Magician in Leicester for family celebrations
Aunties, uncles, cousins, the neighbours and a toddler under every table. When the whole family turns up, Jamie makes sure everyone gets a bit of the magic.
When you need a magician in Leicester for a family party, the act has to work for the whole room at once, from the kids sliding about on the dance floor to the grandparents who've claimed the best seats. Jamie Docherty is a close-up magician and entertainer, a Member of The Magic Circle, and "Jay" of Jay & Joss, the double act from Britain's Got Talent 2024.
In 2024 Jay & Joss also won The Magic Circle's Champions of Stage Illusion. But most of Jamie's working weekends are spent a foot away from his audience, at birthdays, christenings, anniversaries, weddings and work dos across the country. Here's how he approaches a Leicester family celebration, and how that carries over to weddings and office parties in the city.
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Birthdays and christenings with a magician in Leicester
Big family parties tend to start the same way. Everyone arrives in their own little group, finds a table near the people they already know, and waits for the food. It can be an hour before anyone moves. Jamie speeds that up. He walks over to a table, borrows a coin or a ring, and suddenly the two families on either side of the room have something in common.
At a christening the focus is the baby, so the magic stays gentle and fits round the important bits. He usually works while guests are arriving and before the meal, then steps aside for the cake, the photos and any family speeches. Older children love being the helper, and parents get a few minutes to sit down while somebody else keeps the kids amused.
Milestone birthdays are livelier. A 30th or a 50th in a function suite might have school friends, colleagues and relatives who've travelled a long way. A magician in Leicester who can get those groups laughing together early on sets the tone for the rest of the night, and Jamie makes sure the birthday girl or boy has a moment that's all theirs.
He also performs at anniversaries, house parties and Bar and Bat Mitzvahs. The format is flexible: table to table at a sit-down meal, roaming at a buffet or drinks party, or a mix of the two. You tell him how the day runs and he fits in around it.
Families who book a magician in Leicester often ask about mixed ages. It's simple. Jamie involves children and adults in the same tricks, keeps it clean, and never puts anyone on the spot if they'd rather watch. More details are on the private party entertainment page.
Leicester weddings, from the drinks to the evening do
Weddings are the other big part of Jamie's diary. Couples searching for a wedding magician in Leicester usually start with the drinks reception, the stretch after the ceremony when you're having photos and guests are left to fend for themselves. Roaming magic gives them something to share and gets both sides talking.
He can carry on into the wedding breakfast, visiting each table between courses, or cover the turnaround while the room is reset for the evening. Stuart Partridge wrote in a Google review: "He amazed all of our guests young and old with some outstanding magic". That mix of ages is common at Leicester weddings, and it's exactly where close-up magic shines.
Evening guests deserve a thought too. If a lot of people are joining after the meal, a magician in Leicester who greets them as they arrive helps them feel part of the day straight away. Jamie mingles while they find a drink and say hello, and by the time the first dance comes round the two crowds have merged.
He takes up no space, needs no stage and works around your photographer and the venue staff. See the wedding entertainment page for how wedding bookings are planned.
Couples sometimes worry that magic will take the attention away from them. It won't. Jamie works with a handful of people at a time and moves on, so the room never stops to watch a show unless you ask for one.
Office parties and charity nights in the city
Jamie has entertained at plenty of Leicester work events and charity nights. Mina Mistry booked him for a charity event at SPA Leicester and wrote on Facebook: "All of our guests were WOWED by him, especially the up close magic and the finale of levitating a girl in the air!"
For staff Christmas parties he mingles during drinks and goes table to table during the meal, making sure the quiet department in the corner gets as much attention as the loud one by the bar. It's a simple way to get colleagues talking who'd otherwise only ever email each other.
He's used to rooms with a bit of pressure on them. He performed at Jamie Carragher's official retirement dinner, so an awards evening or a client dinner is well within his stride. He keeps out of the way during speeches and presentations and picks up again afterwards.
Company parties come in every size. A team of fifteen at a restaurant gets just as much care as a few hundred in a hotel ballroom, and with a smaller group he can spend longer with each person. For bigger events he'll suggest how long to book so nobody misses out.
If you're looking for a magician in Leicester for a conference, gala dinner or product launch, the corporate entertainment page has more information.
Questions Leicester families ask before booking
- Kids welcome Children are part of the fun, holding cards and checking his pockets, alongside the grown-ups.
- No stage required Jamie performs in among your guests, so the room can be laid out however your venue or family prefers.
- Smart and alcohol-free He always dresses smartly, doesn't smoke and never drinks alcohol at any event.
- Confirmed in writing You'll get a formal booking confirmation and a receipt for every payment. He's an Equity member with ten million pounds of public liability insurance.
- Plan ahead Weekend dates fill quickly, so get in touch as far in advance as you can.
Leicester venues and nearby pages
Jamie regularly provides magic entertainment in Leicester at The City Rooms, Athena Conference & Banqueting and the Leicester Marriott Hotel. Other places in the city host family parties and weddings too, including events venues like The International and The Retro Suite, and hotels such as Winstanley House.
He covers the whole county. Visit the Leicestershire page for the wider area, or see his pages for Market Harborough and Rutland. Booking works exactly as it would for a magician in Leicester city centre.
A few quick answers
How long should a magician in Leicester perform at a family party?
It mainly depends on guest numbers. The aim is for every table or group to see some magic without rushing, so tell Jamie how many people are coming and he'll suggest a length.
Can Jamie perform at a christening lunch?
Yes. He works while guests arrive and before the meal, then steps back for the cake and any speeches, so the day still revolves around the baby.
Does the magic work for teenagers?
Teenagers are often the keenest to catch him out, which makes them a great audience. He's quick on his feet and enjoys the challenge, and a magician in Leicester who can win over a table of fifteen-year-olds can win over anyone.
Which part of a wedding suits magic most?
The drinks reception is the most popular slot, followed by the wedding breakfast. Many couples combine the two.
Is he suitable for a work Christmas do?
Very. Close-up magic gets colleagues talking, and the content is kept suitable for a professional crowd. Booking a magician in Leicester for the drinks hour before the meal is a popular choice.
What's the quickest way to see if Jamie is free for our Leicester date?
Use the quote form with your date, venue and rough guest numbers, and say what kind of party it is. If you want a magician in Leicester on a busy Saturday in summer or December, ask as early as you can.
Got a Leicester family party coming up?
Send Jamie your date and venue through the quote form and he'll let you know if he can be your magician in Leicester. Christenings, birthdays, weddings and work dos are all welcome.