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Some time towards the end of the 1980s, during a night of drinking in a pub in Undercliffe (in Bradford), a friend picked up two beermats and showed us all a simple but clever magic trick. I wanted to know how it was done, but she refused to reveal the secret. Several hours later, after many more drinks, I cruelly persuaded her to do the trick again. Her drunken clumsiness let me spot how it was done.

The following day, while working as a visiting writer in a Leeds primary school, I performed the trick. Impressed, the pupils demanded more tricks. When I replied that I had none, their collective “Aaaww!” persuaded me that I needed other tricks. My drive home that day took me past a local magic shop. Never having been inside, I decided to call in and see what it had to offer. As luck would have it, there was a retired magician in there chatting with the owner. Over the next hour, this old guy taught me half a dozen tricks using everyday objects, and I selected and bought several other tricks recommended by the shop owner, who was also a magician. I left there with a new hobby and a new set of skills that would feature in all my future school visits.

Over the next thirty-five years, I slowly acquired more and more magic tricks and skills. Our attic now contains around 5,000 magic tricks of all kinds. Over the years, I’ve worked a wide variety of magic into my performances and presentations in schools, libraries, festivals, and a host of other events for children and for families. I’ve also regularly done magic tricks for friends and family, and while on holiday or while working abroad as a writer-in-schools, performed street and restaurant magic just for fun. Gradually, it’s crept into most aspects of my life.

Near our house is a great Pakistani restaurant called The Kebabeesh. It was one of the first of many curry houses in Bradford. My dad knew the original owner and first took me there for a meal when I was still a teenager. I’ve known the family ever since. Both our children had jobs there when they were teenagers. And, for several years, I did a magic show there every Christmas Day, in exchange for which my whole family and I got a free four-course Xmas dinner.

For years, I’d been making a living as a writer-in-school. However, since 2021, the COVID pandemic and its aftermath have put a stop to much of that work. By the end of 2024, I was really struggling financially. Lying in bed early one morning, worrying about money, it suddenly occurred to me that I could maybe professionalise my magic skills. That November, I joined an online agency called Bark that promoted the services of a multitude of self-employed workers, including magicians. On there, I’m known as Magic Man, not by choice. That’s what school kids have been calling me for more than thirty-five years.    

On New Year’s Eve 2024/5, I did my first ever paid gig as a magician. It was a very drunken birthday party attended by two dozen twenty-somethings. I was terrified, but it turned out brilliantly (see the first review below). In the eighteen months since then, I’ve done dozens of children’s birthday parties, numerous adult birthday gigs, several festivals and galas, weddings, anniversaries, formal dinners, awards ceremonies, and many other gatherings.

All told, I’ve now clocked up more than eighty paid bookings, with another twenty in the pipeline over the next three months. It’s a living. Meanwhile, school bookings are at last returning, both around the UK and overseas. And I’m also earning money as a metal detectorist (see my next blog).

Below, printed verbatim, are all the reviews I’ve accumulated on Bark. If you’re thinking of booking a bald magician, you can contact me by phone (0798-551-4409) or by email (nick.toczek@gmail).            

‘Magic man (Nick) was amazing! I hired him for a private birthday party for my boyfriend who had just turned 23. There were about 20 of us and nick kept us all amazed the entire time ! Well worth the money.’

‘Absolutely brilliant keeping so many kids aged under 5 so amused and gave a lovely signed book of himself to my granddaughter for her birthday he so helpful from first phone call and he really is brilliant thankyou nick’

‘The kids really enjoyed his show . Would highly recommend :)’

‘Good communication. On time. Very polite. Entertained kids with magic tricks and a puppet very successfully. Kids were really engaged and found the presentation very funny. He involved all the 9 kids at different times aged between 5 and 11. Very pleased overall. 👍’

‘We booked Magic Man for a family birthday. From first contact his communication was great. He has a lot of tricks up his sleeve, literally. The children and adults alike were all mesmerised by his Magic tricks. He captured the children's attention throughout and he included them in his show. As a publishished author we had asked if he could bring some books with him and he signed the books for the children which he also addressed to them personally. I would highly recommend Magic Man to anyone and we look forward to booking him again for future events.

Magic Man is also very reasonably priced. A great show to add to any child's party.

Thank you Magic Man’

‘What a great guy!

I booked Nick for my son's 5th birthday party in February 2025, with just short of 30 children all 5 years and under.

Nick had the kids captivated from the start with funny poems which they could all join in with, great magic tricks and puppets that he walked around with when the little ones started to get restless.’

‘Nick has written his own book of poems which he gifted to our son at the party, and he was thrilled to bits with it, in particular the "I'm telling mum" chapter.

I had great communication with Nick, he tailored his act to suit our needs and was very competitively priced.

I would definitely book him again.

Thank you Nick for making a 5 year olds birthday extra special!’

‘Hired to do my sons 6th birthday. He was excellent, funny and the kids loved him. Really engaging and real magic. Adaptable to unforeseen events. Would def recommend and book again’

‘Hired Nick for my daughters 7th birthday party. Would definitely recommend Nick the magic man to any kids party, heck, to ANY party. He brings with him an excellent show with awesome magic, decent enough to leave even parents amazed ! His charisma and personality are more than suitable for children at any age. He keeps them engaged for the entire show. Such a friendly bloke. We will be booking him again for my sons party! Looking forward to it already 👌 Thanks Nick!!’

‘Nick was brilliant! He entertained a very diverse group (Australian, American, English) of children aged 3-7 for over an hour and kept them completely enthralled throughout. His clever mix of magic, poetry and puppetry combined with very child friendly humour was a massive hit - and the adults really enjoyed it too! There were cries of ‘wow!’, ‘how did you do that’ and ‘what’ throughout and at the end a child said ‘we don’t want this to ever end!’ Also, a very pleasant friendly man.

If you use Nick you won’t be disappointed.’

‘Very nice. Involved the children. Didn’t rush anything’

‘absolutely loved the magic show, the kids and adults were amazed at the tricks, would 100% recommend nick great funny guy and knows how to entertain kids, worth every penny would definitely book him again for future party’s and events

thank you so much’

‘Nick was absolutely brilliant. From the first contact, which was really quick to him visiting for a one to one, in person magic lesson for my 10 year old son within a couple of days of me completing the form on Bark. We couldn't ‘t have asked for any more. Nick arrived on time, came equipped with lots of equipment that he used to teach my son some new coin, card and lots of other tricks.

Nick also brought us some magic books which my son has not stopped reading since.

Nick clearly was a very experienced magician and was also an excellent teacher. My son was in awe of him. Highly recommended.’

‘Nick’s tricks are jaw-droppingly amazing, you just can’t get your head around them. He dazzled us with jokes and even made the grown ups laugh!’

‘We hired Nick for our Christmas party. The close-up magic, in particular, was great—everyone kept talking about how baffling and impressive the tricks were. He moved around the room effortlessly, keeping guests laughing, amazed, and fully entertained.

If you’re looking for someone who can bring real sparkle and excitement to an event, I’d highly recommend him. A fantastic addition to our celebration!’

‘Magic Man Nick was a huge success at our family wedding -- as soon as the children saw him they were hooked and continued to do tricks on us that he'd taught them - Nick also did tricks for the adults - his friendly manner put smiles on their faces in amazement. We couldn't work out how he did it -- a super addition to our day -- thank you Nick’

‘Magic Man arrived early with plenty of time for our clubs Christmas party.

As well as entertaining and astounding the children during his show, he spent time at the tables to impress and confound all the families.

Great value, friendly and clearly talented.’

‘We had the best evening with Magic Man Nick! I booked him for party tricks and close-up magic for a graduation party, and the group loved him. If you're looking for some big laughs and wows book Nick today!’

‘A fantastic afternoon with the Magic Man the children enjoyed every minute’

‘Magic man was very entertaining for the kids. The kids and adults really enjoyed his show. Very good professional magic.’

‘Magic Man took on this booking at very short notice and entertained 10 extremely boisterous 10 year olds for the best part of two hours. One said “the magic tricks were perfect “. Excellent.’

‘Best magician ever! He was absolutely amazing with the kids—kept them engaged, laughing, and completely entertained the whole time. His tricks were impressive and fun, and he has such a great way of connecting with children. Highly recommend for any party or event!’

‘Nick was welcoming friendly such a gentleman , A natural entertainer he inspired my grandson to do magic as it was a milestone birthday celebrstion raging from all ages there was something gor everybody . Highly recommended traveled from yorkshire to manchester. 10 out 10 and more extremely entertaining.’

‘We hired Nick for our son’s sixth birthday party and he was absolutely amazing !! we had a room full of children that sat still for an hour because they were so entranced by the Magic show! !

100% recommending him for anyone looking to have a bit of Magic at the party!’