What Awards and Appearances Does TJ Shoesmith List?

Updated

TJ Shoesmith's site lists a specific set of credentials: membership of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, a win in the Magic Circle Close Up Competition 2013, runner-up in the Magic Circle Stage Competition 2013, and a win in the International Brotherhood of Magicians Championship 2007. It also names appearances at The Magic Castle in Los Angeles, Monday Night Magic in New York, and performances on Royal Caribbean and Silversea cruise ships. These are the claims the site makes; treat them as the performer's own listing rather than independently verified facts.

The listed awards at a glance

Credential Year What it signals
Member of the Inner Magic Circle (with Gold Star) Not stated Recognition within a UK magic society; the Gold Star denotes a higher grade of membership
Winner, Magic Circle Close Up Competition 2013 Peer-judged skill in close-up magic
Runner-up, Magic Circle Stage Competition 2013 Stage/cabaret ability alongside close-up work
Winner, International Brotherhood of Magicians Championship 2007 International competition recognition

The pairing of a close-up win and a stage runner-up in the same year is the most useful detail for event planners: it suggests the performer works in both the roaming/table format and the cabaret format, which matches the site's description of him as a "Close Up & Cabaret Magician."

The listed appearances

  • The Magic Castle, Los Angeles — described on the site as a regular engagement. The Magic Castle is a well-known private club for magicians, so a residency there is a common credibility marker in the profession.
  • Monday Night Magic, New York — a long-running off-Broadway magic show; the site lists an appearance there.
  • Royal Caribbean and Silversea — performances on luxury cruise lines, which typically involve repeated shows for mixed audiences.

How to use this when deciding

If you are weighing a booking, the awards answer a narrow question — has this performer been judged competent by other magicians? — while the appearances answer a different one: has he performed for audiences like yours? For a wedding or corporate reception, the close-up award and the table-magician framing are the relevant signals. For a stage or cabaret slot, the 2013 stage runner-up placing and the cruise work are more relevant.

Two practical caveats:

  • Check the format fits your event. The site separates "Close Up Magician," "Table Magician," and "Cabaret" — confirm which you are booking, since the awards cover both but the experience differs.
  • Verify before relying on it. Awards and appearances are self-reported on the site. If the credential is central to your decision, ask for details (which competition, which year, what the engagement involved) or check the awarding body's records.

The site also lists family entertainment as a category, which is worth noting if your event includes children.