CLIENTS 

The Amazing Gary is a full-time professional magician who's entertained corporate clients that include Art institute of Chicago, the Field Museum, the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier and Brookfield Zoo, as well as hundreds of special events for small businesses, schools and community organizations, plus thousands of private parties.

✨ Frequently Asked Questions

Why book a Chicago Magician for your event?

While entertaining your guests is an important part of any special event, the best magicians offer so much more than mere entertainment. Great magic is about making connections.

From corporate events to family gatherings, the best magicians get people talking, laughing, and having a good time.

Hiring a great magician in Chicago, like The Amazing Gary, will help to create an atmosphere of fun and excitement and ultimately, help make memories that last long after the event has ended.

There are so many Chicago Magicians. Why should I hire The Amazing Gary?

A great magician is more than just about the "tricks". A great magician must also be a great entertainer.

Like all great entertainers, The Amazing Gary enjoys a unique skill-set. With a background that includes a lifetime of experience in the performing arts, from magic to theater acting and comedy improvisation, Gary has the tricks up his sleeve to conjure a performance of truly impressive magic and interactive comedy entertainment that gets the audience in on the action and keeps them laughing!

Does The Amazing Gary have any credentials?

While The Amazing Gary did not graduate from Hogwarts, he did grow up in a household surrounded by magic. Gary is a second generation Chicago magician. His father toured with the legendary stage magician and illusionist, Harry Blackstone Sr.

As a child, Gary spent much time in his father's magic shop, in the company of professional magicians. And along with his mother, Gary assisted his father in his larger illusion show.

Eventually, Gary went to college and majored in acting at the theater department of Columbia College, Chicago. He then went on to study improvisation at the famous Second City, Chicago.

As Houdini's namesake, the magician and illusionist Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin, widely recognized as the father of the modern magic, once famously said "A magician is an actor playing the part of a magician." And as magic, acting, and improvisation rely on similar performance skills, Gary's lifetime of experience gives him a unique capacity to create a surprising interactive magic comedy experience that engages and entertains audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

What type of magic does a Chicago magician perform?

Most magicians in Chicago perform two basic categories of magic: stand-up magic and close-up magic.

Stand-up magic is probably the most popular type of magic performance. A stand-up magic show is versatile in that it has the ability to fit any venue, small or large - from the intimacy of livingrooms to the largest theaters.

Close-up magic is magic that is typically performed no more than a few feet from the audience. Close-up magic is a popular choice for receptions, cocktail parties, and similar events where guests in are in a mixing and mingling setting.

As an experienced professional magician in Chicago, The Amazing Gary is happy to perform either close-up or stand-up magic, or a combination of both!

Do magicians perform outdoor shows in the Chicago area?

Absolutely! While not all Chicago magicians perform outdoors, The Amazing Gary does. Every year he performs his magic in backyards and on back decks of private homes, in gardens, on patios, and on rooftop terraces of restaurants and bars, and in public parks and picnic shelters throughout Chicago and the suburbs.

How do I book a magician in Chicago?

It's really quite easy to book a magician in Chicago such as The Amazing Gary. Simply send him a few details about your event, using his convenient contact form. He can send you an immediate price quote, along with his availability. If you wish to proceed with booking, just let him know, and he will add your event to his calendar.

How far in advance do I need to book a Chicago area magician?

While The Amazing Gary, like many Chicago magicians, can take bookings up to 18 months in advance, most bookings occur within 1 to 3 months of the event.

Often, hiring a Chicago magician can be a last-minute decision. And last-minute bookings are always appreciated and accepted as scheduling permits.

As all bookings are taken on a first come, first served basis, it is recommended that you book your Chicago magician as soon as you can.

Is the goose real?

No. The Goose Is NOT REAL. But it looks real! And the magic that it performs is real!