White Rabbit Experience

Charity Gala Magic

Raises the room before the auction — and gets remembered long after the last bid.

White Rabbit performs close-up magic and mentalism at charity galas and nonprofit fundraisers across Los Angeles, Hollywood, Napa Valley, and 80+ cities nationwide. The performance is engineered to elevate the room during cocktail hour, then step aside completely so the program, speakers, and live auction land at full force.

Magic That Lifts the Auction

A well-placed close-up magician at a gala increases donations because the entertainment is delivered before and during cocktail hour, then disappears once the program begins. By the time the live auction starts, the room is loose, conversational, and emotionally elevated — the exact state that drives bidding. Past gala clients have reported that post-event donor surveys named the close-up magic as the most memorable moment of the night.

How the Magic Sits in the Run-of-Show

The standard format is 60 to 90 minutes of close-up strolling during cocktail hour and into the early dinner seating. Scott moves through the room engaging small clusters of donors for five to ten minutes each, creating shared moments and conversations between people who may not know each other. For larger galas with 300+ guests, a second magician is sometimes added to ensure full coverage. The magic is intentionally finished before the program begins so the room's full attention shifts to the speakers, honorees, and auction.

Built for High-Net-Worth Audiences

The performance is designed for adult, sophisticated, often skeptical audiences. Past clients include events with C-suite executives, Hollywood industry leaders, and major philanthropists. Scott Syme is a Magic Castle (Academy of Magical Arts) member, magic consultant to America's Got Talent champion Dustin Tavella, a Disney Channel magic consultant on Bizaardvark, and a former Compass Beverly Hills luxury real estate professional — every interaction is delivered with white-glove hospitality, not magic-show showmanship.

Custom Mission-Tied Routines

Custom routines tied to the nonprofit's mission, anniversary year, or honoree have been built for past clients. Examples include a routine where the year of the organization's founding appeared inside a sealed envelope passed through the audience, and a routine where the honoree's signature appeared on an object they had never touched. Custom mission-tied routines require a planning call four to six weeks in advance.

Available for Galas Nationwide

White Rabbit performs at galas across Hollywood, Napa Valley, Aspen, the Hamptons, Palm Beach, Greenwich, Nashville, Austin, and 80+ additional cities. Travel is billed flat-rate. For nonprofit organizations with constrained entertainment budgets, White Rabbit also runs limited pro bono and discounted programs each year for mission-aligned causes — request the pro bono inquiry form on the contact page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Available Nationwide

White Rabbit performs across the country. Find charity gala magician services near you: