Why Choosing The Right Entertainment Format Made Softcat’s Manchester Celebration Unforgettable

One of the questions I’m asked most often by corporate event organisers isn’t how much I charge or what my show involves.

It’s much simpler.

“Should we book close-up entertainment, a stage show… or both?”

There isn’t a single answer because every event has its own atmosphere, audience and objectives. Sometimes one style is exactly right. Other times, combining both creates a much more memorable experience.

Softcat’s quarterly team celebration in Manchester proved to be a perfect example.

The enquiry itself was refreshingly straightforward. Around 60 to 80 members of the sales and administration teams would be gathering at King Street Townhouse to celebrate another successful quarter, and Stacey Miles wanted something that would keep everyone engaged throughout the afternoon.

After chatting through the running order together, we settled on what felt like the perfect solution.

I’d spend time performing close-up psychological demonstrations between courses before finishing the afternoon with a 30-minute interactive performance for the whole room.

On paper, it looked like an ideal format.

As it turned out, Manchester had a few surprises waiting for us first.

Arriving In Manchester

Travelling to Manchester by train is something I’ve done many times over the years, but I remember this particular journey for one very simple reason.

It was unexpectedly warm.

The train from Newark to Nottingham felt more like a greenhouse than public transport, so stepping onto the air-conditioned Manchester service was a welcome relief.

By the time I arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the city was already buzzing.

People spilled out onto café terraces, bars were busy despite it only being lunchtime, conversations echoed around the streets and the familiar clinking of glasses drifted across the pavements. Manchester always seems to have its own energy, and that afternoon was no different.

Google Maps led me on the ten-minute walk towards King Street Townhouse. Carrying both my suit bag and performance case, I could feel the heat building again as I made my way through the city. Like many major cities, Manchester also reminded me of another reality. Alongside its impressive architecture and vibrant atmosphere, the city’s homelessness was difficult to ignore.

A few minutes later I arrived at King Street Townhouse for the first time.

The elegant former townhouse couldn’t have contrasted more with the busy streets outside.

After initially heading to entirely the wrong floor, I eventually found my way up to the rooftop event space where the afternoon would take place.

Waiting For The Guests To Arrive

With plenty of time before guests arrived, I changed into my suit and headed out onto the rooftop terrace with a cold drink while the venue team completed their preparations.

Stacey was understandably busy making final arrangements with the waiting staff, so I found a quiet corner and took the opportunity to do something I always try to do before a performance.

Pause.

Those few quiet minutes are often surprisingly valuable.

I mentally walked through the afternoon, considered where the close-up performances would work best and identified the ideal area for the later stage performance. Every room has its own personality, and I like understanding it before guests begin arriving.

As I looked across the Manchester skyline, I noticed something else.

Dark grey clouds.

They sat ominously in the distance, slowly making their way towards the city.

Manchester’s Unexpected Interruption

Guests gradually began arriving from around 12:30, collecting a drink before heading out onto the terrace where conversations quickly filled the space.

Within minutes, the atmosphere changed completely.

The storm arrived.

The sky darkened almost instantly before torrential rain swept across the rooftops of Manchester. Water cascaded from neighbouring buildings while strong gusts of wind suddenly drove the rain sideways across the terrace.

Guests nearest the glass balustrade instinctively stepped backwards as the weather reached them. Drinks were hurriedly rescued from tables, glasses toppled over and smashed, and within moments everyone was laughing while retreating indoors together.

Almost as quickly as it had arrived, it disappeared.

The sunshine returned.

The heavy humidity had gone, replaced by noticeably fresher air while the venue staff quickly reset the terrace as though nothing had happened.

Manchester had certainly made an entrance.

The Perfect Time To Begin

With everyone comfortably seated, lunch underway and the atmosphere already relaxed, it felt like the ideal moment to begin the close-up performances.

Moving naturally from table to table, I performed a mixture of psychological demonstrations, reading poker tells, spotting lies during games of truth and deception and creating those small moments of astonishment that quickly spread around a room.

One particularly memorable moment involved Stacey herself.

Having heard colleagues enthusiastically describing what they’d just experienced, she eventually came over and asked if she could take part herself.

During our conversation she mentioned that she loved music.

I asked her to think of a favourite song before silently imagining herself singing the chorus.

For a few moments I simply listened.

Gradually, individual words seemed to arrive almost like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle until suddenly everything fitted together.

There was only one problem.

I can’t sing.

Despite that rather significant obstacle, I confidently launched into the chorus of Sweet But Psycho by Ava Max.

Fortunately for everyone present, recognising the song mattered considerably more than my singing ability.

Stacey’s reaction suggested I’d somehow managed both.

Bringing Everyone Together

Following lunch, speeches and awards recognised the achievements of individuals and teams from across Softcat.

By now I’d already spent time with most of the guests around the room.

Faces were familiar.

The atmosphere felt warm, relaxed and genuinely celebratory.

After being introduced, I presented the final thirty-minute performance for the whole audience.

The combination of good company, a shared celebration, plenty of laughter throughout lunch and an audience already invested in what was happening created exactly the sort of environment every performer hopes for.

One unexpected incident occurred during the performance that, in more than twenty years of entertaining audiences, I’d never previously encountered.

For a brief moment I had to make a decision completely in real time.

The audience never realised anything unusual had happened.

Looking back, it’s one of those stories that will probably remain something I only ever share with fellow performers.

Sometimes the most memorable moments happen entirely behind the scenes.

Walking Back Through Manchester

After the performance, conversations continued for quite some time.

Guests came over to chat, ask questions and share their favourite moments from the afternoon. It’s always one of the nicest parts of any event because it tells you people have genuinely connected with what they’ve experienced.

Eventually I changed back into more comfortable clothes, packed away my case and stepped back out onto Manchester’s cobbled streets.

The pressure had disappeared.

Walking back towards the station, I remember feeling a mixture of relief, satisfaction, gratitude and quiet pride.

The event had unfolded exactly as we’d hoped - despite Manchester’s best efforts to interrupt proceedings with one spectacular storm.

A few days later Stacey emailed to say she’d be passing my details to Softcat’s marketing team for future events.

For me, that was probably the greatest compliment of the entire day.

When a client immediately starts thinking about the next opportunity to work together, it’s usually a sign that you’ve done exactly what they hoped you would.

If you’re planning a corporate event in Manchester and wondering whether close-up entertainment, a stage performance or a combination of both would best suit your audience, I’d be delighted to help you find the right format.

You can also learn more about my work across the city on my Corporate Mentalist Manchester page.