Corporate Magician for Gala Dinners, Conferences & Client Events

Corporate events have a job to do. A gala dinner needs to make guests feel valued, a conference needs to keep delegates engaged, and client hospitality has to leave a lasting impression of your brand. Entertainment that ignores these goals is a cost. Entertainment that serves them is an investment.

James Anthony is a Manchester-based corporate magician, mentalist and member of The Magic Circle who has spent his career performing for business audiences. He has entertained players and staff at the Manchester United Christmas party three years running, performed at exhibition stands for global brands such as Roland and HP, and appeared on BBC and ITV. Across more than 500 events in over 15 countries, the brief has always been the same: astonish the guests, make the organiser look good and fit seamlessly into the running order.

That means arriving early, briefing with your event manager, respecting the timings, dressing for the occasion and knowing when to step back. It also means magic that suits a professional audience: sophisticated, funny and impossible, never cheesy or awkward.

Most corporate guests arrive with a drink in hand and only a few people they know. Close-up magic gives them an instant shared experience. A card vanishes from one person's hand and reappears in a colleague's pocket, and suddenly strangers are laughing, comparing theories and talking to each other. It is the fastest icebreaker there is.

Magic is also inclusive. It does not depend on age, seniority, language or interest in sport. A managing director and a graduate trainee react in exactly the same way, which is why it works so well at events that bring together different departments, offices or companies.

Finally, magic is memorable. Months later, guests still describe the moment their signed card appeared inside a sealed envelope or their thought was revealed by a stranger. When those stories are told, your event, and your brand, are part of them.

Close-up magic, also called table magic or strolling magic, is performed right in front of small groups of guests, often in their own hands. It is the most popular format for corporate events because it works around everything else that is happening in the room.

During a drinks reception, James moves between groups, performing short, high-impact routines of five to ten minutes before moving on. This keeps the energy up while guests arrive, covers delays in the schedule and makes sure no one is left standing alone.

At a gala dinner, James performs between courses, visiting each table in turn. Guests stay seated, conversation flows naturally around the magic, and every table gets a front-row experience. For large events, James can work with a small team of hand-picked magicians to cover every guest in the time available.

For conferences, awards evenings and after-dinner slots, James performs a stage show of mentalism and mind magic. Audience members are invited to take part in demonstrations of mind reading, prediction and influence that play to the whole room, whether that is 50 delegates or several hundred guests.

The show is fast-paced, funny and built around audience participation, so it creates a shared high point in the evening. It can run from a short 20-minute set before the awards to a full 45-minute feature, and can be combined with close-up magic earlier in the evening for a complete entertainment package.

Because James is also an experienced stage hypnotist, many corporate clients choose to add an element of hypnosis to the show for an evening their team will talk about for years.

The most effective corporate magic is built around your business. James can create routines that reveal your company logo, predict a product name, feature your key message or celebrate a milestone such as an anniversary, award or product launch.

Branded magic turns entertainment into communication. Guests do not just remember an impressive trick, they remember the moment your new product appeared in their hands or your tagline was found inside a sealed envelope. It is a natural fit for product launches, sales conferences, client hospitality and trade shows.

James has created custom routines for brands at exhibitions and conferences, and will talk you through ideas on your discovery call so the concept fits your audience, venue and budget.

Gala dinners and awards evenings, where close-up magic during the reception and dinner is followed by a stage set before or after the awards.

Conferences and seminars, where mentalism can open or close a session, energise delegates after lunch or illustrate themes such as perception, persuasion and communication.

Christmas and summer parties, where magic, mentalism and hypnosis help a team celebrate together and give everyone a story to share.

Client entertainment and hospitality, from private boxes and dinners to VIP receptions, where discreet, high-end close-up magic helps your team build relationships.

Product launches, trade shows and exhibitions, where brand-integrated magic draws attention, starts conversations and makes your message memorable.

Event managers, PAs and agencies have enough to think about. Booking James should take things off your list, not add to it. After the discovery call, you receive a clear proposal covering timings, format and requirements. James works directly with your venue and production team, arrives well ahead of his performance and adapts on the night if the schedule changes.

James holds public liability insurance and can provide documentation for your venue on request. For international events, travel and logistics are agreed in advance so there are no surprises.

James is based in Manchester and performs for corporate clients throughout the North West, including Manchester city centre, Cheshire, Liverpool and Lancashire. He regularly travels to London and the rest of the UK for conferences, gala dinners and product launches.

Internationally, James spent several years performing his illusion show at sea for Royal Caribbean, Princess, P&O and Seabourn, and has worked corporate events in Europe including trade show stands for Roland DG at FESPA in Barcelona. If your event is abroad, get in touch with the location and date and we will put together a proposal that includes travel.

Start with a short discovery call. Tell us about your event, your guests, the venue and what you want them to feel. James will recommend the right format, whether that is close-up magic, a stage show, hypnosis or a combination, and send a tailored proposal.

Popular dates, especially in November, December and the summer party season, are often booked months in advance, so it is worth checking availability as soon as your date is confirmed.