Pad Alexander

Pad Alexander is a mentalist and magician based in Winterthur who calls himself "Der 1. Neuro-Mentalist der Schweiz" (Switzerland's first neuro-mentalist). His homepage says he combines "moderne Mentalmagie mit Psychologie, Körpersprache und verblüffenden Gedankenexperimenten" (modern mental magic with psychology, body language and surprising thought experiments), and that he performs both an interactive stage show and close-up mentalism among the guests. It cites "Über 20 Jahre Bühnenpräsenz und mehr als 100 erfolgreiche Events pro Jahr" (over 20 years on stage and more than 100 successful events a year). Weddings have their own section, and some of the Google reviews on the site come from weddings. The site is in German.

What he does at a wedding

The wedding section is one sentence: "Pad Alexander verzaubert euren grossen Tag als Mentalist mit starken Emotionen – von berührender Close-up-Mentalmagie beim Empfang bis zu einem atemberaubenden Bühnenfinale." (Pad Alexander enchants your big day as a mentalist with strong emotions, from moving close-up mental magic at the reception to a stage finale.) So the structure is close-up work during the apéro, when guests are mingling, followed by a stage show for everyone later.

His FAQ fills in the rest. Guests can become part of the show, and if the couple wants to surprise a particular person, that can be built in. He writes that fun comes first and that nobody should feel uncomfortable or exposed; everyone who helps on stage should leave it "als echte Stars" (as real stars). Humor matters to the act, he says, but "Stand-up-Comedy müsst ihr von ihm allerdings nicht befürchten" (you need not fear stand-up comedy from him). After the show he is happy to sit with the guests and answer questions, except the one about how he does it.

What wedding clients say

The reviews on the homepage are Google reviews in German. A wedding planner, Melanie Thun, writes that he was "ganz klar eines der Highlights des Abends" (clearly one of the highlights of the evening), and that with so many different kinds of guests at a wedding, "Er holt einfach alle ab" (he simply wins everyone over). She adds that working with him was reliable, professional and easy, and that she would book him again for her couples.

A couple who had him at their wedding in Italy write that he involved the guests with so much charm and tact that everyone either watched with a smile or became part of a trick, and that they were still puzzling over his tricks days later. A couple celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary in Winterthur describe a two-franc coin, marked by them with a felt pen, that he bent with his bare hands in front of them and that now has a place of honor at home. Corporate reviews praise his table magic and stage show and his ability to respond to an audience on the spot.

Background and memberships

He appeared on Switzerland's Got Talent, where the site quotes DJ Bobo ("Du bist der beste Zauberer!", you are the best magician) and Crista Rigozzi ("Ich habe mich in einen Zauberer verliebt!", I have fallen in love with a magician). An event listing describes him as an engineer by training. The FAQ says he is a member of the Magischer Ring der Schweiz and of FISM, the international federation of magic societies. The site says he has performed at weddings in Mallorca, at parties in Valencia, at the Swiss embassy in Jamaica and on several tours through Southeast Asia with Switzerland Tourism, and that "kein Weg zu weit" (no journey is too far). Named clients range from Mercedes and the World Bank to small trades businesses.

Other services

For private clients he also offers birthdays, private parties and a magic course. For companies, the site lists customer events, staff parties, workshops and keynotes on perception, focus and body language, public shows, and "Alles-drin"-Erlebnisse (all-in experiences) in which entertainment, venue, food and drinks are coordinated. The FAQ is clear that he does not do classic children's magic shows, though children are welcome at his shows when the event suits them, and his team can suggest a children's magician.

Prices, booking and the Low Season Special

The FAQ says the price depends on the occasion, the duration, the number of guests and the program, and that his team prepares an individual quote. Contact is by phone on +41 44 813 54 36, by email at info@padalexander.ch, or through the booking request form; the address is Pad Alexander magic shows, Neustadtgasse 1a, 8400 Winterthur.

On availability, the FAQ recommends asking early, since he is in demand, while inviting short-notice requests too. The site also runs a "Low Season Special": on selected weeks and on Mondays and Tuesdays, when demand is lower, he offers better fees and conditions. The listed weeks are KW1/2/6/7/10/14/15/16/29/39 (KW stands for calendar week). A couple marrying on a Monday or in one of those weeks may be able to book him on better terms.

What the site does not settle

The site is in German only and does not state which languages he performs in. The Italy wedding and the Southeast Asia tours suggest audiences beyond German speakers, and one of his blog posts is titled "Magie braucht keine Dolmetscher!" (magic needs no interpreters), but a couple with English-speaking guests should confirm how much of the show he can deliver in English. No prices or ranges are published, the program lengths are not given, and travel costs for venues far from Winterthur are not stated. The general terms (AGB) are linked but not summarized.

Who it suits

Pad Alexander suits couples who want something more modern than classic magic: mind reading and psychology at the apéro, then a stage finale, delivered with humor and without putting guests on the spot. The wedding reviews, including one from a planner, are specific, and the Low Season Special can mean better terms for couples with a flexible date. He is based in Winterthur, and the site presents travel as no obstacle.

The main caveat for an international wedding is language, which the German-only site does not address. Couples who need a price before a first conversation will also have to ask.