Archive for February 2010
What is a Walkaround Magician?
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Hiring a magician
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You may have heard the phrase “walkaround magician” before. Since a client recently asked me to explain the term, I thought I’d take a moment to detail what a walkaround magician is on this blog.
A walkaround magician is any magician that “walks around” and mingles with guests at a wedding or party and performs close-up magic. This is normally during a drinks reception or at a house party before a sit-down meal where the magician approaches small groups and performs magic for them. It’s a great way for people to interact with a magician and see some amazing magic literally inches away.
The type of magic that I perform when working as a walkaround magician is slightly different to when I perform for a large banquet table. As a walkaround magician I perform amazing magic with smaller props (such as cards, coins, keys and borrowed objects). And because I’m just a few inches away from the audience, it’s perhaps the most relaxed type of magic I get to perform, which makes for a really fun experience for everyone.
A walkaround magician is a really fun way of adding to a party and creating a great talking point. I perform as a walkaround magician every week of the year, so feel free to get in contact if you need any advice or ideas from one of the country’s few professional walkaround magicians!
Haiti Gig in Cheltenham
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Performances
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In my Magicians For Haiti post I mentioned that I was taking part in a gig where all of the proceeds will be going to the Haiti survivors.
If you want to see a live magician (that’s me!), plus a live band (coincidentally, one of the band members is also a magician) and DJ come along to The Front Rooms in Cheltenham (on the Strand) to see me perform. Not only is this one of the rare occasions to see a magician in Cheltenham, it’s also one of the rare occasions that I will be performing at an open event (normally I perform as a wedding magician or a magician for private parties) so this is a great time to come and see me perform.
I hope to see you there. I will try to post some photos of the event on this blog for those who are interested in the event, but can’t make it!
3,500 magicians
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in About magic
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This week, Blackpool is host to the world’s biggest conference of magicians. Never before have so many magicians gathered in one place. There are thousands of close-up magicians, wedding magicians, table magicians and even stage magicians and illusionists; all there to learn, share and perform magic.
Conferences like this are essentially a magician’s version of an office party. Magicians from all over the globe travel to meet up with old friends and share the tricks that they’ve been working on since they last met.
My highlight is always the close-up magician competition where about a dozen close-up magicians battle for the big prize. As a professional close-up magician myself, it’s always interesting to see other close-up magicians perform what they believe to be their strongest magic.
I’m still contactable throughout the weekend, so if you’d like to discuss hiring me to perform magic at your event, feel free to drop me an email or give me a call.
Surprise Close-Up Magician
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Performance ideas
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I’ve noticed something interesting over the past few months: lots of people are hiring a close-up magician as a surprise gift.
Already this year I’ve been hired as a gift for small private parties, large dinner parties and more, where the person who was celebrating their birthday had no idea who I was until I approached their table to perform close-up magic.
Most people who have hired me for such events tell me that it’s for a surprise so that I can contact them at agreed times and arrive at a specific location without the surprise being spoiled. I’ve been hired for this type of surprise enough times to ensure that the person who the gift is for never sees me until the minute I start performing.
Hiring a close-up magician to perform as a surprise gift is especially perfect for the person who has everything and for the person that you can never work out what to buy. By hiring a close-up magician you get to give an experience that they’ll never forget and that everyone at the party can enjoy. It’s like a Red Letter day without the hassle … and one that the entire family can get involved with!
Visting The Magic Circle
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Life updates
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Today is my day off, so I’ll be paying a visit to The Magic Circle Headquarters in London. Based off a small side street just outside of Euston Station, The Magic Circle is where magicians meet up and socialise. It’s a custom built modern venue with a theatre (as shown in the photograph), a bar, a museum, a library and a room that is perfect for close-up magic.
Attending The Magic Circle is a good opportunity for me to talk business with other close-up magicians and show them the latest tricks that I’ve invented, or been working on since we last met.
It’s a member’s only venue (for magicians only!) and you have to perform for the other magicians in order to be allowed to join. Unfortunately, I don’t get to visit too often, but am always pleased to tell people that I’m a member of the prestigious Magic Circle!
Magicians for Haiti
1 Comment | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Life updates
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Magicians are always a great help when there’s a crisis, so it goes without saying that magicians all over the world have jumped to get involved in raising money for the survivors of the Haiti earthquake.
I’ll be getting involved in two ways. Firstly, I’ll be performing close-up magic at a charity event in Cheltenham (more details soon), which will involve several other great acts all performing in aid of the Haiti survivors.
Then, next Wednesday I’ll be taking part in an online magician’s event, where I’ll be part of a line-up of well-known close-up magicians who will be teaching other close-up magicians a trick from their act. It’s set to be a great event and I’m looking forward to helping raise funds using my magic! So, if you’re a close-up magician, I hope to see you there!
My first stand-up comedy experience
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Life updates
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When I work as a close-up magician, I always add comedy to my magic by improvising jokes based on things that people say, the environment that we’re in and the things that happen during my act. I don’t use pre-written corny jokes like many other close-up magicians, but instead try to improvise comedy based on the audience and the magic. This creates a much more personalised and unique experience for everyone; including me!
My latest challenge to myself was quite different though: stand-up comedy without magic! It has always been a goal of mine so I decided to make it happen recently. The audience reacted really well and I’m proud that I pushed myself out of my comfort zone to try it. I won’t be quitting the day job (a professional close-up magician!) but I’ll definitely be doing more stand-up comedy in the future; perhaps combining my skills as a magician with stand-up comedy.
Below are a few photos of the event:
Tune in next time to see the results of my next goal: to be the third member of Jedward.
Need More Magicians?
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Hiring a magician
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If you’re organising a large event and need more than one magician, I am here to help!
Having worked with most of the top close-up magicians in the UK, I am always able to recommend other magicians based on my personal experience. I communicate with some of the best professional close-up magicians on a daily basis so it’s always easy for me to arrange additional magicians.
There are certain table magicians that I regularly work with because we compliment each other well. These magicians will always be my first port of call when you tell me that you need more than one magician.
So whether you need one magician, or a dozen, get in contact as I’ll always be able to help!
Wedding Magician – Hire Now!
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Hiring a magician
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Approximately 65% of weddings are held in the spring and summer. That means one thing … hire your wedding magician early to avoid missing out!
My weekends are filling up very quickly with couples wanting a close-up magician at their spring or summer wedding, so if you’d like a close-up magician to add to the atmosphere of your wedding, be sure to get in touch as early as possible.
If you’ve never seen a close-up magician at a wedding before, an explanation may be necessary! It’s become quite a popular form of wedding entertainment. I most often perform close-up magic during the wedding breakfast; performing for each table. Some couples prefer me to walk around the guests during the drinks reception and perform magic for small groups. Either way, it always adds to the atmosphere!
There are only a few professional close-up magicians in the country, so definitely get in contact if you’re getting married this year and want a close-up magician at your wedding!
Gloucestershire Magician
0 Comments | Posted by Andi Gladwin in Performances
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Off the back of a week where I was in Newcastle, London, Sussex and Manchester, it was nice to be able to perform as a close-up magician close to home in Gloucestershire!
Hatherley Manor is just ten minutes from my house and is always a nice venue for a magician to perform at. In fact, this time, two close-up magicians performed there! Laithwaite Wines (a major wine merchant) contacted me through my website and wanted me to arrange for two close-up magicians to perform at their staff party.
I arranged everything within a day of them contacting me and performed at the party last week. Everyone seemed to really enjoy having magicians at the party and a couple of tables in particular invited us back to perform for them again; that’s always a good sign that a magician is doing a good job! Here’s a brief extract from an email that the organiser sent me after the party:
—Kath, Laithwaite Wines
If you’re looking for a Gloucestershire close-up magician (or in fact a magician in any county!), definitely let me know!
