1. The FREE Close-Up Magician

There was the time I rocked up at a wedding to perform for guests during the drinks reception while the bride and groom were having their photos taken. I was busy entertaining the guests (who were enthralled) until the happy couple made their entrance.

Their shocked looks told me something was wrong. Turns out they’d cancelled me over the phone, but I got distracted after they hung up and forgot to make a note in my diary. Facepalm!

 Lesson learnt: I only take cancellations in writing!

2. The Wedding show must go on

I remember the time when a poor guest broke her ankle during the drinks reception. She just slipped and fell. As you can imagine the accident shifted the mood – people didn’t know quite what to do. But as they say, the show must (and did) go on!

I did my best to return smiles to people’s faces and get everyone back into the party spirit (successfully I might add!)

 Lesson learnt: That poor lady is the reason I always carry painkillers with me!

3: The wedding did NOT go on!

I still shudder when I remember the wedding that got cancelled on the morning it was due to go ahead because the groom had found an “alternative mate”. Needless to say that particular show did not go on!

 Lesson learnt: Take full payment before the big day!

4: A BIG gaping hole!

This is one of my most embarrassing moments.

I’d just parked up at a gig and was busy removing myself from the car when I somehow managed to catch and rip an almighty hole in my brand-new, expensive, tailor-made trousers.

There was no time to go home and grab another pair, instead, I ended up improvising with a roll of gaffer tape to solve my (revealing?) problem. You can imagine my blushes on that particular day!

Lesson Learnt: I never EVER leave the house without a spare set of trousers. In fact, there’s a pair permanently located in my boot – as well as an emergency needle and thread!

5: Briefly lost a spectator’s wedding ring

This was almost my worst nightmare coming true (as it is for all close-up magicians!)

There I was performing a ring trick in a crowded pub on Christmas Eve. It was packed – busier than a moth in a mitten. Somehow, the ring I’d ‘borrowed’ flew off my finger and into a sea of booze-filled muggles.

Fortunately, the lady thought it was all “part of the routine”. Sweating like two ferrets in a woolly sock I managed to improvise until the ring was found safely. Phew!

Lesson learnt: The ring trick is awesome, but to avoid any mishaps I now only use small ones. Oh, I also have £10 million public liability insurance – just in case!

6: Making a spectator cry 

One of my favourite mind-reading tricks requires the participant to think about someone who is close to them.

Then, as if by magic, I reveal the name of the person they’re thinking about and everyone claps in disbelief.

Well, that’s what’s supposed to happen!

Unfortunately, on this particular occasion, the person being thought about was a relative who had recently died. Of course, their name cued raw emotions and tears aplenty – not the reaction I wanted.

Lesson learnt: Frame the question so the participant thinks of someone that won’t lead to a flood of tears!

7: Jaw-dropping Magic…or so I thought

Jaw-dropping magic happens when people can’t for the life of them work out how a trick was done. So one of the best compliments I can receive is, “wow – I didn’t see a thing.”

Back when I was wet behind my ears at the very beginning of my career, I hadn’t mastered the art of performance in the way I have now. I wasn’t so good at mingling and instead would put my head down, make my way into the crowd, and jump straight into the trick.

So I felt a bit embarrassed when at the end of the trick I asked the participant what they thought, only to be told, “I don’t know – I’m blind!”

 Needless to say, I’ve not made that schoolboy error again.

Lesson learnt: Survey the audience first to avoid potentially embarrassing situations!