04 Aug Science and Industry Museum Winter Party
A Winter Party at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester
One of Manchester's most striking venues, a Christmas crowd, and my Close-Up Corner - and why I'd take it over working the tables any day.
Some venues you walk into and immediately know it's going to be a good one. The Science and Industry Museum in Manchester is one of those - a big, unusual, properly trendy space, and a Christmas crowd ready to let their hair down.
This booking was for my Close-Up Corner - the magic booth, not the wander-round-the-tables routine. Which meant a lot more kit to get in through a museum than turning up in a suit with a deck in my pocket. But that trade-off? Worth every bit of the effort - and I'll get to exactly why.
Drinks reception, sit-down meal, then me. Here's how the night went, and why, given the choice, I'll take these conditions over table magic every single time.
A landmark venue, and a proper load-in
Big, trendy, unusual - and a bit of a mission to get my gear through the doors.
That's the trade-off with the Close-Up Corner: it's a lot more to move than turning up in a suit with a deck in my pocket. But I arrive nice and early - the sign of a good professional - so there's never a scramble.
First job is always working out where to set up. They had a photo booth on the night, so I planted the Corner directly opposite it - two draws in the room, pulling the crowd to the same spot.
"Early arrival isn't me being keen. It's the difference between a calm set-up and a sweaty panic in front of your first guests."
Why the Corner beats working the tables
More kit, more setup - and I'd still choose it every single time.
Performing at the Close-Up Corner doesn't just elevate the event, it elevates the magic. At a table you're competing with the food, the conversation and the phone that just buzzed. At the Corner there are far fewer distractions - people come over because they want to watch, and they're properly locked in on what's happening in front of them.
And nobody's trapped. At a table, guests are a captive audience - polite, but a little bit held hostage until you move on. At the Corner they wander in when they fancy it and drift off when they're ready. Everyone watching actually wants to be there, and that completely changes the energy.
So yes, the load-in is a bigger job. But given the choice, I'll take these conditions over table-hopping any day. If you want the full picture, here's everything about the Close-Up Corner.
The reactions, caught on camera
My only real nemesis on a night like this is loud music - every close-up magician's Christmas-party gripe. But it didn't take long: the first crowd formed at the Corner, and I was off.
I caught some of the best reactions on my Reaction Cam - have a look. Nights like this are exactly why Manchester's one of my busiest patches for close-up magic across the city.
The other Chris loved it
He picked the Corner for a reason - and the review backed him up.
The gentleman who booked me was another Chris - Chris Whitehead, great name - and he'd clearly thought about the format. He'd had table magicians before and wanted something a little different, so he went for the Corner. He summed up the appeal better than I could:
"I loved the idea of people being able to come to you when they wanted. We've had table magicians before so wanted to offer something a little different but just as fun." Chris Whitehead, the booker
A few weeks later, his Google review landed.
Chris was fantastic for our winter bash! We booked the close-up corner option and it was worth every penny. Our guests loved crowding around and watching him perform multiple tricks and I'm still getting comments about the disbelief of someone's card being turned into a mini laptop! Will definitely be booking again. Thanks, from the other Chris!
Fancy the Corner at your event?
Christmas party, corporate do, wedding or big birthday - if you want the Close-Up Corner drawing a crowd at your event, drop me an enquiry with your date and venue. I'll come straight back with availability and a pricing PDF.
