Magician in St Helens for weddings, planned round your day
Most of a wedding day isn't the ceremony. It's drinks, waiting, food, more waiting and a lot of chat. Close-up magic makes all of that more fun for your guests.
Finding the right magician in St Helens for your wedding starts with knowing how the day really runs. After the vows there's a long drinks reception while you're off with the photographer, a sit-down meal with gaps between courses, and an evening where the dance floor takes a while to warm up. Lewis Joss fills those gaps with close-up magic, worked right in among your guests.
He's a Member of The Magic Circle and of Equity, he's worked on TV productions for Channel 5 and Talkback Thames, and his corporate clients have included the Ministry of Defence. He's also one half of Jay & Joss from Britain's Got Talent. At a wedding, though, his job is simple. Get the two families talking, keep the kids happy, and stay out of the way when it matters.
How a magician in St Helens fits the wedding day
The drinks reception comes first, and it's where the magic does the most good. Two sets of guests, many of whom have never met, standing about in their own little groups. Lewis moves between them, does two or three minutes of magic with each, and moves on. By the time you're back from your photos, people who were strangers an hour ago are comparing notes on how he did it.
If you've searched for a magician in St Helens while planning, it's worth knowing the difference between a stage show and close-up magic. A stage show asks everyone to stop, sit and face the front. Close-up comes to your guests in small groups, so the day carries on around it and nobody has to move chairs.
The wedding breakfast is next. He works the tables in the lulls, never mid-course and never once the speeches start. If your speeches come before the meal, he waits for the last toast. If they're after dessert, he's finished his final table before the best man stands up.
Then there's the evening. New guests arrive, the bar's busy and not everyone wants to dance straight away. A St Helens wedding magician working the room for the first hour or so gives the evening guests a proper welcome.
Children are part of most weddings, and the long waits can feel endless to a page boy. Lewis turns them into his assistants for a few minutes, which keeps them happy until the food arrives. Older relatives get a visit at their seat, with time to really watch. For more on how he plans the whole day, read the wedding magician page. Then send over your running order and he'll suggest where he'll be most useful.
On this page
Staff parties, awards dinners and Christmas dos
Office bookings fill a lot of his diary too. A works Christmas do, an awards night or a client evening all suit close-up magic. If you've been searching for an event magician in St Helens for a work do, the format is familiar: mingling as people arrive, then table to table during the meal.
At a work do, people tend to stay with their own team all night. He gathers a few people at a time, so the quieter ones can join in without being put on the spot. He stops for any speeches or awards and picks up again afterwards.
For a product launch or client night, your brand can become part of the act with a bit of notice. Have a browse of the corporate entertainment page for ideas. A brief chat beforehand about the product is all he needs.
Plenty of guests at a work party won't be drinking. Magic needs no alcohol to work, which is more than can be said for the karaoke. A magician in St Helens that staff can enjoy whether they're drinking or not is a good way to make sure the whole team gets something out of the night.
What a St Helens wedding magician actually does
- Families get talking A shared baffled reaction is the easiest icebreaker there is.
- The photo hour flies Roaming magic fills the drinks reception while you're with the photographer.
- Timed round the meal Table magic between courses, never during the food or the speeches.
- Little ones kept busy Page boys and flower girls become his assistants for a few minutes.
- Parties and work dos too The same magic suits a big birthday, a christening or the office Christmas do.
Birthdays, christenings and family parties
A fortieth in a social club, a christening lunch, a golden wedding anniversary with three generations in the room. These parties have a lot in common with a wedding, and close-up magic suits them for the same reason: it comes to each group, rather than asking everyone to sit and face the front. A magician in St Helens at a social club birthday works the bar area first, then moves to the tables once people sit down to eat.
Lewis pitches each trick at whoever's in front of him. Something hands-on for the little ones, something quick and cheeky for a table of old mates, something slower for nan. Your birthday boy or girl can take centre stage in a trick, or hide at the back. Their call.
Then there are anniversaries. Old friends reunite, the wedding album comes out, and Lewis gives the room something fresh to talk about. Even the teenagers, glued to their screens, look up when the trick involves their screen.
As host, you'll be pulled in all directions. Having a magician in St Helens at the party means you can take your time with each conversation. The party magician page covers family bookings in more depth.
He needs no space or kit, so a function room, a marquee or your own living room all work fine. A magician in St Helens at a house party will happily squeeze between the buffet table and the telly. Just mention if there's a baby asleep upstairs.
St Helens function rooms and the towns around
Lewis travels across the North West, so the venue is entirely up to you. A wedding reception or party might be at an events venue such as Masonic Hall St Helens, Blackbrook Rugby & Recreation Club or Bishop Road Police Club. Big hall or small back room, it makes no difference.
He also covers Warrington, Wigan and Liverpool, so if your guests are spread around the area, it's no problem. Wherever the party is, the magic comes to your guests, so the room's layout makes no difference.
Before you book
When should we have a magician in St Helens at our wedding?
Nearly everyone books the reception drinks first, since that's when guests are left to their own devices longest. Big guest lists usually need him through the meal as well. Small weddings may only need the drinks.
What about the photographer?
No. He keeps an eye on what's happening and steps back for the group shots. You might even get some lovely reaction photos. Tell him which moments are off limits and he'll stay well away.
How far ahead do we need to book?
As soon as you have a date and venue. Summer Saturdays and December weekends go first. A magician in St Helens for a Saturday in June is worth asking about well over a year ahead.
What will the venue have to do?
Nothing. There's no kit to unload. Pass your timings on to the coordinator so the serving staff aren't surprised to see him. He'll sort the details out with the venue's team himself, so it's one less thing for you to chase.
Can he do our work Christmas party?
Yes. He starts with the arrivals at the bar, moves to the tables for dinner and pauses whenever the boss has something to say. Smaller team meals work too, with longer at each table.
Is it suitable for a christening or a child's birthday?
Yes. He keeps it gentle and hands-on for the little ones and saves the sneakier tricks for the adults. Booking a magician in St Helens means nobody's left out of the fun at a family christening.
Ready to pencil in the big day?
Tell us the date, the venue and the number on your guest list. We'll check the diary and come back to you about Lewis as your magician in St Helens.
What people say about Lewis
Lewis performed at our wedding during the drinks reception and also between courses of our wedding breakfast. He did an absolutely brilliant job and was such a nice guy to be part of our wedding day. We were really glad we went ahead with the booking. He was a great ice-breaker with our guests and…
Lewis performed at my recent party. He has a lovely personality, is very entertaining, very competent ,and very well received by all.
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)…