Magician Shorty

Magician Shorty is a comedy magician from Schaffhausen who has been on stage for over 20 years and performs table magic, stage shows and moderation at weddings, corporate events and private parties. His business, Shorty Entertainment, is run by Rene Kammermann from Thayngerstrasse 51 in Schaffhausen, and the site says he performs in Swiss dialect, Standard German, English and even Swedish.

What he does at a wedding

The site describes his act as modern and classic magic "combined with charming humor, surprising visual comedy and a pinch of slapstick". Of his several formats, three fit a wedding day.

Table magic is the one he names for weddings: "Magic up close", in the middle of the guests, with Shorty moving from table to table and making glasses float. He lists aperitif, wedding and birthday as the occasions it suits. The FAQ adds that he can also work as a "wandering magician", unobtrusive, at the table or between people, which works while guests stand at an aperitif.

The stage show mixes comedy, magic and illusion. The site pitches it mainly at corporate events, but the FAQ gives the length for any show as between 20 and 90 minutes depending on the occasion, and notes that several short appearances over the evening are also possible. For a wedding, a short set between courses and table magic at the aperitif is a realistic combination to ask about.

Moderation is the third option. He describes it as moderating the way he does magic, with tempo, jokes and improvisation: he guides the audience through the program, connects acts and creates transitions. A couple without a confident master of ceremonies among their friends could hand him that role.

There is also a line for individual programs that names the bridal couple. The site's English reads: "You want to install someone ? I do it magically", naming the boss, the bridal couple or a favorite colleague as possible targets, "with little insiders and a lot of tact". The promise is that it gets personal without anyone being embarrassed, which is the part to discuss in advance if you want him to surprise the couple or a parent.

Language

Language is the strongest point for international weddings. The site says it twice: he speaks Swiss dialect, Standard German, English and even Swedish, and he does magic in all of them. The English version of the site exists alongside the German one. For a wedding where half the guests do not understand Swiss German, a magician whose humor works in English is a real advantage. The site does not say whether he can switch languages within a single show, so a bilingual couple should ask how he handles a mixed room.

Background and credentials

He is a member of the Swiss Magic Ring (MRS), which the site calls the professional association of professional magicians, and of the Club Zürcher Magier (CZM). He writes that he learned from Jim Cellini, described as the "king of street magic", and that he keeps training, including at the Scuola Teatro Dimitri in Verscio.

The highlights list includes finalist at the Swiss Comedy Award 2014 (live in the MAAG Halle Zürich), winner of the "10x10" cabaret platform at the KTV Days in Thun, an appearance at the cabaret competition Die Krönung, the Daidogei World Cup in Shizuoka, Japan, the World Street Magic Championships, TV appearances on ARD, SRF, 3+ and City Channel 1, a guest performance at the IKF trade fair in Freiburg, and a nomination for the Tübinger Fröschle cabaret award.

References and scale

Most of the references on the site are corporate. They include a roadshow for Migros Kulturprozent in eastern Switzerland, a team event for international executives at Swiss Re, a branch opening for acrevis Bank and the general assembly of Raiffeisen. Two give a sense of scale: a show at ETH Zurich's Polyball in front of over 2,000 guests, and close-up and table magic for a UBS investment event with 800 guests at Zurich Airport. Closer to a wedding in feel are a New Year's Eve gala at Maienfeld Castle, with walkaround magic for an international audience, and table magic for Bank Mirabaud guests on a historic tram. The longer list names Nestlé, ABB, E.ON, Georg Fischer AG, RUAG, AEK Bank 1826, St. Gallen Cantonal Bank, LGT Group, AXA, the University of Basel, CH Media, Arosa Tourism, Davos Klosters Tourism, Lenzerheide Marketing, the Swiss Federal Railways, Swiss Post, the Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, the Grand Hotel Kempinski St. Moritz and the Lions Club. The site also shows him at the Museumsnacht Hegau-Schaffhausen and a magic brunch at the Marriott in Zurich.

Three testimonials are printed, all from company events. Caroline Arni of AEb Switzerland writes that he "immediately absorbed the atmosphere of the AEb network and amazed people in small groups." Philipp Riesen of Letec IT Solutions AG calls the evening "top-notch" and says he would book him again right away. Matthias Harte of AEK Bank Thun thanks him for lifting the mood after a hard act to follow, a performance by Polo Hofer.

Practical details

The FAQ covers what he needs on site: an area of about 3 by 3 meters where he is clearly visible. For up to 120 people he brings everything himself, including a pedestal, sound and lighting. For larger events he needs a raised stage and professional lighting and sound on site, which at a big wedding means coordinating with the band or DJ.

He travels mainly within Switzerland, naming Zurich, Bern, Basel, St. Gallen and Chur, plus southern Germany, and can be booked internationally when it fits. Small events are welcome: the FAQ says he also likes to perform at birthdays, family parties and club events, and that "There is no minimum amount of fun."

Booking starts with the form, email or phone, and he promises a free, non-binding offer within 24 hours. The site does not publish prices; it describes "fair, transparent packages" that depend on the type and length of the event, without hidden costs. There is also a children's program, which could keep younger guests busy during a long dinner.

What to ask

Because the references are almost all corporate, ask for a wedding reference. Ask how travel is charged to a venue outside his main regions, how long table magic can run during an aperitif, and whether a stage set and table magic can be combined in one package. If you want him to surprise someone, agree in advance how personal the material should be.

Who it suits

Shorty suits a couple who wants light, funny entertainment that works in English as well as Swiss German, especially for the aperitif and the gaps between courses, and for weddings where guests come from several countries. The table-magic format suits almost any venue, and the equipment he brings covers weddings of up to 120 people without extra technical setup.

He is a less obvious choice for couples who want a formal, solemn illusion show, and couples with a very large wedding need to plan the stage and sound he asks for.