Close-Up Magic FAQs

Like a shark attack in your local swimming baths - your guests won't know what hit them. Close-up magic turns a flat, polite gathering into the event people actually talk about afterwards. The era of sequin waistcoats and stuffy rope tricks is well and truly over - the magic I perform is so cosmopolitan you could sip it from a cocktail glass. Cards, coins, rings and some genuinely random objects turn up in the strangest places, and I'll get everyone laughing while it happens. The tricks are just the vehicle. Destination: Good Times City.

In short - I GET IT. Entertaining a room full of strangers in an intimate setting is no mean feat; it's a skill honed over decades. I bring a full arsenal - sleight of hand, pickpocketing, mind reading - all wrapped up in a nice comedy parcel. Pair that with what I reckon is the best way to present close-up magic, The Close-Up Corner, and you've found the secret weapon for a genuinely memorable event. Aside from the technical brilliance and outrageously good looks, I'll make sure your event starts with a bang and ends with an even bigger one.

Great question. It depends on the event and what you're after. I don't really perform by the hour - I perform by the event, so every quote is bespoke. As a rough guide, for 50-100 guests, 2-3 hours works a treat. Expecting more? You'll benefit from adding one of my trusted team of close-up magicians, who deliver exactly the same standard I do.

As with anything, prices vary - and they're usually a fair indication of what you're getting. There'll always be a cheaper option, and if you've ever sat through a terrible close-up magician you'll know the stink they can cause. A quality act isn't cheap (but you knew that), and the price you pay for a poor one costs far more than the peanuts they charge. Performing close-up magic to a professional standard takes years of graft. Beware the cowboys. For the full picture, here's how much a close-up magician costs.

Loads - right here. I'm proud of every one, all left on the independent review site FreeIndex - think of it as the Tripadvisor for people like me. Those reviews are what got me ranked 1st of all UK magicians.

Dead simple. Fill in my online enquiry form with your date, venue and guest numbers, and I'll request a small deposit to secure the date. The final payment is due before the event, and I take bank transfer, PayPal and all major cards. Paying before the event genuinely makes life easier - I once had a groom tell me the best man had lost the envelope of cash for my fee. They ended up having a whip-round, so essentially paid twice. Lesson learnt.

Let's set the record straight: magic isn't real. I'll say it again - it's not real. But that doesn't mean it can't be top-notch entertainment. A close-up magician has a toolbox of techniques more clever than a secret agent at a wizarding school reunion, and you'd be amazed at the lengths we go to for the illusion of extraordinary abilities. Reading minds, predicting the lottery, plucking a thought-of card from your mate's back pocket - it's all smoke and mirrors. Curious how it's done? Book me, and I'll spill the secrets at the end. Or will I?

You can - everyone starts somewhere (I did my first show aged eight). It takes more graft than people expect, but the basics are genuinely learnable. If you fancy a go, start with my guide to easy magic tricks, get your head around sleight of hand, then have a crack at the trickier stuff. Fair warning: it's a rabbit hole, and I've never climbed out.