Weddings, cocktail hours and private parties
Close-up & Strolling Magician
Premier Close-up Magician
Matt Wilson
I’m Matt Wilson, a close-up and strolling magician based in Birmingham, Alabama. I’ve been performing for 34 years, bringing sleight of hand right to guests at weddings, cocktail hours, receptions, and private parties.
Close-up magic works especially well during the natural gaps in an event, when guests are arriving, waiting for the next thing to begin, or talking with people they already know. I perform for small groups at a time, giving them something unexpected to experience together. It gets people laughing and talking, and the conversation often continues after I’ve moved on.
I usually spend five to ten minutes with each group and can entertain around forty to eighty guests an hour. There’s no stage, microphone, or formal setup, so the magic fits naturally into the event without bringing everything else to a stop.
Most bookings run from one to three hours and range from $300 to $800. Travel within about 60 miles of Birmingham is included.
Magic That Gets People Talking
Booked by brands you know
The booking
What you get
- Format
- Close-up and strolling magic, performed group by group and often in your guests’ hands
- Runs
- One to three hours, depending on the event
- Reaches
- Around 40 to 80 guests an hour, usually in groups of up to ten
- Needs
- No stage or lighting, and usually no sound system because I’m only a few feet from the people watching
- Travel
- Travel within about 60 miles of Birmingham is included. For locations farther away, I’ll quote the additional travel when we talk.
- Venue
- Event liability coverage arranged whenever your venue requires it
How it works in the room
What close-up magic does differently
Close-up magic isn’t a smaller stage show. It’s a different format, designed for an evening where people are mingling, talking, and moving around the room.
- The format
It comes to them
A stage show brings everyone together and asks them to focus on one place. With strolling magic, I go to your guests wherever they already are. They can keep talking, drinking, and enjoying the event while I move from group to group.
- The view
Nobody’s in the back row
Each group watches from only a few feet away, usually with no more than ten people at a time. Much of the magic happens with objects they’re holding, so everyone gets a clear, close view.
- The schedule
It runs around your evening
Close-up magic fits into the parts of the evening that are already there. I can perform while guests arrive, during cocktail hour, or at the tables between courses. You don’t need to stop the event or set aside a separate showtime.
Where I perform
Where close-up magic fits
Close-up magic works in all kinds of rooms, from guests standing with drinks to tables between courses. These are the events I’m booked for most often.
Booking for a company event? See corporate magic and mentalism.
Private Parties
Best forAdult guests · Milestone birthdays · No stage needed
Birthdays, anniversaries, and house parties are a natural fit when a stage would feel out of place. I move through the living room, patio, or wherever guests have gathered, performing for a few people at a time.
Weddings
Best forCocktail hour · Between courses · Guests of every age
Cocktail hour often leaves guests waiting while the couple is away taking photographs. I keep people engaged by moving from group to group, and I can also perform at the tables between courses. It gives guests something to enjoy and talk about without changing the wedding schedule.
Cocktail Hours & Receptions
Best forStanding guests · Small groups · Breaks the ice fast
Close-up magic works especially well in a room where people are standing and talking over drinks. I move between small groups, giving guests something to watch and talk about together. It can also help people who have just met feel more comfortable with one another.
Charity Galas & Fundraisers
Best forTable to table · Keeps the tone elegant · Before the program
I perform table to table while guests arrive and before the main program or auction begins. It gives people something to enjoy during that part of the evening, then finishes before attention needs to move to the fundraiser.
Bachelor & Bachelorette Parties
Best forAdult guests · Everyone gets a turn · Nothing to set up
Close-up magic can join a night that’s already underway without turning it into a formal show. I move around the group, so nobody has to sit down, stop talking, or face a stage. There’s no equipment to set up, and everyone gets a chance to see something at close range.
Holidays
Best forChristmas and New Year · Mingling guests · Festive and interactive
At office Christmas parties and New Year’s Eve events, I mingle with guests as they arrive and while the room fills. It gives coworkers, friends, and families something different to share without interrupting the rest of the celebration.
Close-up bookings
What people say
Close-up magic happens inches from the people watching it, with no stage between them and what’s happening. Here is what guests say afterwards.
Before you book
Questions
Close-up magic is the part of an event people ask the most questions about, because most guests have never had it happen to them. Here is what to expect, what it costs, and what your venue may need. Still have a question? I’m always happy to help.
What is a Close-up Magician?
A close-up magician performs among the guests using cards, coins, and other small objects. The magic happens only inches away, often in the guests’ own hands. It’s a natural fit while people are arriving, mingling, or sitting between courses.
Do you perform for adults?
Yes. I’ve performed at adult birthday parties, engagement parties, dinner parties, wedding receptions, and corporate events. For an adult birthday, I can perform close-up magic as guests arrive, present a stand-up show after dinner, or combine the two.
How many guests can you reach?
I usually spend five to ten minutes with each group, and a group can be anywhere from one person to about ten. That means I can generally reach forty to eighty guests in an hour. The exact number depends on the room, the size of each group, and how spread out everyone is.
If you’re expecting a larger crowd, let me know when we talk. I can recommend whether a longer booking would give me enough time to reach more of your guests.
What is a Parlor Magician?
A parlor magician presents a stand-up show for a seated audience in a living room, banquet room, or small theater. More people can watch together than with close-up magic, but the experience is still personal and interactive. It’s my favorite style of performance, and it’s the format I use for my family and birthday shows.
How long is a performance?
A stand-up show lasts an hour. If a shorter show fits your party better, that’s no problem. Close-up or strolling magic runs from one to three hours, depending on the event.
How much does a magician cost?
Bookings start at $300, including travel within about 60 miles of Birmingham. I also travel beyond that area, with the additional travel included in your quote. The final price depends on the type of event, the length of the performance, and the size of the audience. I’ll work with your budget, so tell me about your event and I’ll send you a quote.
How far ahead should I book?
Most people book one to three months ahead, and weekend dates in the busier months go first. If your date is already set, it’s worth asking early.
What do you wear?
I normally wear a suit. The idea is that I look like one of your guests rather than someone who turned up in a costume, so the magic is the thing people notice and not what I’m wearing.
Do you carry liability insurance?
I don’t keep a standing policy, but I arrange event liability coverage whenever a venue requires it. Schools, libraries, churches, and city venues often need proof of coverage before confirming a booking. Mention the requirement when you contact me, and I’ll arrange the policy and coordinate directly with the venue.
Among your guests
Close-up magic, up close
Close-up magic happens in your guests’ own hands, not on a stage. I perform with cards, coins, and objects they’re holding themselves, so they’re part of what happens rather than watching from across the room.
The format asks very little of your venue. There’s no stage or lighting, and usually no sound system because I’m close enough for each group to hear me. The event doesn’t have to stop, either. I move through the room a few guests at a time while everything else continues around me.
That works especially well during a cocktail hour, between courses at a wedding reception, or in the time before the formal part of an event begins.
Three steps
Book a close-up set
You deal directly with me from your first email through the day of the event. The person answering your questions is also the person who arrives to perform.
Tell me about the event
Send me the date, location, approximate guest count, and a little about how the evening will work. It helps to know whether guests will be standing, seated at tables, or moving between the two, because that’s what I build the booking around.
Get the details
I answer my own messages, normally the same day. I’ll explain how I would work the event, how long I recommend performing, what I need from the venue, and what it will cost.
Reserve the date
If you’d like to book, I’ll send the agreement and deposit details by email. Once those are handled, the date is reserved. Closer to the event, we’ll confirm when I should start, where I should begin, and how the performance fits into the schedule.