So, BGT was back on our screens recently – dancing dogs, bad singers and lots of very weird people. I’ve often been asked why I don’t go on the programme, the answer is really simple – generally, magic does not come across well on television. You need a large budget and a strong creative team behind you to produce magic which translates into peoples homes. David Blaine did it well with his team and Derren Brown has achieved great shows with Channel 4, but there are many others which have failed. This includes magic on BGT which never gives magicians much sympathy on the show – although most magicians who appear on the show are truly terrible performers. In truth, my opinion is that a quality (magic) performer can achieve better work, more success and potentially fame (if that is what you want - which incidentally is not why I - or indeed many magicians - do magic at all) without appearing on such shows. In fact, I would go further and say that the show would significantly damage your professional reputation, which is exactly why I do not have any desire at all to go on the show.

However, on the other side of the coin are the true variety acts – the acrobats, the crazy beep-bopping dancers, the 30-piece dance troupe and of course, the odd-ball performers. This is what BGT is all about and it provides a great stage for them, and to be honest, I think it’s great entertainment.

This bring me nicely on to Stavros Flatley. These guys were a massive hit on the show last year and when I was performing at a ‘multi-man’ magic show with fellow close up magicians Alan Hudson, Brendan Patricks and Dave Willmott, Stavros Flatley were also booked to perform. They put on a great show and they are really nice blokes, living their dream – they freely admit they never thought it would still be going strong a year later. Well played. As Stavros says, an act which is “3 & ½ minutes long couldn't be any more perfect”!



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Keeping the theme of describing my sporting events, I was over at Wembley for the England v Mexico game the other month. I think it is fair to say that it wasn’t the best game in the world, but the atmosphere was great It was the last England home game before the World Cup in South Africa so it had the vibe of a big leaving party for the England players. There was even time for a world record as everyone donned red or white t-shirts to form the worlds largest St Georges flag (pictured), all very patriotic. The result was a rather flattering 3-1 to England by the way.

EDITORIAL UPDATE - Yes, we all now know that England were knocked out by ze Germans and we were rubbish, goal-line technology anyone? Who will win the World Cup tonight? I'm going for Spain 3-2.


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Not content with being the leading London Magician in the UK(!), I was recently whisked out to Dubai again for the Gitex Trade Show / Conference on behalf of Etisaliat. The Gitex conference is the largest technology exhibition in the Middle East and is a major event for all the technology type companies in the Middle East and UAE. Etisalat is a UAE-based telecommunications services provider, currently operating in 18 countries across Asia, the Middle East and Africa (you can always rely on Wikipedia). At the event I performed to 250 Etisalat VIPs and also performed a phone themed trick, on stage, which involved the company chairman calling one of his colleagues from another country live, with a real-time ‘international magician’ card prediction. The trick was fantastic even if I say so myself. I really do love performing as a magician in Dubai; the people are always great, the service in the venues and hotels is just exceptional and the buildings and general ‘offer’ in Dubai is mind-boggling, although it is all a bit artificial, as long as you take it at face value, you can’t do anything other than love the place.


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Coalitions hey? Who would have thought it? I actually studied Politics at university (no I didn’t go to Hogwarts as many amusing people sometimes suggest) so me and my old university pals organised an election party on the night of the general election. Very cool I know. Attached is a photo utilising the BBC election party pack, inclusive of face masks (L-R Cameron / Brown / Clegg) – brilliant. On a geeky serious note, given it was 60-odd years since the last coalition, it will be interesting to see how the government fares and copes with the deficit which seems rather huge according to this link…

EDITORIAL UPDATE: Since originally writing this blog, the government has already lost one of its top names, David Laws, thanks to another expenses scandal. Crazy. David Cameron is now the Prime Minister now in case you didn't hear, photo below (from the Conservatives website) so you can recognise him in the street, usually spotted with a 'hoodie'.




More soon...Tom Rose / London Magician Blog:
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In other news, have you seen the attached shoe? I was in a top London pub the other day and there was a poster advertising “Have you seen this shoe? – Lost on Saturday 27th June around midday on the Victoria line or South West trains between Canonbury and Clapham Junction… I am desperate to find this beautiful shoe… did you hand it in somewhere?”

I have to say that the area where the said shoe may be lost does seem rather significant given that Canonbury is over in North East London and Clapham Junction is in South West London. You never know, one of my many, many readers may have found the beautiful shoe? Ladies is this shoe really beautiful? I’m not so sure, but any ideas feel free to contact the person on the poster!


More soon...Tom Rose / London Magician Blog:
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I’m Back – with Harry Potter at his World-wide Premiere!

So, its been a long, long time since my last post. This is not for a lack of things to say, but more a lack of time up up-load the draft blog posts. In the next few weeks you are all in for a huge treat – a veritable delude of blog posts from the top London magician that you all know and love.

First port of call is a quick review of my attendance with the king of magic himself, Harry Potter, at the world premiere of the latest Harry Potter film in Leicester Square (this actually seem like years ago now!). A client invited me to the premiere and it was a fantastic experience to walk down the red carpet with all the actors, celebs and VIPs. I was sat directly behind Gordon Ramsey and family and found it quite annoying that they all left halfway through – that said, the film wasn’t that good so maybe no surprise there? It was amusing to pose for the paparazzi on the red carpet, all very cool!


More soon...Tom Rose / London Magician Blog:
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So, here comes some new blog posts. I have had a request to make them slightly more about random things I get up to, and slightly less about the gigs I go to, and so here goes. Maybe I could mix things up with some sort of Podcast (I think the kids on the street call them poddycasts?)

Talking of gigs though, I was performing at a couple of weddings a few weeks ago in the very nice golf resorts of De Vere Belton Woods and Donnington Valley Hotel & Golf club. These venues are very pretty if you are having drinks etc on the pleasant terrace, but since my newfound interest in playing golf it is definitely the very nice looking golf course that is the best view.

The majority of the people reading this, all three of you, probably don’t play golf, but I really recommend you pick it up. As long as you stay away from the ‘stuffy exclusive’ clubs of yesteryear they are all very welcoming and very open to new, rather rubbish players such as myself. One thing I can recommend is some decent lessons to get you started. I had some tuition recently from Kevin Harrison at A1 Golf who is a top bloke a really good teacher.

One of these days I am going to arrive at these nice venues really early and get a round of golf in before performing. Golf-tastic!


More soon...Tom Rose / London Magician Blog:
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I was recently over performing at my residency at The O2 VIP lounge when Russell Brand was performing. Every time I work there it's really interesting to see the difference type of guests that come and watch the acts. I can honestly say the people who came to see Katie Melua were very difference to Russell Brand’s fans and even Steve Coogan’s were completely difference to Lee Evan’s.

It was very amusing at the Russell Brand event when someone walked into the bar who looked just like Russell; the ludicrous big hair, thigh clenching skin-tight jeans and full designer stubble. It was great to see the room buzz with excitement as he marched to the bar and ordered his drinks, but just as the ladies were preparing their chests for an autograph from their god, it was unfortunately revealed that alas, he was just a darn good look-a-like and clearly a rather die hard fan. Priceless. I have attached a photo of the arena just before Russell was due to go on stage, I think you can actually just about make him out sound-checking on the stage. As a comedian you really have to be a great performer to play to such a large and vast venue as The O2; from all the reviews I heard he was excellent apparently.


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On a more random note I thought I needed to mention my recent trip to the Bavarian Beerhouse in Old Street, London. What a very interesting place. Anywhere that serves lager in 2-pint Steins and has live German folk music is surely on to a winner! Sure enough the group of 6 chaps I was with did indeed enjoy the visit. If you fancy a rather unusual night out, slightly more ‘stag-party style’ than a night out in the West-End take a look!




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I was in the rather privileged position to be able to go along to the FA Cup Semi-Final between Man Utd and Everton back in April. As a Man Utd fan I was quite excited about the match as we (I went with a couple of Everton fans) had great seats on the halfway line. However, it quickly became apparent that the Reds were not on form and the Blues were looking stubborn in defence. Of course we all know what happened next and United lost on penalties when Dimitar Berbatov decided to lethargically side-foot his penalty to the goalkeeper. Highly disappointing. However, see below for a couple of photos. I thought the first one was good because it shows the division between the Man Utd fans in red and the Everton fans in blue. The second photos shows the terrible, terrible penalty taken by Berbatov. Can you tell I am still bitter?! (I’m not even much of a football fan).

As a quick side note, Everton’s fans were brilliant, all really great supporters and surely they deserve to win something soon.








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