🚢 Magic at Sea: My Year on the Pacific Explorer

Magic at Sea: My Year on the Pacific Explorer

Well... what a ride.

From February 2024 to January 2025, I had the absolute privilege of being the resident magician aboard P&O Australia’s Pacific Explorer, performing in the wildly fun, beautifully bonkers magic show “The Purple Rabbit”—created by the mad geniuses Dom Chambers, Simon Coronel and the team at Strut & Fret.

Over the course of 10 months, I performed the show more than 85 times to thousands of audience members across countless cruises. That’s a lot of sparkle, sleight-of-hand, and slightly sweaty costume changes. But every show was a joy, packed with laughs, gasps, the genuine unexpected (usually from audience members!) and just the right amount of chaos.

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🌍 Life at Sea

I sailed around Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vanuatu, Fiji and more - and honestly, if there was a dock, in any of those countries we probably rocked up there at some point.

When I wasn’t on stage working my magic, I was exploring the incredible destinations we visited or figuring out how to live on a floating city. Life on board is weird and wonderful: you quickly learn the difference between “sea days” and “port days,” where to find the best late-night snacks (enter - the noodle man), and which corridor shortcuts get you home fastest!

Learning how a cruise ship works and operates from the insider perspective as a member of the crew is truly fascinating!

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🐊🐉🧗‍♂️ Adventures Beyond the Stage

The job was amazing—but so were the off-stage moments. Some of the personal highlights from my year of magic, mischief and mayhem:

• Bungee jumping off Auckland Bridge (definitely screamed, would do again)

• Meeting Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island (massive. majestic. mildly terrifying)

• “Pints in ports” and brunch dates with the amazing friends I made onboard

• Celebrating my 30th birthday in the crew bar, surrounded by legends

• Going on a jumping crocodile tour in Darwin (they really jump)

• Climbing an active volcano in Rabaul, PNG (casual, right?)

• Taking part in a full-blown Cabin Crawl, where we explored everyone’s cabins and judged the effort put into their themes with a beer in hand

It was equal parts wild and wonderful—like a floating adult summer camp, complete with late-night rehearsals, shared dressing room chaos, and endless inside jokes.

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🎭 The Purple Rabbit

“The Purple Rabbit” was a nightly explosion of magic, comedy, and the kind of ridiculous joy that makes cruise guests go “wait... did that actually just happen?” I shared the stage with some of the most talented, performers I’ve ever met.

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❤️ Cabin 5201

And finally, a shoutout to my little floating sanctuary: Cabin 5201 (don’t bring your teeth). My tiny, slightly creaky, impossibly comforting home at sea. That cabin saw disasters, rehearsals, post-show snack binges, and more late-night movie marathons than I care to admit. I genuinely loved that space.

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So here’s to a year of sea air, standing ovations, strange wildlife, and magic on the move.

Thanks to everyone—on land and sea—who made this experience unforgettable. I’ll be processing this one for a while.

🪄
— Cameron Gibson

Nameless Magician

🪄 INSANE Success at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024!

INSANE Success at the Edinburgh Fringe 2024!

Well, we did it. And then some.

Our show, "1 Hour Of Insane Magic", made its return to the Edinburgh Fringe this year after it’s sell-out success last year - and honestly, it exceeded every expectation I had (and I already had a pretty magical vision).

I’m thrilled to say that we SOLD OUT every single ticket to every single show in our run—performing to nearly 7,000 audience members in these shows alone. Even better? You lot loved it. I’m still buzzing from the reviews, the cheers, the gasps, and the collective “WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!” faces night after night.

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🎩 The Magic of the Crowd

The audiences this year were unreal. Packed houses, people dragging their friends back the next night… it was a magician’s dream. We even had some Fringe-goers come to see us three times, which either means we’re doing something right - or they were desperately trying to figure out how we knew our audience’s favourite meal deal (IYKYK)

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⭐ What People Said

We were blown away by the love both in person and online. A few highlights:

“Insanely Magical From Every Angle.” – ★★★★★ WorldMagicReview

“The trio’s comedic timing is spot on, keeping the audience laughing in the brief moments between gasps of amazement.” – ★★★★ West End Best Friend

“One of the wildest hours of entertainment i’ve ever witnesses” - Stuart Thomas, Audience Member

“Absolutely mesmerised for the full 60 minutes!” - Jasmine Fleming, Audience Member

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🌙 After Dark: Things Got Spicier

This year we also launched our cheeky, grown-up spin-off show: "Insane Magic: After Dark".

Let’s just say… it was a little weirder, a little riskier, and a lot of fun. From risqué tricks to twisted illusions and guest acts that absolutely stole the show, "After Dark" became a word-of-mouth hit.

Big shoutout to the incredible Fringe performers who joined us late-night - burlesque mind readers, dark comedy magicians, and most importantly, friends!

We got to play, experiment, and push the edges of what magic can be - and it was amazing to do it in front of an audience who got it (most of the time!)

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🧙 What’s Next?

We’ve got a very exciting announcement coming soon about "1 Hour Of Insane Magic"—I can't say too much just yet, but if you've been hoping to see it again (or bring a friend who's still upset they missed it), you're going to want to keep your wand at the ready.

And YES—we are absolutely bringing the show back to the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025, but this time... we’re going bigger, better, and even more ridiculous. New tricks, new chaos, same energy.

Thank you to everyone who came, clapped, laughed, screamed, and made 2024’s Fringe a magical blur I’ll never forget. Whether you saw the show or just heard the rumors, I hope you’ll join us next year for the next chapter of madness.

🪄
— Cameron Gibson

P.S. Want to be the first to hear the big announcement? Sign up to my mailing list or follow us on socials. Magic waits for no one.

✨ Edinburgh, Meet Wonder & Co. – Your First (and Only!) Magic Shop 🪄

Edinburgh, Meet Wonder & Co. – Your First (and Only!) Magic Shop

Hi folks – It’s been a while since I wrote a blog post and that’s because i’ve been working hard on something really fun… I just did something a little bit wild: I opened a magic shop.

I’ve just opened the doors to Wonder & Co., Edinburgh’s first and only dedicated magic shop, which officially opened its doors this August. Yep, in a city filled with the Edinburgh Fringe, arts, tourism, history, ghosts, legends, and centuries-old stories, I thought it was high time we added a little bit of actual magic to the mix and give the community a place to come hang out, learn and share!

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🧙‍♂️ Why a Magic Shop?

I’ve been obsessed with magic since I was 17 - performing tricks for my friends and family with a pack of cards and a big grin on my face. I’ve since worked as a professional magician in Scotland and internationally for over 10 years now but no matter where I went, I kept asking the same question: why doesn't Edinburgh have a magic shop?

So... I decided to make one.

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🪄 What You’ll Find at Wonder & Co.

Wonder & Co. isn’t just a place to buy playing cards and vanish coins (though you can absolutely do that too). It’s a little corner of the city where curiosity is king and the impossible feels possible.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Magic kits for beginners and kids

• Pro-grade props and tricks

• A carefully chosen library of magic books

• Unusual items, oddities, and mysterious curios

• A selection of puzzles and games

• And a staff of actual magicians ready to demo, explain, or just show you something that’ll make your jaw drop

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🎩 But Wait—There’s More!

We’re also running live demos, workshops, and special events right here in the shop. Think:

• Beginner classes (even if you’ve never held a deck of cards properly)

• Close-up performances and small shows

• “Evenings of Enchantment” with guest magicians from near and far

• Private sessions and parties, if you're planning something magical

Basically, if you've ever wanted to learn a trick or just experience a bit of wonder, we’ve got you covered.

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🎉 Opening Weekend = Pure Magic

Opening weekend was bonkers in the best possible way. We had a packed house, card tricks flying, people gasping, laughing, and saying things like, "Wait—how did you DO that?" (Music to a magician’s ears, honestly.)

My personal highlight? A little girl who learned her first sponge ball routine and then proceeded to perform it for half the room. Nailed it.

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📍Where to Find Us

If you’re curious, come visit us!

Wonder & Co.
14 Haymarket Terrace (right opposite Haymarket train station!)
Edinburgh EH12 5JZ
Open Wednesday – Sunday, 12pm–5pm

This shop has been a dream of mine for years, and seeing it come to life has been nothing short of… well, magical. Whether you’re a curious passerby or a lifelong magic geek like me, I’d love to welcome you into Wonder & Co.

Come say hi. Stay for a trick. Leave with a little more wonder than you came in with.

🪄
— Cameron Gibson

An Evening Of Insane Magic

Tickets For An Hour Of Insane Magic Are On Sale Now!

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When: 1st April 2023

Where: Scottish Storytelling Centre, High St, Edinburgh

Tickets: www.eventbrite.com

Insane Magic is a thrilling and mind-bending new magic show that will leave you on the edge of your seats.

Witness some of the most incredible and unbelievable acts of magic as 3 of the best magicians in the country (Cameron Gibson, Elliot Bibby and Luke Osey) push the limits of what's possible.

From insane magic tricks and impossible illusions all the way to amazing acts of mind-reading, "Insane Magic" is a show that has to be seen to be believed.

Don't miss your chance to experience the impossible!

The Insane Magicians…

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Elliot Bibby

Elliot Bibby is a renowned magician and illusionist known for his dynamic and captivating performances.

With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has honed his craft and developed a unique style that combines classic magic with modern comedy.

Elliot's shows are filled with jaw-dropping moments that will leave audiences amazed. Combined with his impeccable comedic timing and his charismatic stage presence, Elliot Bibby is a magician that you won't want to miss!

Luke Osey

Luke’s fast-paced thinking and unique approach to magic have landed him jobs writing for top magicians around the globe such as Dynamo, Julius Dein, and Joel M.

His amazing creations and visual magic have been viewed almost 1 billion times online, going viral on multiple platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.

Now, Luke performs his mix of magic and comedy on stage, in cabaret, at comedy clubs, and in nightclubs.

Cameron Gibson

Cameron has been featured at events for the International Brotherhood of Magicians and has successful shows in four consecutive years at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Most recently, he has been based in North America where he was the creative lead, consultant and head magician on Illusionarium, Toronto - The world’s first immersive magic experience; and Magic Immersive, Chicago - A magic show in 360 degrees!

Cameron is thrilled to be back in Scotland for the debut of Insane Magic!

4 Star Review For "Cameron Gibson: Mysteries"!

Cameron Gibson: Mysteries has received an amazing 4 star review from World Magic Review!

★★★★

World Magic Review

★★★★ World Magic Review

Just in time for the end of Edinburgh Fringe 2022, World Magic Review have given me a glowing 4 star review!

“There is more to recommend him than just physical beauty—he is also a funny and compelling performer”

While i’m not entirely certain about the “physical beauty” part (lol); I’m obviously thrilled to hear how much they enjoyed this years’ show - it’s something I worked extremely hard on and was extremely proud of by the end of the run!

Thanks once again to every single person who supported me in both the creation and iteration of the show as well as everyone who bought a ticket to come see me!

You can read the full review HERE!

Magic @ ROX Jewellers

Edinburgh Fringe 2022 was a wild and crazy time to be a performer!

As well as my own solo magic and mind reading show “Cameron Gibson : Mysteries”, I was also engaged in performing at a whole host of private events and cabaret shows!

One of my favourites was at none other than renowned Jewellers ROX on George Street, Edinburgh (rox.co.uk).

ROX arranged for some of the best acts at the Edinburgh Fringe to come and entertain their guests at their annual “Best Of The Fest” party.

I was absolutely delighted to be there and perform for many of their biggest (and friendliest!) clients.

You can see a short promo of the event above as well as some of my favourite snaps from this exclusive event below!

Magic At The Edinburgh Fringe 2022

Edinburgh Fringe Is Back!

And there’s more magic than ever before…

After a 2 year hiatus (because… y’know…), the largest arts festival in the world is back in full force.

Magic at the Fringe has been gaining in popularity for the past 10 years and this year there’s even more amazing magic than ever.

Other than my show (which you obviously already have tickets for, don’t you?), i’ve put together a list of what I think are going to be the best magic shows for you to see at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022!

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Elliot Bibby and the Magical Beach Ball

My good friend Elliot is performing his 9th Edinburgh Fringe show: Elliot Bibby and the Magical Beach Ball he’s performing at the same venue as me, just after my show at Voodoo Rooms. Why not grab tickets to both our shows for an amazing evening of back-to-back magic! Tickets available HERE!

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Stunt Magician – Sabotage

Stunt Magician Danger Dave Reubens is back but someone is out to get him! Join this crazy performer for magic, stunts, and ‘madcap comedy’ at the Liquid Rooms this August. His previous show was a ‘Sunday Mail Top 6 Pick’ during the Adelaide Fringe in Australia and his shows always provide unusual, funny and amazing experiences. Dave’s show is part of the PBH Free Fringe; more details HERE.

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Chris Dugdale: Ethermind

Chris Dugdale is the only ‘Winner of 4 Edfest Bouquets’ at the Edinburgh Fringe! He’s back with his new show ‘Ethermind’ which has been getting standing ovations around the world. The last time I saw Chris’ show, it got a unanimous standing ovation and was great fun. Details HERE.

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Magic Gareth’s Magic Eye

Magic Gareth is a firm favourite local Edinburgh performer. He’s hilarious, talented, amazing and feels like your best friend after speaking to him for 2 minutes. This show is one for kids of all ages (even the big kids!) and promises to have some kick-ass, eye-bending magic! Details HERE.

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Luke Oseland: Drunk Magic

Luke is a fantastic creator of magic and has recently moved to Edinburgh as a local. His videos on social media have been viewed by millions and his late-night magic show is sure to be a hit with the night owls of the Fringe. Details HERE.

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Sounds Impossible: A Musical Magic Show by Neil Kelso

Neil is another good friend of mine and a fantastic mind in magic, as well as an all round fantastic human. In this show, music is magic. Everyday objects are brought to life and dance to Chopin, audience members find themselves hypnotised into making unlikely choices by songs played backwards, and driving rhythms and weird harmonies are harnessed to bend light, contort metal, stop time and distort space. Details HERE

Cameron At The Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2022

I’m thrilled to announce my new one-man mind-reading show “Mysteries” will be debuting at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022!

EdFringe2022

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EdFringe2022 --

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Get tickets now!

After a few years away (COVID and other factors getting in the way!); i’m thrilled to be able to announce that I’ll be returning to Scotland to perform my new magic and mind-reading show “Mysteries” for the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022!

After being away from the UK for nearly 2 years, I’m returning to my hometown to take part in my first ever fully produced EdFringe show - a lifelong goal of mine!

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has a special place in my heart as it is what allowed me to do those first ever performances, encouraged me to try something even though I didn’t know if i’d be any good at it and enabled me to meet some of my best friends and mentors to this day!

A HUGE thank-you to Julie-Ann at Blonde Ambition Productions for taking me on this year.

Lets. Goooooo!

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“Mysteries: An Hour Of Impossibility “

Dates: 5 - 28th August (Not Mondays)

Time: 18:30

Venue: The Voodoo Rooms (Ballroom) - Venue 68

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About The Edinburgh Fringe

The Edinburgh Festival Fringe (also referred to as The Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe, or Edinburgh Fringe Festival) is the world's largest arts festival, which in 2018 spanned 25 days and featured more than 55,000 performances of 3,548 different shows in 317 venues.

Established in 1947 as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival, it takes place in Edinburgh every August. The Edinburgh Festival Fringe has become a world-leading celebration of arts and culture, surpassed only by the Olympics and the World Cup in terms of global ticketed events.

As an event it "has done more to place Edinburgh in the forefront of world cities than anything else" according to its historian and former chairman of the board, Michael Dale.

Booking The Right Corporate Entertainment In Toronto

Planning a corporate event in Toronto can be extremely hard, stressful work.

Making sure your guests are entertained throughout the event is one of the keys to making sure it’s enjoyed by all and seen as a success after the fact.

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how do you know if you are booking good or bad corporate entertainment?

How do you know what kind of corporate entertainment is right for your event?

What steps can you take to avoid disaster when booking your corporate entertainment?

1. Know your corporate event’s objective.

   If the aim of the event is to educate people; then the entertainment might not be the key element of the event. You could hire some entertainment that can incorporate the educational message, but maybe you would do better to use some light form of entertainment during the break (in my case, close-up-magic) to help attendees unwind and relax rather than anything that is going to be overpowering.

   If, however, you are organising a big corporate gala dinner/ awards night/ function; then you may need to book a headline that can really entertain the whole room (a stage magic act, for example!)

2. Know your audience.

   The attendees of the event will also play a large part in your choice of corporate entertainment. Using a comedian or performer that is known for profanity or crude humour would not be appropriate for a corporate family fun day, but a good selection of street performers, face painter and caricaturists would be an excellent choice.

   Likewise, a professional and experienced corporate entertainer like myself might not be the best choice for a family fun day, but it’s a safe bet for your corporate entertainment in Toronto!

3. Know the theme of your event.

   The theme of any event will dictate the style of entertainment used.

   If you have a Las Vegas theme then some fun casino tables, magic, “showpeople” and even an Elvis Impersonator would be appropriate.

   If however your theme is more subtle such as a black tie dinner it might be a simple matter of booking a good event host to mc the evening and then a good function band to play two sets.

4. Know your Budget.

   Always know how much of your budget has been set aside for your entertainment and be upfront with your suppliers. You can’t possibly start to research entertainment ideas until you know how much you have to spend in the first place.

   While most professional corporate entertainers will have their fees, most will be open to fair negotiation if it means getting the entertainment right for your big event!

5. Know what is included in the Fee.

   Some corporate entertainers may not be quoting an all-inclusive quote.

   There are often things like travel expenses added on top of an artists fee dependent upon the location of the event.

   You will also need to clarify whether or not they require you to provide a PA & lights or if they will be providing all their own equipment.

   You don’t want to be left with any nasty surprises so always remember to ask these questions!

6. Know their experience.

   Look for an ask for testimonials and reviews. Don’t be frightened to ask them what types of events they have performed at and how long they have been performing for.

   Another good question to ask is whether or not this is their full time job or just something they do on the side for a bit of fun.

   Some part-time entertainers are genuinely amazingly good - so don’t necessarily allow that to put you off! - but it’s always good to know first-hand exactly what you’re getting yourself into.

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My final comment would be to try and make an effort to see whoever you’re thinking of booking for your corporate entertainment in person before committing to a booking.

As wonderful as show reels are; they don’t necessarily give you an honest picture of their performance - they’re designed to be the “highlights”.

Try to see what they are like when in front of a live audience. Failing that, ask for a video of a performance they’ve done in the past. Any professional corporate entertainer with enough experience should have no issue providing this to you!

Interested in booking a high-quality, fun and engaging corporate mc, corporate entertainer and corporate magician for your next big event? Get in touch with me today!

How To MC An Event Like The Pros

Hosting an event or being the MC (“Master Of Ceremonies”) for any event can be a huge undertaking!

Usually, your duties will include: hosting the event, running the show, coordinating all other speakers & guests, keeping people entertained, keeping the event running to schedule, filling any gaps and much, much more.

And if you’ve never done it before; it can be a very overwhelming job.

So I’ve put together this easy-to-follow guide to show you what you’ll need to prepare in advance and what you can do on the night to host/ mc/ emcee like a pro at your next corporate event.

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Alternatively, if this all seems a bit much; hire a professional MC and event host instead!

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1. Know Your Role

Usually, your role as a host will be to ensure that the event runs smoothly from beginning to end.

It includes welcoming everyone to the event, outlining the agenda for the event, introducing any guests or speakers you may have, and keeping the flow going throughout the event while keeping it engaging.

But before you start to prepare your talking points, you should know what the aim of the event is.

Does your company want to motivate current staff, celebrate something or is this a client event?  

Find out why the event is taking place first and then build out your approach from there.

2. Learn the Schedule

As the “Master of Ceremonies”, it’s your job to keep everything moving during the event.

So it’s essential to plan around the schedule accordingly.

Make sure you give enough time between speakers for transitions and breaks and know when other events are taking place; such as meals or other entertainment.

That way, you’ll be able to keep the speakers on topic, keep them on time and have be prepared enough to fill in any spaces to keep the flow of the event going!

3. Be Entertaining!

Although you’re not supposed to necessarily be the star of the event, you are required to be entertaining, engaging and in some cases; work the crowd. Nobody wants to sit listening to someone who isn’t fun, funny and interesting. Tell some anecdotes, funny stories or do something different or amazing to keep your audience engaged.

It’s also crucial to know who the audience is and what topics both interest them and might be funny to them. This is where experience and practise comes in useful so try to get up in front of a crowd as much as possible before your big event!

4. Learn About the Speakers

As you’ll be introducing the speakers and potentially leading discussions with them, it’s essential that you learn about each and every one of the speakers — who they are, what they do, what they’re here to speak about and for goodness sake - learn how to pronounce their name in advance!

You should also make sure to gather and chat to each speaker at the start of the event, so they know both yours and their role in the event as well.

5. Practice Your Content

It’s important that you write and practice your delivery and the content in advance of the event, too.

Not only will this help you to stay on time during your event but it will help to ease your nerves come event day. Everyone can tell when someone’s simply reading off a card or a piece of paper and it’s not a good look!

It’s also beneficial to talk to the venue coordinator to set up practice time for you before the event where you can get up on the stage, hear your voice through the microphone and practice your tone and delivery on-mic.

If you don’t have experience working with a microphone, get some! Get to the venue early and just walk around the stage with a mic, practising how you’re going to hold it, what it sounds like depending how and where you hold it etc. This will make you look very professional whereas being uncertain or inexperienced with a mic is a big giveaway that you don’t know what you’re doing!

6. Be Prepared to Improvise

Whenever you’re public speaking, you need to be prepared to improvise in case something goes wrong like a speaker fails to show up, the microphone breaks or the visual equipment doesn’t work.

So make sure you know the venue, know which staff can help if you need it, and make sure prepare some extra content and ways to entertain the audience that you can use in case the occasion arises.

All this is pretty difficult stuff but with the right preparation and experience - anyone can do it!

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5 Things Magicians Hear At Every Event

I spend a lot of time performing close-up magic at events and as a result, a lot of time talking to a lot of different people.

And as much as I love doing it, there’s a handful of questions and phrases that crop up at every event. Without fail. Ever. And always.

I’ve put together a list of my 5 most common to give you a bit of an insight into the day to day performing of a professional magician,

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1. Can you make my _________ disappear?

   My wife, my mother-in-law, my bill, my belly; you name it, i’ve heard it! Even Greg James from BBC Radio 1 agrees that this joke is old hat!

2. What are next week’s lottery numbers?

   Easy, they’re 4, 12, 18, 21, 24 and the bonus ball is 41…

   I’m joking! If I could really predict the lottery numbers, do you think I’d be performing card tricks?! I’m a very accomplished magician but I’m not a real life miracle worker!

3. You should be on TV!

   “You should be on BGT!” This is a lovely compliment and in fact, I often get approached by the likes of bgt to enter. However, for a number of reasons, it’s not for me at the moment and so I always politely decline. TV often isn’t the “goal” for many performers. I much prefer performing on stage in front of a live audience than on video or on TV!

4. I’ve seen this trick before….

   For some reason, as soon as a magician pulls out a deck of cards, there’s always some smart-Alec who pipes up with this phrase. Chances are; they haven’t! There are literally thousands of card tricks and although many of them stat the same way : with someone picking a card; they almost all finish in different ways. So trust me when I say; you haven’t seen this trick before!

5. How did you do that?!

   This is the one question I LOVE hearing! It means that I’ve done my job properly and you’re all amazed!

   However, try not to think of it as a trick or a puzzle and think of it just as more of an amazing moment. This way, you get to keep the magic rather than ruin it for yourself!

Magic Immersive Chicago - The Reviews Are In!

3 weeks into our run of Magic Immersive in Chicago and the reviews are in!

Half way through our run of the world’s first immersive magic show - a magic show that happens all around you in 360 degrees - and the reviewers (and the public) have made up their minds - it’s a hit!

Cameron Gibson is the charismatic parlour magician. Gibson, Magic Immersive’s lead magician, captivates with his wit and trickery. He charmingly gives a brief Magic 101 by introducing the old ball-cup. He teasingly makes his work sound basic yet we are astonished to see a lemon, an orange and his watch appear from out-of-nowhere. The personable Gibson chooses a couple VIPs to act as assistants in his card tricks and Rubik’s Cube wizardry. Their bafflement in the sleight of hand adds to the overall amusement and fun. As we shuffled into the main show, the young boy solving the Rubik’s Cube puzzle called Gibson ‘the best magician in the world!’

- The Fourth Walsh, Dec 2021

WGN Chicago TV Spot

I had the pleasure of performing one of my personal favourite magic illusions on WGN TV in Chicago today!

As part of our effort to promote Magic Immersive in Chicago, myself and fellow magician Caitlin McKeon performed “the fastest illusion in the world”

You can see us perform it LIVE at Magic Immersive in Downtown Chicago - Opening Dec 3rd 2021!

Tickets:

https://www.magicimmersive.com/

Magic Immersive In Chicago!

Illusionarium is Moving To Chicago!

I’m thrilled to announce that i’ve been asked to stay on board as a creative lead on “Magic Immersive” on it’s first stop in the USA - Chicago!

We’ve re-jigged and re-vamped Illusionarium and placed it inside our new exhibit - Magic Immersive.

It’s going to be bigger, better, more amazing and more magical than ever before with the introduction of over 6 new illusions!

I’ll initially be going to help install the show, run rehearsals and help direct and create the show’s magic.

Make sure to follow my socials to keep up to date with everything i’m doing!

About Magic Immersive, Chicago:

This first-of-its-kind installation will occupy the third and fourth floors of 360 N. State St., the venue that hosted The Art of Banksy in the fall and is also the home of Chicago's Museum of Broadcast Communications. The official name for the exhibition space is "The Illusionarium at Magic Immersive." Magic Immersive features dozens of acts from engaging close-up parlour magic to one of the largest touring illusions in the world: the Mega Drill, all spread across two whole floors worth of immersive performance space, engaging audiences in 360 degrees of experiential magic while revealing amazing feats from the history of stage magic along the way. The venue additionally houses a bar and the Palais Royal VIP theatre, which features an exclusive parlour for close-up magic performances.

A Week Full Of Podcasts!

This week I had the pleasure of appearing on not one but two podcasts!

As Illusionarium here in Toronto comes to a close after quite literally thousands of shows to hundreds of thousands of audience members, I was invited to talk about my career, my experiences and my view on magic on two podcasts!

The lovely thing is, although they share similarities in places, both of these podcasts approach the subject from completely different viewpoints and have a complete different feel to them.

I’d highly recommend the “magicians talking magic” one if you’re a magician or the “artists working, working artists” one if you’re a non-magician trying to gain an insight into the work of magic and being a magician!

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Magicians Talking Magic Podcast

Magicians Talking Magic Podcast is a weekly magician podcast hosted by the incredible Ryan Joyce (www.ryanjoyce.com) and Graeme Reed (www.graemereedmagic.com) featuring tips, tricks, business advice, interviews, performance tips & much more!

On my episode, I talked about:

• moving abroad as an artist

• my slow but steady rise in social media

• my experience as the lead magician of Illusionarium - the world’s first immersive magic experience

You can listen to it on all major streaming & podcast services, or watch the interview on youtube above!

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Artists Working, Working Artists Podcast

This podcast is hosted by filmmaker and photographer Pat Hodgson (www.patrickhodgson.com) who discusses the ups, downs, and sideways of living and thriving as an artist (of any discipline. He talks with actors, writers, showrunners, photographers, musicians, youtubers, and many many more.

This podcast is so much fun and we talked about:

• my journey so far

• what learning magic teaches you about the world

• the ethics of magic & mind reading

• using art to deliver a message & connect with people

• making an impact on social media

You can listen to it on all major streaming and podcast services (i’ve included it below, too!)

Interview With Bob Cowan on CHCH Morning Live

Interview With An Ontario Magician!

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Bob Cowan on the CHCH Morning Live show; the most popular morning live show in the Hamilton, and Niagara regions and being available in 92% of Ontario!

I was interviewed about my role within Jamie Allan’s Illusionarium, my own personal background in magic and performing and the type and style of magic I love to perform most.

You can watch the full interview below!

Interview with HOLR Magazine!

I recently was asked to do an interview with HOLR magazine…

A fashion, culture and lifestyle magazine all about my move to Canada and the opening of Jamie Allan’s Illusionarium here in Toronto! You can find the full interview HERE but here are some highlights below!

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Tell us about yourself and your interest in performing magic. How did you become a magician?

My interest in magic came through a fairly unusual route in the world of magic. Most magicians will be able to tell you some version of the story that they got a magic set when they were 10 and that was it – they were hooked! And while I always remember loving to watch magic shows growing up, my start in performing magic came a little later in life. I started performing magic when I was around 17 years old when a classmate of mine started doing a few card tricks to impress people at school. I’ve always had an interest in how things work (I actually always wanted to be an “inventor” when I grew up!) and so that part of me just HAD to know how the tricks worked. So off I went to YouTube and tried to find out the secrets – and eventually, I did! I also was lucky to grow up in Edinburgh, Scotland which; aside from being a beautiful city in itself; is also the home of the world’s largest arts festival – the Edinburgh Fringe. The sheer scale of the Fringe meant that I managed to secure fun little guest spots in small variety shows when I was quite young (and not very good!) which is really where I cut my teeth and managed to grow into the performer that I am today.

Jamie Allan’s Illusionarium will be opening on July 29th. Can you tell us about your role in the show as a lead magician?

Of course! My role as a lead magician started back in November 2020 when I moved across the pond from Scotland to start construction of the venue and rehearsals with the amazing team of creatives and performers. Since then, my role involves almost every style of magic where I help oversee everything from classic magic performed by our very own “Victorian Magician”, large-scale “Las Vegas-style” illusions, high-tech lasers all the way to close-up & sleight of hand magic that the lucky VIPs will have the chance to experience. I absolutely love this challenge as it really allows me to apply my knowledge of different types of magic across the board in a way that we magicians rarely get to do when constructing our own shows.

I know magicians are never supposed to reveal their secrets, but what are some of your favourite types of magic tricks to perform?

I personally love to perform a type of magic that is usually known as mentalism, but is sometimes referred to as “psychological mind reading”. It uses magic techniques along with psychology and showmanship in order to give the illusion that I can read your mind or influence your decisions. The beauty of this style of magic is that it all happens within the mind of the audience. There are rarely any big props or flashy boxes; it’s just me, my audience, and their thoughts and experiences.

Virtual Magic Shows In Toronto, Canada and Beyond!

Over the past year, the whole live performance and events industry has had to completely reimagine the way that we deliver quality entertainment to people at a time when we need it more than ever!

And for the past 6 months, i’ve been offering my online virtual magic & mind-reading show to private clients as well as selling out a number of public, ticketed events, too!

The show can be tailored anywhere from between 15 minutes to a full 50 minutes and is delivered via Zoom.

It is fun, interactive and high-quality and really creates a unique experience wherever your guests are. Meaning that you can bring people together from across a city, a country or event the world for one amazing social event!

Perfect for corporate entertainment, work social events, family celebrations and much, much more; I really make you and your guests the stars of the show getting every single person involved along the way!

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To book my LIVE online virtual show for your next lockdown event, get in touch via the form on my “contact” page or via any social media!

I've Moved To Canada!

Last week, I took a huge leap forwards and have moved to Toronto, Canada for the foreseeable future!

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Back in April 2020, I was supposed to move my life to Toronto... until the pandemic hit. Since then, i've basically been sitting waiting for things to happen...

This is just a quick note to mention to all my colleagues, clients and people in the UK that have shown recent interest in booking me that I have permenantly moved my base from the UK to Toronto, Canada.

This decision is an incredibly exciting one and one that I have been planning in the background for a while, despite the ongoing pandemic throwing a bit of a spanner in the works earlier this year.

I’m excited to be able to share more about the project i’m a part of over here in the coming weeks and months but in the mean time, you can keep up to date with what’s happening through my Instagram, YouTube and Facebook pages!

A huge thank you to every single person that has ever booked, supported or performed alongside me over the past 5 years… I’ll see you all soon!

Top 10 Tips To Get The Most Out Of Your Wedding Magician!

So you’ve decided to go ahead and book a professional magician for your big day? Great choice!

Whats next? Well I’ve put together a list of my top 10 tips for anybody who has or is thinking about booking a professional wedding magician for their big day. This list is taken from my experience over the years of performing at hundreds (yes, hundreds!) of weddings!

Enjoy!

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1. Number Of Guests

Weddings sit around the 80-150 guests mark and usually, one magician is the right call to entertain this many people for a few hours! However, if you have many more than this, one magician on his lonesome is unlikely to get around all your guests and deliver the jaw-dropping gasps your guests have been waiting for.

Feel free to ask me about the specifics of your wedding and your number of guests as all weddings are different. I’m always happy to offer my professional opinion and if needed, recommend and help you book a second (or even third!) magician for your day, if necessary.

2. Table Decorations

I get it, a big bunch of flowers in the middle of each table does look pretty. However in my experience, this is far outweighed by the negatives of having big centrepieces at each table.

First and foremost, it means that the guests at each table can’t see or talk to each other unless they are directly sitting next to each other. I find that weddings with big centrepieces often have a bit less atmosphere at each table as you’ve effectively split everyone into small 2’s or 3’s instead of the big 10’s or 12’s you intended them to be in when you spent all that time making your table plan!

Secondly, it also means that when performing at each table, around half the table will get an obstructed view of your magician, meaning you’re not getting even nearly the fully fun and impact from the performance!

3. Huh? What?!

During the meal and the evening reception, wedding DJ’s sometimes can be found blaring the music loud!

This is a huge issue that I see at weddings almost weekly. It means that your guests can’t have a comfortable conversation and won’t be able to hear and take part in the magic! You want your reception to be relaxed and fun; there will be plenty of time later on to get that party started!

Do yourself a favour and have a chat with your DJ before your big day to make sure you’re all on the same page!

4. Speeches

Encourage your wedding party to keep the speeches short and sweet. As a professional speaker myself, I know from experience that most people aren’t! There’s nothing worse than going to a wedding and sitting through an hour and a half of the same story repeated because the top table didn’t check their material against each other and everyone’s speaking for 15 minutes each.

5. Timings

Don’t worry if your wedding is running behind! You aren’t the first and trust me, you won’t be the last wedding to do so!

A wedding professional will always allow time for this and your venue will usually be able to make up any lost time in the changeover periods. Don’t let this little thing stress you out on the big day; after all, your magician is there to help keep people occupied if things are taking linger than expected!

6. Tell EVERYBODY!

Some wedding couples like to keep the fact they’ve booked a wedding magician a secret or surprise for their guests. In my experience, it’s always best to let people know. In fact, tell everyone! Shout it out! Put it on your programmes!

This way, when your magician approaches groups of people they all know what’s coming and can get hyped/ excited and prepare themselves for the magic. The alternative is this sort of awkward situation where people are unsure how to react when I say I’m a magician; I’ve even had people at first think I’m just another guest that “knows a few tricks”! Granny nearly fell over when I then showed her a miracle and she realised I wasn’t just an uncle that knows a card trick!

7. What Time?

I often see people asking wedding magicians to perform at all parts of the wedding (drinks reception, during the meal and at the evening reception) and while this might suit some people’s weddings; it’s not what I’d usually recommend.

Everybody loves magic but, just like everything; we love it in moderation.

I usually recommend 2 hours is the perfect amount of time to bamboozle all your guests but still leave them wanting more.

8. Children

Magic is obviously great for kids! However, they do often love it a little bit too much and end up following the magician from group to group. This becomes a) quite annoying for the magician and b) can even start to ruin the experience for your guests. Magic can often be a bit like a good thriller movie. Once you know the big twist, it becomes a lot less amazing and interesting. Children often like to show everyone how smart they are and soil the outcome of the trick for everyone else. No fun!

9. Wedding Couple

Most professional wedding magicians will always make time to come and visit the happy couple and show them a special something just for them. Usually, the best time for this in my experience is as the rest of your guests are making their way into the wedding breakfast. This is often one of the very few breaks the couple will get throughout the day and so is a perfect time to relax, regroup, and share in some magic to remind them why they’re there and to enjoy themselves along the ride!

Top Tip: make sure your photographers know that this is plan to get some ace photos of you two with your magician, losing your minds at the magic!

10. Payment

The mark of a professional can often be found in how they deal with the business side of things. Most professional wedding suppliers now take payment up front.

I do this so that nobody has to worry about money on the big day and everyone can sit back and relax without having to stress about the little things. However, if you are still paying some suppliers in cash on the day, make sure all the cash is prepared in clearly marked envelopes to make it as easy as possible for you and so you don’t end up giving the wrong money to the wrong people!