Interactive Stage Shows, Strolling, & Close-up Magic for Adult & Family Audiences
Ted brings merriment and memories to corporate events, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions!
House parties bring a vibe of togetherness and friendship as we celebrate together!
Stories that Make Me Smile!
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"Ted was amazing at our halloween party!! He was super entertaining, and I loved the interactiveness! Mr. Ted Black definitely made our night! 10/10 recommend!
Alicia P. —House Party Guest
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"...We had him as entertainment for our guests at our wedding this past Saturday....I can't wait to have him again at one of our events."
Pamela R.—The Bride
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"Wonderful magic show for a large bachlorette group! Mr. Ted had a lively personality and amazing magic tricks. We were thoroughly impressed and entertained! Would recommend to anybody!!
Sarah M.—Bachelorette Party Guest
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"...Ted was extremely friendly and our employees loved him! He was a hit at our company picnic!"
Mary K.—HR Accrotool
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We hired Ted for the annual office party we host at our house. He did a great job mingling with the guests and performing close-up magic. It was so much fun for everyone and really made the party a special event. I would highly recommend Ted for any special event.
Joe B.—Company Owner
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"As one of the organizers of the CASTP Lunar New Year Celebration, we were thrilled to have Ted join us as our featured magician--and he truly exceeded expectations."
Castp Communications
Meet Ted Black
Magic isn’t about tricking people, it’s about bringing them together. There are so many things we have to worry about and magic takes us away from the day to day and presents a different world. One of wonder and possibility.
Formerly performing as MrTedMagic, I’ve expanded to Ted Black Entertainment to bring a high level of comedy, interactive shows, and close-up magic to corporate events and private parties for adults and family audiences.
Whether I’m performing a high-energy stage show for a room of a hundred people, a house party of twelve, or walk-around magic for groups of two, my goal is simple. Create genuine laughs, visual moments, and experiences your guests will talk about!
When you book Ted Black Entertainment you’re getting someone who loves the art and my goal is to make your event great.
Above is a picture of me in the 80’s. I performed shows until my early 20’s then life happened and although always interested in magic I fell away for many years. However; in 2005, I dusted off my magic books and started my journey back into magic. Performing for my kids and relatives at first, and by 2018 I was performing paid shows. My greatest joy is when people believe more in themselves after having met me.
I’d love to speak with you about your event so reach out soon!
Past Performance Venues & Partners
Five things to consider before hiring an entertainer for your event:
You could be an actual event planner. the host for a surprise birthday, or someone that works in the HR department who has just been elected to plan the holiday party. You don’t need stress. You want things to run smoothly. Whether you hire Ted Black or another performer, use this guide to help.
1. Match the Performance Style to your Event Strategy
Not all magic shows fit the flow of the event correctly. You want the entertainment to roll with the evening, not interrupt it.
‍ ‍ Strolling/Mix & Mingle Magic : Great for cocktail hours, receptions, or events without a seated, unified focus. The magician moves from group to group, staying where the people are and performing close-up magic with small objects often with the guest’s participation. I highly recommend not having your strolling magician perform while your guests are being served their meal; although with a buffet situation it can actually work to an advantage if there is a lot of waiting. This needs to be discussed.
‍ ‍ Stand-up/Stage Shows: Perfect for after the dinner or when the awards are done. Corporate banquets, or gatherings where all guests watch a performance at a particular time. Requires seating with visibility to the performer for your guests.
‍ ‍Hybrid: A lot of times the event is for something achieved by the company or other occasions. (a company merger, anniversary, wedding). Often I have found great success in performing strolling magic for the cocktail hour and then a short 10-12 minute celebratory mini show for the guest(s) of honor. This can be nice as your guests don’t need seating and I just set a small table and speaker wherever it is convenient and present the short show.
‍ ‍2. Verify Insurance & Professional Clearances
A hobbyist may show up with a deck of cards, but a professional protects your event and venue. Always confirm:
‍ ‍Commercial General Liability Insurance: Facilities require outsiders to provide their own insurance more and more these days. Often needing a Cetificate of Insurance (COI), no certificate, no performance. Don’t find out about this one half an hour before showtime.
‍ ‍Background Checks: Events involving families and community spaces, make sure your entertainer holds current state police and child abuse clearances.
‍ ‍3. Ask about Sound, Staging, and Technical Needs
You don’t want to have unexpected technical headaches on event day or worse yet, during the sound check 15 minutes before showtime. Ask your entertainer:
‍ ‍Do they bring their own professional sound system and microphone?
Is their performance self-contained? Will you need to supply special staging, lighting, or tables? Sad but true, I once witnessed a performer refuse to go on because the stage area wasn’t set up the way “he liked it.” This is a no-go in my opinion. Whomever you hire is there to work with you, not against, and they should clearly state their staging needs ahead of time.
‍ 4. Ensure their Performance Content is Clean‍ ‍
The performer you hire ultimately represents the person that hired them. You don’t want them presenting the wrong joke or embarrassing someone. Look for entertainers who emphasize clean, appropriate humor. You want everyone to have a good time, and you don’t want their good time derailed by a comment that lacks manners or social standards.
‍ ‍5. Look for Real-world Reliability and Ethics
‍ ‍ Evaluate how the entertainer handles communication from day one. After all, be it your birthday party or you’re the host for a corporate banquet, the said performer represents someone YOU hired.
Do they offer formal written agreements and clear invoice terms?
Do they show up early to your event? Do they communicate to you several days before your event and the day of so you don’t have to worry if they’ll show or not?
‍ Are they willing to work with you if the dinner runs long or the awards take forever and now the show will be delayed by 30 minutes? An event planner needs less stress, not more.
‍ ‍Ready to Discuss & Plan YOUR Event?
If you’re organizing an upcoming event in the Pittsburgh area or beyond, reach out to me and we can discuss how to tailor my entertainment specifically to your schedule, space, and audience. And if I don’t think I’m a match to your event, I’ll tell you.
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Got Questions?
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A stand-up show is a high-energy, interactive stage performance designed for your entire audience to watch together all at once.
The show brings shared experiences to your guests combining clean comedy, audience participation, and mind reading.
This show can be adjusted to your timeline 30, 45, or 60 minutes and works for 12 people at a house or 200 in a banquet hall.
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This all depends on the event. Strolling magic is great for mix/mingle interaction between your guests typically before the other “big event,” the wedding party arrival, the meal, the speaker. It is a great ice breaker between guests.
The show is a shared experience but is a set amount of time at a set time. It also is not good to try to do a show when other things are going on. You also need a dedicated place for the show, where your group will congregate (with seating) to watch.
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YES! Quite frequently. I’ve worked it with strolling during the cocktail hours, your event has awards or similar, then I do a show. I also do what I call a hybrid strolling show. This is when I do strolling for a period of time and then do a small stand-up segment that is usually tailored to celebrating the event that runs about 10-15 minutes. This is great if you don’t want to deal with seating or arranging guests to one location, I do the strolling magic, and those that wish to see the stand-up segment may stand and watch, or continue with their socializing.
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The logistics of the location, group size and other factors determine the final price. Once I have enough information I can give you a no obligation quote. I’ve been told my pricing is reasonable for the value you obtain for your event.
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Yes, I have a limited hour day job, and that’s actually one of my biggest strengths as an entertainer.
Ted Black Entertainment LLC is a fully registered, fully insured, professional entertainment company.
Beyond performing, my background includes manufacturing, sales, and am currently coordinated with commercial transportation and logistics.
My real-world experience builds the foundation of how I operate: great communication with my clients and a commitment to doing things correctly.
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Very little! For strolling magic, I am 100% self-contained and ready to go. For stand-up/stage shows, I recommend a clear area to perform and visible sight lines for your audience. I bring my own sound system, tables, and even a backdrop where able to be utilized. I can make recommendations when we talk; but an example is you don’t want to put me performing (although it’s been done) in front of the buffet line or in front of the entrance door.
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Yes!
My magic and comedy are 100% clean. No inuendo’s or bad language designed for cheap laughs. Embarrassing someone is not entertainment! I treat everyone politely and respect them so all your guests, clients, or leadership team will have a great time.
Also, sometimes during strolling someone says they “don’t want to see anything right now…” (it happens), I respect that, thank them, and then move on.
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Prime weekend spots and holiday seasons fill up quickly and are often taken months in advance. If you know when your event is taking place check with me and I can reserve your spot with 25% down.
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Yes!
Ted Black Entertainment LLC carries full liability insurance. If your venue requires a Certificate of Insurance (COI) naming them as an insured party for the event date. I can provide that upon booking.
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Yes!
I maintain up-to-date Pennsylvania Child Abuse History clearance as well as Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check. Whether performing for corporate banquets, private family gatherings, or community events, safety and professionalism are guaranteed.