one magician. Naturally the more tables that there are, then the less time there is for magic at each table. I have managed 20 tables before now but there is very little time at each and I would  never then guarantee to get to every table. I have many good and reliable colleagues in The Magic Circle whom I can call on to help out at larger events.  Less than 8 tables and I may well be able to get to each table, twice.                                                                                                
        

         fan of aces                 
         

     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 to liven things up helps. 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.



fan of aces         

     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 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.



fan of aces       

         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.



fan of aces       

         Q.   What tricks do you do?


         A.   Almost impossible to answer because I do have an extensive 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?”



      fan of aces                        
       

       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.                                            




             fan of aces              
       

         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!
       

       






Close-up Magic :-



fan of aces      

        Q.  
What is close-up magic?

        A.    Close-up magic is performed to small groups of people at a time. It requires no special conditions or performance area and I  have performed it inside or outside, in homes, hotels or out on the street as well as on trains, planes, buses and boats. If you can get guests there, you can almost certainly have a close-up magician to perform there! I carry everything that I need in my pockets and the magic tends to happen in the guests own hands. I go to the guests rather than they having to come and find me. Can be performed either as mix & mingle magic at a standing reception or as table magic at a lunch, dinner or wedding breakfast.




fan of aces        

        Q.   What about standing receptions? Don't you need a table?

        A.   No table is needed. Drinks receptions are no problem. This is mix and mingle close-up magic and is great fun.



                          
fan of aces       

        Q.   What about children at a close-up party?

        A.   No problem. I always have effects with me that are suitable for all ages from 3 years upwards. 





fan of aces      

        Q.   What about caterers. Won't a close-up magician get in their way?

        A.   Certainly not me. I am recommended by many caterers and have been doing magic long enough to have developed a sixth sense so as to know when a waitress is approaching with boiling hot plates. Always let the caterers know that there will be entertainment at the tables. I have a chat with them before the meal so that I know their system. That way the two services can complement, rather than collide with, each other!!
                                         
It is normally the aim of the magician to perform between courses, particularly to avoid distracting guests while they are enjoying their main course.



fan of aces       

        Q.   Will the close-up magic dominate the whole room and prevent people from talking?

        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 :-




fan of aces       

        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 probably have no idea what on earth is going on! 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!


      fan of aces                        
        

         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 not so well lit.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

             fan of aces                  
        

         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.




fan of aces        

         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! :-(




fan of aces        

        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 :-


fan of aces        

         Q.   How do I book Hugh to perform at my event?


     A.       1.   Simply contact me by phone or email 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.)



fan of aces

         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.




fan of aces

         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 all the details. There are never any hidden charges.




fan of aces

         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.



fan of aces

         Q.   Do you have insurance?

         A.   Yes, I do have Public Liability Insurance.

 


fan of aces

         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.

 
 
fan of aces

          Q.    Is it possible to meet with you 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.




Please pass these tips on  to the person organising the event, at the venue.


Thank you.

  
Hugh Nightingale


Telephone: 01892 825755

Mobile: 07802 655136



email


homepageabouthughcorporateprivatepartiesweddingsgalleryvideolinks

email: hughnightingale@themagiccircle.co.uk



© All pictures and logos are the copyright of Hugh Nightingale ©

Site designed by Hugh