Some people invite a few friends over for dinner. Some open another bottle. Some decide the evening would benefit from a visitor whose attendance cannot be confirmed through the usual channels.
I work with the third group.
A comedy séance is a theatrical magic show that combines spirit magic, haunted storytelling, dark humor, and audience involvement. It borrows the atmosphere of a haunted parlor and gives your guests a shared mystery to step into.
My signature show, Timothy Starnes & His Many Night Visitors, is a private invitation to that sort of evening. I’m Timothy Starnes, a Charlotte magician, necromancer, and comedy conjurer. I’m best known for this comedy séance show, which I tour along the East Coast.
The company is questionable. The booking process is considerably more respectable.
What happens during a comedy séance show?
Spirit magic, mind reading, and haunted stories give the evening its atmosphere. Comedy gives everyone somewhere to put their nerves.
In Timothy Starnes & His Many Night Visitors, strange objects misbehave, cards refuse to cooperate, and guests become part of the mystery. The show draws on the world of séances, spiritualism, and spirit manifestations, presented with the manners of a man who really should know better.
The audience helps make the experience. Reactions, questions, and participation give a private performance its personality. Your friends aren’t simply watching a distant stage; they’re close enough to have opinions about what just happened.
Quite confident opinions, usually. Those are my favorite ones to inconvenience.
I won’t spoil the surprises here. The aim is an evening that feels eerie, funny, and intimate, with enough mystery left over for the ride home.
Is this a mediumship reading?
No. This is theatrical séance entertainment: magic, storytelling, and comedy. I do not offer direct mediumship readings or promise contact with deceased loved ones.
When I talk about inviting the dead, I’m describing the premise of the show. The atmosphere is part of the performance. It is not a promise that a particular person will appear, deliver a message, or settle an argument about the will.
You can enjoy the mystery without sharing any particular spiritual belief. You also don’t need to disclose a personal loss to take part. If your group has sensitivities around the subject, tell me before booking so we can discuss whether this is the right entertainment for your evening.
The show should suit the people in the room. Their actual lives deserve consideration.
Why does a private séance party need two hours?
Plan on two hours for the séance. That is the time needed for this format, rather than a quick trick squeezed between the main course and someone looking for their coat.
A shared theatrical experience needs room for stories, magic, laughter, and audience involvement. Give it a clear place in the evening’s plans, and let me know about dinner, speeches, or anything else that needs to happen on schedule.
We’ll agree on the timing before booking. If you want a shorter or more flexible visit, we can discuss comedy close-up magic, con games, or dice magic instead. My guide to choosing your adult party magic show explains those options.
How many guests work best?
For a séance, I suggest 10–15 guests, or as many as your dining table can comfortably accommodate. Think about how well everyone can see, hear, and share the experience.
Intimacy is part of the appeal. A mystery happening close to your friends has a different character from watching a performance across a crowded room. There’s also less distance available when somebody begins blaming the furniture.
The suggested group size is a planning guide. If you have more people, send the guest count and a description of the space. I perform for events of different sizes, and we’ll discuss a suitable arrangement and format before you book.
How involved do guests need to be?
This is entertainment for adults ages 18 and up, with audience interaction, dark humor, and an eerie atmosphere.
Tell me whether your crowd enjoys joining in, watching closely, challenging the magician, or doing all three after a glass of wine. We’ll agree on a tone that fits your group.
For a birthday or bachelorette celebration, it also helps to know how the guest of honor feels about attention. Being celebrated and being delighted to participate are not automatically the same thing. A little information from the host goes a long way.
What space and equipment do you need?
My usual working setup is three chairs and a table, or a coffee table with ample audience seating in front and to the sides. For a dining-table séance, tell me how many people the table seats comfortably.
I don’t use a sound system. Describe the room and any competing activity so we can work out whether guests will be able to follow the performance comfortably. We’ll confirm arrival and setup timing before the event.
A crumbling ancestral mansion is optional. Tell me about your living room and we’ll work from there.
Which occasions suit a comedy séance?
A private séance party makes sense when your group wants to gather for a shared experience and enjoys the spooky side of comedy. Consider it for an adult birthday celebration, a private bachelorette party, or a dinner party with friends.
You supply the occasion. I’ll supply the visitors with uncertain references.
I’m also a trained comedy and bar magician. If your group prefers a traditional-style magic show, we can leave the séance out entirely. If you want a mixture, tell me what interests you; we’ll agree on the material and timing. The séance itself still requires two hours.
Invite the dead. Start with a text.
I’m based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and travel for performances along the East Coast and beyond. Send your date, city or venue, guest count, and a little about the people you’re inviting.
Text Tim about a private comedy séance. Tell me how strange you want the evening to get, and we’ll discuss the right plan for your party.
No blood oath required. Those are a nuisance to file.