Tim Shoesmith UK Magicians Blog

I have started to dabble in the murky world of Stand Up Comedy!  I say murky not because it is vulgar or drugs ridden, it really isn’t.  The conditions however can not be compared to your average corporate function.  Dirty rooms above pubs, with microphones that don’t work are quite normal and audiences can vary from a few hundred to four other comic’s and a dog!

Recently, however, I was booked to perform at the Comedy Store in Hollywood.  Some what ironic as I had been refused entrance as a spectator two years previously for not having appropriate ID!  I was worried that the humour would not translate and without the tricks which I normally perform I was concerned that I wouldn’t have the substance to hold them for the 10 minutes that was expected of me.

The first night was troublesome because certain aspects of my set were not immediately relevant to the American audience but on the second night everything fell into place and I returned to England feeling that I had triumphed.

I don’t think I will be giving up the magic anytime soon but with two nights booked at the Edinburgh festival next week, I am sure I will continue with my new hobby for sometime to come.

I have been lucky with letters of thanks this month; I have published a few below.  It is always nice to hear from clients after the event and nice to feel remembered.

Dear Tim
Thanks so much for being our magician at our Wedding on 14^th June 08.  You were a great hit with all our guests and people are still talking about how you did the tricks! Your professional yet friendly nature was brilliant and we would definitely recommend you to anyone else. Our wedding was such a perfect day and all we could have wished for.
Thanks again Lisa and Robin HiTim

Thanks for a great evening’s entertainment – we had a good response from staff.  I thought your act was very appropriate and great fun! I’m sure we will be contacting you again in the near future regarding our Christmas Party in early December
Herts Urgent Care 

Just wanted to send you a quick note to say how well Friday night went.
Guests were very impressed with Tim - even our most cynical of staff!
Always a real test when working so closely with the audience, but as
before, Tim was excellent.
HSBC

The Rose Bowl is the home of Hampshire Cricket Club!  I really had no idea when I drove to Southampton that this was the case.  Expecting a restaurant or events centre I was most surprised to be directed into a large car park and then a hospitality suite. I was employed to entertain 100 or so people at an NHS Trust annual event. 

A few weeks ago I drove down to Dorset to perform at a wedding a stones throw from Corfe Castle.  I liked it so much we spent a couple of days there last week, walking the beaches near Bournemouth. 

I received a lovely email from the Bride a few days later. Thank you Tim, We had a lovely day and evening - just perfect. Everyone loved your act, my brother even said that it would have been worth travelling from Sweden just to see you!  I loved it when you unzipped your wallet to find my Dad’s watch - very impressive! Thank you so much for a very professional performance.

I have moved house in the last month and what with the inevitable upheaval I have got very behind with this blog.  In the long run it makes life easier, closer to London with off street parking.

I intend to catch up over the next week so I will be adding a series of passages about recent jobs.  I just wanted to point out that not all of these have happened in the last week.  I mention this only because a number of magicians subscribe to the feed (under pseudonyms of course) and I wouldn’t want them to feel insecure.

A couple of weeks ago I was at Rushton Hall, for a wedding.  I haven’t had time to right it up.  Weddings are always fun, family occasions and although the weather broke just before the wedding breakfast it was obviously a great day for the happy couple.
 

I have included a couple of pictures which I took of Rushton Hall, the grounds were amazing and the staff were very helpful.

This month I have had the pleasure of performing at two premiership football clubs.

Earlier in the month I was working in the corporate hospitality at Tottenham FC before the last game of the season.  Below is a picture of Graham Robbins and John Pratt both distinguished players of the past giving a brief pre match talk, to an audience of predominantly Liverpool supporters.  The atmosphere was wonderful; unfortunately I couldn’t stay for the game which was one by the away side two nil.

This weekend I was at Chelsea FC for a corporate event for CQS a company based in the city.  Luckily the Football team were not present, no doubt still recovering from the agonising defeat in Russia.

Magic and Football seem to go together!

At the end of April I performed for the Ambassadors Club who met at the Blakemore Hotel near Stevenage.  Corporate cabaret is challenging, on most occasions there is no stage and the audience is seated at round tables.  I really enjoy them and this particular group was great fun. 

Most often I am standing on a chair so everyone can see and moving between tables so everyone gets close to the magic.  A clip of the cabaret act can be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zPx1xWx7j4, this was shot at The Magic Castle in Hollywood this time last year.

For two days last week I was at Southampton University for the Excellence in Volunteering Awards (EVA’s).  Student events can be demanding, and this was no exception, with fifty tables and only myself to cover them I had to work fast. The event was controlled by a talent young comedian Stuart Goldsmith, who I had met at a comedy club a couple of years before.  His ability to deal with a large and boisterous crowd was a delight to watch. 

Below is a picture of my favourite table, a group of history students who made me feel most welcome and had a genuine love of magic.

This month a routine of mine was featured in “Secrets Magazine” a publication dedicated to The Young Magicians Club, which is run by The Magic Circle.

 The article is entitled, “Dealing with difficult people”.  This is the description of a trick which I used when someone was telling people how they thought it was done.  It was designed to throw them off the sent and entertain at the same time. 

I wrote the article some years ago and having looked at it again it occured to me that difficult people are few and far between.  Well in magic anyway!  In real life I may be turning into the proverbial, “grumpy old man” but as far as the events I attend everyone seems personable and attentive.  It is very rare that anyone becomes difficult but be warned I have a plan for anyone who tries to ruin the fun.

Secrets Magazine is published by PNC Print and Design http://www.pnc-print.co.uk/  The trick is published in a set of my lecture notes entitled Fountains and Acorns for Big People which can be purchased at http://www.timsmagic.co.uk/shop