Magician in Pickering for staff Christmas parties
Twelve of you or a hundred and twelve, the work Christmas do has the same problem. People sit with who they know. Close-up magic quietly fixes that.
Bringing in a magician in Pickering for the team Christmas meal changes the first hour of the night more than anything else you could book. Lewis Joss moves round the room with sleight of hand done inches from people's faces, and colleagues who usually only nod at each other by the kettle end up crowded round the same trick.
Lewis has worked for businesses including Thomson Holidays, SCA and the Ministry of Defence, and he's performed on cruise ships and as far away as Malta. He's a Member of The Magic Circle, and in 2024 he made it onto Britain's Got Talent as one half of Jay & Joss. He's very good at reading a room full of colleagues.
On this page
How a magician in Pickering livens up the office Christmas do
The arrival drinks are the awkward bit of any staff party. The managers stand together, the new starters cling to the one person they know, and the warehouse team and the office team barely mix. Lewis wanders over to a group, borrows a phone or a business card, and a couple of minutes later people who've never had a proper chat are arguing happily about how it was done.
Once everyone sits down for the meal, he goes from table to table between courses. Every table gets its own few minutes, so nobody is left out because they were stuck in a corner during the drinks. He watches the waiting staff and keeps clear of the food, so the kitchen's timings aren't thrown out.
Speeches, awards and raffles get the room to themselves. If the boss wants to thank everyone for the year, Lewis steps back and waits. He'll pick up again afterwards if there's time, or finish before the music starts, whichever suits your plan.
Not everyone at a staff party drinks, and plenty leave early for lifts or babysitters. Close-up magic in the first couple of hours means those colleagues get a proper share of the evening too, rather than heading home just as things get going. It's a fair way to give the whole team something to enjoy.
It doesn't have to be December. Summer barbecues, client evenings, retirement dos and product launches all work in the same way. With notice, he can even build a company name or product into a routine. There's more on the corporate entertainment page.
Same knack, different crowd: weddings in Pickering
The skills that break the ice at a work party are exactly what a wedding needs. After the ceremony, while you're off with the photographer, your guests stand around with a drink, often next to people they've never met. A wedding magician in Pickering keeps them entertained in small groups, so nobody is left on the edge.
At the wedding breakfast, Lewis visits each table between courses and keeps well away from the speeches. The quieter tables, like distant relatives or friends who don't know the families, can get a visit first if you mention them beforehand. If the best man is nervous, a couple of tricks at his table before he stands up can settle him nicely.
Some couples keep him on into the evening. That's when the extra guests arrive, often unsure of where to stand, and a few tricks near the bar help them settle in before the band starts. The wedding magician page has more on planning a full wedding day.
Children at weddings love it too. Page boys and flower girls who've been asked to behave all morning are delighted when something vanishes from their hand, and their parents get a few minutes to themselves. Booking a magician in Pickering with the youngest guests in mind just means a few more of those quick, colourful tricks in the mix, alongside the cleverer ones for the grown-ups.
Golden anniversaries, fiftieths and christening lunches
Plenty of people book a magician in Pickering for a big family occasion rather than a work one. A fiftieth, a golden anniversary, a christening lunch. These parties often have three or four generations in one room, which is exactly where close-up magic shines, because each trick is pitched to the people watching it.
Lewis started performing for his own family after his grandad taught him a few tricks at six, so family parties come naturally. The children get quick, visual magic they can join in with, and the adults get the routines they'll still be puzzling over on the drive home.
If whoever you're celebrating enjoys being the centre of attention, he'll bring them into a trick. If they'd rather not, they can just enjoy watching everyone else. Have a read of the party magician page for more.
Home parties are fine too. He needs no stage, no power and no cleared space, just a few people to talk to at a time. A magician in Pickering at a house party will happily work in the kitchen, the conservatory or out on the patio, following your guests wherever they naturally gather, and leaving the host free to top up glasses and catch up with people.
Why it works at a works do
- Mixes up the teams People gather round the magic, and they don't gather in departments.
- Nobody is put on the spot No dragging people on stage, just a few minutes with whoever is standing there.
- Fits round the speeches Awards, toasts and raffles go ahead exactly as planned.
- Remembered by the drivers Even the colleagues on soft drinks have something to talk about on Monday.
- Good for weddings too The same roaming and table magic suits drinks receptions and wedding breakfasts.
Hotels for a Christmas meal around Pickering
Lewis travels across North Yorkshire, so booking a magician in Pickering for a hotel function room or a private dining room is simple. A Christmas meal might be at a hotel like Beansheaf, the Forest and Vale Hotel or Lastingham Grange. A wedding or a birthday could be at any of those too. Close-up magic doesn't mind the size of the room, because it happens at arm's length. There's no set up and no kit to carry in, which venue staff always appreciate.
He also covers the towns round about. If your event is a bit further out, look at the pages for Malton, Scarborough and Whitby. Distance isn't an issue, so choose the venue that suits your team best.
A few quick answers
When should we book a magician in Pickering for a December party?
As soon as you've got a date. Christmas party season fills quickly, especially Fridays and Saturdays, so it's worth checking the diary early. Lunchtime parties and early December dates are often easier to get.
Our team is only about fifteen people. Is a magician in Pickering overkill?
Not at all. For twenty people round a long table in a hotel dining room, Lewis can spend more time with each person, so it becomes a relaxed chat with impossible moments dropped in. Small teams often say it feels more personal than a big party.
Will he interrupt our awards or speeches?
Never. Send the running order and he'll plan around it, stepping back for anything that needs the room's attention. If something overruns, he just waits.
Can a magician in Pickering perform at our wedding too?
Yes. Weddings are a big part of what he does. Most couples book the drinks reception, and many add the wedding breakfast or the start of the evening.
Is close-up magic suitable for a family birthday party?
Yes. Lewis adjusts every trick to the people in front of him, so children, teenagers and grandparents all enjoy it at the same party. Families often ask him to do a trick or two with whoever they're celebrating, which makes a nice photo.
How long should a magician in Pickering stay at a staff party?
It depends on numbers. Tell us how many are coming and when the meal starts, and we'll suggest enough time for him to reach every table. Most teams cover the drinks and the gaps between courses, which is when the room needs it most.
Booking this year's staff do?
Send us the date, the venue and roughly how many colleagues are coming. We'll check the diary and let you know about a magician in Pickering for the night.
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!
Lewis came to entertain at our party Saturday night. He was absolutely brilliant our guests were all amazed at his tricks. He was very approachable and just lovely. Highly recommended.
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…