Timothy holding the Queen of Hearts on a haunted trunk among rose-pink skeletal visitors in a crimson room

Charlotte close-up magician · Spirit & bizarre magic, comedy & cons · Ages 18+

Liven up
the party.
Invite the dead.

I'm Timothy Starnes, a Charlotte close-up magician bringing bizarre magic, theatrical séances, con games, and dark comedy to bachelorette parties, adult birthday parties, and other private celebrations where zany adults gather.

From dinner parties to corporate events, wedding receptions and cocktail hours, lounges, nightclubs, bars and breweries, we'll find a format and tone that fit your crowd.

Let’s be honest. The show is for adults 18+. Your guests have suffered enough small talk. Give them a mystery to argue over on the ride home.

Text me your date, venue, and guest count. No blood oath required.

I've raised a few spirits at festivals and fairs:

  • Yarnival VI music and alternative arts festival at Pop's Farm, Martinsville, Virginia
    “Man, you have a HELL of a stage presence. Love what you do!!”
    Blake ChristianaYarnival organizer
The closer you look, the worse your explanation gets. Open on YouTube , opens in a new tab

Close-up magic & comedy séance shows · Adults 18+

Close-up magic.
Very loose spirits.

Some people bring wine to a party. I bring things that should have stayed buried.

For close-up magic at dinner parties and private events in Charlotte, I bring sleight-of-hand, con games, and dark comedy to the table. Tell me about your group and we’ll plan the setup.

Prefer a traditional-style magic show? Book comedy magic with props and cards, con-game swindles, bar bets, dice magic, and more. A séance can be part of the night, or left out entirely.

In my signature comedy séance show, Timothy Starnes & His Many Night Visitors, I mix spirit magic, mind reading, haunted storytelling, and theatrical séance entertainment in a darkly comic trip through hundreds of years of séances, spiritualism, and spirit manifestations. Strange objects misbehave, cards refuse to cooperate, and guests become part of the mystery.

Expect an evening that's eerie, funny, and close enough to make perfectly sensible people start blaming the furniture.

Explore magic for your event Explore close-up & dinner party magic

Audience reviews

The reviews are loaded.

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Timothy's hand tipping a leather dice cup, with a pink skull cufflink on his white shirt cuff
A rose-pink skeletal arm reaching in from the right to catch the rolling review dice

Charlotte party magic and event entertainment

01

Charlotte & destination bachelorette parties · Ages 18+

Bachelorette party magician
Charlotte & beyond

Give your guests something better to discuss than who wasn't invited.

Charlotte bachelorette party entertainment with close-up bizarre magic, theatrical séances, con games, and dark comedy. Planning a weekend in Asheville, Lake Lure, Myrtle Beach, or Savannah? I travel for private magic shows for adults 18+ who prefer their evening a little stranger.

Tell me your date, venue, guest count, and the bride's appetite for mischief. Whether you're gathering at a private home or event venue, we'll plan a format and tone that fit your group. You supply the occasion. I'll supply the questionable company.

Plan your bachelorette party Explore bachelorette party magic
02

Adult birthday entertainment · Charlotte & beyond

Adult birthday
party magician

Getting older is strange enough. Let's make it a group activity.

Book adult birthday party entertainment in Charlotte or bring the show to your celebration elsewhere in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, or Virginia. Close-up bizarre magic, mind reading, and dark comedy give your guests something to question besides your age.

For milestone birthdays, at-home dinner parties, and smaller celebrations with adults 18+, send your date, venue, guest count, and a little about the guest of honor. We'll agree on the setup, tone, and any travel arrangements.

“His tricks really added to the party vibe.”
Robert B. · Thumbtack review , opens in a new tabGeneral party review; occasion not specified
Plan your adult birthday party Explore adult birthday party magic
03

Company parties, client receptions & wedding cocktail hours

Corporate event magic
& con game comedy

Your team has survived enough presentations. Let the impossible happen without a slide deck.

Con game magic for corporate events in Charlotte and beyond adds a little honest dishonesty: fast hands, smooth talk, and interactive demonstrations of the hustler's art. Colleagues and clients follow the action, test their instincts, and discover just how persuasive the wrong answer can be.

Finally, some corporate deception you can put on the entertainment budget.

“His show engages the audience”
Lisa J. · Thumbtack review , opens in a new tabGeneral audience review; event type not specified
Book magic for your corporate event Explore corporate con-game magic

Wedding receptions & cocktail-hour magic

For the adults at wedding receptions and cocktail hours in Charlotte and beyond, close-up magic gets people talking before anyone has to make a speech. We'll agree on the tone, format, timing, and travel details before the event.

Plan your wedding or cocktail-hour magic
04

Lounges, nightclubs, bars, breweries & restaurants

Close-up magic
for your venue

You handle the spirits behind the bar. I'll handle the ones with boundary issues.

Bizarre magic, con games, and supernatural comedy for your adult crowd. A dedicated performance spot brings small groups together for close-up magic, haunted stories, and an evening worth leaving the house for.

Send the venue, date, audience, and usual noise level. We'll agree on a setup that suits the room and discuss travel if you're outside Charlotte.

Talk about your venue

Timothy Starnes · Live comedy magic

The stage is set.
The judgment is questionable.

Watch a little of the live show. Then imagine explaining your evening to someone who wasn't there.

This clip shows my comedy magic onstage. For an intimate dinner party or smaller gathering, explore close-up magic; we'll agree on the right format for your event.

Bring a little trouble to your event
34 seconds of questionable judgment. Sound encouraged. Open video , opens in a new tab

MEET TIMOTHY STARNES, NECROMANCER, COMEDY MAGICIAN, CON GAME SWINDLER

Southern charm.
Dubious associates.

I'm Timothy Starnes, a comedy magician based in Charlotte, North Carolina and serving the East Coast. I travel for bachelorette parties in Asheville, Lake Lure, Myrtle Beach, Savannah, and beyond. I combine close-up magic with the atmosphere of a haunted parlor and the manners of a man who really should know better.

I like my mysteries intimate, my humor dark, and my audiences very much alive. My night visitors are less particular. I can never promise who (or what) will choose to drop in or what they’ll (it’ll) do.

Tell me who's coming to your event. We'll find a performance format and tone that fit. I can work with a room. The spirits remain a management problem.

Until we meet, Timothy

Let's talk about your evening
Timothy Starnes surrounded by ghostly figures in a vintage poster. Do spirits come back? I sure hope they do, or my reviews are going to suck.
Timothy Starnes & a few familiar faces.

Booking a Charlotte magician

Sensible questions.
For once.

Have something else in mind?
Text me your question

Is a magician really a good idea for an out-of-town bachelorette party?

Yes. I offer private bachelorette party entertainment for adults 18+, combining close-up magic, dark comedy, and theatrical séances. Send your date, venue, and guest count, along with the tone your group enjoys. We'll discuss a show format that fits your celebration. A photo with me won’t get you in any trouble.

Do you offer birthday party entertainment for adults?

Yes. My adult birthday magic shows are for audiences 18 and up. Tell me about the guest of honor, where you're celebrating, and how many people are coming so we can plan the tone and setup.

Can you perform at a dinner party or private home?

Yes. I offer close-up magic for dinner parties and private gatherings with adults 18+, in Charlotte and beyond. Guests can gather around a table for sleight-of-hand, con games, and dark comedy. Send the location, guest count, and a description of the space so we can agree on the setup.

How does magic fit a wedding reception or cocktail hour?

Close-up magic during a cocktail hour gives adult guests a shared experience while they mingle. A dedicated performance spot can bring small groups together; we'll discuss the room, schedule, and audience to agree on a format and timing that work with your celebration. Tell me about your reception.

Is this magic show for adults?

Yes. Performances are for audiences ages 18 and up, with dark comedy, eerie stories, and audience interaction. Tell me about your crowd and its appetite for the spooky so we can agree on the tone. The children can keep the balloon animals. We've got other problems.

How long do you perform at a party?

Performance lengths are adjustable. I usually spend one to two hours working a client party. A séance requires two hours. Tell me about your schedule and we’ll plan the evening. Parties outside the Charlotte, NC area have a two-hour minimum.

How many guests can take part?

I can perform for events of any size. For a séance, I suggest 10–15 guests, or as many as your dining table can comfortably accommodate. Send your guest count and room details so we can plan how everyone takes part.

Do you offer walkaround magic or a performance station?

I offer walkaround-style magic, but I generally recommend having me stationed in a dedicated area so guests can join me on their own terms throughout the party. Tell me about your room and how the evening will flow.

Can I book close-up comedy magic without a séance?

Yes. Choose comedy magic with props and cards, con-game swindles, bar bets, dice magic, and more. A séance can be part of the night, or left out entirely if you prefer a traditional-style magic show. Explore close-up and dinner party magic or corporate con-game magic.

Is the séance a mediumship reading?

No. This is theatrical séance entertainment: magic, storytelling, and comedy presented as a brush with the uncanny. I don't offer direct mediumship readings or promise contact with deceased loved ones. The mystery is part of the show.

What space, seating, and sound setup do you need?

I ask for three chairs and a table to work from, or a coffee table with ample audience seating in front and to the sides. I do not use a sound system. Tell me about your space; we’ll confirm arrival and setup timing before booking. A crumbling ancestral mansion is optional.

Do you perform outside Charlotte?

I perform throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Virginia regularly. If your event is farther away, send the city and venue with your inquiry so we can discuss availability, travel, and any related costs. I will travel.

How much does it cost to hire you for a private party or corporate event?

$500 per hour. Parties outside the Charlotte, NC area have a two-hour minimum. Send your date, venue, guest count, and preferred format for availability and your booking total. Call or text with those details to get started. A signed agreement and booking retainer reserve your date; the agreement sets out your payment schedule and event terms. Until then, we're just flirting with the supernatural.

Timothy's hand reaching in from the right with a cigarette, pale pink smoke, and a pink skull cufflink
  • Private parties
  • Bars & breweries
  • Cocktail hours
  • Corporate events
  • Bachelorette parties
  • Adult birthday parties

Book Timothy Starnes for your event

Let's raise
a few spirits.

Tell me about the room, the people, and how strange you want the evening to get.

$500 per hour. Parties outside the Charlotte, NC area have a two-hour minimum.

Séances require two hours. Text your venue to confirm whether it’s within the Charlotte area.

704.698.7286

Text your date, venue, and guest count to get started. No séance required.

Charlotte, NC · Ages 18+.
Bachelorette parties, adult birthdays, private parties, corporate events, and venue appearances.

Start the conversation

Tell me about your event.

Prefer a little structure? Build a short inquiry, then send it in your text messaging app.

Nothing is sent until you send the message. An inquiry does not reserve a date.

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