More and more people are looking to hire a magician for a wedding. That’s understandable as weddings are a perfect venue for magic to be presented.Unlike many events, weddings have a traditional structure which dictates the course of events far more so than parties or corporate events. As a wedding magician, it’s important to understand the format of a wedding, and how it can influence the types of magic tricks you will need to use. In this post, we look at the 3 main situations magicians experience at a wedding, and the types of magic that suit each situation.
Dominic Reyes talks about the three types of tricks he performs at weddings.
The Drinks Reception.
The wedding guests have arrived after a formal ceremony, and this is their first chance to meet and catch up with each other. Drinks are being ordered, and people form into small groups which break off into new groups as people meet and greet each other. At the same time, photographs are being taken, and people are being called away to join the photographer.
Your job as a magician, is to ‘break the ice’. You mix with the guests, performing to small groups. The magic tricks that work well in this situation tend to be:
- Short.
- Easy to follow.
- Create a magical event early in the trick.
- Can be abridged if a group is called away.
- Has multiple points where new spectators can join and still understand the plot.
Guests will be joining the group, waiters will be passing around canapes, and guests will be called away to join a photograph group. The goal is to entertain, encourage guests in small groups to join into a larger group to watch the magic and in doing so, get an introduction to each other.
Ideally, props should be kept to a minimum. A deck of cards, some coins, some magicians business cards, and a sharpie should give you everything you need to work the room.
The drinks reception is the ‘opener’ performance for the magician. You establish your skills, show that you are fun and entertaining and leave the guests wanting more.
This is a great time to assess the guests, noting which groups are the most responsive. You can use that information to great effect when you meet them again at the tables.
The Wedding Breakfast.
Some clients like their magician to perform for the guests that have made it through the wedding line and are seated. Others prefer for the magic to start once the bride and groom have made their formal entrance and been applauded. Find this information out ahead of time so you know in advance when to approach the tables. Your magic tricks for the wedding breakfast can have a longer plot and be more demanding on the spectators. The table is your stage and the audience are seated, ready to watch your magic in the 4 or 5 minutes you are with them between a course.
The goal at their tables is to involve everyone. Present to the whole table, not just the guests on the side you are standing. Ask questions, address people around the whole table, and choose a spot that is the most visible for everyone seated.
This is the part of your performance where you can really shine. Present the magic you are most proud of, and build to an applause cue.
The Evening Reception.
The evening reception turns back into strolling magic. New guests arrive, and those groups can be shown material that you performed during the drinks reception. New guests gravitate to the bar area, so spending some time there, will allow you to meet most of the new guests very quickly.
The ‘all day guests’ may stay at their tables, go off to get changed or move to the bar or outside grounds. Travel around the venue as much as possible, revisiting the most responsive guests, the bridal group and the new arrivals.
You will be competing with loud music, low lighting and alcohol fueled guests, so pick magic tricks that are easy to follow, interruptible, and don’t require the spectators to remember too many things. Add in a set of tricks that don’t require verbal instructions or patter. These tricks are tools you can pull out when you perform to a group near the DJ or dance floor.
A Backup
Sometimes things will be a little different. The format of the day changes, the guests all form one large group or you are asked to do extra time. Keep a few tricks back as ‘reserve back up’ These can be pulled out if you find you burn through your material and then get suddenly asked to return to a group at the end of the night, or need to do another sweep of rooms for 30 minutes at the end. Always make sure you have something none of the guests have seen, ready as a backup trick.
DO THIS: Make a note of the three performing situations at weddings. List your working material and group them into these 3 types. If you find one list is longer than the other, what could you do to modify or adapt some of the tricks to build in the qualities needed for a different situation?
Great advice, I’d also take into account what guests are going to be doing in each of these moments. For example, guests hands are going to be full during the drinks reception and they are not going to be able to take cards easily.
Really visualise what is going to be happening in each scenerio.