The After-Dinner Magician Who Had Everyone Talking Four Weeks Later

A gala dinner or awards ceremony is one of the hardest corporate events to get right. The stakes are high. Expectations are higher. And once the awards have been presented and the speeches are done, you need something that keeps the energy in the room — rather than watching guests reach for their coats.

This is exactly where the right after-dinner magician makes all the difference. Not a comedian who might divide the room. Not a band that drowns out conversation. But close-up magic and jaw-dropping sleight of hand that gets everyone talking — together.

Here's a real example of how it works.

The Event: A Gala Celebration 25 Years in the Making

When a company marks its 25th birthday, they want the celebration to feel as big as the achievement. This particular client came to us with a dual brief — a Christmas party and a major company milestone wrapped into one spectacular evening.

The venue was St Ermin's Hotel, Westminster, London — an extraordinary setting with grand interiors that instantly set the tone for a special occasion. The guest list was a mix of long-serving staff, newer team members, and an international contingent, including a Spanish-speaking team.

They needed entertainment that would work for everyone — regardless of language, department, or how well people knew each other. Magic, as it turns out, is truly universal.

A Full Evening of Corporate Magic — Three Acts, One Night

For gala dinners and awards evenings, we always recommend thinking about entertainment in three phases rather than a single slot. Here's how the evening unfolded:

Phase 1 — Drinks Reception: Close-Up Roaming Magic

As guests arrived and gathered, two of our close-up magicians worked the room — performing right in people's hands with cards, coins, and mind-reading. It's the ultimate icebreaker at any corporate event, getting strangers laughing and gasping together before they've even sat down.

Phase 2 — Dinner: Table Magic

As the meal was served, our magicians moved table to table — bringing close-up magic directly to guests in a more intimate setting. It keeps the atmosphere buzzing between courses without ever interrupting the flow of dinner. If you've ever wondered what makes a gala dinner feel genuinely alive, this is usually it. It's one of the reasons we think magic is the perfect icebreaker for awards evenings.

Phase 3 — After Dinner: The Crooked Croupier

And then came the moment guests least expected — and most remembered.

Our after-dinner act, The Crooked Croupier, took over with a show built around con games, swindles, and hustle magic. Think Three-Card Monte, bar bets you can't win, and card sharping so slick it makes you question the very concept of a fair game. It's funny, interactive, and completely riveting — the perfect way to round off a gala dinner with a finale nobody sees coming.

What the Client Said

"What an amazing evening we had. It was our Christmas Party and the 25-company birthday kick-off. The magic was out of this world. Our staff are still baffled some four weeks later as to how you can get smoke coming out of someone's sleeve, and mind-reading our Spanish team! I would definitely recommend a booking. And don't get me started on the Crooked Croupier!"

— Lysander

Why an After-Dinner Magician Works So Well at Gala Dinners and Awards Ceremonies

We've performed at gala dinners, awards evenings and celebration events all over the UK, and the reason magic consistently lands so well comes down to this: it's the one form of entertainment that works on every guest, all at once, whatever their background.

It transcends language and culture. As Lysander's comment about the Spanish team shows, magic doesn't need translation. The gasp is universal.

It fills the awkward post-awards lull. After the speeches and the presentations, energy can dip. An after-dinner magician brings it back up instantly — and keeps it there.

It gives guests something to talk about. "Four weeks later" is not an unusual timeframe for guests to still be discussing what they saw. That's the kind of event impact that's genuinely hard to manufacture any other way.

It works alongside your existing programme. Awards, speeches, dinner — we fit around your schedule. As we explain in our guide to corporate event entertainment ideas, the best entertainment enhances your event rather than competing with it.

Planning a Gala Dinner or Awards Ceremony?

Whether you're organising an awards evening for 50 or a gala dinner for 500, we'll help you design an entertainment package that fits your event, your audience, and your schedule. From a single after-dinner magician to a full evening of magic across every phase of the night — we've got the performers and the experience to make it work.

And if you're in the early stages of planning your Christmas party or end-of-year celebration, take a look at why hiring a Christmas party magician is always a good idea — the same principles apply year-round.

Get in Touch

Tell us about your event and we'll come back to you with ideas, availability, and pricing. No obligation — just a conversation about how to make your gala dinner or awards evening one people are still talking about a month later.

→ Explore our corporate event entertainment options

→ Find out what makes magic the perfect awards evening icebreaker

→ Transform your corporate events with close-up magic

Book a Corporate Magician for Your Next Event

From intimate receptions of 40 to large-scale corporate parties of 300 and beyond, Close-Up Chris & Co provide close-up magic that fits the room, reads the crowd, and delivers the reactions your guests will be talking about long after the night ends.

Get in touch today to check availability and discuss your event.

Plan Your Next Event with Close-Up Chris & Co

If you’re planning a corporate event at the Park Regis or any other venue, Close-Up Chris & Co are here to help. With over 25 years of experience, we specialise in creating magical moments that your guests will talk about for years to come.

150+

27

Years of experience

Happy clients