The Bowler Hatted Magician

24/12/2024

Here is this year's Christmas card.

Thank you for your support this year.

I wish you and your family the most magical of Christmasses and the happiest of New Years.

There are so many exciting plans for 2025. I will see you there.

Yours,

Miles

Merry Christmas everyone. I have great fun creating these festive tunes for you each year. Thank you for your support in 2024 and I wish you the best Christm...

24/10/2024

New Blog post

Every Saturday I make a bee line in my newspaper for a recurring feature where they ask the great and the good (or “celebrities” as we call them in the 21st Century) a fixed set of generic but probing questions. The answers are always gently illuminating. In moments of rampant egotism, I fantasise about how I might answer them. Even though the chances of achieving the level of fame that would qualify me for such an honour are deeply slim. Therefore, I thought I would answer the questions here and hope that they amuse and interest in equal measure.

�What is your greatest fear?
Creeping mental decline.


What is the trait you deplore most in yourself?
Snobbishness.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Wilful ignorance.

When were you happiest?
Whenever I’m performing. It doesn’t necessarily need to be for a large audience. Making up something silly for my son is just as joyous.

Which living person do you most admire and why?
Schmalzy, but my wife has taken everything that life can throw at her, including me, and remained interested and interesting.

Aside from property, what is the most expensive thing you’ve bought?
I spent a night with my family at Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons for my last birthday recently, which was a combination of eye-wateringly expensive and extraordinary value for money.

What is your most treasured possession?
My parents bought me a piano for my 21st birthday.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
A few childhood stupidities make me cringe, but as an adult I have banished embarrassment from my repertoire.

What is your most unappealing habit?
I fight with myself to be more generous than I instinctively am.

Describe yourself in three words?
Eccentric passionate gentleman

What would your superpower be?
It would be fun to actually read minds.

***
more questions and answers on my website www.thebowlerhattedmagician.com

09/10/2024

I got to see and photograph some of the amazing interiors of when I visited there this weekend.

20/09/2024

New Blog post. When Magicians go bad!

People often ask "what happens if the trick goes wrong?" I take a little time on my website to answer the question fully. An extract is printed below.

photo credit

***

To invite a close-up magician to your home or event is to put the theatrical phrase “suspend your disbelief” under a microscope.

A theatre audience looking at a stage all unconsciously accept the artificiality of a scene, but allow themselves to react emotionally as if it were absolutely true. Even if the suspension is not quite reached, social etiquette prevents the unimaginative from blurting out “This isn’t real!” to the rest of the enraptured crowd.

Yet, in a situation where the performer is an arm’s length away from the spectator and has just demonstrated something that is “impossible”, conventions change. We somehow find it far more acceptable to verbally call into question whether the man in front of you has just broken the laws of physics.

From my experience, this is still a rare event. I sense that there is always small percentage of my audience discretely trying to reason out a method to the impossible stories that I tell. However, the majority will enjoy themselves by allowing their disbelief to take them to a place of wonder.

Which is all very well, until the magician makes a mistake.

One of the most frequent questions I am asked is “What happens when it goes wrong?” There are two answers. And then an interesting epilogue...

***

10/09/2024

23/08/2024

A fabulous roof terrace performance for all the good people of on their evening out overlooking the .

23/08/2024

Last weekend’s wedding. Congratulations Ollie and Rebecca. It was fun to spend all day with you. Magic and Master of ceremonies.

15/08/2024

Fantastic gig last night at for the annual staff party for all the dedicated people who work for football club.

Did lots of magic for players, backroom staff and, of course .

19/07/2024

A summer tune to welcome the start of the holidays.

19/07/2024

The July newsletter has just been delivered.

You can find the full article on my website in the blog section.

However, an extract is reprinted below.

***

I have been extremely lucky with my audiences. They are kind, attentive and appreciative. I now have over 100 google reviews. I am still absolutely honoured and thankful that every single one of them has awarded me 5 stars. It is an achievement of which I am immensely proud. Although the longer I trumpet such accolades, the more I will have to readjust almost all my marketing copy when my first 4 star (or, heaven forfend, lower!) review arrives. Please do not get any ideas.

However, it is human nature to dwell on the less than 1% percent of negative reaction that I have encountered with individuals. This last weekend I performed to nearly 1000 people at various functions. It would be extreme arrogance to presume that each and every one of them believed me to be amongst one of the best entertainers that they have ever witnessed.

It is a semi-regular occurrence when I arrive at an event that clients will point out somebody and covertly whisper to me, “don’t mind them, they really don’t like magic.” (90% of the time, it is a “him, not a “her”). So, if you are thinking of hiring a magician and have concerns about whether or not the performance will be for everyone, I wanted to share my experiences with guests who seem not share our love of magic.

I generally find that there are three types of people who bristle at my arrival at a celebration.

Firstly, there are the rhabdophobics...

***

Read the rest at www.thebowlerhattedmagician.com/blog

05/07/2024

Thank you so much.

I have now received 100 google reviews.

And every one of my clients generous enough to post a message, have awarded their experience 5 stars.

I am over the moon that those who have invited me to their celebrations and events have been unanimous in their opinion that welcoming The Bowler Hatted Magician was the best decision they could make.

As someone who grew up wanting to spend his life performing, I still count my blessings that I get to do one of the most amazing jobs in the world.

Creating magical experiences for audiences is a massive privilege and I strive hard to make every moment as memorable as possible. And I am so flattered that my efforts are appreciated.

However, these are now echoes of the past and I have exciting new ideas and performances that I am eager to raise to a 5 star standard.

I look forward to sharing these with you soon.

Thank you again for your overwhelming generosity.

28/06/2024

Leaping Lizards! It's our birthday.

I have forgotten before and I will forget again. However, June 2021 was the official start of TBHM.

I cannot quite believe it, but we are celebrating our third birthday.

The actual date when the TBHM stormed into existence is lost in the mists of time. However, it was certainly during the month of June. Specifics are over rated.

I am tickled pink that, when official statistics reveal gloomy figures for businesses that fold within the first three years, we have been attending more and more celebrations every year.

Thank you so much if you have supported us on our journey so far. Conversely, if you are looking forward to some magic in the months and years ahead, I am jumping for joy that your support allows me to continue doing the best job in the world.

Yours,

Miles

21/06/2024

An extract from this month's blog post.

***

When does magic happen?

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a brilliant piece of magic makes any situation better. I see it all the time. Faces light up. Gasps escape. Disorientation occurs.

Magic usually happens in a split second: a playing card is revealed, an object vanishes, the assistant levitates. This “ta-da!” moment is the beating heart of most magic tricks. The point where the inexplicable happens.

However, every good magician, and by extension every good host, knows that the experience of magic extends well beyond this half a second of transformation or revelation.

In order for this prestige moment to be the most impactful, there is much that happens in the exposition. This can include,

1/ A good magician will make a strong connection with their audience. Whether it is with a few dinner guests around a table, or from a stage in front of a stadium.

2/ They will spin a good yarn about why what is about to happen, is important or interesting. Or hopefully both.

3/ Anticipation is built. Especially inside an audience members internal monologue. “I have just given him a £5 note, but there is no way that he could turn into a £50 note. Is there?”

Yet, I would like to propose that the most important part of witnessing magic is what happens after the big reveal has passed; usually a long time afterwards.

And here is why...

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If you want to read more please visit my website at www.thebowlerhattedmagician.com/blog or drop me a message to sign up to my newsletter.

16/06/2024

It gets earlier every year!

Even though the temperatures are completely unseasonal, the reason for this wildly mistimed post is nothing to do with the current arctic weather.

I confirmed my first Christmas gig this week. People want to make sure they don’t lose their spot in my diary for their Yuletide celebration and therefore, dates are already going.

December is my busiest month. So if you want to avoid disappointment, please get in touch with the office sooner rather than later.

Hazel is already assured that I will be there. I look forward to seeing you on the 7th!

It will be here before you know it!

07/06/2024

Caption competition time!

Best comment below wins a, as yet unconfirmed, massive prize.

Anyone who suggests the caption “Why the long face?” will be forced to listen to some of my poetry.

I met the fabulous Ra-ra during my weekly Sunday lunch spot at The Black Horse, Chorleywood this week.

Do book if you want…
a) a great meal.
b) some fun magic
c) the odd passing equine.

29/05/2024

I wanted to take this opportunity show case the work of . We worked together promoting one of the show gardens at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show last week. She created this mini masterpiece in seconds before my very eyes.

Actually. It was perpendicular to my very eyes, as I was staring sideways at the time, trying to hold an impressive jaw line.

Her tools are nothing more than a sheet of paper and a very precise pair of scissors. There was no need for three, six hour sittings either, because, as if it were magic (my speciality), the completed masterpiece was ready to be taken home in about 4 minutes.

It is quite the astonishing piece of artistic creation that made me thrill. I can quite understand why she is much in demand at events where you would want your guests to depart with an incredible and rare souvenir.

The talent and craft that was handed down to her by her Grandmother would be an astounding addition to any occasion and I cannot wait to work alongside her at another event soon.

Thank you for my portrait Alison. It’s going on the wall, next to the hats!