John Gyllenhaal has been performing fun, interactive, highly visual close-up magic for over twenty years. With birthday and bachelorette party magic shows optimized for the living room, as well as walk-around close-up magic that's perfect for larger events, amazing things happen nonstop right in front of you and everyone has a great time. John is available to perform throughout East Tennessee, including Knoxville, Farragut, Oak Ridge, Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg, Loudon, Lenoir City, Maryville, and Chattanooga.
John offers super-fun 60-minute deluxe magic shows designed for three specific age groups: adult birthdays and bachelorette parties, 10th to 12th birthdays, and 7th to 9th birthdays. He also offers a super-fun 30-minute deluxe birthday show designed specifically for 5th and 6th birthdays. Although John specializes in magic designed to amaze ages 10 through adult, all his shows are family-friendly and thoroughly entertain children down to age 4.
John also offers educational, magic-based STEM workshops for 6th to 8th graders (he is an engineer and scientist in addition to being a magician).
John focuses on involving as many participants as possible during his shows. This approach allows him to highlight one special person—such as the birthday child—while giving many others a chance to participate.
John, his wife, and his two daughters moved to Knoxville, Tennessee (Hardin Valley) in August 2021.
John performs close-up and parlor magic, meaning his magic is best viewed from between 1-20 feet away (closer is better). John's magic is perfect for small gatherings (2-30 participants), Zoom/virtual events, and walk around magic at larger parties (performing small shows at each table—see conference party photo below).
John offers two completely different in-person birthday party shows optimized for performing in a living room or community clubhouse. He also offers three completely different in-person educational STEM workshops optimized for classrooms (targeting 6th-8th grade). Educational workshop details are available at Wild STEM Magic.
He also has three variants of a highly polished Zoom show (two educational and one birthday party) that teaches children ages 10 and older how to perform six amazing illusions, including one awesome magic trick. Each participant receives a custom illusion kit that allows them to perform these illusions for friends and family after the show and 20 minutes of arts and crafts. This illusion-kit-based virtual show was performed for over 3,000 students in 2021-2022 and received enthusiastic praise from students, teachers, and event organizers.
John does not perform traditional children's magic, but all his magic shows are completely family-friendly and thoroughly entertain children as young as age 4.
John utilizes assistants more than 15 times during his 60-minute magic shows that are optimized for living rooms, garages, community clubhouses, Airbnbs, or Vrbos. The guest of honor assists at five special moments during the show and other guests are chosen as evenly as possible for the remaining 10+ opportunities. This makes the guest of honor the star while giving many of their friends a chance to participate.
Smaller birthday parties (2-30 children) are ideal for John's shows. All of his magic amazes and entertains both adults and kids, so parents enjoy the shows too—even when aimed at children. After the show, the birthday child (and a parent) is privately taught a cool magic trick and given the necessary prop to perform it immediately for friends.
His bachelorette and bachelor party magic shows offer a super-fun, clean way to celebrate an upcoming wedding!
With over three hours of strong and distinctive magic in John's working repertoire, he can tailor a show for almost any audience. In one signature effect, he visibly transforms one-dollar bills into million-dollar bills—then gives them away to everyone in the audience (see photo below)! In another, Armando the Armadillo Magician performs the greatest card trick ever done by an armadillo, with you-can't-believe-your-eyes results!
Super-fun 60-minute deluxe magic shows for up to 30 people in the Knoxville, Tennessee area (Farragut, Oak Ridge, Hardin Valley, Powell, Halls, Loudon, Lenoir City, Maryville, etc.) are typically $275. Farther away shows in Sevierville, Dandridge, Pigeon Forge, or Gatlinburg, Tennessee are typically $350. John will drive as far as Chattanooga or Cookeville (Tennessee Tech) for $400.
This price covers everything—including million-dollar bills for all guests, the prop for the cool magic trick taught to the guest of honor afterward, and several fun surprises during the show. Multiple guests of honor or adding on an hour of walk-around magic afterward costs slightly more. Please contact John to check availability or get a quote on other options.
All of John's performances are backed by a 100% money-back guarantee. His top priority is ensuring you and your guests have a wonderful, magical experience. If you're unsatisfied for any reason, you pay nothing for the show.
At the end of the show, the guest of honor performs magic to great applause (and snapping photos) after being dressed as a magician (see photos below). John always brings a matching magician outfit for the guest of honor to borrow during the show, but he's happy to use organizer-provided capes, hats, or wands.
For some children, keeping the magician's outfit they wore is a huge highlight. (John can send a link to a great, inexpensive magician's hat on Amazon.) If you secretly give your magician outfit to John when he arrives, he'll make it an extra-special gift for the guest of honor. John is also happy to work with a magician outfit the guest of honor is already wearing (e.g., if magic is your party's theme).
"John was the absolute best! We hired him for a bachelorette party, and he went above and beyond in every way." - Elizabeth M. (Bachelorette party in a Pigeon Forge Airbnb) — Full review here.
"Thanks so much for coming out yesterday and wooing the kids with your magic. I am super happy with the day and think that you played a great part in that." - Iz (AOL's Take Your Kids to Work Day Event)
"It was super fun and everyone enjoyed your magic. Thanks for making it special." - Nancy and Charles (50th Birthday dinner party at a restaurant)
"Everyone really enjoyed the magic show. Thanks for being a great part of the surprise. Definitely will recommend you if I hear someone is in need of a magician." - Melody S. (Surprise 18th Birthday Party in a living room)
"Thanks again for coming to perform and entertain for everyone! My son is still talking about you and he's so proud of the trick you showed him. We'll definitely give you a call for our next event!" - Katherine C. (Amazing party with ~150 people at a restaurant)
