Magician in Rugby for christenings and family parties
When the whole family gets together, from the new baby to great grandad, close-up magic gives everyone the same thing to gasp at.
A magician in Rugby can turn a christening lunch or a family get-together into the party people talk about at the next one. Jamie Docherty performs close-up magic right in among your guests, with cards, coins and borrowed rings, so the little ones and the grown-ups all join in together.
Jamie is a full Member of The Magic Circle and "Jay" of the double act Jay & Joss. They appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us in 2021 and on Britain's Got Talent in 2024. Away from TV, Jamie has entertained at the England Rugby Team's briefing talk, as well as hundreds of weddings, family parties and corporate events across the country.
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Why families book a magician in Rugby
- Children take part Kids get to hold, shuffle and choose, so they're part of the magic instead of just watching it.
- Grandparents stay seated Jamie comes to them, so nobody has to stand for long or crane to see a stage.
- Fits any room A pub function room, a hotel or your back garden all work, with nothing to set up.
- Smart and sober He always dresses smartly, doesn't smoke and never drinks alcohol at an event.
- Clear paperwork and insurance You'll get a formal booking confirmation and invoice receipts, and he has ten million pounds of public liability cover through Equity.
A magician in Rugby for christenings, naming days and family gatherings
Christenings bring together a mix you don't often see. Godparents meeting for the first time, both sets of grandparents, cousins of every age and friends with toddlers in tow. It's a lovely day, but there can be long pauses, especially once everyone has eaten. Close-up magic gives people something to do together that isn't small talk about the weather.
Jamie usually mingles while guests arrive back from the church and grab a drink, then works round the tables once food is served. Children get to hold the cards and make the magic happen, which they love. Their grandparents get to try to catch him out, which they love even more.
He keeps everything friendly. Nobody is made to look daft, and shy children can just watch from behind a parent's leg until they're ready to have a go. Pauline Clulow wrote on Google that at her family party Jamie was "so friendly and professional going to each table, including both adults and children in his magic tricks."
A family party at home is fine too. A magician in Rugby who works close up needs no stage, no table and no power socket, only the people in your lounge, kitchen or garden. Christenings, naming days, family reunions and Sunday lunches for the whole clan are all the same to him.
Timing is easy to plan. A magician in Rugby can cover the first hour or so of a christening party and be gone before the cake is cut and people start to drift home. Tell Jamie when the service finishes and when food is served, and he'll suggest how long you need. There's more on christenings and family bookings on the private party entertainment page.
Wedding magic for Rugby couples and their guests
Plenty of couples book a wedding magician in Rugby for the drinks reception, the stretch after the ceremony when they're having photos and guests are left to entertain themselves. Jamie moves through the groups, a few minutes with each, and gets the two families talking.
He also works the wedding breakfast, visiting tables between courses, and the evening reception, so those arriving later feel part of things. Most couples choose two of the three. Wedding guests range widely in age, and Stuart Partridge wrote on Google that Jamie "amazed all of our guests young and old" at his wedding.
Jamie fits around the photographer, the caterers and the speeches, and steps away whenever the couple are needed. Smartly dressed, he blends in with your guests. Couples who aren't sure where to use him are usually best starting with the drinks reception, because that's where the longest wait is.
Evening guests are easy to forget. They arrive after the meal, often knowing only a handful of people, and the day guests have already bonded over the ceremony and the food. A magician in Rugby working the room as they arrive gives them a quick way in, and it bridges that awkward half hour before the band starts.
More detail is on the wedding entertainment page, including how couples split the time across the day.
Rugby venues and the surrounding area
Jamie regularly provides magic entertainment in Rugby at Wethele Manor, Ashton Lodge Country House, Catthorpe Manor Estate and Dunchurch Park Hotel. There are lots of other options in and around the town for a christening lunch or a wedding, such as The Rugby Hotel, the Draycote Hotel or Brownsover Hall Hotel.
There's never anything for the venue to set up. Jamie turns up smartly dressed, has a word with whoever's running the event about timings, and starts. A big hotel suite and a little church hall are much the same to him, because the magic happens in people's hands.
If you're after an entertainer in Rugby for a party just outside town, that's fine too, as he covers the whole of Warwickshire. He also has pages for Coventry, Northampton and Market Harborough.
Christmas parties and corporate events around Rugby
Rugby has lots of businesses that hold Christmas parties, client dinners and awards evenings. A magician in Rugby gives colleagues from different teams a shared moment, which is half the point of a work do in the first place.
Jamie mingles over arrival drinks, then visits the tables between courses and keeps clear of any speeches or presentations. Close-up magic suits a team of fifteen in a restaurant as easily as several hundred in a conference suite.
Trade stands and product launches are a good use too. A few minutes of magic draws people over and gives your staff a natural opener with visitors. Mina Mistry booked Jamie for a charity event and wrote on Facebook: "All of our guests were WOWED by him, especially the up close magic."
Smaller teams get a lot out of it as well. At a Christmas lunch for a dozen, a magician in Rugby can spend proper time with each person, and the trick one colleague saw is still being argued about in the office in January. Jamie judges each table, so the quiet ones never feel put on the spot.
December fills quickly, so it's best to ask as soon as the date is set. See the corporate entertainment page for more on work bookings.
Your questions
Is a magician in Rugby suitable for a christening with lots of babies and toddlers?
Yes. Jamie adapts to whoever's in front of him, keeping it gentle and visual for little ones and a bit more baffling for the adults. Nothing is loud or frightening.
Can Jamie perform at a family party in our house?
Of course. He works on his feet among your guests, so he needs no extra space. A busy kitchen or a garden is perfect.
When should magic happen at a christening do?
Most families like him to start as people arrive from the service and carry on into the meal, so the wait for food flies by. If there are speeches or a toast to the baby, he'll step back for those.
Do you cover weddings as a magician in Rugby?
Yes. Weddings are a big part of what Jamie does, covering the drinks reception, the wedding breakfast or the evening party.
Can we book you for our firm's Christmas party?
Definitely. Jamie mingles during drinks and goes round tables during dinner, fitting round speeches and awards.
We've set a christening date. What's the next step?
Pop your date, venue and rough guest numbers into the quote form. Get in touch as early as you can, as a magician in Rugby is often booked months ahead for summer weekends and December.
Got a family celebration coming up in Rugby?
Tell Jamie the date and venue through the quote form, and what you're celebrating. He'll come back to you about whether he's free as your magician in Rugby.