♦️ Enhance any Celebration or Holiday Event and make it Memorable with Magic Entertainment
♣️ Transform Corporate employee or offsite events with sophisticated and engaging Magic Entertainment
♥️ Make Your Wedding Magical with 'ice-breaking' and engaging walk-around Magic Entertainment
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Verified business
7 customer reviews
Thiel A.
Magician
Magic by Merrill – The Magic may be an ILLUSION but the class act and professionalism is REAL!
If you’re looking for a magician who doesn’t just perform at your event but truly enhances it, look no further than Magic by Merrill!
From the very first inquiry, Merrill stood out from the rest. He was prompt, professional, and actually listened to what we envisioned for our event—something that other magicians we reached out to simply didn’t do. Most just told us their standard routine, but Merrill took the time to understand our audience and tailor the experience to make it unforgettable.
His pricing was fair and affordable—not the cheapest, not the most expensive, but absolutely worth every penny. What really set him apart was his consistent communication leading up to the event, ensuring everything was aligned and that our expectations were met (and exceeded!).
Now, onto the performance… WOW. Merrill knew how to command the room, which wasn’t easy given the wide range of ages and interests in attendance. But he didn’t just perform magic—he brought joy, laughter, and amazement to everyone in the room.
A major highlight? He chose my 10-year-old nephew, Xeven, from the Philippines as his volunteer assistant! Xeven was over the moon, and Merrill made sure he felt like the star of the night. His magic was on point, his comedic timing was flawless, and the audience was completely captivated. The reactions? Endless laughter, gasps, oohs, and aahs!
Beyond his stage performance, Merrill’s walk-around, table-to-table magic was jaw-dropping. People were left in absolute awe at the tricks he pulled off right before their eyes!
But what we appreciated the most was that Merrill was sensitive to the mood of the crowd and worked with our imperfect schedule seamlessly. No stress, no fuss—just pure entertainment delivered with professionalism and grace.
I highly recommend Merrill! We all felt like kids again, filled with wonderment and amazement. If you’re on the fence about booking Magic by Merrill—DO IT. He’s the real deal, and your event will be all the better for it.
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Reply from Magic by Merrill
Your words are Magic for my soul. A thousand thanks!
Lee Blake
Magician
Merrill was an absolute delight. He was charming and put everyone at ease and my grandkids loved him as did the adults. His magic is truly impossible to discern which he does close up and right before your very eyes which had everybody in awe. It made for such a fun evening and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. I have gotten a lot of compliments and I am so glad I hired him. More...
Andy SIms
Magician
My wife loves Magic, and I hired Merrill as a surprise at my wife's birthday party in San Francisco. It was great to meet him, and everyone really loved his Magic! Can't say enough good things and HIGHLY recommend Merrill! More...
Reply from Magic by Merrill
This is better than a thousand standing ovations! Thank you.
Jay
Magician
Merrill was on time, engaging and very entertaining. He was the highlight of dental office holiday party! I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him for any event!
Dartagnan
Magician
Merrill was a highlight of our holiday party! His tricks were amazing and had everyone's mind blown. A great mix of skill, humor, and professionalism made for a truly memorable experience. Highly recommend Merrill for any events that could use a little bit of magic! More...
Mark
Magician
Magical in so many ways! Merrill was a delight to work with from start to finish for three main reasons:
1 - Transparent.
He was fully transparent on pricing and level of service during our first conversation, which made decisions easy.
2 - Entertaining. Every guest I spoke to during/after my wedding mentioned how fun the close-up magic was.
3 - Personable. Professional throughout, but also friendly and easy to connect with.
Having had such a great experience, I'd definitely recommend him to anyone looking to add a touch of magic to your special day.
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Reply from Magic by Merrill
Mark, it was such a pleasure to perform Magic for your Wedding Reception. Thank you for the very Magical review!
Helen T
Magician
It was a pleasure to work with Merrill
I am so glad that I found him through bark.com
He was professional and very responsive to my emails and questions.
My guests had a great time and truly enjoyed Merrill’s magic.
Thank you, Merrill for making my birthday party magical!
Helen T
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Reply from Magic by Merrill
Thank you, Helen! It was so enjoyable to perform Magic for your Birthday celebration in St. Helena.
How long have you been interested in magic?
I began performing magic since the 6th grade and I haven't stopped!
After performing for children's birthday parties in middle and high school, I studied abroad and became the youngest U.S. magician to pass the entrance exam to the Sociedad Española de Ilusionismo (S.E.I.) in Madrid, Spain, and won national sleight-of-hand awards in Spain and Germany. My early mentors are world-renowned magicians Arturo de Ascanio (Spain), David Williamson (U.S.; The Illusionists, Circus 1903) and Bob Sheets (U.S. ; Brook Farm Inn of Magic). My semi-pro work never stopped. I've honed Magic skills performing at a wide variety of venues for years, like corporate events (holiday parties, trade shows), weddings (receptions, rehearsal dinners, bachelorette celebrations), private parties, schools, and disability non-profit organizations. I 'get' the corporate audiences because my career has been in global marketing and training for medical device and consumer companies (Medtronic, Boston Scientific, Johnson & Johnson) and medical start-ups for heart and brain health.
I stay very current through magician friendships all over the world, and as a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Society of American Magicians, and the Magic Castle (Academy of Magical Arts) in Hollywood, CA.
I proudly carry on a family legacy. My great-great-grandfather George Raps (1853-1917) was a dynamic magician, mindreader and business entrepreneur from Nashville. Raps’ signature illusion was the ‘Cabinet of Music Spirits’, an effect popularized by magicians and mediums throughout the turn of the century. My son and I have recreated the effect for Halloween performances.
Take us through your show – what can we expect?
The show format varies per client needs.
Clients find a 10-15 minute discovery phone call helpful so I can hear their event needs, then I recommend Magic performance options that suit the needs and venue. More often than not, I tend to recommend either (what Magicians refer to as) 'walk-around' or 'strolling' magic, or that plus a 30 minute stand up show. Some examples: For an adult birthday celebration at a restaurant, I recommend starting with a stand up show, then performing magic at the tables in between servings for a combined total of up to 2 hours. For a wedding reception, I recommend performing magic during appetizers, then during the sit down dinner between servings up until the speeches, and a special Happy Couple Magic & Souvenir at the newlyweds' table, and I can also provide Emcee (MC) services. Corporate events can vary considerably depending on objectives and scope, and can include customized magic on stage, producing the speaker, etc.
Re: types of Magic, my routines are widely varied whether close up or standing. For example, walk around magic varies from cards, rope, linking rings, cups & balls, coins, bills, mentalism and mind reading, raccoon puppet, etc. Lots of content! and I find that keeping the magic varied provides more entertainment.
What do you love most about your job?
Magic renews that sense of child-like wonder. In a serious world, how great is that?
Creating fun entertainment that all ages can enjoy.
Solving clients' entertainment needs.
What inspired you to start your own business?
Demand has surged for viewing Magic, aided by online shows like America's Got Talent, Penn & Teller Fool Us, and YouTube.
And, there is significant need for quality magic entertainment for events at a wide variety of venues, in particular in Northern California due to warmer temperatures and high interest in performing arts.
Why should our clients choose you?
Magic is my passion and it shows when I perform! I'm reliable, punctual, courteous, respectful, and always professional. My magic is highly engaging and entertaining. I read personalities well, so I involve everyone who wishes to be involved, and I'm sensitive to those who prefer to observe. I listen closely to my clients' needs, and have experience performing Magic in a wide variety of event types. Check out my reviews. I can't wait to speak with you! ♥️♣️♦️♠️
Can you provide your services online or remotely? If so, please add details.
Yes, I can provide a remote show over a video conference service like Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The show has a set time and is remotely interactive. That being said, almost all of my shows now are in-person.
What changes have you made to keep your customers safe from Covid-19?
Keep regularly vaccinated, and if I am feeling even slightly sick, I will perform a home test for Covid. I also inform the client up front, and give them the options to either continue with the plan for me to perform, or I can find a suitable replacement, or I provide a full refund.
Magic Entertainment for Private Parties
♦️ Celebrations and Private Parties:
Make your Parties Magical! Private gathering made memorable with award-winning sleight-of-hand magic. Wine releases; events, anniversaries, bachelorette parties, birthday or retirement celebrations, grad nights, quinceañeras, bar/bat mitzvahs.
I mingle among guests performing miracles up close and in their hands. Just as comfortable performing magic at a formal dinner party in a lovely restaurant or winery, or around your dining table. https://www.magicbymerrill.com
Magic Entertainment for Corporate & Holiday Events
♣️ Corporate & Holiday Events:
Looking for a novel way to create excitement and engagement at your next Corporate Event?
Transform the experience with engaging, interactive magic. Whether it’s a retreat, or a team-building event, employee meeting, holiday event, or just to have fun, Merrill’s award-winning magic will make your next event distinct, fun, and memorable! Merrill ‘gets’ each company culture is unique and evolving from his career in marketing and training roles at Fortune 500 companies and Silicon Valley start-ups. He uses Magic Entertainment to help you achieve event objectives, communicate new plans and strategies, introduce new product or services to solve unmet needs, appreciate and recognize employees, etc.
Merrill’s a pro at weaving company and brand messaging into the magic. He customizes magic to the audience and surroundings (meeting rooms, podium, drinks and dinner functions, winery events, etc.).
Learn more at: https://www.magicbymerrill.com/corporate
Magic Entertainment for Wedding Receptions
♥️ Weddings: Make your Wedding Magical!
Do the wedding couple wish to make sure guests are engaged and having fun?
Merrill gets reception attendees relaxed, laughing and smiling with engaging, award-winning sleight-of-hand magic! He greets and shares close-up miracles to break the ice and get conversation flowing, through appetizers and dinner. He involves everyone from grandparents to the youngest guests. His magic works wonders at rehearsal dinners, bachelorette events, and wedding receptions while the bride and groom are busy with photography.
He also can Emcee (MC) key transitions and moments like dinner seatings, toast, 1st dance, cutting the cake, etc.
Learn more: https://www.magicbymerrill.com/weddings
