During these crazy old times we are currently living in, we took the opportunity to catch up with a couple of our favourite suppliers to find out a bit more about them and if they have any help or advice for couples! Meet Richard... the Gloucestershire Magician, based in (you guessed it....) Gloucestershire, means he's just down the road from Barnsley House!
- Best part of the day to have a magician?
Based on a lot of experience (I
perform at around a hundred weddings a year!) there are two particular parts of
the wedding day where close-up magic fits in really well - either the drinks
reception or early evening, after the meal. During the drinks reception the
Bride and Groom and close family are often busy with photos and as a magician I
can look after the other guests and entertain them while they are standing
around. Also I look for people that don’t know anyone else at the wedding -
they are easy to spot as they are stood on their own - and I pull them into
groups and with my magic it really helps to break the ice! The other time that
works well for magic is the early evening particularly if the main room is
being turned around. My close-up walkaround magic is very flexible, I can
perform inside or outside in the beautiful Barnsley House gardens! At that time
there is often a ‘lull’ after the meal so magic brings a lot of energy and
excitement back into the day.
- Favourite time at Barnsley?
I remember a private birthday
party where I performed in the gardens and it’s such a beautiful location for a
summer wedding or party! I feel really lucky to be doing my job when I’m
performing in such luxury surroundings. I also love a Barnsley House
wedding!
- The guest reactions are amazing – do you have a go to trick to get the party started?
Yes - I perform a quick card
trick that gets amazing reactions. When I approach a group as I’m holding a
deck of cards it establishes me as the entertainer (otherwise I’m often
mistaken for a waiter or The Manager Lol ) and the magic needs to happen
quickly to show that I know what I’m doing. I’m usually with a group for about
ten minutes and leave them absolutely gob-smocked! I always say the tricks last
a few minutes, but they will be taking about them for years!
- How did you get to become a magician?
Unlike many magicians who start
young with a magic set, I got into it as an adult. A friend of mine sent me a
card trick book and some decks of cards and it’s been my passion ever since. He
really started my journey and what used to be a hobby then became my full-time
profession. A highlight of which was passing the audition to get into The Magic
Circle in 2012. There are only 1500 members of The Magic Circle in the entire
world so it’s highly prestigious.
- Any tips for planning B&Gs during lockdown?
I really feel for brides and
grooms at this time as a lot of their plans have gone out of the window for a
day they’ve been looking forward to for months or years. I would say, please be
patient with all wedding suppliers - I have many friends in the wedding
industry and we are all doing our best to help with postponements and it’s a
very strange time for all of us. We want to be back at weddings too! Also be
positive - love always wins, and your day may be delayed but we will stay have
that party - just a little later than planned. Remember the most important
thing is to see all the people that you love on your day, the actual date is
arguably less important.
- What would be your biggest piece of advice to couples thinking of having a magician at their wedding?
My biggest piece of advice would
be to book them early! On key dates such as a summer weekend we often get
booked months or even a year in advance, so if you are thinking about having
some entertainment contact them (me!) as soon as possible. Also check their
experience - how many weddings have they done? Are they a member of The Magic
Circle? Is it their full-time job or is it a hobby? These questions should
ensure that you get a professional - they are worth the money!
Instagram: @glosmagician
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