"A Nuanced Parlor Show with Intimate Mentalism"


-Forbes

nyc adult magician Gary Ferrar

Ever since I can remember, I've loved performing. Maybe it had something to do with my grandfather being a lion tamer (watch him on Johnny Carson in my bio).  Magic, for me, isn't a break from regular life - it is regular life.  From national television appearances to private lessons for celebrities, I get to travel the country doing what I love.  This officially makes me the luckiest person I know.  Scroll down to learn more about the different styles of magic and mentalism that I offer.

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Stage/Parlor Shows

How do stage/parlor shows work? If you want costumed show girls, large mirrored boxes, and red sequined vests, I'm not your guy. I'd much rather perform an illusion with a paper bag and a spectator's sport coat. No matter the size of the crowd, my signature show feels intimate and improvised. I love the unexpected moments that arise as I bring your guests up to help out with my unique effects. I'll connect with your audience and make sure that everyone feels like they just witnessed the impossible. I have experience performing high-energy, engaging stage shows for weddings, corporate holiday parties, product launches, birthdays, retirements, fundraisers, proposals, comedy clubs, and can also MC your event.

Parlor Show

Strolling Magic & Mentalism

How does strolling magic work? My performance style is very interactive and casual, with an emphasis on comedy. My goal is to make sure that your guests are not only blown away by my magic, but also have a great time in the process. By doing close-up magic for small groups of people, I can specifically target guests who may not be as engaged in other aspects of your event. Strolling magic can be a great ice-breaker if your guests don't all know each other. I have the experience to tactfully work a room with a strolling repertoire including such everyday objects as money, silverware, jewelry, playing cards, ice cubes, and mentalism. If possible, I love to finish each set with a trick or two for the whole room.

Up-close magic for Bride
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Bonus Video

When you have a unique skill set, you find yourself in strange situations.  I was asked to sneak into the BuzzFeed headquarters, disguised as a psychology student, in order to surprise the staff with some magic and mind reading.  Warning: the alcohol led to some NSFW language.

Gary performed a parlor show for 25 adults at our annual holiday party and every single guest LOVED him. He has a warm and genuine personality and is naturally funny. His magic is astounding and his personality lights up the room - could you ask for more?! Book him without reservation!" 


Michelle

Holiday Party / UWS
Five Stars
Michelle from UWS

Read hundreds of unanimous five-star reviews on:

Gary MADE our wedding. During the cocktail hour he performed and he set the tone of the room perfectly. Many people were meeting for the first time and his amazing talent and humor was the perfect ice breaker. He was so charming we were all sad to see him leave! I wish he was my new best friend!"


Karlie

Wedding / NYC
Five Stars
Karlie NYC

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  • How long should we book you for?

    For stage shows, my act can be as short as 15 minutes, and as long as 90 minutes.  But I personally think we can accomplish everything we need to in 60 minutes.  For strolling magic, I typically say I can get to 50 people in an hour, but can easily to do more or less based on the preferences of your event and your expected budget.

  • Does a mentalist really read minds?

    The short answer is... no!  This shouldn't be shocking.  If I could accurately predict the future, I'd play the winning loto numbers and retire to my private island.  My skill set allows me to convincingly create the illusion of mind-reading.  

  • What is your favorite trick?

    My tricks are like my kids, so there's no way to answer that fairly.  I truly do love each of them for different reasons.  Any trick I don't absolutely love doesn't come with me in my briefcase.  So it's more a matter of choosing the right trick for the right person at the right moment...  When that happens, it's always my favorite.  

How does a magician choose a volunteer?


Volunteers play a critical role in my performances. They help keep me present, help draw the rest of the audience into the experience, and (when it comes to mentalism) sometimes even supply the content of the show. So it's no surprise that people often ask me, "How do you get picked to be a volunteer?" As a professional magician, I figured I'd share a little bit about my thought process.  Let me start off by saying that there's no way to guarantee that you'll be called up into the spotlight. But there are certainly ways to help increase your odds.

 

Random Selection:
  • Some magicians prefer to choose volunteers at random to ensure fairness and unpredictability. They might use methods like drawing names from a hat, tossing a ball into the audience, or using a random number generator to select an audience member. I personally avoid this method in most instances, since it can lead to a volunteer that absolutely does not want to be a part of the show. Which leads us to...


Willing Volunteers: 
  • Other magicians typically ask for volunteers by inviting people to raise their hands or respond to specific questions. Those who eagerly raise their hands or express enthusiasm are more likely to be chosen. Again, as a professional, I find it's best to avoid this approach as well. Why? If someone is that eager to get on stage, they must have some sort of an agenda. Maybe it's to appear funny or witty in front of their friends. Or because they are eager to try to disprove an effect. Either way, those are people I'd rather not invite on stage. But fear not! There are ways to still signal that you would like to participate.


Body Language: 
  • Without explicitly asking who wants to be a volunteer, I typically scan the crowd for body language. If you are sitting up straight, appear enthusiastic, engaged, and find yourself nodding along with what I say, you quickly make my shortlist of possible volunteers for the show. I'll scan the crowd during my opening trick and create a mental note of where those people are seated.


Uniqueness: 
  • Once I have my short list, there are two main things that will bump you to the top. The first is some sort of unique aspect of the volunteer. This could be a bold patterned shirt, wearing sunglasses indoors, a resemblance to a celebrity, anything really! But if it's something that could lead to further comedy once you're a part of the show, then I try to find a way to make it happen, since these are the unique moments that clients remember forever.


Stage Presence: 
  • The second thing that will bump you up the list is stage presence. There are certain people who happen to look miserable, even when they are having the time of their life. If this is you, no offense. It's perfectly fine, just not on stage. Why? Because the rest of the audience tends to live vicariously through the volunteer's experience. If you have strong reactions, vivid facial expressions, and an outgoing personality, you'll transmit that energy and response to the rest of the room, which makes me a very happy performer. 


Prior Agreements: 
  • There are two boring options that will sometimes get you onstage. In some cases, I may have prearranged agreements with clients. This may sound like cheating but let me explain! They may say "you must feature my boss in the show!" and I'll then pick the boss as the volunteer because I want the person hiring me to be happy. So I suppose this is the simplest of all the methods mentioned. If you absolutely need to be on stage a) start your own company b) hire me c) tell me that you need to be picked as the volunteer.


Specific Needs: 
  • The final reason you might be chosen to participate in the show is that a trick might need something you specifically have. A watch? A $100 bill? An identical twin on a different continent? Since there is no way to anticipate this one, it's best to ignore it. 


As you can see, there's a lot of thought that goes into this process, since choosing a volunteer can make or break an effect.  It's important to note that I always prioritize the comfort and consent of my volunteers to ensure a positive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.


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