Hong Kong Magician
Useful Info - Magic Matters
This section helps to answer your questions you may have and invite ideas to help you craft your upcoming event and how best to use a magician. These are entirely my own opinions based on my experience over the past 20 years from working in the military, security, F&B, hospitality, events management & production, customer service, and as a professional magician.
Close-up, stage, parlour, illusions, mentalism... What do they all mean?
So you've probably come by these words before but don't really understand them.
Here is an explanation to all of these terms...
Close-up Magic
This is a highly interactive form of performance and is exactly as it sounds.
Close-up and personal, strolling around the event.
The magician walks around an event to mix and mingle with guests. He would aim to approach a crowd or build one (usually 3 - 10 people are ideal) and ask some or all to help participate as he performs. This performance is heavily based on the crowd of people, what they say, what they do and how they react. The magician can quickly adapt to the audience based on the feedback they are giving.
The props used are typically quite small and easily fit into the pockets. Such items could include cards, coins, pens, elastic bands, sponge balls, banknotes, etc.
This performing style can best be utilised for icebreakers, cocktail receptions, walking around the tables (table hopping), promoting, and highlighting products. This is usually for a prolonged amount of time (few hours) depending on the type and length of event and number of guests.
This type of performing type is the most common (and cheapest) but takes a high level of people skills and an experienced magic with charisma can adapt to any crowd. Typically used for birthday parties, Christmas celebrations, corporate AGMs, VIP events, branding and product placement.
Each crowd interaction typically takes around 5 minutes and suitable for an event of 5 - 200 guests.
Stage Magic
A magic show on a stage. A grand performance to entertain all the guests at once.
The audience would usually be sat at tables during a ball, banquet, gala, etc. The magician would perform with larger props and/or use a live feed system (use a cameraman to project onto a large screen on stage).
The cost for this type of performance is usually the highest due to a number of factors:
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The props are expensive and require storage or rental fees
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A team is required to help facilitate with transport before/after the event
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Stage assistants are required to help with moving props on and off stage during the performance and facilitate audience participation
This act would be a lot shorter performing time than close-up. A typical stage show lasts anywhere from 5-30 minutes. A good timeframe is 15 minutes and suitable for larger audiences of 100-1,000 people.
Parlour Magic
Magic is one of the oldest professions and therefore has a lot of history and old terms used to describe certain aspects. Simply put, parlour is where close-up and stage meet in the middle.
Definition of the word parlour:
(from Merriam-Webster)
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A room in a private dwelling for the entertainment of guests.
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A conference chamber or private reception room.
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A room in an inn, hotel, or club for conversation or semiprivate uses.
Parlour also fits into the club and cabaret category. The magician would be standing on the same level as the audience or slightly raised on a small stage and the audience would be seated. Close-up and stage effects can both be used in this scenario, opening up to many possibilities. It typically would not incorporate such grand effects as a stage performance but has a mid price point between the two styles. However, the magic performed in this scenario is usually quite different and more relaxed, using effects that aren't normally used in either close-up or stage.
This would be suitable for an audience of 10 - 50 people.
Illusions
Normally reserved for stage magic. These are extremely visual acts using props large enough to place people inside to cut them in half, teleport or make them disappear/reappear. Sometimes animals and airplanes are used (think David Copperfield!). There is so much that goes into these illusions, giving them the highest price mark and only reserved for those with a high budget and looking for that extreme "wow" factor.
With that said, there some illusions that can be done close-up. Magicians have developed ways to create mind bending performances with cards, coins and other everyday objects.
Mentalism
This is special and unique type of performance also known as "mind reading." Mentalism is when a magician creates the impression they can read thoughts, predict events, and control or influence decisions.
This incorporates sleight-of-hand, misdirection, and showmanship to achieve these outcomes in a mysterious and equally impossible way. This style of performance is suitable for all types of events including stage, parlour, and even close-up. This style is often priced higher than close-up.
How and when to use a magician
Trying to fit a magician into your event may seem simple but let’s make it easier for you.
Here are some typical scenarios…
As your guests arrive, or just after
This is a great way to get everyone worked up for the event and even break the ice for strangers and bring them together. Magicians can facilitate with introductions and form a crowd to get everyone involved. This is a great talking point for the rest of the evening.
Ideal for cocktail receptions, house parties, dinners, welcome/registration, etc.
In the middle of your event
You may be having a dining event and a magician would be a great addition. However, you don’t want to interrupt the eating, especially if there is hot food! In this case, short quick tricks would be suitable or if there are long gaps in between courses, the magician could help to fill this time and give the catering staff adequate time to get things ready. Or perhaps you would like to elevate your private event at home or venue to help lift the atmosphere for the end of the event and have the guests engaged.
Ideal for breaks in meetings, during a meal/between courses, during wedding photos, etc.
At the end of your event
Depending on the nature of your event, this is not the most ideal time for a performance but it can be a nice way to round off the event. This is the time most people need to leave or are the most drunk. It would be ideal if the performance was not too late in the event. A grander, shorter performance would be better in this situation to help bring the event to a close.
Ideal for cake cutting at birthday parties, during desserts or after a meal, the end of a stage event, facilitate with event transitions, after parties, grand finale, etc
Network like a magician
For 15 years, I have worked professionally as a magician. Over this time, I have developed a deep understanding of creating better engagement and lasting impressions when networking. Essentially, I’m a professional networker and I also act as a host, making sure everyone is welcomed to the event and having a good time.
With that in mind, I have also worked across multiple industries such as military, F&B, hospitality, education, and entertainment. These different and varying roles have taught me a lot about social interactions with all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities.
One of the most profound things I have learned is remembering people’s names. This seems so trivial but we are all guilty of this. Within 5-10 seconds, we forget the person’s name we just met.
Why does this happen?
Because we don’t actively listen or pay attention. Repeat the name straight away and keep using it as you talk to that person. There is a lot more to this topic but I’m keeping this brief as this makes for a whole article in itself.
But here are some tips for you to consider for your next meeting or networking event.
First impressions matter and they are formed within 7 seconds. Sometimes even a 10th of a second.
Your grooming, smell, cleanliness, pressed clothes, polished shoes, and posture come into play here. Most women spend a lot of time on their appearance.
I am a firm believer that men should spend the same time on their appearance. Shave or make sure your facial hair is trimmed and neat. Remove lint and fluff from clothing, wash and style your hair, manicure, moisturise, etc.
Breath is another important factor. As we talk over a long period, our mouth gets dry. When our mouth is dry this leads to bad breath. Alcohol is usually a present form of refreshments at events and I have found that white wine is one of the worst culprits. Use a mint. One that dissolves almost instantly on the mouth reducing residue and crumbs in the mouth. There is nothing worse than speaking to someone with bad breath!
Which leads me to say, if you have food in your mouth when chewing canapés and finger food, either take a step to the side and eat for a quiet moment or at least place your hand over your mouth when talking. This acts as a guard to stop food spraying over your new connection.
Remember, first impressions matter!
There are 3 numbers that represent how most conversations go:
7 - 38 - 55
7% is verbal. Essentially, what you say accounts for only a small portion of an interaction.
38% is tone. The way you speak is more important than what you say.
55% is body language. Your body language speaks way more and above everything else.
Make sure you are paying attention to not only just what you say but how you say it and make sure your body language is congruent with the speech. Tell yourself in your mind that you want to be there and talking with this person. If not, your mind will have a way of conveying this to your body in small but noticeable ways. This will telegraph to the person you are talking to.
(On a side not, if you are talking on the phone, make sure your body language is still active and pay attention to it. This will come out in your voice. Smile and be animated!)
Remember, if you are networking, do exactly that. Don’t spend too much time talking to the same person. Keep it short, end the conversation politely and move on to the next person or group.
Confidence also has a huge importance when speaking.
Be your true, unedited self. Don’t try to fit in when you were born to stand out. Be proud of who you are and what you know. I approach each person or crowd loud and confidently with my arm outstretched offering to shake hands and exchange names. It’s a polite and acceptable interruption that gets the right attention.
I give out my business card using playing card manipulation techniques, sometimes mixed with technology (my phone). This helps me stand out and plant a lasting impression and memory into people’s minds. When they see this business card again later, it will rekindle the interaction they had with me. This also spreads the word - “Ask for that guy’s business card. Trust me!”
There are so many creative ways to give out your business card. Can you think of a unique way to give out yours? If not, I’m available to help give lessons on this.
By following all of the above, you are already ahead of the rest and will surely leave a lasting impression.
If you have any other questions, please fill out the contact form with as much detail as you can about your upcoming event.