Parlour Magician Bristol

Professional Parlour Magician Bristol

If you're looking for a parlour magician in Bristol, you're probably after something a little different from traditional close-up magic.

I'm Andy Field, a professional magician with a quarter of a century of experience performing for weddings, private parties, corporate events and special occasions. I have an abundance of online reviews.

I'm a two-time S.A.M. Champion of Close-Up Magic. I have attracted more than 20 million views on YouTube, and have performed for audiences throughout the UK.

I've also worked with the BBC on Hustle. So I've spent quite a long time learning what makes magic entertaining rather than simply standing in a room doing tricks at people.

And thankfully, I don't need a velvet curtain, a top hat or a rabbit called Bernard to make it work!

What Is Parlour Magic?

Parlour magic is a style of magic designed for a small or medium-sized audience, usually with everyone gathered together to watch.

It sits somewhere between traditional close-up magic and a full stage show.

The audience is close enough to see the magic clearly, but instead of performing individually for small groups, the magician performs to everyone at once.

That makes parlour magic particularly useful for private parties, corporate functions and dinners. Plus celebrations where you want a more structured performance without turning the event into a full-scale theatre production.

There is no need for a huge stage. There doesn't need to be complicated lighting or a massive production team. Just an audience, a suitable space and a magician who knows how to entertain them.

Parlour Magic vs Close-Up Magic

So how is parlour magic different from close-up magic?

With close-up magic, I can move around the room and perform directly to small groups of guests.

A card might appear in someone's hand. A borrowed object might disappear. Someone might have a perfectly ordinary-looking playing card suddenly turn into something it definitely wasn't a few seconds earlier.

The audience is right in the middle of the action.

I've written more about this in my guide to Close-Up Magic Explained.

Parlour magic is different because the audience stays together.

Rather than moving from group to group, I perform for everyone simultaneously.

That can make it particularly effective when you want the entertainment to become a shared experience.

Everyone sees the same impossible moment.

Everyone reacts at the same time.

And quite often, everyone then starts arguing about what they think happened.

That's usually a good sign.

Why Choose a Parlour Magician for a Bristol Event?

There are plenty of situations where parlour magic can work brilliantly.

Imagine you've hired a private room for a celebration. Your guests are seated or gathered together, you've finished eating. Now you want something to bring everyone together.

You could put on some music.

You could make another trip to the bar.

Or you could have a magician walk into the room and start doing things that make absolutely no sense.

Personally, I know which one I'd choose.

Parlour magic works particularly well for:

• Private parties
• Birthday celebrations
• Anniversary celebrations
• Corporate events
• Company dinners
• Christmas parties
• Wedding receptions
• Drinks receptions
• Small conferences
• Dinner parties
• Special celebrations

It can also work particularly well in venues where there isn't room for a conventional stage show.

Bristol has a huge variety of event spaces, from private rooms and restaurants to larger event venues. The important thing isn't having a theatre. It's having somewhere where a group of guests can comfortably gather and watch.

Parlour magic can also work particularly well at weddings, particularly when you want to bring guests together for a shared performance.

Parlour Magic for Private Parties in Bristol

Private parties are one of the occasions where parlour magic can really come into its own.

If you're celebrating a birthday, anniversary or another special occasion, you probably don't want the entertainment to dominate the entire evening.

You want something that creates a memorable moment.

A parlour performance can give you exactly that.

Guests can enjoy drinks and conversation before the performance. They can then gather together for the magic and then carry on enjoying the party afterwards.

It provides a natural focal point without requiring everyone to spend the entire evening sitting in rows staring at a stage.

If you're considering something more informal and interactive, my Bristol Party Magician guide explains how close-up magic can work throughout a celebration.

The two styles can even complement one another.

Parlour Magic for Corporate Events

Parlour magic can also be an excellent option for corporate events.

Corporate entertainment doesn't necessarily need to involve a stage, microphone and somebody shouting "MAKE SOME NOISE!"

Sometimes something much more personal works better.

A parlour performance can bring a group together after dinner, during a drinks reception or as part of an evening's entertainment.

I've performed at corporate events for many years. One of the biggest advantages of magic is its flexibility.

You don't need a huge amount of equipment.

You don't need to transform the venue into a theatre.

And you don't have to spend half the evening watching somebody wrestle with a projector.

If you're organising a corporate event in Bristol, you can also read my guide to Corporate Magician Bristol.

The Magic Is Still Close Enough to Feel Impossible

One of the great things about parlour magic is the distance between the audience and the performer.

You're not sitting 50 metres away watching something through binoculars.

The audience is close. They can see what I'm doing.

They can take part. Sometimes members of the audience become part of the magic themselves.

That's where years of experience matter.

Knowing how to perform a trick is one thing.

Knowing how to present it to a room full of people is something else entirely.

Good magic isn't simply about the method.

It's about timing, humour, audience management, psychology, misdirection and showmanship.

I've written about Sleight of Hand Magic Explained if you'd like to see more about the skill behind this type of magic.

Parlour Magic or Table Top Magic?

It really depends on the atmosphere you're looking for.

Table top magic is ideal when you want the magician to move around the room and entertain different groups of guests.

That's particularly useful when people are eating, drinking and chatting.

I've written a complete guide to Table Top Magician Bristol explaining how this style works at weddings, parties and corporate events.

Parlour magic is better when you want to bring everyone together for a shared performance.

So neither is necessarily "better".

They're simply different.

If you want people moving around and interacting naturally, close-up or table top magic may be ideal.

If you want everyone gathered together for a performance, parlour magic could be the better choice.

How Much Does a Parlour Magician Cost in Bristol?

The cost depends on several factors, including the type of event, number of guests, location and performance requirements.

Experience also matters.

You're not simply paying someone to perform a few tricks.

You're paying for the years of practice behind those tricks. Plus the ability to entertain a real audience and the experience to adapt the performance to the room.

I've put together a detailed guide to How Much Does a Magician Cost in Bristol? if you're currently planning your entertainment budget.

Parlour Magic With Andy Field

I'm Andy Field, a professional magician providing parlour, close-up and sleight-of-hand magic for events throughout Bristol and the surrounding areas.

My style is relaxed, funny and interactive.

I don't believe magic should feel like a lecture.

It should feel like something unexpected has just happened in front of you.

I've spent a quarter of a century developing my performance style. Including professional work at weddings, parties and corporate events, along with television work with the BBC's Hustle.

I've also been fortunate enough to receive hundreds of reviews and build an audience of more than 20 million views on YouTube.

But ultimately, none of those numbers matter if the people standing in front of me aren't enjoying themselves.

That's the important bit.

Book a Parlour Magician in Bristol

If you're planning a private party, corporate event, dinner or special celebration in Bristol and want something more intimate than a traditional stage show, parlour magic could be exactly what you're looking for.

It's close enough to feel personal.

Large enough for everyone to enjoy together.

And flexible enough to fit naturally into your event.

No giant stage.

No complicated production.

No rabbit required.

Just powerful close-up magic, showmanship, humour and a room full of people wondering how on earth that just happened.

If you'd like to discuss hiring a parlour magician in Bristol, get in touch with Andy Field and tell me a little about your event.