Dinner Party Entertainment Tips
As a sleight of hand magician, one of my favorite kinds of events I perform at is a dinner party. Each one is different than the last because the evening is often so intimate that the party is really made up of the people there. The smallest dinner party in a home I’ve performed at was for only six people and the largest for forty. Unlike a wedding or corporate holiday party, the dinner party is usually but not always a more informal night. But how do you best select entertainment to make the evening engaging and memorable? I have some tips I follow as entertainment for dinner parties.
Performing magic for a small group leads to conversation and interaction.
Interactive
Entertainment that is passive is best left to the theater. When guests come to a dinner party they are prepared to engage in conversation. By choosing interactive entertainment your highlighting the fact that the evening is really all about your guests. When I perform sleight of hand and mind reading at dinner parties I make sure to have as much interaction as possible during the show.
Personable
At an event like a dinner party when the performing artist you choose to entertain your guests will likely be having conversations before and after with those at the party it’s incredibly important to choose entertainment that’s personable. Beyond the quality of the show I’ve found that what guests often love about a dinner party is asking questions about what it’s like to be a magician, how do I learn magic, and what my practice schedule is like. I enjoy meeting people so for me it’s one of my favorite components of performing at a dinner party.
Drawing by artist Ron Crawford of my magic performance at a dinner party hosted by the actress Kathleen Chalfant.
High Quality
Unlike a big theater, the entertainment will often happen in your living room or around your dining room table, and the minute mistakes one might not catch from a distance are all the more apparent so close. Therefore, when considering ideas for your dinner party I recommend going with nationally recognized performers in their field.
Surprising
Who doesn’t love going to a dinner party and being surprised by the entertainment ideas of the host? Your choice in food, ambiance, and entertainment all reflect your personality. To choose something surprising for the entertainment will make the evening all the more memorable and fun for your guests.
Alexander Boyce is a sleight of hand artist and magician whose performances have been seen in The Magic Castle, The McKittrick Hotel, The Rainbow Room, Lincoln Center and many private corporate events around the world. He’s performed at dinner parties in New York City, New Jersey, Connecticut, Brooklyn, Long Island, and all over the United States.