A West Midlands magician is celebrating after conjuring up one of his best tricks yet: bagging a top industry award.
Owen Strickland, aged 48, from Aldridge, Walsall, has been named Best Magician in the UK in the prestigious Wedding Industry Awards 2021 – two months after taking the regional title.
The former Warwickshire Police detective, who only began to learn magic tricks in his 30s, has thrilled audiences with his close-up tricks at dozens of weddings and corporate events every year for the past seven years.
West Midlands Magician Scoops Wedding Industry Award
And after winning regional awards in the Wedding Industry Awards in 2017 and 2018, this is the first time he has scooped the national award.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to have won,” said Owen, who is the Magic Circle’s Midlands representative. “These awards are known as the Oscars for the wedding industry because they celebrate the best in the business.
“This is the first year it has created a specific category for magicians and I was up against some strong competition. I couldn’t believe it when the judges chose me out of the five regional winners, many of whom have been practising magic for a lot longer than me. It’s very much a highly judged award, so I am humbled to have won.
“Doing weddings is such an honour because you’re getting paid to go and be part of people’s most special day of their lives. I love doing magic and having banter with the audiences – it’s all part of what I do.”
Owen, who specialises in close-up card tricks, as well as money, sponge balls and fire tricks, said he hopes the award will help to consolidate his reputation further as a first-class, trusted magician.
Since the pandemic struck 12 months ago, he has lost dozens of bookings from the corporate world and from weddings, and is hoping that happy couples will be able to go ahead with their big days later in 2021.
Best Magician In UK Enjoys Spreading Joy
“The wedding industry, like most of the hospitality industry, has taken a battering because of the pandemic, but I hope things will get back on track this year,” he said.
Owen counts English illusionist and mentalist Derren Brown, Dynamo and the late Paul Daniels as his favourite magicians.
“Being a magician is all about bringing joy to people’s lives and escaping reality for a while and these are among the very best,” said Owen.
You can hire Owen for wedding, corporate and private events via the Owen Strickland website.
Written by Jane Howarth.