Twenty-five years. That's how long I've been performing at dry grad events across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. Midnight to 5am, every June, while most performers won't touch the shift.
I do it because the grads make it worth every minute. There's nothing like holding a room at 3am and watching 200 kids completely lose their minds. That payoff is real and I genuinely love it.
But after 25 years, I'm going to tell you something nobody else in this industry will.
The hypnotist model is broken.
Not because hypnotists are bad people. Not even because the show itself isn't entertaining — it often is. It's broken because a 60-minute seated show solves one hour of a five-hour night and leaves your committee holding the other four.
The hypnotist arrives, does the show, takes the cheque, and goes home to bed. Meanwhile your grads are still there until 5am. Who's holding that room?
Last year, one committee learned this lesson the hard way. Their hypnotist — charging $4,000 for a single show — arrived drunk. I won't name names. But that committee called me the following week. They're now in their second year with me, same $4,000 budget, except now they get close-up magic from the moment doors open, a 45-minute stage show that brings the whole room together, and me working the crowd through to 5am when the last grad walks out.
Same price. The entire night. No surprises.
Here's what a real dry grad entertainment spine looks like:
The early hours are about energy and connection — I'm moving through the crowd doing close-up magic, hitting small groups, creating personal moments that kids are immediately pulling out their phones to film. Then the stage show anchors the middle of the night and brings everyone together. Then I'm back in the crowd for the late hours when the adrenaline dips and you need something to pull the room back in.
I'm not an activation. I'm not a line item next to the inflatable obstacle course. I'm the reason the night holds together from midnight to 5am.
One more thing for 2026:
SD38 has tightened vendor requirements for dry grad events — insurance certificates, contract vetting, structured payment schedules. A lot of the usual entertainment options can't clear that bar. I come with everything pre-packaged and ready for district approval. No paperwork headaches for your committee.
If you want to see what a full night actually looks like, watch the highlight reel here: [Youtube link]
Then let's talk: [TidyCal link] | kelmodernmagic.com
Frequently asked questions
What dry grad entertainment keeps grads engaged all night?
Entertainment that covers the whole night, not one hour of it. A 60-minute seated show fills one hour of a five-hour night and leaves your committee holding the rest. I work close-up magic through the crowd in the early hours, anchor the middle of the night with a stage show, then go back into the crowd for the late hours when the adrenaline dips.
How much does dry grad entertainment cost in Vancouver?
A stage show alone is $1,500 plus GST, and a full night of close-up magic plus the stage show is $3,000 plus GST. Those are my published dry grad prices, with nothing added on top except GST. Travel is built into the quote, and the Lower Mainland carries no travel charge at all, so your committee knows the total before it books.
What paperwork does a school district need from a dry grad entertainer?
Expect to need an insurance certificate, a contract the district can vet and a structured payment schedule. SD38 tightened its dry grad vendor requirements for 2026 along exactly those lines. I carry PAL Insurance, underwritten by Lloyd's, and a certificate naming your venue as additional insured, including $2M coverage, is available on request. Everything comes pre-packaged and ready for district approval.
Is magic appropriate for a dry grad crowd?
Yes. The material is clean and all ages, with no exceptions, so there's nothing a school committee has to think twice about. Volunteers are made the stars of the show, never the punchline. Because the magic happens right in the grads' hands, it keeps them circulating in small groups all night instead of clustering by the exits.
How long does a magician stay on a full dry grad night?
On a full-night booking, I'm there until the last grad walks out, which is usually 5am. Close-up magic runs through the whole event alongside the stage show, timed to fill the room's downtime. That way the committee isn't left holding the room for the four hours after a single show ends.
