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”!



More soon...Tom Rose / London Magician Blog:
http://www.trmagic.com/tom_rose_blog.php

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.


More soon...Tom Rose / London Magician Blog:
http://www.trmagic.com/tom_rose_blog.php

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:
http://www.trmagic.com/tom_rose_blog.php

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.


More soon...Tom Rose / London Magician Blog:
http://www.trmagic.com/tom_rose_blog.php

As with much of the population who used to play with Lego I am a huge fan of the TV show Grand Designs, so when I was asked to perform as a “trade show magician” for First Direct Bank on their stand I was more than happy to go along. The show was great and highlighted just about every single thing you could possibly do with your house. From ECO-pods to “Eglus” to the very cool Huf-Haus there was just about everything. You can see Kevin McCloud playing with the rather clever touch-sceen Microsoft computers on our stand on the left.

As part of my magic I incorporated the First Direct marketing messages into the show and highlighted some of their recent successes. I was at the show for a few days and my good pal and top magician buddy Sav did the other dates during the show. Obviously we make a top team and if you are looking for a trade show, or exhibition magician, drop me or Sav a line or take a look at my trade show magic page on the website.









More soon...Tom Rose / London Magician Blog:
http://www.trmagic.com/tom_rose_blog.php

Well, I just had a crazy couple of weeks. After performing four jobs in four corners of the UK in 5 days I was then flown out to Dubai for a swanky party outside the world famous 7-star Burj Al Arab hotel. I must say well done to the lovely ladies organising the party; Sarah, Sherry & Emma as it was a stunning set-up and all the guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Highlights included working with the ten-piece band from the UK, the Ukrainian sax player and Australian photographer; very international, there was even some representation from the USA with a life size Pamela Anderson birthday cake which was pure quality.

I’ve attached a selection of photos from the event below.

More news next week.

The Tom Rose Magic Blog: http://www.trmagic.com/tom_rose_blog.php

Happy guests

The Venue on the beach

Paul Ross, brother of Jonathan doing a 'This is your life' set for the birthday boy.



Me in full white theme...


More happy guests

Swanky party venue...

The super sax player


Photos thanks to: www.djphotography.net

The other night I was down to the River Thames to perform at an event with a sprinkling of famous people. Well, the usual Big Brother contingent was there, but along with them was A-lister and uber-rich Simon Cowell and B(?)-Lister Danielle Lloyd.

I was actually really surprised with Simon, I have always had respect for him as he speaks his mind and doesn’t mess people around, which can only be a good thing. At the event he seemed really very nice indeed. Unfortunately for him it was basically a photo shoot with everyone wanting a picture with the big man* so I thought it would be almost rude not to get involved (see photo). In these circumstances I have sometimes thought a max-work of the celebrity would be just as good as they really only ever do seem to have a succession of photos taken of them. Hummm.. maybe a business idea. Or is this the reason for look-a-likes- I think so.

Also at the event was a very beautiful Danielle Lloyd. Again I was surprised by how nice she was and it kind of confirmed my view that most of the things you hear in the media about these people is just complete fabrication. She seemed very sharp when it came to the magic and you can see a photo of ‘her card’ below (to be added soon as I have lost the card somewhere!). I enjoyed the evening and talking to Simon and Danielle was really interesting.

*I say big man but I actually mean little man as in real life he is really quite short.

I was chatting to an old friend the other day, actually someone I used to work with when I was a bar man back in North Yorkshire (see my biography page for details). We got chatting about our respective jobs and sometimes I forget how cool being a magician is- no need to get up every morning to do the daily commute if I didn’t want to, getting to go to interesting parties & events and generally getting to have a rather nice lifestyle.

However, my fried is a pilot and I thought how brilliant is that?! Getting to travel all over the world everyday (this is slightly more than me- just) and getting to eat ‘plane food’ for every meal. Wowza the life of a pilot. Being a pilot is something I would love to have done and I am actually going to start flying lessons soon. I think its always important to test yourself and push your limits in terms of learning. I recently finished my ‘day skipper’ (see link) course in sailing and I am now starting Chinese lessons (they love magic over there).

There are so many interesting things that people do I always think it is crazy that we, as in society, don’t do that much anymore. Maybe this is why the kids on the street are bored? Oh dear, this blog is getting very serious all of a sudden. I must start talking more about celebrity gossip type things… which leads me on to…. (see above blog post).

It's mid way through wedding season and I'm featured in a wedding magazine again! Wahoo. I have to be honest; I really do seem to be the leading wedding magician in the UK at the moment. The wedding press keep getting in touch and I'm being invited to some really great weddings. The latest press coverage is a feature in national magazine 'Wedding'. The article is about the best forms of entertainment you can get at the wedding; they picked the top suppliers (about 6 of us) from a vast range of markets to bring togeter the best in the business. I was featured as the magician. You can see some photos of the magazine and article here.

It's been a little while since my last post so this is the first of a few entries so you can once again get your fix of the world famous Tom Rose Magician Blog. Hummm...

So, I had a bit of a nightmare at the start of the month. I had a corporate gig in Chester, the kind of event where there is lots of table magic and mix and mingle close up magic during the drinks reception, but before I had even left London some crazy fool crashed into my car meaning I had to hire a car at the last minute to get to the show. The problems didn't stop there as the motorway was shut in not one, but two places meaning I was stuck in traffic most of the day. Why tell you this I hear you say? Well, as a professional magician I always allow plenty of time for problems like this which means I always arrive on time- I've heard plenty of horror stories about entertainers not turning up with bad excuses such as this.

Anyway, on with the show review. The event was excellent; all the guests loved my brand of contemporary close-up magic and they also had the joy of other entertainment too. The event was a Grand Prix theme so there were video games, a massive scalectrix, life size Formula 1 cars to race in, motorbikes to ride on, and, one of the more interesting features; the pit girls! See below for a couple of photos (Photo on left!)

It's been released! That's right you can now see my smiling face sprawlled across 3 pages of the UK's leading wedding magazine "For The Bride". Wowza. This is the second time in a year a major national magazine has picked up on my status as the UK's leading wedding magician; very few if any magicians have actually been interviewed by a major national magazine, so to have this twice in a year is a real achivement. By the way, there are a few shrewd magicians who pay for adverts in magazines, but hey, mine was free! They just wanted to interview me. Marvellous.

More news next week...

Front page of "For the Bride" wedding magazine and the 3-page interview feature with Tom Rose.

It has been a while hasn't it? Well, I've travelled to some really cool places all the UK over since my last post. OK, I haven't been to the Middle East for example, but I'm working out in New York at the end of February- how exciting- surely thats more impressive?

So, its been the usual array of corporate gigs and weddings since December, here are some photos of where I have been:

Here's the list: 1. Table magician at a wedding in London (Drapers Hall). 2. Drinks mix and mingle magic then table magic at corporate event with a James Bond 007 theme in Birmingham (Crown Plaza Hotel)

3. Close-up magic in Chelsea at a corporate after show party (The Kensington Bar) 4. Then I was a Wedding Magician in Yorkshire during the reception (at very classy Rudding Park hotel and country club)

5. Magician in London as above (Drapers Hall 2) 6. I was also performing as a wedding magician in Cumbria (Linthwaite House Hotel)

7...and finally I was doing some more wedding magic, this time in County Durham (Bannatyne Hotel)

So there are just a few places I have been. The most exciting news I have at the moment is my forthcoming interview in a national wedding magazine. In fact, here is a sneak preview of the story in this months issue (first bullet point- main story for next month). I am also going out to perform close up magic in New York at the end of the month, although more of this in the next blog post. I wouldn't want to get all you 'magic bunnies' too excited just yet.

As a final note, I often get asked why I recently moved to London. Well the answer is simple- its not the exciting and varied work I now get, its not for the trendy night life or London attractions either. The answer is for the kind of experience I had today. I met a world class, A-list top of the shop celebrity couple. That's right, I sat next to Chantelle and Preston at lunch in Selfridges on Oxford Street- it was special.

When I look at other magicians websites, I just get so jealous, they have quotes from famous celebrity type people like Lawrence Llewelyn-Bowen, Dean Gafney and Trisha. Well now I can add a quote too. Colin Jackson, the world record holder for the hurdles and more recently of Strictly Come Dancing fame. Colin said my magic was "Fantastic- what the...how?!!". Seriously though, he was a great chap and he really loved the magic. At the event there was also a front bench MP and lots of people with CBEs, MBEs and and other letters behind their names. I was on my best behaviour.

Other noteworthy news was a gig I performed at with magicians Don Moses and Pete Firman, together we really were the A-Team of magicians and the guests were lucky to have such professional, famous and generally top magicians at their event. People always comment on my modesty you know.

Oh, almost forgot, as a random side note, when I was in Piccadilly Circus last weekend, I saw hundreds and hundreds of people dressed as Santa rollerblading down the street. I thought it was quite amusing so I made a quick video on my mobile, which you can see here.

So, its been a while and my fans have been e-mailing in their droves to ask when the next blog is online (you know who you are), so here is issue 1 of a few posts this week. The biggest and most exciting news of last month was being asked to be a major part of the launch of the new Mini. I was asked to go along to the official launch of the new model of the BMW Mini which was heavily advertised in the press. It was a great evening with a select invitation list of VIPs, Mini enthusiasts and the Press. The magic went down well and I even managed to get a few Mini related tricks into the show. So, I guess that I am truly one of the very few magicians in the UK to be part of a major car launch. "Table magician", "Close-up Magician" and "London magician" have all been used to describe me in the past, but I suppose I can add "Mini Magician" now!

The next day I had to rush up North to a wedding in Durham, once again the magic went down a storm and some of the guests actually recorded a video on their mobiles- not something I really like as no doubt it will be on YouTube in the future, but what a great party it was. Here is what the bride and groom thought:

"What can I say I knew I was right to book you. What a night, truly amazing then you turn up with your magic kiwi fruit! We have had nothing but praise and astonishment at your excellent performance at our wedding. We have had comments ranging from 'He's absolutely mint!' (Katie 8) to 'F@"k me somethings not right with him' (Bert 28 3/4). We still have the card which you produced for us and will treasure it as a fabulous momento of the best day of our lives.
Would we recommend you? No! We would insist that people must book you for their event be it wedding, divorce or bar mitzvah (one vanish I'm sure even you can't do!)
To finish from both of us do we get a discount for a second booking as can't wait to see some more of you skill"

I guess that's a happy customer then!?! Here is an amusing photo of me (the magician!), the chocolate fountain chap and the DJ- us entertainers do like to stick together!!

This week has seen a selection of super-duper snazzy gigs. Some of the highlights included some table magic at a fantastic 20th wedding aniversary all the way up in Perthshire, Scotland. Set on a stunning Scotish estate, the marquee was one of the best decorated I have seen, so well done Alex and Simon. Desipte the Scotish winds trying to blow the marqueee away, the magic went down a storm (see what I did there?!- oh dear). Notes have to go to the band, "Crazy Ape", who were great and are well worth a look if you are arranging a party, and the fantasic B&B which is well worth a visit! See photo (right) for the great view.

Later in the week I was back performing magic in central London working at en exclusive party for Universal Pictures, (the film company you know). It was a great bash in the centre of theatre land- maybe I'll get a staring role in a magic film now? Maybe not. Another classy party was the Six Senses Resorts & Spas corporate evening. They used magic to get all the guests chatting and create a really informal atmosphere for everyone to let their hair down. These nice people provide the most amazing holidays, more than a holiday they are described as 'retreats'. Fantastic.

The week was rounded up by an exlcusive birthday party at a private house in Chelsea; stunning location, beatiful wine, great entertainment, and of course, fantastic guests meant the party was a huge sucess. Hello to the two Giles' and Luke and of couse Lorna, Lucy and the rest of the hens. Happy birthday Hannah! Now they have all had a mention on the webiste I bet they feel really special.

Thats it for this week. Don't forget: Don't play with fireworks kids, and remember to hold the sparklers the right way or you won't be able to pick any more cards from the magician.

So, some jet-set news. This weekend I was flown out by a client to perform at a wedding in snazzy Swiss ski resort Vebier. All very nice. I don't think I would ever visit a ski resort in the summer had it not been for this gig, and I'm very glad I did. The scenery was stunning, the Alps in summer are well worth a visit.

The wedding was a very nice affair indeed- reception in a little Restaurant perched on the top of a mountain, fondu for main course and lashings of local Swiss wine. All very nice. All the guests loved the magic and I'm looking forward to visiting Verbier again- a great town. Here are some photos (excuse the dodgy quality- they were taken on my phone)

Above is my all conquering VW Fox hire car! (not very cool, but a great little car!)

Well, along with the hottest July on record in the UK, its been my record busiest month! Shows all over the UK- wedding magic in Wakefield, mix-and-mingle magic in Manchester, corporate magic in Cheshire and lively magic in Leeds! Basically, I've been really busy which has been really great, apart from the red hot heat which is never helpful in a suit!

One of the interesting jobs this month was over in Salford working at the BG International Triathlon Union World Cup- I was performing mix and mingle and close-up magic to the elite athletes, how anyone can do a 1500m swim, 40km cycle and 10km run in under 2 hours is almost untrue, but Brad Kahlefeldt from Australia did just that to win the race. Crazy. But he liked the magic trick I performed for him! Some of the athletes were great fun, big shout out to Lucie Zelenkova and Anna from the Czech Republic, Terenzo Bozzone from New Zealand, Marko Albert from Estonia and the guys from Hungary to name but a few.

On another note, I found an interesting photo (on the left) from a wedding I performed at a couple of weeks ago...Looks like I had some happy spectators that night? Magic with cards and cash... sounds good to me.
(Triathlon photo from http://www.triathlon.org/- check out the great sport!)

So, its hot hot hot and the weddings are coming thick and fast. I was performing at a Premiership Footballer's wedding last Sunday, a very classy event at a great venue (Crathorn Hall- see right), and a nice guy too!. Then it was off to Doncaster for the second wedding of the day, some great guests and I give the BBQ top marks, very nice burgers!

Friday I was in York for a wedding at the 14th Century Merchant Tailors Hall, very nice- traffic in York was less nice. Saturday I decided to have a marathon drive, performing near Shrewsbury at a wedding and then on to Epsom, Surrey for a Civil Ceremony- altogether a 630 mile round trip for me. Radio 2 was my saviour.


Have you ever wondered what a magician does before he gets his cards out? Well, here is a picture of me chilling out in the sun before performing in Shrewsbury, very nice day indeed!

Other news this week, interesting negotiations on gigs in Dubai, Scotland and London, with a side-helping of sunbathing and BBQs in the garden. Oh yeah, and I've been watching something called the World Cup, although I did miss the England game due to work. Gutted.

Now that the paparazzi hunt my every move, (or maybe not) I have uploaded a couple of my many(!) recent interviews... Now don't get too excited at all my 'local-paper' fame. I'm sure you will be able to cope with my celebrity status when you meet me! Just Kidding.

oh, and not forgetting my interview in the National Bridal Magazine, "Bliss for Brides"...(More news soon.)

Tom has had a crazy summer performing at the usual array of weddings, garden parties and corporate functions. Some of the many highlights include performing for all the 'top-dogs' at the recent Virgin Holidays Dubai Bash, performing (again) at the Newcastle University Medical Society Ball- which is always great fun! Being featured in the February/March 06 issue of National Bridal Magazine 'Bliss for Brides', being asked to perform on New Years Eve at Newcastle's Exclusive Restaurant The Fishermans Lodge for the second year running and performing at the world famous Belfry Golf Club. Just a snap-shot of yet another crazy year of a top UK magician. More news soon.