Andy Kirk - Magician, Entertainer and Author

Lying down on the Job - it's not always a bed of roses!

2012-02-23T03:26:00.000-08:00

William Shatner, The Pendragons and what went wrong?

2012-02-20T03:35:00.002-08:00

In "1988", William Shatner hosted a live magic show, it was a tribute to Master Magician and Escapologist Harry Houdini, and appearing on that show were the amazing Pendragons - if you've never seen their act then you've missed a treat.

On this show they were performing their incredible version of Harry Houdini's "Metamorphosis". This is a trasposition effect between to people. The assistant is locked inside a large trunk, often in a sack, restrained with handcuffs and rope etc. The magician stands on the trunk and holds up a curtain that will momentarily conceal his whole body. When the curtain is lowered the magician is seen to have been replaced by the assistant. Houdini took 7 seconds to make the transposition happen but The Pendragons (Charlotte and Johnathan) do it in less than 4 seconds. It's a amazing trick.

But what went wrong at the end? Watch here as William Shatner (Captain Kirk from Star Trek) explains, to Dick Clarke on his"Friday Night Surprise" show, why Mrs Charlotte Pendragon wouldn't come out of the trunk...

The Secrets of Harry Houdini?

2012-02-19T02:00:00.001-08:00

It's the early bird that catches the worm, but the second mouse that gets the cheese...

Andy Kirk - Magician and Entertainer makes Front Page

2012-02-17T01:29:00.000-08:00

This great feature made the front page of the "Tembury Wells Advertiser". A nice bit of publicity gained for Andy's Magic from this very successful charity event. I performed several magic shows and made balloon animals for masses...

Tommy Cooper - The Bell's Whiskey Advert

2012-02-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

Magician, Tommy Cooper was a comedy genius and this advert proves that it doesn't matter who's mouth his words come out of, its still funny. Take a look at this short clip and have a laugh - Just Like That!

Why do people book Wedding Magician Andy Kirk?

2012-02-15T04:54:00.002-08:00

So, why do people book Andy Kirk, Wedding Magician and Entertainer? There are many answers to this question and I hope by the end of this blog you will understand exactly why booking a magician is far more than just arranging a bit of entertainment for you and your guests...

Wedding Memories: There are lots of things that will make your wedding special and memorable, and a good wedding magician should only add to these. Andy will mix and mingle with your guests and perform his mind-blowing feats of magic and mind-reading right at their finger-tips. He will have them in fits of laughter and then leave them with gasps of amazement. They'll also be left with memories they will treasure for years to come.

Breaking the Ice: A lot of your guests may not know each other and magical entertainment, in the form of a wedding magician, is a great way to break the ice, get your guests talking, laughing and generally create a great atmosphere. So, whether it's during the drink reception, wedding breakfast or while the photograph's are being taken a little bit of magical theatre will work wonders.

Never a dull moment: There will always be those inevitable lulls; typically, while the photographs are being taken and in-between the wedding reception and the evening do. And these are two of the most popular places to use Andy's services, and he guarantees to keep things moving and create that perfect atmosphere for your big day.

Speeches are not for Children: The speeches are an important part of the day but if you have children present you shouldn't be surprised if the start to very quickly get restless. Andy has the perfect solution; he will whisk the children off - Pied Piper Fashion - and give them their own mini-party. This can include a disco, lights, bubble machine, games, prizes, magic show, puppets, face painting and balloon animals. And while the kids are having a ball, your guests - including those now temporarily relieved of their parental duties - can enjoy the speeches.

Wedding Magician - Andy Kirk

Don't break the Bank: Wedding are expensive and getting the best for the price you pay is always important. Andy is competitively priced but always aims to give as high-a-quality service as possible. Every wedding is different and as such Andy will tailor his services so they fit your needs and budget perfectly.

In a Nutshell: Using cards, coins, rope, mind-reading and other everyday objects Andy will mesmerise, amaze and entertain your guests. He'll get them laughing, create talking points and leave them with some great magical memories. This is the most important day of your life so why not add "A Touch of Magic" and an "Extra Fizz" to your special day by booking Andy Kirk, Wedding Magician, now.

Freddie Starr & Mohammad Ali on The Parkinson Show

2012-02-14T10:16:00.000-08:00

This is the magic moment when Mohammad Ali is captivated, mesmerized and then floor by one our greatest funny men, Freddie Starr' with his spooky story. It's an hilarious moment, 5 minutes actually, taken from a 1981 episode of classic "Parkinson Show"... It really is a must watch!!

Tommy Cooper: The Dean Martin Speech

2012-02-10T11:05:00.000-08:00

Tommy Cooper, was possibly the funniest man who ever lived, and here in this rare video footage of his speech at a Hollywood dinner - in honor of the legendary, singer, actor and entertainer, Dean Martin - proves just that. Sit back and enjoy a classic piece of Tommy Cooper... Just Like That!

The customer is always right...

2012-02-08T07:59:00.001-08:00

You will have heard that old saying: "The Customer is always right". Well here is exactly what Andy's Magic customers are saying about his magic, his entertainment, his performances, about him as a magician and exactly why so many recommend him...

"Just wanted to say thanks for yesterday. All the kids loved it and the adults were so amazed at the magic that you did for them! Nothing but excellent feedback... thank you so much"

Stephanie Wadlow - Drayton Manor Park

"We really enjoyed your magic; everyone was amazed. What a great difference you made to our evening. We have watched the wedding video featuring you doing your magic and almost every guest has there mouths open in amazement. We would not hesitate to recommend you for anyones wedding."

Sue and David Knock - West Midlands

"Steve and I are extremely glad we found Andy. He was a massive hit on the evening. The youngsters all commented on how brilliant he was, and the adults loved the table magic. All in all, your presence added greatly to a wonderful evening."

Steve and Anne Sanders - Bromsgrove

"Thanks for a great show last night, the kids were still talking about you long after it was time for bed. We just couldn't settle them. Everyone who came to the party (inc adults) were asking for your website. Will be booking you again in the foreseeable future. It was great from start to finish especially the prizes for the children at the beginning of the show. Once again thanks"

Yasmin Hussain - West Bromwich

"Thanks for a fantastic party. My son Ryan had a really great time. Andy managed to captivate 30 five year olds for 2 hours and kept them truly entertained. I had several parents comment on the way out how impressed they were with the show!"

Tracy Worton - Halesowen

"Just experienced Andy's Magic Show and both Children and Parents enjoyed participating and entering into the fun. A fantastic show!"

Viv and Rosemary - Kidderminster Library

"Once again Andy, you were brilliant. The weather was appalling on wednesday and getting an audience was a challenge to say the least. Very impressed by the way you managed to create such a big crowd."

Geraldine McCullagh - BBC Hereford & Worcester Radio

"All go by recommendations and you'll get a decent service. That's what I did when I booked Andy's Magic and I got an exceptionally good party for my son, Jacob's birthday. Full of fun, laughter and great magic. Highly recommended"

Jill Brookes - Wolverhampton

"Thank you, Andy's Magic, it was wonderful. Everyone really loved it!!! The disco & magic were fab and the balloon animals were really impressive! Im sure you'll be getting loads of bookings from my friends"

Liz Evans - Malvern

"The whole party was simply wonderful! After several very average party entertainers I found Andy' - who really is in a class of his own. My daughter, Esme, loved the magic show, adored Max the Magic Dog and wants the disco and bubbles again for her next birthday."

Mrs Whittaker - Birmingham

"Thanks Andy, once again we had a beautiful day and were glad you were a part of it and you made the day extra special. Everybody commented on how good you were and we will be passing your number on to anybody that will listen!! Thank you again!!

Chris and Claire Hanmer - Telford

"Bailey had a fab 4th birthday party! Twenty-Six children fully entertained for a solid 2 hours...Brilliant!! All the parents commented on how great Andy was :-) Will definitely be recommending!! Lots of fun and laughter!!"

Toni Badham - Stourport

"The best party we've had. Andy really managed involve all 30 children in all of the games and magic. It was magical to watch"

Sue Stevens - Worcester

"Andy made Libby's Birthday one to remember and she felt very special being able to help Andy with his magic. A good time was had by one and all - well worth the money"

Pam Tempest - Stourbridge

"Andy has great skill as a magician and entertainer. Our adult group was enthralled by his show - everyone left asking themselves 'How does he do it?'. I can thoroughly recommend Andy to anyone who is looking for an entertainer for their event or party, for children or adults."

Sylvia Herbert - Worcestershire

The Magician's Assistant - A Tragic Story

2012-02-08T05:44:00.001-08:00

Corporate Magician - Corporate Magic and Entertainment

2012-02-07T04:01:00.000-08:00

Andy Kirk - Corporate Magician

Based in the West Midland and in reach of most parts ofthe country, Andy is an accomplished corporate magician who is sort afterby those organisations who require aspecial sort of entertainment for their corporate functions, company events,exhibitions and promotions.

Magic can be used as a great way to break the ice, relaxyour guests and clients and get them laughing. It's also a powerful tool thatcan be used to emphasise a message or help customers remember your product orservice.

In performance, Andy will use coins, rope, cards andother every day objects, as well as mind-reading to entertain and amaze your guests. But he can also use your company products and give-aways topersonalise his act around your company.

The two basic ways to use Andy's skills

Corporate Trade Show - Corporate Magic

Andy can walk around, mixing and mingling with yourguests and performing his amazing feats of magic and mind-reading right attheir finger-tips. He will have your guests in fits of laughter and them leavethem with gasps of amazement. Alternately, You can use Andy to draw prospectivecustomers to your exhibition trade stand and once there, he will bamboozle themwith his mind-blowing magic and sleight of hand.

However you decide to use Andy make sure you do use him.As a corporate magician he just knows how to bring up the energy, bring in thecrowd, bring out your message and bring the house down.

In a Nutshell

So why should you book a corporate magician for your function, event or trade stand?

People will always learn better, remember easier and be more easily persuaded if what they are being told or shown is entertaining. Magic is a very popular and entertaining art form, and if used properly, can be a very powerful tool indeed. Andy will personalize his performance to your requirements and then use his abilities to draw in prospective clients to your trade stand and once there he will be able to entertain, amaze and relax your guests whilst at the same time emphasizing your message, product or service thereby making sure they remember you and your company or organisation.

Corporate Magician and Entertainer

Harry Potter's Heath Problems finally Sorted?

2012-02-01T05:42:00.000-08:00

The Magician's are live at the BBC

2012-01-25T06:51:00.000-08:00

When BBC's new prime-time magic show, The Magicians, hit our screens with its first series I wasn't it's biggest fan - in fact, I was surprised it came back for another series. So, it's been with great interest that I've watched the first three episode of the new series.

The format remains roughly the same: three magicians, with celebrity assistants, battling it out, mystifying and entertaining the studio audience in an attempt to gain votes and prove they are the best. But, this time the show has been given a well needed revamp with a new presenter and surprisingly... it's live; it's the first show to be broadcast live on the BBC for over thirty years.

Craig Revel-Horwood losing his head

So, who's in the show? Barry and Stuart proved their worth in the last series and have become the only act to return to the new show, but for me the shrewd move is the addition of Jason Latimer, and Pete Firman. World Champion of Magic, Latimer, brings his superb performing ability and inventiveness and really adds excitement to the show, while Pete Firman stands apart as the one performer who sits most comfortably on-screen, and there is no doubt his style embraces the new live format.

The show is live and as such things can, and have already, not gone as planned proving that anything can and will happen. The changes also see a new presenter in the form of Darren McMullen who replaces Lenny Henry. And, as big-a-fan as I am of Dudley's most famous son, I think most will agree he just didn't work well in this role. McMullen, on the other hand, seems to be settling in nicely.

So what else is new? The "Celebrity Choice" section is replaced by the all new "Close-up Trick - Live"; there's the new feature "Location - Grand Illusion" recorded, as the name suggests, on location. And the shows finale is an apparently dangerous forfeit that the losing team must complete. We do, however, see the return of "Street Magic" and "Grand illusion" that, as with the last series, is performed in the studio, but this time... it's live.

As mentioned at the beginning of this piece, the show uses celebrities who are drafted in and have a short time to become a magician. Those who have already appeared include the excellent Keith Duffy, David Hasslehoff, Flavia Cacase, Julia Bradbury, Craig Revel-Horwood, Tyler Drew-Honey and Daniel Roche, Mel Geidroyc, David Haye and Kimberley Wyatt.

Jason Latimer with David Hasselhoff

In my opinion, there is a great improvement in the whole show compared to the first series and if it continues to improve, we could see "The Magicians" returning for a third series - but, of course, only time will tell on that one.

All in all, it's a good show stuffed full of magic, comedy, entertainment and... celebrities, but the key to any shows popularity is - "likability" and, over all, that's what Barry and Stuart, Jason Latimer and Pete Firman bring to this series... Likability!

Follow the stars of the show on Twitter:

@petefirman @jasonlatimer @barryandstuart @darrenmcmullen

Houdini's Greatest Escape...

2012-01-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

Will the world end in December 2012?

2012-01-19T03:49:00.000-08:00

Ok, ok.. the cartoon to the left is just a joke, a mickey-take aimed at the prediction that the Earth, our Earth, will meet its end on December 21st, 2012. But what do you believe will happen?

The Mayan calendar is at the centre of this escalating phenomenon and it predicts that the world will end on the afore mentioned date. No one knows exactly what will happen on the day the Mayan calendar runs out but there is plenty of hype about what might happen.

According to NASA we should be ready to expect a huge solar storm the like of which we have never seen before. The sun is, with doubt, getting steadily hotter and this is already affecting the earth through global warming. All it would take is one massive solar blast from the sun and the earth would be burned to a crisp. And they, NASA, believe 2012 is the year it could happen.

Another theory says that the Earth will be tipped off its axis and this will in turn cause devastating earthquakes and tsunami's on a scale unheard of to date. Or could it be the age old, and often prophesied, collision with an asteroid or comet that finally brings and end to the world as we know it.

There will, and have been, countless theories as to how and when the world will end but will this years prophesy be proved right? Will the world really end on December 21st, 2012. I've already decided not to buy any Christmas presents... I'll wait and see what happens!

"Need a magician for your Wedding, Diamond Jubilee or End of the World party? Call Andy now on 01562 825231 / 07976367058."
www.andysmagic.co.uk

Is this the World's best magician?

2012-01-17T04:12:00.000-08:00

David Copperfield or David Chesterfield? Word has it that he comes from Birmingham or Bromsgrove. Well, Whoever he is and where-ever he comes from, he's good...

Houdini's Dog?

2012-01-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

Morcambe and Wise - The Disappearing Piano Routines

2012-01-14T11:25:00.000-08:00

We all know that Morecambe and Wise were, and still are, magical to watch but have you seen these classic disappearing piano routines? Take a look now and have a laugh...

What does a clown taste like?

2012-01-12T15:09:00.001-08:00

Recycling The Tommy Cooper Way...

2012-01-09T09:02:00.000-08:00

Which magic mirror would you buy?

2012-01-06T04:04:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm perfect, so either mirror would reflect the ideal me...

Help! My Supply Teacher's a Magician...

2012-01-05T13:27:00.001-08:00

"Magicians undercover"

A new CBBC TV series will see a group of magicians going under cover as they try and fool children - at real schools - into believing they are proper supply teachers. The real fun starts when magical things start happening right there in their classrooms. It should be great fun to watch the children's reactions as seemingly impossible, eye-popping, jaw-dropping things start to happen right in front of their eyes.

The first episode of this fast-paced series, made by Objective Productions, will be aired on Tuesday 17th January at 5:45pm and is set for an impressive thirteen week run. Devised and produced by fellow magician, Anthony Owen, this programme looks certain to be a massive hit with children and adults alike.

Regular features will include: Undercover Magic, where magicians are unleashed on the unsuspecting public; Tricks of the Trade, where magicians will demonstrate how to perform tricks on their friends; Interactive Illusion, which features tricks the audience at home can play along with, and That was Awesome, which features all the magicians performing together.

The show will star magicians: Fergus Flanagan, Katherine Mills, James Went and - 'The man who fooled Penn and Teller' - John Archer.

What a great line up, make sure you're tuned in and ready to watch... Oh, and don't forget to tell the kids, as well...

You can follow John Archer and James Went on Twitter here: @TheArchini @jameswent1981

Frank's New Year Resolutions...

2012-01-01T05:59:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year folks and here's hoping you can make your resolutions last longer than Frank's...

Happy New Year...

2011-12-31T03:42:00.001-08:00

I'll take this opportunity to say Happy New Year because in 10 minutes I'll be on the road heading towards the first of three gigs I have on this New Years Eve: I will, however, with any luck, be arriving home in time to see the New Year in with good friends and family but before that I have a long day ahead.

I will be starting with a birthday party in central Birmingham. Two hours of fun here and it's off across the Midlands to Solihull where I will be entertaining at a private New Years party for both children and adults. And finally, I'll be shooting down to Bromsgrove where I will be again entertaining young and old at the New Year Celebrations party at the Holiday Inn, Bromsgrove.

Once all this is done, I will race home to do some Celerbrating myself. So here's wishing everyone a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Tommy Cooper: The Untold Story

2011-12-28T18:04:00.001-08:00

Tommy Cooper: The Untold Story turned out, for me at least, to be the best piece of television over the festive season - it was, excuse the pun, a real Christmas Cracker.

This superb Channel 4 documentary tells the story of the real Tommy Cooper: the abusive, alcoholic comedian who had a long term affair with his personnel assistant, Mary Kay, whilst married to Gwen - the woman he frequently hit, but loved and could never have lived without.

This fascinating, if not sad, account was pieced together using recently unearthed letters, unheard audio clips, interviews, rare footage and, most importantly, Miff Ferrie's (Cooper's agent) meticulously kept diary which seems to detail his every interaction and involvement with the great man and lays bare the facts about the very troubled life of one of this countries best loved comedians.

It seems that Cooper had a love-hate or even a hate-hate relationship with his agent. Apparently, he wanted to break free of this man he, and others, thought was a controlling idiot with no sense of humour, but he never did: perhaps he realised that this was the only man who could hold everything together for him, when he himself was letting it fall apart. Bruce Forsyth, who was also managed for a short period by Ferrie, also felt the same way about the agent. Forsyth, However, did make the break.

"I went to the doctor the other day, I said, 'It hurts when I do that.' He said, 'Well, don't do it then.'

Tommy Cooper never failed to make us laugh. He was a respected member of The Magic Circle and adored by the British public. He was famed for his magic act where tricks intentionally went wrong for comedy purposes. A giant of a man (6 foot 4 inches) with a gruff voice, flat feet, crazy hair and a red fez would lumber on stage and get a laugh without doing a thing. He looked a disaster waiting to happen and that's what made him so funny. He was a one off and his like will never be seen again. But his professionalism and perfection on stage were far from matched off stage.

His alcoholism led to wife beating. Gwen, his wife, threatened to leave him on several occasions but she never did and, even though he continued his affair with Mary until the day he died, he never considered leaving her.

His heavy drinking and smoking did, in the end, take its toll on Cooper's health. A heart attack, in 1977, while in Rome performing for IBM executives, should have been the warning to slow down his self destructive habits but it did not. Three Months later he was back in a television show but now his heavy drinking was interfering severely with his performing ability, he had become a shadow of his former self, and 1980 Thames Television refused to give him another starring series.

"I went to the dentist he said my teeth are okay but my gums have got to come out"

On the 15th April 1984 millions of views - I was one - watched London Weekend Television's variety show "Live from her Majesty's" which was transmitted live from Her Majesty's Theatre (Not the London Palladium as commonly thought) not realising that this was to be Coopers last ever performance. And this Channel 4 documentary -The Untold Story - shows for the first time since his death portions of his last performance including his collapse.

Add caption

This programme is a painfully honest profile that exposes the destructive demons that drove him to drink and violence but celebrity fans including Ozzy Osbourne, Roger Moore, Johnny Vegas, Damien Hurst, Bruce Forsyth, David Hamilton, Eric Sykes, Ken Dodd, Barry Cryer and more all talk about their love of Cooper and they also remind us of the real magic and genius of the man that was Tommy Cooper.

Go here to watch the full documentary: 4OD

Post Christmas Cartoon Fun...

2011-12-27T11:22:00.001-08:00

Here are a couple of festive funnies that I like, hope you do too...

The Turkey on a Sun Bed...

2011-12-24T02:37:00.001-08:00

It's Christmas Eve, so it's best to prepare your Christmas dinner in advance. But don't try cooking the turkey with a sun bed...

Clunk Click Every Trip Santa...

2011-12-22T16:17:00.001-08:00

The truth about "Joker" Santa's little known ninth Reindeer

2011-12-21T14:41:00.001-08:00

Hope this Christmas Cracker of a cartoon brings a festive smile to your faces. Don't forget all comments are gratefully received...Why not tick one, or more, of the boxes below to let me know what you think...

Only three sleeps to go... Merry Christmas Everyone

Generosity: The poem what I wrote...

2011-12-19T16:09:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago I was asked, by the organizers of the Worcestershire Literary Festival, to submit a poem on the theme of 'Generosity' which, if successful, would be used on the Poetry trees (See Photo) that would be, and now has been, placed in The Crown Gate and Reindeer Court shopping Center's in Worcester. I had less than twenty-four hours to pen a piece of Poetry good enough to be used and, as I was busy with Christmas magic shows, I was unsure that I could make the deadline. But, the theme of 'generosity' was a good one and sparked some idea's and in the end I came up with the following poem. I hope you like it...

Generosity

From the first thing in the morning to the last thing at night.

Twenty-four hours every day to offer help to put things right.

A random act of kindness is something everyone can do.

It doesn't take much time but it's really up to you.

Raising money for a good cause or being sponsored to walk a mile.

Generosity without agenda will raise cash... and a smile.

Sometimes we're asked to dig deep but not always in a monetary way.

We can be generous with our labours and the things we do and say.

To those who are less fortunate and have no one by their side.

We should as generous as we can with the help that we provide.

So, when you hear the awful news of some terrible atrocity.

Don't think that you can't help just remember... Generosity!

By Andy Kirk

P.S: Don't forget all comments will be greatly appreciated. So, please feel free to leave your thoughts below.

More Festive Funnies with Santa...

2011-12-17T20:25:00.001-08:00

Here are some more Comical Christmas Cartoons to keep to laughing all the way to Christmas Day...

Festive Funnies - Missing Elf, Frosty and no iPadd

2011-12-08T10:27:00.001-08:00

Hope you enjoy these Comical Christmas Cartoons. Which is your favorite? let me know with a comment...

Merry Christmas Everyone

Role Reversal and Old Dogs and New Tricks

2011-12-02T10:46:00.001-08:00

Just a quick blog this time with a couple of magic related cartoons I came across. If you like them let me know and I'll post some more...

Now that's what I call role reversal

"Paul, I don't think you'll ever teach him new tricks."

The All-New Look Andy's Magic

2011-11-28T05:49:00.000-08:00

The New Logo

Where has the time gone? Eleven months has disappeared without a trace, and in two days we will be into the Festive month of December and I am, as usual, going to be very busy entertaining at Christmas parties for both Children and Adults – and I am really looking forward to it. But as the final month of 2011 approaches and we head towards 2012 – a year that will make the twenty year mile stone in trading from Andy’s Magic - I have decided to change a few things.

Firstly, I commission work on a new Andy’s Magic Logo (see above) from a company called look-designs, and what a great job they've done – ideal for the children's entertainment side of the business - hope you all like it, too.

Rainbow Stripes

Business Cards

I also wanted to freshen up my own look. So, out came the credit card and new clothes, waistcoats, trousers and shirts were purchased and I’m really pleased with the end results...

And I’ve also had some new business cards designed and printed. Hope you like the new changes? Stay well and look out for the next blog…

Close-up Magician

Andy's Gigs: 17th - 22nd July

2011-07-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

Rory and Lois' Party

Rory and Lois' joint party was held at the Lickhill Memorial Hall in Stourport. My mission was entertain a 25 strong group of 4 year-olds and keep them happy for an hour. I think I succeeded.

Starting with Name that TV theme tune, the kids loved guessing the tunes and being first to shout out the correct answers and win a prize. Then straight into the magic show, loads of fun and magic and both Rory and Lois became my Helpers, and they were both great.

The whole hour was rounded off with all the kids getting a balloon animal of their choice. It was lovely to meet everyone including their mums, and may I wish a big Happy Birthday to Rory and Lois.

Theo, Jack, Nell and Frayer's Party

It wasn't just one birthday that was being celebrated at the Bentley Heath Community Centre, today, or even two; it was four. Yes, a joint birthday party for four, five year olds -Theo, Jack, Nell and Frayer (see photo's). They, and all their friends, were very quick to join in, dancing in the bubbles and trying hard to win prizes.

All four youngsters helped me in the magic show. Frayer helped me magically join four coloured handkerchiefs together. Theo was transformed into a pirate with a balloon sword, parrot and hat, while Jack waved the wand and made the black and White pictures in my colouring book, turn into nice, bright and colourful ones. And last but, certainly not least, was Nell who said the magic words and produced a whole load of sweets for everyone to share.

Everyone went home with a balloon animal and party bag; a great way to end any party. Happy Birthday to Theo, Jack, Nell and Frayer.

St Oswald's School Funday

I really enjoyed being part of the St Oswald's School fun day. At 10.00am, ninety odd children, accompanied by their parents, all entered the school hall where I was ready and waiting. I started with the popular Name that TV Theme tune, and these kids were right on the ball. Within seconds of starting to play a tune, someone would get the answer - very quick indeed this bunch.

With lots of prizes won, it was on with the magic show and I think all the kids would have gladly volunteered to help me in the show, but unfortunately the show just was not long enough for that. Those that did help where fantastic, and very funny too.

The audience, and I include the adults here, were very responsive and joined in with everything. An hour of magic, fun and laughter flew by and it was lovely to get so many "Thank you's" from the children as they filed pasted me, on their way to their next, fun-day, activity. I look forward to returning to St Oswalds soon.

The Calsot Road Playgroup leavers Party

It's always nice to get rebooking's, and it was a pleasure to return to the Calsott Road Playgroup in Great Barr. Though young, the 22 children that attended were all ready to party. They loved the dancing in the bubbles and loads of them won prizes during the games. A great selection of party food was available during the break including good-old jelly and ice-cream. The party was rounded off with the magic show, featuring Max the Magic Dog and balloon animal for all. Great fun and thanks to the Staff for refreshments provided. :)

KinderCare Day Nursery Leavers Party

It was my first visit to the Kindercare Day Nursery, in Stetchford, Birmingham and it was great to see so many lovely, smiling faces. I just new from the outset that I was in for good session, and I was right.

Forty plus children can be a hand full at the best of times but there was no problem here. Well organised and ready to join in, these kids loved very minute of the party. An hour of entertainment, kicked off a game and a chance prizes. This was followed by the magic show. The kids laughed Long and loud as I got hit on the head with the wand by the little girl who was helping me. max the Magic Dog got more laughs and applause as he performed his trick. It was great session and as I packed away the kids were being presented with certificates and they all looked very proud. I wish them all luck with their move to the big school.

The Whizz Kids Community Nursery Leavers Party

Whizz Kids is charity based, Nursery and great job the staff do, giving the kids a safe and happy environment to be in.The leavers party went superbly well. I was impressed with how well everything was organised and thank the staff for all their help.

The Two Hour Package was ideal for this group. They absolutely loved jumping around in the bubbles and they went crazy during the magic show, laughing and clapping all the way. Loads of fun was had, I'm sure everyone, Including the staff, enjoyed it. I look forward to seeing you all again at Christmas.

Who to book: Full-timer or Side-liner?

2011-07-15T05:33:00.001-07:00

As a full-time entertainer, one question I get asked a lot is: "Would I be better off booking a full-time entertainer rather than one that does as a side-line?"
I don't think it matters. What I think you should be looking for is someone who is professional in their approach to his or her business and this should in turn lead you to a good and competent performer.
So, to get the best entertainer possible for your party follow these guide-lines:

Firstly, get a recommendation from a friend or relative; if they've seen a good, reliable and professional entertainer and enjoyed his show, the likelihood is, you will too.
Nowadays, most good entertainers will have their own website and this should give you plenty of information, not just about what services they offer, but about previous and satisfied customers; check their guestbook for customer feedback and comments.
Those who are professional, and understand the business, will try and offer you the sort of entertainment you require, tailored for the age of the children they will be entertaining, and they should also be able to offer advise on varying parts of your party planning.
They should be fully insured (public liability insurance), CRB Checked and have all their electrical equipment P.A.T Tested — it's not in your interest to book an entertainer without these. And don't take their word for it, ask to see the certificates. If any or all of these aren't forth-coming think carefully before you book.
You should also expect to get some sort of contract (where practical) confirming the entertainment you'll be receiving; this way you will both be clear on what was agreed.
If you are paying a deposit make sure you get a receipt.
Ask if they're a member of any professional organisations like: Equity, The Magic Circle or any local magic society; this will show an on-going commitment to their careers.
Children can be a tough audience, as you will know if your a parent. Working with children requires patience, understanding, flexibility, and versatility. Performing for kids is no different, but not all entertainers understand this. Just because they perform magic it doesn't mean you're automatically guaranteed a great show.
What you really need is someone who will entertain them, make them laugh, amaze them and hold their attention from start to finish; a skilled entertainer will be able to do this.
The more you pay doesn't necessarily guarantee a better quality of entertainer, but you should expect to pay more for one who has got all the correct checks, insurances and who is paying tax on his earnings.
If you're unhappy with any aspect of their performance, don't be afraid to complain; a professional entertainer will do his utmost to put things right and should welcome constructive criticism. But remember, you're booking an entertainer and not a baby-sitter and, as such, you should always be aware, and ready to deal with, any distressed or disruptive children.

If you follow these guide-lines then you should be able to book someone who is professional and who will supply a good service. I believe a professional entertainer will always make your party a success — simply because they love what they do.

Penn and Teller: Fool Us

2011-07-04T14:00:00.000-07:00

Back in May I was lucky enough to get hold of a couple of tickets for the live recording of the new smash hit ITV series Penn and Teller: Fool Us - and what great day it was. Filming, at the Fountain Studio's in Wembley, took nearly four-hours, for what evntually becomes a one-hour TV show. But it certainly didn't feel like fours hours, the time flew by, with a great warm up comedian (can't remember his name, unfortunately) and lots of audiance interaction from Host, Jonathan Ross and Penn and Teller.

The show see's master magicians and experts in the art of deception, Penn and Teller, throwing down the gauntlet and challenging magicians from all over the country to appear on the show and perform their most mystifying magic in an attempt to fool them.

The pilot episode saw Ben Earl and John Archer succeed, as they managed to fool Penn and Teller. The reward to anyone who accomplishes this feat is a five star trip to Las Vegas where they will perform on Penn and Teller's world famous magic show at the Rio Hotel and Casino. Ben and John have already been over to the city that never sleeps and it all went very well for them; especially for John Archer who managed to get a standing ovation. So congratulations to Ben and John, and also to Graham Jolly and Mathieu Bich who in this new series have also managed to fool Penn and Teller. And you can catch up with how all the winners did in Vegas. on the Christmas Special in December.

You couldn't have a show like this without a big name host and Jonathan Ross fits the bill perfectly here. Ross, introduces the acts, links each part of the show and even becomes magicians assistant, where required, and all done in Wossy's own inevitable way. All in all, it's a great show and, in my humble opinion, it's the best magic show to hit our tv screens in many a year. Not since The Paul Daniel's Magic Show or the Best of Magic have we seen such a high profile magic show. But not all are agreeing with my point of view...

Some, mainly magicians, are upset by the exposure aspect of the show. Penn and Teller do, indeed, explain how the tricks are done, but for me, I don't feel there is enough detail for the lay audience to fully understand what is being said. In fact they do try and keep the explanation to a minimum. It's not exactly a cut-throat exposure show like the Masked Magician did, so I for one won't be worrying about that side of it. I've also heard magicians saying that this show is in danger of turning magic into a puzzle. Instead of watching the show and being entertained, the audience may become too tied up with figuring out how the trick was done and won't be able to concentrate fully on the actual act itself. Again, I disagree! To me magic is a puzzle, the audience are always trying to catch the magician out. It's up to those magicians to make sure they aren't caught out; If their acts are entertaining enough the audience will soon forget about solving the puzzle. Thankfully, the vast majority of people seem to be enjoying the chance to see the great magic show, which encompasses a wide range of performing styles and varieties of magic.

In the main, most of these acts will not fool Penn and Teller, but they will certainly have a chance to impress the tv audiences, raise their own profiles and further their own careers. Take for instance, Piff the Magic Dragon. His dead pan, comedy magic act was so totally different and original that he stole last Saturdays show; it's seems everyone loved him. So congratulation to Piff - a star in the making.

The culmination of each show, see's Penn and Teller perform their own brand of magic and they also get their chance to not only fool us, but prove exactly why they are at the top of their game. it's an hour of great magical entertainment, so don't forget to tune in next week and every week for Penn and Teller: Fool us.

P.s. If you'd like to follow Penn and Teller:Fool Us on Facebook or Twitter you can do that as follows:

Tweeter@FoolUsTV

And

On Facebook search FoolUs, send a friend request and it will be accepted.

The British Magical Society's Annual Dinner and Dance

2011-03-29T11:01:00.000-07:00

President: Liz Warlock

0n Saturday 26th March, the British Magical Society held its Annual Dinner and Dance at the Ramada Hotel in Sutton Coldfield. The dinner, for those of you who don't know, is the culmination of the society's year, and Saturday evening saw Elizabeth Warlock round off her second-term as president in fine style.

After a lovely three-course meal, and the obligatory speeches - including a very humorous one from our President - it was time for the BMS Awards Ceremony. Jay Adkins, Norman Smith and George Symes received awards for various competitions they'd won over the last twelve months, while John Jeremy won the Fred Walker Memorial Award for outstanding contribution.

David Berglas

The final presentation was the, much coverted, David Berglas Award which is always presented by the man himself. A star-studded list of previous winners include: Paul Daniels, Wayne Dobson, Geoffrey Durham, Ali Bongo, John Fisher, Peter Warlock, Elizabeth Warlock, Paul Kiev, Pat Page, Alex Emlsley, Terry Herbert and David Berglas, himself. This years recipient was Derren Brown, the only magician currently with his own show on television (Channel Four) and, without doubt, the most popular magician in the country at the moment.

Derren Brown

David Berglas, a Past President of the Magic Circle (1989-98), and a legend in the world of magic, was once again in attendance, but unfortunately, Derren could not attend the dinner due to his gruelling tour schedule. We did, however, get to see him receive the award via a video presentation. Derren expressed his deep gratitude and said that: "It is a great honour to receive such an amazing award". The huge silver trophy will take pride of place in his magic den at his studio. Everyone agreed that this was a well-deserved award.

With the presentations over, it was straight into the cabaret which was compared by, society treasurer, John Jeremy. The opening act was Joe Swing, aka magic dealer, Zane. It was an unusual act that Joe Swing presented - a sort of a magical tribute to the Rat Pack. He sang a range of songs, made famous by the Vegas stars, whilst at the same time performing magic.Brian Shefton followed with his suave manipulation act. Appearing cards, coins, thimbles, billiard balls and a beautiful presentation of the classic "Floating Zombie" effect, perfectly timed to classicial music. High Jinx closed the cabaret with an act that was like a mini-variety show, including: magic, illusions, juggling, unicycle riding, an optical illusion and a straight jacket escape performed to "Duelling Banjos" - a wonderful piece of music that was used, and made famous, by the film - Deliverance.

The evening was rounded of with some live music and the oppertunity to dance; most took the chance to catch up with old friends and acquaintances, discuss the evenings events and, of course, have another drink.

Whilst it is sad to note that the attendance was significantly lower than the last time I attended (four years ago), those who did attend were treated to a very enjoyable evening. I look forward to next years event which will be held at - a yet to be announced - new venue.

The Magic of Writing

2011-03-22T10:48:00.000-07:00

Andy working his Magic

You may have noticed a few changes in my blog-page. The new name and appearance have been designed to reflect the two passions in my life — magic and writing. I hope you like the new site. And I thought this would be a good point to tell you how I became a magician and an author...

The love of magic, and the dream to become a magician, started with "A Box of Tricks" given as a present one Christmas, and that love has never left me. For many years, magic was an obsessive hobby but at the age of twenty-seven I finally decided to take the plunge, and leave my secure job in the insurance industry, and move into the daunting realms of self-employment. It was a risky decision but, nineteen-years later, I have no regrets.

The writing bug hit me much later in life. Just two-years ago, we took a family holiday abroad, and whilst there, and for something to read during the long wait for my partner to get ready in the evenings (I hope she doesn’t read that bit), I picked up an old tattered book which was full off very short stories - they were absolutely awful. I jokingly said that I could write better stories and get them published. The idea stuck in my mind and with loads of ideas buzzing around in my head, I decided to put pen to paper (finger to keypad, actually).

It was by no means easy and my first attempt was quite poor. I quickly realized that I needed to revisit and brush up on my grammar and punctuation skills which had, over the years, become very rusty, indeed. An English course at college helped in that department.

A few months later, and determined to learn more about the writing business, I joined the Worcester Writers’ Circle. Getting published is not an easy task and I was constantly told by members to ‘Expect lots of rejections’. My first submission was indeed rejected but I guess I got lucky because my second submission—a short story called: 'Framed with love’— was accepted (published in First Edition Magazine, July's Edition, 2009). It was an amazing feeling to have achieved my ambition so quickly, and to be able to see my own story in print in a national magazine. More success followed with three more pieces being accepted and published; most recently I entered a "Flash Fiction Competition" and was amazed when I was informed that I'd come 2nd out of 150. Of course, I have had just as many rejections as acceptances but that's just how it goes in the writing game.

It's fair to say that I have, well and truly, caught the writing bug and as a magician I think that writing is as magical as any trick I have ever performed. I love the whole process of putting a story idea together, the research, the first draft and then the many edits that follow—until finally your piece is ready to send to that unsuspecting publisher.

There are a lot of comparisons to be made between a magic act and a short story. Each must have a strong start to hook your audience. Both must continue to captive their imagination, hold their attention and make them want more. And, finally, it must always have a memorable finish. And if I'm comparing the two arts with one another then it could be said that — If writing is the magic, then getting your work published must be the trick.

Bruno Mars - Doo-Wops & Hooligans Tour

2011-03-17T11:34:00.001-07:00

The Man Himself - Bruno Mars

I was lucky enough to get hold of a pair of tickets for the Bruno Mars mini-tour. The venue was the HMV Institute in Birmingham, and if, like me, you've never heard of this venue then I strongly recommend that you check it out — it really is worth a visit.

The HMV Institute, formerly The Barfly Club, maybe a small venue (1500 capacity) but for me it was an ideal way to see one of the most successful pop stars of the last twelve-months.

Dressed in his trade-mark hat, Mars waltzed onto stage to screams of delight from a small but jam-packed audience and delivered a flawless, pitch-perfect vocal performance. It was a fascinating gig and a great way to showcase his laid back, rhythmic, big band sound.

Playing a barrage of hits from his world-wide smash hit debut album -"Doo-Wops & Hooligans" - he teased the audience, with his slick and stylish movements, as he sang his way through songs like: Runaway Baby, Marry You, Count On Me, The Lazy Song, Our First Time, Talking To The Moon, The Otherside, and a brilliant version of Michael Jackson's, Billie Jean. He also sang Billionaire — the Travie McCoy song on which he featured — and it went down a storm as the crowd sang along.

Also on stage was special guest, rapper, B.o.B and together they electrified the audience with their hit song Nothing On You. But the highlights were, without doubt, his two number one hits, Grenade and Just The Way You Are which sent the crowd into hysterical overdrive.

Bruno Interacting with the crowd

It was nice to see how much time he took interacting with the audiance, and he also annouced that, earlier that day, his record company had told him that his album "Doo-Wops & Hooligans" had gone platinum, and deservedly so. And after such a superb performance, it was hard to believe that just a couple of years ago this young man was earning a living jamming at local bars for tips. But I'm sure that this is just the start of a massive carrer for Bruno Mars.

Happy New Year - 2011

2011-01-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody, and I'm hoping that 2011 is going to be just as busy and successful as 2010 - for you as well as me. I've made plenty of New Years resolutions that I intend to keep and one of those is to update this Blog a bit more often.

December is always the busiest time of the year and normally there wouldn't be any chance of a day off. But, winter came early bringing with it piles of snow and the Chaos that damned White stuff causes. I ended up with three straight days off. I could have made it to the gigs, and my customers were willing too, but it was the venues (mainly council run) that refused to open - cars parks and walkways too dangerous, apparently. But despite the bad weather and loss of income, my spirits remained high and, thankfully, all the other gigs went very smoothly indeed.

My last gig of 2010 was New Years Eve at Holiday Inn Birmingham / Bromsgrove. And, as ever, it was a real pleasure. Everyone was in party mode. I started my two and a half hour stint with some close-up magic; walking around and performing mini miracles at my audience’s very finger-tips. And I couldn't have wished for a better audience with great reactions, loads of laughter and great compliments. With the adults all happy and entertained, my attention was switched to the children. I'd set the disco up in the Bellbroughton Suite earlier that evening, so everything was ready to go. Just over an hour of disco, games, prizes, magic and ending with a balloon animal making session at the end. All the kids went away happy, and again they were a great audience.

I've got a busy start to the New Year. Tomorrow will see me entertaining at The Elms Hotel, at their New Years celerbrations party for thier guests, and I'm really looking forward to it. I've got lots of birthdays, a few more post Christmas / New Year parties, Mother's Day is already booked out as is November 5th, Bonfire Night and Decembers diary is looking pretty fully as well. So, 2011 looks to be a very busy year already.

What else will I be up to this year. Well, in February I'll be off to the Blackpool Magicians Convention, the biggest and best convention in the country. It's been a few years since I last went and I'm really looking forward to catching up with old friends and acquaintances, and buying some new props. I’m hoping to take a nice holiday abroad as well. I didn’t manage a holiday abroad last year and really missed the treat.

So, a busy year ahead, for me and hope for you too. Here's wishing you all a healthy and prosperous New Year.... now what was next on my long list of resolutions.

A Magical Opening at the Children’s Centre

2010-10-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

New children's centre's seem to be springing up everywhere, at least in my area they are. And this can only be seen as good news: it provides work for all those employed at each centre, great facilities for those families with young children (aged 1 to 5) who live locally and for us entertainers it provides new venues and new audiences.

On Thursday, this week, I was entertaining at one such place. Half Crown Wood Children's Centre, which is based within the grounds of the St. Bartholomew's School in Stourport, was celebrating its official and grand opening, and it was easy to see that a lot of hard work had gone it to organizing the event. And those efforts certainly paid off with everyone, children and adults alike, enjoying all the activities that ran over the course of the day. There really was something for everyone: face painting was supplied by Funky Faces of Worcester — the children were delighted with there amazing transformations. Animal Mania gave the children chance to interact with real live animals and reptiles, and the children seemed undaunted and reveled at the chance to touch and stroke a variety of creatures including snakes, lizards, tortoises and chincillers.

As for me, I was booked to perform two magic shows (10:30 and 1:00pm) and before, in-between and after each show I walked around mixing and mingling with the crowd making balloon animals for anyone who cared to have one—members of staff were particularly keen. And, I must say that the children were very well behaved. They all sat, attentively watching, as I performed my funny little miracles. When Max—my magic dog—made his appearance, the kids went wild, shouting and screaming as he caused mayhem trying to do his magic. And then they were ecstatic, when in the end, he finally managed to get his trick to work.

Apart the extra entertainment that was brought in to help celebrate this special day, there were all the usual things that you find at children's centre's these days: sand and water pits, a craft session, a very splended sensory room, and, of course, the obligatory toys and books. Food was also provided in the form of a fantastic buffet.

So, all in all, I think it's fair to say that a good day, was definitely, had by all. I must take this opportunity to thank all the staff whom were very welcoming and helpful and I look forward to my next booking in a children's centre like Half Crown Wood.

Crackerjack, Don Maclean and Me

2010-07-29T15:10:00.000-07:00

If you’re of a certain age you will definately remember the long running children’s television programme Crackerjack; go on lets all say it: "It's Friday, it's five to five... it's Crackerjack".

Don & Pete in one of thier hilerious sketches.

It ran from 1955 to 1984 and was, and still remains, in my humble opinion, one of the best children’s television programmes ever made. Over the years the show was hosted by such big names as Emmon Andrews, Michael Aspel, Ed Stewart and Leslie Crowther. The show included 'Double or Drop', the game where kid's arms were piled high with prizes if they answered questions correctly or with cabbages if they got them wrong. There was music with songs from the popular pop stars of the day and the finale was a short play that often saw the cast singing there own reworking of the current chart hits. And, of course, there were the celebrated Crackerjack pencils. But the highlight of the show, for me, were the comedy spots that were, over the years ,provided by some of the best acts in the business including: Carry on’s Jack Douglas, Ronnie Corbett, The Crankies, Bernie Clifton, The Great Soprendo (Geoffrey Durham) and my personal favourites Don Maclean and Peter Glaze.

I have fond memories of watching Crackerjack as a youngster but I never imagined that years later I would meet, be on the same bill as, and have dinner with one of the stars of that show. So how did I end up meeting and working with Don Maclean?

I was recommended - I never did find out who recommended me, but whoever it was… thank you - to perform close-up magic around the tables at a very prestigious charity fundraiser. Don Maclean had already been booked as the star turn; the big attraction that would put bums on seats and guarantee that all the tickets were sold and loads of cash was raised for the charity. I knew that this event would have an audience of wealthy, famous and influential guests, and this knowledge made me nervous. I’d been performing full-time for a few years but I was still a bit green and I had plenty to learn.

A week before the event, I received a phone call from one of the organisers asking me if I’d like to join himself, Don Maclean, the local Mayor and other notable figures on the top table. I would be treated, as their guest, to a fantastic five-course meal and would be seated next to Don. I’d like to think I was asked to be on the top table because of my incredible ability as a magician or because of my amazing popularity, but I think it was more to do with the fact that there was one seat that needed filling on the top table and as all the other guests were there with their partners and families and I was the only one on his own… I got the seat. Whatever the reason, I was very lucky and I gladly accepted the offer.

That last week flew by and suddenly the moment had arrived. The butterflies were working overtime and before I knew it I was being escorted to the top table. With the introductions over, it wasn’t long before the whole table was deep in conversation. I found Don, very easy to talk to and I felt very relaxed in his company. He was a genuinely nice and a very funny man; he had the whole table in fits of laughter and then enthralled with his anecdotes about his illustrious career.

After the dinner, which was, it has to be said—superb, it was time for me to start my tour of the tables and perform my little finger-flinging miracles. The butterflies, which had subsided over the course of the meal, had now well and truly returned; would my mixture of comedy magic, card tricks and mind-reading hit the spot? Would the audience laugh at my jokes? Would they be amazed by my magic? Or would the nerves get the better of me and ruin my performance? I needn’t have worried, everything went well. I couldn’t have wished for a better audience and I received a lot of nice complements, and I even secured several bookings off the back of that gig, too.

With my spot done, it was time for the man himself. I’d seen him on television in shows like Crackerjack, The Black and White Minstrels Show and The Good Old Days, and I’d seen him in pantomime too. Don was, and still is, one of the best pantomime Dames around. I’d also listened to his BBC Radio 2 Show, Good Morning Sunday, which he presented for an amazing fifteen years. So, I had seen many sides of this entertainer but tonight I was going to see Don Maclean, the stand-up comedian and I wasn’t going to be disappointed.

Don Maclean - Comidian & Broadcaster.

Don breezed onto to the stage with that big trade-mark smile and a confident twinkle in his eyes; I just knew we were in for a treat. His dynamic personality and his great energy along with his fast paced delivery, all insured that by the end of his spot there wasn’t a dry eye in the house. He had a wealth of topical gags and one liners and he came up with some wonderfully funny observational stuff on life, death and marriage. And he was very clever too; he knew exactly what sort of audience he had in front of him and how far he could go with-in those boundaries. He left the stage to a standing ovation and thunderous applause.

The evening, in my opinion, was a great success and was rounded off with some music and dancing. As the night drew to a close I said my goodbyes and made my way home. I don’t suppose Don Maclean will remember me from that night way back in, I think it was, 1995, but it’s a night I will always remember. I had the time of my life, I ate food that was fit for a king and saw one of the countries best and most respected stand–up comedians in sparkling form; and best bit about the whole thing is that I was paid for the privilege—now that’s magic!

Tips to Make your Party Awesome

2010-07-24T14:57:00.001-07:00

Most people dread the thought of organising and hosting their children's party. They just want to get it over and done with. But that's not how it should be, you should be able to relax and enjoy your child's special day, so here are a few tips to, hopefully, make your party a success.

The first step in planning a birthday party is to sit down with your child and find out exactly what type of birthday party he or she wants. Then determine if your budget, your creativity, and your energy can deliver that type of birthday party. If not, scale down and do only was is feasibly possible.
It's natural enough to feel like you invite all your friends, family and everyone who's invited you to a party recently. However, the bigger the gathering, the more hectic and expensive it will be. Instead, limit yourself to a set number of guests, and stop yourself from inviting more at the last minute, and invite only those people you know will enjoy a few hours in a house full of children.
If you happen to be on a tight budget, why not get together with one or two other friends, whose children's birthdays are near your child's, and host a joint-party. This works especially well for children under the age of four because they won't really care that the party isn't just for them. You'll save a lot of money by splitting the expenses between a few families. Sing "Happy Birthday" to each of them, and, to save even more money, have one big cake between them.
Food is often the centre piece of a good party, but that doesn't mean you have to serve a full meal. Cake, juice, some snack foods and ice-cream and jelly will keep the children happy.
Competitive games are enjoyable only for the people who win. A party should be fun... avoid tears by selecting games where everyone takes part and no one is out. Pass the Parcel, dancing competitions and getting the kids to join in with those action songs, like Y.M.C.A, Fast Food Song, Cha Cha Slide and The Music Man is a garanteed crowd pleaser.
Forget blowing up loads of balloons for kids; it'll be a waste of time and energy. I've been to hundreds of parties where the parents have stood for ages inflating balloons - and then the children arrive; with-in five minutes every balloon has been burst and all that's left is a mess for you, the party organisers, to clean up.
One of the biggest party-money-wasters is the over-priced plastic toys for party bags that get lost or thrown away in no time, so try something different. Buy large packs of art supplies such as glitter pens, stickers and stamps. Then break up the sets and give each child one of each.
And Finally, If you are booking a children's entertainer, try and get a recommendation from a friend or relative, search the web for reviews and make sure you get all their details (Phone numbers, address, email; a reputable and reliable entertainer will want all of these detail from you so that he can confirm the booking in writing). And make sure the entertainer you choose is CRB checked, fully insured and all his equipment is PAT tested.

The Busiest Time of the Year

2010-07-23T16:41:00.001-07:00

As a magician, the busiest time of my year is December, the season of good-will and great profit.
As the month approaches, I know I must get ready for the tsunami of phone calls, that will as in previous years, come from customers who are all eager to book my services. And the calls won't stop until the Christmas week its self arrives.

Speaking for myself I can honestly say that I turn away more work than I end up taking. Why? I hear you ask. Well, the answer is simple: on average I can squeeze three or maybe four bookings into any given day; the amount of enquiries I receive is at least five-times that figure. I might be a magician but I can only be in one place at a time.

So with the festive season fast approaching, I need to make sure I am ready and prepared for what will be - the busiest time of the year. It is always import to have a good show in order to capture rebooking and Christmas is no different. I am already in the throws of putting together the magic show I intend to use this year. I always try and add in new items, and, of course, it has to have a Christmas theme. Santa Claus and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer all make an appearance during the show, and the music has to be festive too. If I'm providing the disco then that also needs to have a Christmassy feel to it.

The adult and the corporate market is a much easier one. I can use the same tricks as the rest of the year, but adjust the patter slightly and add a few seasonal jokes; but in the main the close-up magic that I will perform at these events will remain the same.

I have just checked my diary and find that December is already half-full and so I know that all these schools, playgroups, social clubs, and pubs all of whom will require entertainment for their parties, will as in previous years be disappointed.

I have, in fact, got two customers who have tried for several years to book my services, but always found that I was full on the dates they required, and so now they have both taken the unusual steps of booking me for their Christmas Parties… in December 2011.

Children Say The Funniest Things

2010-05-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

I’ve been a full time children’s entertainer for over eighteen-years and, in that time, I’ve learnt that children really do say the most hilarious things. In this blog I thought I would share with you some of the funniest things I’ve heard children say.

“So, Phoebe, do you have any brothers or sisters,” I asked the six-year-old girl.
“No,” She replied, “I’m a lonely child.”

“What is the capital of England,” I asked little four-year-old Adam. The little boy immediately answered, “It’s the letter E, that’s the capital of England.”

Four-year-old Chloe, who was helping me perform some magic, suddenly and unexpectedly announced that she’d had a — pig and cow sandwich for breakfast. I was just as confused as the rest of the audience until her mother explained what she’d actually had for sausage sandwich, the sausages being made of — pork and beef.

On asking Emma how old she was she confidently replied, “I am seven, going on eighteen.” She was obviously repeating what she’d heard her mum say when she was asked about her daughter’s age.

After being asked where he’d been on holiday Michael stood and thought for a moment before replying, “I went to India, and while I was there I saw the Eiffel Tower.” — Now there’s a novelty.

At a Christmas party, a few years ago, I asked a bunch of seven-year-olds if they knew why we celebrated Christmas. A blonde-haired boy whose name was David, instantaneously shot his hand in the air. “Go on,” I said, “Tell us the answer, David.”
“We celebrate Christmas, so Santa can bring us lots of presents.”

Gemma and Stephen were helping me on stage and at the end of the trick I asked Stephen to shake Gemma’s hand. Stephen shook his head defiantly and refused.
“If you don’t shake Gemma’s hand, I’ll get her to give you a kiss,” I responded Jokingly.
Gemma immediately shouted, “No! I won’t kiss Stephen. I only kiss boys whose dad’s are rich.”

And finally… it’s not only children who inadvertently say things that are funny. Here’s the innocent remark I made, that had every adult in room laughing, and left all the children wandering what was so funny…

Whilst entertaining a group of youngsters at a nursery and making a balloon animal, for a little girl who had just helped me make the magic work, I asked if anyone could guess what animal I was creating. There were lots of answers, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, a parrot and a snake — all of which were wrong. But one little lad shouted out, “It’s a Crab!”
“No, no,” I said it’s not a crab, I’ll tell you what it is - it’s a teddy Bear.” I turned to the little girl and said. “I bet you’d much rather have teddy bears than crabs.” — Oops!

No Sunny Spells, Just Magic Ones.

2010-05-05T10:55:00.000-07:00

Working at an out door event can see an entertainer having to deal with allsorts of problems, including bad weather conditions. And at my latest gig, The Cropthorne Walkabout, the weather really did put the dampers on the day.

Over the last thirty-years, the Cropthorne Walkabout has firmly established itself as a favourite attraction for all those interested in a great day out soaking up the peaceful charm and history of rural England, and it’s also a great family day out too. Take a leisurely stroll through this picturesque Worcestershire village and you will not only see some of the most spectacular and striking gardens in the area but you will also encounter some wonderful attractions including: a Jazz Band, Morris Dancing, Boat Trips, a Hawk and Owl display, a Classic Car and Motorcycle Exhibition, a Fully Licence Bar, a Pig Roast, various stalls — and a Magician.

Yours truly was booked (for the umpteenth year) to provide the magical entertainment, predominately, for the children. My performances were to take place in a marquee that had been erected within the grounds of the Cropthorne Churchyard. As I arrived I became immediately aware of how few people were around compared to previous years. It was obvious that the bad Bank Holiday weather had already taken its toll on the event.

I started my first show at 2:30pm. In previous years the marquee would have been full to bursting, but this year there were only fifteen little ones, with, of course, their parents. I started the show and everything was going well, but with rain now falling heavily, the marquee was starting to leak and on several occasions I was forced to move across to avoid the water that was now constantly dripping down.

By the end of my show, the marquee was completely full with people (mainly adults) — who weren’t really there to watch the show — but who needed shelter from the torrential rain. Once the show was finished the rain slowed to a fine drizzle and the crowd slowly dwindled, finally leaving me to re-set everything for my second performance, which was due at around 4:00pm. But it wasn’t long before the heavy rain returned and soon the Churchyard and was almost deserted, and with rain falling and skies becoming dark and overcast, it really was quite eerie.

Occasionally I would see the odd passer-by, with their umbrella’s up, heads down, braving the elements — but, I think the fact there were now actually more stallholders than visitors says it all. The bad weather really did put the dampers on the rest of the day, and needless to say, that my last show never had a chance of starting. No audience, no show. One family did walk by with a little boy whose name was Noah — a very appropriate name considering the weather we were getting. I made the little lad a balloon animal and showed him some magic as well. That family turned out to be my last customers of the day.

It’s shame after all the hard work that goes into organising an event such as the Cropthorne Walkabout that it should be spoiled by the weather; but you can’t really blame those who had intended to pay a visit and then decided against it once they’d seen the weather forecast or those who left early for the same reason.

Don't think there is an answer and there's certainly no one to blame. All you can say is grit your teeth, smile and say - that’s life - and hope that next year the sun will be shinning.

How did I become a magician?

2010-05-03T16:31:00.000-07:00

I thought I’d try and answer two of the questions mentioned in my last blog. So here it goes.

Most of us will, at some point, have received a “box of tricks” for Christmas. I did, and, from that moment on my life was changed forever. I sat their everyday practicing the tricks until I had mastered everyone. I remember nervously performing a card trick that had took me days to learn. My whole family sat and watched and I remember the shocked look on their faces as they released they didn’t know how I'd done it. This ten-year-old boy, who had probably never done anything amazing in his life before, had fooled the pants off them; they really hadn’t got a clue!

It was such an incredible feeling, the adrenalin rush. And for little old me to have entertained, amazed and fooled my whole family was amazing. I wanted more of that feeling. I couldn’t wait to go back to school to show my friends the magic I’d learnt. My school friends were very receptive to the magic I showed them. Some of them had the same box of tricks but just could work out how to perform them properly, and that was the difference! When my friends were giving up after a few tries, pushing the magic under the bed and playing with their Subbuteo football game instead, (Subbuteo – now there’s a memory), I didn’t give up! I wanted to perfect the tricks and then I wanted to learn more. But in thoses days, unlike now, magic tricks were not so readily available. Now, you don’t even have to leave the house to find out about or buy magic. You can surf the net and find allsorts of magical effects, online magic stores, books and dvd’s. Ebay is full of tricks at giveaway prices and there are dozens of different magic sets available. But in thoses days, all those years ago, there was nothing like that. The only way I found out about more magic was while on a visit to my local library. There I discovered a fair selection of books about magic and the allied arts. I think I borrowed everyone of those books and it became obvious that I was obsessed with becoming a magician.

The obsession never left me; once magic gets you hooked there is no way to stop the addiction; you can’t go to the doctor and ask for a patch to stick on your arm – nope! That’s it, once the magic bug has got a hold of you, it will never let go.
I am now a full-time professional working for myself, doing a job that I love and not many people can say that. I perform at many different events and venues performing not only as a children's entertainer, but also as a close-up magician too. Close-up is as the name suggests magic that is performed at close quarters to the audience. I will walk around, mix and mingle with the guests, performing amazing feats of magic and mind reading at their finger tips - miricles no-less. So every time I go to work, its always different; different audiences, different reactions, different venues and different hecklers too. It's great doing what I do, I just love it - even on the bad days - and there are some. I wouldn't change my job, (If you can call it a job) for the world.

Do I always look forward to going to work? The answer is most definitely yes!

Don't forget any questions - please ask.

Is it up his sleeve?

2009-10-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

Does a magician really have anything up his sleeve? I will endeavour to give you, the reader, the answers to all thoses most frequently asked questions including: How did I get started in magic and why? Do I always look forward to work? Has a trick ever gone wrong?
Can you make my wife disapear? And who do I believe is the greatest magician of all time? Is it Harry Houdini, Paul Daniels, Derren Brown, David Nixon, Tommy Cooper, David Copperfield, David Blaine or is it Andy Kirk (That's me).

Keep reading my blogs and you will find out the answers to all those questions and more.

I will also be telling you some amusing and amazing true stories that have really happened to me during the course of my eighteen-year career. So keep popping back to this blog to read my anecdotes and believe me there will be plenty of them.

If you've got any questions about me or magic in general please ask and I will do my best to answer the questions.