Magician in Corby for receptions and sit-down meals
The two longest lulls at almost any event are the drinks before the meal and the wait between courses. That's exactly where close-up magic earns its keep.
A magician in Corby is most useful at the moments when your guests have nothing in particular to do: standing about with a drink before the doors open, or sitting at a table between the starter and the main. Jamie Docherty fills those gaps with close-up magic done inches away, so whole groups end up laughing at the same thing.
Jamie was named Northamptonshire Close-Up Magician of the Year in 2015 and he's a regular performer at the Royal Variety After Show Party. He's "Jay" from the double act Jay & Joss, seen on Britain's Got Talent in 2024. Below you'll find how he handles the drinks and the dinner at a wedding, a work do and a family party.
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Wedding drinks and the wedding breakfast with a magician in Corby
Weddings are where the drinks and dinner pattern is clearest. The ceremony finishes, the couple heads off with the photographer, and the guests are handed a glass and pointed at the lawn or the bar. That can easily be an hour. Jamie spends it moving between groups, so the bride's university friends and the groom's uncles end up chatting.
Then everyone sits down. Between courses he goes from table to table, giving each one a short set of its own. Kerri Lavery wrote on Facebook about the wedding breakfast: "Jamie continued to be part of conversation long after he had left and still now guests are talking about how wonderful he was days later."
Timing is the bit people worry about, and it's simpler than it sounds. Jamie checks the running order with your venue, works around the waiting staff and stops before the speeches. Nobody has to stop eating to watch, and nobody's left out because of where they're sat.
The drinks reception is also where couples see the payoff in photos. A group of guests mid-gasp, hands over mouths, makes a far better candid shot than people politely checking their phones. Jamie works with small groups and moves on quickly, so he's never in the photographer's way for long.
If you're comparing options for a wedding magician in Corby, it's worth thinking about evening guests too. A spell of roaming magic as they arrive helps them feel part of the day. More detail is on the wedding entertainment page.
Work dinners and Christmas dos around Corby
Company dinners have the same two lulls, just with name badges. Guests mill around during the welcome drinks, then sit with people they may only know by email. A magician in Corby working those stretches takes the edge off, and gives the quieter tables something to talk about other than work.
There's a practical side, too. At a long welcome drinks a magician in Corby can catch the people who arrive alone and drift to the edge of the room. A trick in the middle of a small group pulls them in, and by the time dinner is called they've got someone to talk to.
Jamie's corporate list includes Jamie Carragher's official retirement dinner, so a staff Christmas party or awards night is very much familiar ground. At a dinner with presentations he plans around the order of the evening: drinks first, tables between courses, then a clear floor for the awards.
For a December do with a disco after the meal, the mood is looser and the magic is quicker and louder to match. For a client dinner it's quieter, with a bit more chat. Whatever the night, the material is clean and suitable for colleagues of every age.
Product launches, trade shows and conferences work too, with Jamie drawing a small crowd around a stand or keeping delegates entertained over lunch. The corporate entertainment page has more on how he handles work events.
Worth knowing before you book in Corby
- Pick the waits Drinks before the meal and the gaps between courses are where a magician in Corby makes the most difference.
- Fits any layout He works on his feet among your guests, so there's no stage or table to find.
- Proper paperwork Each booking comes with a formal confirmation of the details and invoice receipts for every payment.
- Equity cover As an Equity member he carries public liability insurance of ten million pounds.
- Smartly dressed He's always well turned out, is a non-smoker and never drinks alcohol while working.
Birthday meals and family parties in Corby
A big birthday or an anniversary often means a meal in a function room with family spread over several tables. Booking a magician in Corby to go round those tables means each one gets its own few minutes, and the grandparents at the far end don't miss out.
Mixed ages are the norm at these parties. Children like holding the cards and making the magic happen, while adults lean in trying to catch him out. Jamie keeps it friendly, so nobody is put on the spot who doesn't want to be.
For a buffet or a party at home, roaming suits better than table magic. He'll chat with people by the food, in the kitchen or in the garden, and keep going until everyone's had a turn. Christenings, 18ths and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs follow the same easy format.
Anniversaries deserve a mention of their own. A ruby or golden wedding party often brings together friends the couple haven't seen for years, and the magic gives everyone an easy way back into conversation. Let Jamie know who you're celebrating and he'll make sure they're at the centre of at least one trick.
One of the moments people remember is the glass, which Jamie bends in a guest's hand while they watch from inches away. There's more about birthdays and family celebrations on the private party entertainment page.
Corby venues and the towns around it
Jamie has performed at the Hampton by Hilton, Rockingham Castle, Corby Masonic Complex and The Raven Hotel. People also hold weddings and parties at places such as the Best Western Rockingham Forest Hotel or Blackthorn Wood Golf Complex. Wherever you've booked, a magician in Corby who works close up needs nothing changing in the room.
Jamie covers the rest of the county too. See the Northamptonshire page, or his pages for a magician in Kettering, Rothwell or Desborough.
Questions people ask
When does a magician in Corby usually start at a wedding?
Most couples have Jamie start as soon as the drinks reception begins, while they're away having photos. He then moves on to the wedding breakfast between courses. Send your running order and he'll suggest the best times.
Can you do table magic at a seated dinner without slowing service down?
Yes. Jamie works with the venue staff and steps aside when food is going out, so the kitchen's timings don't change at all. If the venue serves courses table by table rather than all at once, he simply follows the gaps as they appear around the room.
How many guests can one magician in Corby reach at a dinner?
It depends on the time you give him. Philippa Fox wrote in a Google review: "We booked Jamie for a company party for 250 guests and I think he managed to get around to virtually everyone." Tell him your numbers and he'll advise.
Is magic a good idea for our staff Christmas meal?
It's a cracking icebreaker. A magician in Corby during the drinks gets people mixing across teams, and table magic fills the waits between courses before the dancing starts.
Will a 60th birthday meal with lots of older guests suit close-up magic?
Very much so. Table magic comes to people where they're sitting, so nobody has to stand or move about, and Jamie keeps the pace relaxed.
How far in advance should we get in touch?
As early as you can. Weekends and December dates go first, so once your venue is confirmed, send an enquiry. Jamie will check availability and talk through which parts of the evening would suit magic best.
Ask about your Corby date
Send Jamie your date, venue and a rough idea of your timings through the quote form, and he'll come back to you about availability. Getting a magician in Corby sorted early is one less thing on the list.