An unusual day in the life of a professional magician

By Bob Pound

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to perform at some extraordinary events. But one booking in particular has always stood out.

The day I performed at a Royal Wedding.

What makes the story interesting to me isn’t simply that it was a Royal Wedding, but how the booking came about and some of the rather unusual things that happened along the way.

Being Seen by the Right People

I’ve always believed that one of the best ways to get work is to do a good job in the first place.

In this particular case, the right people had seen me performing at another event. When they needed a magician, they specifically asked for me by name.

It wasn’t the result of an advertising campaign or an elaborate sales pitch.

They had seen what I did, liked it and remembered me.

For me, that’s one of the greatest compliments you can receive as a performer.

It’s something I’ve always believed about our profession. You never really know who might be watching, and every performance is an opportunity, whether you realise it at the time or not.

A Booking Unlike Any Other

About a year before the wedding, I was asked to pencil a date into my diary.

That was pretty much all the information I was given.

I wasn’t told where the event would be, what it was for or even whether the booking would definitely go ahead.

As time passed, I was offered a children’s show on the same day.

Having already pencilled in the mysterious booking, I rang to ask whether I could accept the children’s show.

They explained that the timings wouldn’t conflict with their event and that I was perfectly fine to do both.

So I accepted.

It wasn’t until just 16 days before the event that I finally received confirmation and discovered what I’d been holding the date for.

I was going to perform at a Royal Wedding.

I’ve often thought back to how strange that day was.

Going from entertaining children at one event to performing at a Royal Wedding later the same day.

Two completely different occasions, but both equally deserving of my best performance.

That’s one of the wonderful things about being a magician. You really never know where the next booking might take you.

There’s One Person I Have to Tell

When I finally discovered what the booking was, I was told that I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone.

I explained that there was one person I absolutely had to tell.

They asked who.

“The boss,” I replied.

I then explained that I meant my wife.

Thankfully, they agreed that was perfectly acceptable.

After all, there are some people you simply can’t keep secrets from!

The Day Itself

As you might imagine, security at a Royal Wedding was rather different from what you would normally experience at a wedding.

When I arrived, I had to go through security.

At one point, I found myself waiting beside a metal detector for what seemed like an eternity.

As the minutes passed, I became increasingly concerned.

I had a job to do, and the closer it got to my starting time, the more worried I became.

The security staff, on the other hand, seemed completely unfazed.

Eventually, with only minutes to spare, I was told to go through.

I pointed out that I was going to set off the alarms.

They didn’t seem particularly bothered.

I was also informed that there were armed security personnel around the perimeter and was advised not to wander beyond the visible areas.

Not quite what you expect when you turn up to perform some magic!

A Comment I’ll Never Forget

One of the things I remember most clearly about the day had absolutely nothing to do with my performance.

I overheard a guest commenting on the aircraft passing overhead.

They thought it was amazing that somebody had built the castle on a flight path.

That has always made me smile.

Of all the things that happened that day, it’s funny how a passing remark can stay with you for so many years.

An Encounter at the End of the Day

Towards the end of the event, I remember going to the cloakroom to find out how I was supposed to leave

While I was there, I saw Michael Parkinson collecting his phone.

I made a comment that I’d had my phone with me throughout the event.

I was told that I shouldn’t have.

My response was simple.

This is my job. It’s my livelihood, and I would never knowingly do anything that might jeopardise that.

For me, being professional isn’t simply about how well you perform.

It’s about how you conduct yourself, the trust people place in you and understanding the responsibility that comes with being invited to somebody’s special occasion.

A Royal Wedding, but Which One?

Following the event, I was told that I could publicly say I’d performed at a Royal Wedding.

There was, however, one condition.

I wasn’t allowed to say which one.

And I’ve always respected that.

I don’t believe the importance of an event changes the responsibility you have towards the people who have booked you.

Whether it’s a Royal Wedding, a corporate function or somebody’s birthday party, you’re being invited into an occasion that matters to them.

That trust should never be taken for granted.

A Special Moment for My Mother

A few days after the wedding, my mother was visiting an antiques fair when she happened to meet a relative of the Queen.

During their conversation, she mentioned that her son had performed at the Royal Wedding.

He asked her a simple question.

“Is your son Bob Pound?”

I know how happy that made her.

It wasn’t simply that he remembered the magic I’d performed. More importantly, he remembered my name.

And for my mother, hearing somebody recognise her son by name was something rather special.

I’ve always believed that while people might remember the tricks you perform, being remembered as a person means so much more.

It was a lovely moment for my mother, and one that has stayed with me.

The Most Important Part of the Story

Looking back, it was certainly one of the more unusual days of my career.

But perhaps the most important part of the story happened long before I arrived at the wedding.

Somebody had seen me performing at an entirely different event, remembered what I’d done and asked for me by name.

Then, just days after the wedding, my mother met somebody who also remembered my name.

For me, there’s something quite special about that.

You never really know who might be watching when you’re working, or where the next opportunity might come from.

But I don’t believe you should perform differently because somebody important might be in the room.

Every audience deserves your best.

And sometimes, simply doing your job properly can lead to experiences you could never have imagined.

Bob Pound

Professional Magician and Magic Consultant

Planning a wedding or special occasion? Discover more about my performances on my wedding Magic page.