Blog
Welcome to Magic Ian's Blog where you can find out what I'm up to.DEC 2023
Over the summer I had a real variety of bookings from weddings to summer fairs. One of my special shows was for the Girl Guides which was a fantastic event and I did 4 shows for them and had such great fun. A wedding after it made for a great day.
Although I only do 2 hours of modelling now, I had several bookings over the summer months as well as the usual parties.
I had developed a new talk for WI, Probus and U3A called The Life and Times of a Children's Entertainer. This is a fun audio visual talk and I have had a few bookings for this.
December was good as the weather was kind to me for the Christmas shows.
As usual I was back at my son's school to do some shows to raise money for the school. Always fun.
My son told me he had volunteered me to do a magic show for my grandson's forest nursery. Thankfully it was dry and not too cold. The children always ask for a magic trick every time I take him to nursery now.
JULY 2023
The start of the year started off well with a steady flow of parties and I attended the Blackpool Magic Convention for my 39th year. As families were finding the recession hitting budgets I found things slowed down in March and April but began to get better in May. I went down to Oswestry to the Trix in the Stix children's entertainers convention to pick up some new ideas. I was asked by my cousins to entertain their grandchildren which was fun and I also had my grandson's Nursery to entertain. A friend was getting married so I was also asked to do my magic for the guests.
JANUARY 2023
Now that Christmas is out of the way it is time to reflect on the past six months.
Despite not working at the Fringe any more with my balloon modelling the summer months were fairly steady partywise. Went to Norway for two weeks and always take some magic with me. performed for several groups. Every year I donate my time to help out Boghall Primary where my son is a teacher and put on shows to raise them some cash.
JULY 2022
Well things certainly have picked up as more people have been vaccinated and more and more parties have come in since the beginning of the year. The children have missed out on so much over lockdown. I have been performing Close up magic at weddings and parties all over the Central belt and the Borders. The good weather has cheered everyone up.JANUARY 2022
Happy New Year folks. Christmas was a bit quieter than normal as lots of companies and schools did not have parties. However as the vaccine rollout has been covering more people the prospects are looking good for the future.JULY 2021
Thank goodness for my Zoom Show talks as they have been keeping me sane and keeping my interest in Magic going. I have been getting bookings for my talk to Ladies and Men Probus clubs, U3A and Women’s Institutes all over Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales and all from my upstairs landing. Performed close up magic at a family wedding in the Uists early this month and at last some proper children’s birthday shows in front of a real audiences.Big thank you to the NHS for working so well pushing out the vaccines and allowing us some semblance of the freedom we used to have.
JANUARY 2021
Happy New Year to everyone and I hope it is much better than 2020 was. With the severe restrictions enforced for the start of the year it is imperative to remain positive and so having some Zoom shows booked in has been morally uplifting for people and the rollout of the vaccine even more so.DECEMBER 2020
The summer has proved to be a very trying time for entertainers what with all the various restrictions and normally Christmas is a busy time. Having been doing the Zoom shows it has not been a complete washout. A lot of trial and error goes into setting up virtual shows and they get easier with experience.
I managed to pick up several talks to Probus and U3A clubs with my "My Magic, magicians and more" lecture especially for their Christmas Parties.
September 2020
Thankfully the good weather has sustained us through the lockdown summer months and the ever wishful thinking we could have some normality in our lives. Gave me time to totally rearrange and paint my magic shed. A good clearout was required. Although short lived, we were still able to squeeze in a couple of weeks to the Uists which was really needed.
MARCH 2020
LOCKDOWN started on 23rd. Cancellations and postponements started to come in with deposits having to be returned. Nobody knows how long this is going to last and how it is going to affect the entertainment industry. Staying safe and at home.JANUARY and FEBRUARY 2020
These have always been busy months for me. Performed some magic and traditional Scottish songs at a Nursing Home which was a nice change as well as a couple of talks to Probus clubs down in Jedburgh and Livingston and the usual birthday parties. A week in Lagos, Portugal was a nice time to get some sun. Made some friends from Holland when performing magic in a restaurant. The Blackpool Magic Convention followed and the rumblings about Coronavirus was present then although nobody expected it to come to these shores. How wrong were we !!!DECEMBER 2019
Visited Brussels at the beginning of the month prior to the Christmas mayhem. Enjoyed some fantastic shows during the weeks that followed and for the first time, in more years than I can remember, I did not work on Christmas Day.NOVEMBER 2019
I have started a new venture going round various groups such as Probus, U3A etc giving a talk about magic and magicians of the past interspersed with some magic. My first one was in Paisley and I was very well received. I got some excellent positive feedback which will help me. A very interesting thing happened when I was talking about The Great Lafayette who was one of the highest paid performers at the beginning of the 1900's. He died in a fire in Edinburgh and his body was driven along Princes Street to a crowd of 250.000. Anyway a lady came up to me and told me her great uncle conducted the funeral service. Amazing the people you meet in this profession.OCTOBER 2019
It always thrills me when I see peoples faces when they see magic done in front of them. I always perform something no matter what city or country I am in (international magician LOL). We were recently in Belfast and had such a laugh with some people in a restaurant we visited and they just wanted more and more.AUGUST 2019
This was the first year I have not done my balloon modelling at the Fringe for over 25 years. Due to having sore fingers throughout the year I decided to retire from the heavy workload the Fringe can be. It was something I loved doing. I met so many people from all across the globe and made many friends in all the years I worked it. It was rather sad to have to give up and I missed the buzz but it did give me the chance to take in more Fringe shows and it also meant I was still free to do magic shows in August which I have not done for many a year.
July 2019
Its been a busy time socially with yet another wedding and once again Magic Ian was called into play to entertain the guests this time just outside Dunbar. An excellent wedding and the magic went down a storm.June 2019
I was invited as a guest and to perform magic at a friend's wedding in San Lorenzo El Escorial just outside Madrid. The bride's brother is Anders Herrera who played for Manchester Utd. Had a brilliant time then headed down to Malaga for a weeks holiday.MAY 2019
Another trip down to Trix in the Stix the children's entertainers convention. Always good to see old friends and meet some new ones.
MAR 2019
Enjoyed some memorable events including several children's parties, a dinner, a 30th and Wedding all doing close up magic.FEB 2019
One of the magical highlights of the year is the Blackpool Magic Convention which gets better every year. Time to restock and learn some new magic.JAN 2019
The start of the year can be slow but this year I had a very busy month and finished it off with a trip to Madeira to recharge the batteries.DEC 2018
December is always a busy month with Christmas shows but also included a return to the Museum of Childhood for a Christmas Balloon Workshop and a special show at the Edinburgh Sick Kids Christmas Party. Christmas Day was a delight to be working doing close up magic at The Principal Edinburgh (formerly The Roxburgh Hotel) .AUG 2018
Another successful Edinburgh Fringe including a balloon workshop at the Museum of Childhood.
MAY
2018
Taking bookings from now on. Had two weddings performing close up magic and a couple of birthday parties to get me back into action again. Onwards and upwards.
MAR 2018
Op was a success but unable to lift anything or drive for a few weeks.
JAN 2018
Having to take things a bit easier as I need a hernia operation so might be out of action soon. Not taking many bookings.
DEC 2017
Spending a few days in Vienna before the December rush of shows. Christmas Day working at Capital Hotel. Always fun.
AUG 2017
Its Festival time again and I can be found on the Royal Mile most days.
Struck down with a bad cold during the last week. never had a cold in August before but managed to do some magic for the East Lothian Taxis Fun Day.
JUN 2017
Quietest June for a long time as going to Portugal on holiday. Sure to pick up in the Summer months
MAY 2017
Heading back down to Trix in the Stix children's magic convention. Need to stock up on balloons for Edinburgh Fringe.
JAN 2017
Busy month ahead, great start to the New Year
DEC 2016
Christmas shows going well so far not caught a cold although voice is going.
5 - 10 AUG 2016
Only a few days at this years Edinburgh Fringe balloon modelling
29 Jul 2016
Royal Commonwealth Pool for Family Fun Day. Magic Show and balloon modelling. It was hot in there !!!!
28 - 30 Jun 2016
Run of Nursery shows done for end of term
8 Jun 2016
Had a fantastic morning balloon modeling for the Rotary Club's KidsOut Day for disadvantaged children at the Jack Kane Centre. Nice to meet some children who remembered me from performing at their Xmas party.
25 May 2016
Back from a couple of days in Shropshire at children's entertainers magic convention called Trix in the Stix. Good to see old friends and see some top class lectures.
15 May 2016
Spent a couple of hours balloon modelling and helping a friend who was raising money at Tesco Broughton Road for British Heart Foundation and Diabetes Scotland. Met some wonderful people who dedicate their time to raise much need cash. Every little helps.
5 May 2016
New Magic Ian website goes live!