Magician in Manchester for canapés, cocktails and dinner
Canapés going round, a hundred conversations starting and stopping, and a few people pretending to check their phones. A reception needs something to pull it together.
Hiring a magician in Manchester for a drinks reception or formal dinner gives the room a focus that isn't a stage. Lewis Joss works in among your guests with close-up magic, a few people at a time, so the whole room gets involved without anyone being asked to sit still and watch.
One corporate client booked Lewis for an end-of-year ball at Cranfield University, asking for mix and mingle magic over the welcome drinks and then table performances during the formal dinner. That two-part format is exactly what most receptions and dinners need. Lewis is a Member of The Magic Circle and one half of Jay & Joss from Britain's Got Talent 2024.
On this page
How a magician in Manchester works a reception, then the tables
During the drinks, Lewis moves from group to group. He introduces himself, does three or four minutes of magic with borrowed rings, phones or banknotes, and moves on before the group is ready for him to go. That keeps the energy up and means he can reach a lot of people in an hour.
It also does the mingling for you. People who've just seen something impossible turn to the next person and tell them about it. By the time dinner is called, strangers are chatting like they've known each other for years, which is just what a host wants.
Once guests are seated, he switches to the tables. Between courses he'll visit each one in turn, working with the venue's staff so plates go down and come away on time. If there's a host, a toastmaster or an awards running order, he'll fit round it and stop well before anyone stands to speak.
How long to book depends on numbers more than anything. Sixty guests at a private dinner is a very different job to three hundred at a gala. Tell Lewis the headcount and the timings and he'll be honest about how long it takes to give every guest a proper look.
There's no set up to worry about. No stage, no lighting and no power, so your venue's layout stays exactly as planned. A magician in Manchester who works this way can slip into a packed bar area or a tight private dining room without anyone moving a chair.
Wedding drinks and wedding breakfasts in Manchester
A wedding is really a reception and a dinner with more emotion attached. After the ceremony, your guests have a long wait while you're with the photographer, and that's the slot couples book most often. Lewis mingles, gets the two families talking and makes sure nobody's left on their own.
At the wedding breakfast he does table magic between courses, timed round your venue and kept well away from the speeches. As a wedding magician in Manchester he can also welcome evening guests, who tend to arrive in dribs and drabs knowing very few faces.
City weddings often have guests coming from all over the country, staying in hotels and meeting each other for the first time. Close-up magic gives them an easy way to break the ice. The wedding magician page has more on planning the day.
Page boys and flower girls get their own tricks too, which keeps them happy and out of mischief while the grown-ups chat. And grandparents who'd rather stay seated get a visit at their table rather than missing out.
A question couples ask a lot is when to start. The answer is usually as soon as the first guests reach the drinks, before anyone has time to look at their watch. If you're booking a magician in Manchester for both the reception and the meal, he'll take a short break while everyone finds their seats, then pick up again with the starters.
Office Christmas parties, launches and big birthdays
Company events are a huge part of what Lewis does. He's worked for clients including Mercedes-Benz, Thomson Holidays, Toys "R" Us and the Ministry of Defence, and he's performed at the Royal Air Force Club in London. A Christmas party, awards dinner or client evening is familiar ground. The corporate entertainment page covers the options.
For a launch or exhibition, magic works as a hook. People stop to watch, stay for the chat, and your team gets a natural way in. He can build your brand or product into a trick if you give him some notice.
At a Christmas party, the format is simple: magic over the arrival drinks while people find their feet, then a visit to every table between courses. A magician in Manchester at your work do gives colleagues from different floors a reason to talk, and the ones who don't drink or dance have something to enjoy as well.
Private parties work in the same way. A fiftieth at a function suite, an anniversary meal, a christening lunch. Booking a magician in Manchester for a family celebration means children, teenagers and grandparents all get something to enjoy. The party magician page explains how he handles mixed ages.
Whoever you're celebrating can be brought into a trick at the right moment, or left to enjoy the party if they'd rather not be in the spotlight. Lewis will ask you about that beforehand, so there are no surprises for anyone who hates a fuss.
Why hosts book close-up magic for a reception
- Starts conversations Guests talk about what they've just seen, which does half the mingling for you.
- Reaches everyone Small groups and table visits mean the people at the back get just as much as those at the front.
- Respects the running order Speeches, awards and the kitchen's timings all come first.
- Fits any room Conference centre, function suite or private dining room, there's nothing to set up.
- Seen on national TV Lewis has worked on TV with Paul Daniels and Debbie McGee, and was on Britain's Got Talent with Jay & Joss.
Function suites and event spaces in Manchester
Lewis travels all over the North West, so hiring a magician in Manchester works for venues across the city. A reception or dinner might be at an events venue such as Hemsley House, The Sheridan or King's House Conference Centre, or a family party could be at the Irish World Heritage Centre. Because the magic happens at arm's length, it suits any of them.
If your event is outside the city centre, he also covers Salford, Stockport and Bury. He performs across the UK and abroad too, having appeared everywhere from Hyde Park to Malta, so booking a magician in Manchester for a party well outside the city is just as easy.
A few quick answers
How do I hire a magician in Manchester for a dinner?
Send us the date, venue, guest numbers and rough timings. We'll check Lewis's diary and suggest how long he should be there. There's no obligation, and you'll get a straight answer.
Can a magician in Manchester cover a large gala dinner?
Yes. For bigger numbers he'll plan a route round the room so every table gets a visit. The more guests, the longer he'll need, so tell him the headcount early.
Does a magician in Manchester need a stage or microphone?
No. It's all close-up, done in among your guests or at their tables, so there's nothing to set up. He'll arrive early, find the venue manager, and be ready the moment the doors open.
Is it suitable for a wedding breakfast?
Very much so. Table magic between courses keeps things moving, and he stays well clear of the speeches. If you'd like him at the evening reception as well, he'll welcome the evening guests at the bar.
We're launching a product. Could a trick show off our brand?
It can. For a launch or client night, Lewis can build your brand or product into a trick. Give him some notice so it's planned properly.
Will children enjoy it at a family party?
They usually love it most of all. He'll make sure they get tricks they can take part in, while the adults get the ones that start arguments later. Teenagers get something quick on their own phones.
Hosting something in the city soon?
Tell us about your event and we'll check whether Lewis is free to be your magician in Manchester on the night. We'll come back to you quickly.
What people say about Lewis
Lewis was amazing at capturing the attention of about 20 seven year olds with close-up magic for a whole hour where they remained calm and quiet for the whole time. Their parents were equally, if not more excited by it!
The entertainment provided by Jamie and Lewis at our event was absolutely fantastic. I received nothing but positive feedback from our guests. For some guests, it was the highlight of the event! Both the close up magic and stage show was enjoyable and high quality. The souvenirs were a brilliant touch and I’m glad that…
Lewis (the magician) arrived early and even took the time to introduce himself to us and was very friendly and approachable. He went around each table and showed the guests tricks and blew them away. It was so nice to hear the laughter and claps coming from each table. He also got me (the bride)…