Magician in Portsmouth for weddings across Hampshire
Wedding guests remember the vows, the speeches and the dancing. A good close-up magician adds one more thing to talk about on the way home.
Looking for a magician in Portsmouth who can handle a wedding from the first glass of fizz to the last dance? Lewis Joss works up close, in among your guests, with tricks that happen in their own hands rather than on a stage across the room.
He's a Member of The Magic Circle and part of Jay & Joss, the double act from Britain's Got Talent 2024. Over the years he's been booked everywhere from the Royal Air Force Club and Hyde Park in London to Malta, so a hotel suite on the south coast is very familiar ground for him. Most of his work is at weddings, staff parties and big birthdays, and he performs at hundreds of events every year.
Filling the waits on a Portsmouth wedding day
Think of a wedding day as a series of waits. Guests wait for the ceremony to start, wait for the photos to finish, wait for the doors to the dining room to open. None of those waits are bad, but they're where a day can sag. Magic fills them with something to watch and something to talk about.
The most popular slot is the drinks reception. Lewis goes from group to group, a few minutes each, so your guests mingle without being told to. By the time you're back from the photographer, the two sides of the family have usually swapped a few names and a few theories about how he did it.
Then there's the meal. A magician in Portsmouth doing table magic between courses keeps things lively while the kitchen gets the next plates ready. He works quietly at each table, steers clear of the top table during speeches, and stops whenever the venue staff need to get past.
Evening guests are the third group to think about. They've missed the ceremony, the meal and most of the gossip, so they can feel a bit on the outside when they arrive. Half an hour of magic by the bar fixes that before the band or DJ gets going.
If you'd like a wedding magician in Portsmouth for the whole day, tell Lewis the timings and he'll suggest breaks that fit around your schedule. The wedding magic page covers more about planning.
On this page
A magician in Portsmouth for the work Christmas party
Office parties tend to follow a script. People arrive, find their own team, and stay in that huddle until the music gets loud enough to hide behind. Close-up magic breaks the script early on, without anybody being made to do anything they don't want to.
Lewis will mingle through the welcome drinks, then go table to table during dinner, and he works round any awards, raffles or thank you speeches. It's the same two-part approach companies like Mercedes-Benz and the Ministry of Defence have booked him for.
Summer parties, client hospitality and launch nights work too. Lewis can tailor a trick around your brand, your product or a message you want people to remember. See the corporate entertainment page for the details. A trick that ends with your logo appearing on a card is the sort of thing guests mention to colleagues the next morning.
If you're booking for a large team, give us a headcount early. A magician in Portsmouth can only reach so many tables in an hour, and knowing the numbers means nobody at the back of the room gets missed.
For hospitality on a golf day, he can wander between the clubhouse, the terrace and the bar while teams come in off the course, so there's something going on while the scores are added up.
Why book close-up magic in Portsmouth
- Ice broken early Guests who don't know each other end up chatting within minutes. It works on new teams and shy relatives alike.
- Happens in their hands The magic is done inches away, so everyone gets a front row view.
- Nothing to set up No stage, no power, no lighting, so it suits any room or marquee.
- Planned round you Photos, speeches and the first dance always take priority. He checks the running order with your venue before he starts.
- A Magic Circle member Lewis Joss is a Member of The Magic Circle and Equity.
Birthdays, anniversaries and family celebrations
Birthday parties mix people from every bit of someone's life. Close-up magic gives all of them a reason to stand together for a few minutes and laugh at the same thing, which is often all it takes to get a party going.
Lewis tailors the tricks to whoever is in front of him. Children get to help. Teenagers get something they'll want to film. Grandparents get a slower trick they can really follow. Nobody is left on the edge.
A magician in Portsmouth fits a christening, a family reunion, an anniversary dinner or a big birthday in the garden. He doesn't need a stage or any set-up time, and he'll work around the cake, the toasts and the presents.
Whoever you're celebrating can play a part in a trick if they'd like to. Or they can stay well out of it. Just let Lewis know which when you book. The party magician page has a bit more on how he handles family parties.
A word on timings: magic works best in the first couple of hours, while people are still arriving and mixing. Once the music is loud and the dance floor is full, most guests are happy making their own fun.
Venues in Portsmouth and around Hampshire
Lewis travels all over Hampshire, so a magician in Portsmouth can come wherever your event is. A wedding or anniversary might be at a hotel such as The Royal Maritime Club, Florence Gardens or The Keppel's Head, and a company summer do could be at Hayling Golf Club. The magic works the same in any of them.
He also covers Gosport, Havant and over the water in Cowes, and there's a page for Southampton too. If your venue is further away, just let us know where.
When you enquire, it helps to know the start time, whether guests will be seated or on their feet, and if any part of the event is outdoors. With that, a magician in Portsmouth can plan his arrival and be ready the moment the first guests walk in.
Before you book
Do you cover weddings in Hampshire outside Portsmouth?
Yes. Lewis performs at weddings throughout Hampshire and further afield, from hotel receptions to marquees in a family garden. Send your venue with your enquiry and we'll confirm he can make it on the day.
Which bit of the wedding day suits magic most?
The drinks reception is the most popular slot, as guests are mingling and waiting for you to come back from photos. The wedding breakfast and evening party are good additions if you want more, and some couples pick the evening alone.
How does a magician in Portsmouth handle a big work party?
With planning. Tell Lewis your headcount and the layout of the room, and he'll work out a route so every table gets a visit. If there are awards or a speech from the boss, let him know the timing and he'll keep clear of it.
Will Lewis entertain children at a family party?
Yes. He'll involve them, letting them hold the cards or wave the wand, and keep things simple for the youngest, before moving on to the adults with something trickier. Mixed ages are what close-up magic does best.
Can the birthday person be part of the magic?
If they'd enjoy it, yes. A trick with their name, a borrowed ring or a signed card can give them a fun moment in front of their friends. If they'd rather not, he'll leave them be. Let him know when you book.
Can I hire a magician in Portsmouth for just one hour?
For a small party, an hour can be enough for a magician in Portsmouth to reach everyone. For a wedding or larger event, more time usually works better, as there are more groups and more gaps to fill. Send your numbers and Lewis will advise.
Have a date in mind?
Drop us your date, venue and a rough number of guests, and we'll let you know whether Lewis is free to be your magician in Portsmouth.
What people say about Lewis
100% would recommend- Lewis was absolutely brilliant, everyone loved him, he completely understood our brief (which wasn’t simple or probably easy) and worked with it- very grateful! The booking process was also very easy and everyone at Fine Entertainments Ltd was flexible and there were no problems from the start to end.
We had Lewis perform at our Christmas party and he was fantastic. His interaction with people was great and the close up magic he performed had people in amazement. Would highly recommend
Lewis performed at my recent party. He has a lovely personality, is very entertaining, very competent ,and very well received by all.