Today we’d like to introduce you to Neil Tobin.
Neil, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’ve always had a fascination with the psychic and the unexplained. As a child, I would visit the library frequently and read everything I could on the subject. Next to those books were ones about hauntings, so I absorbed everything I could about that. And next to those were books about magic, so I read those too.
Fast forward to college, where I became immersed in theatre and writing—earning me a degree in English and roles in university and summer stock productions. Adding these to my earlier interests, I began writing, producing and performing original solo interactive theatre incorporating psychic and magical performance.
One of the most well-known, Supernatural Chicago, introduced guests to the city’s paranormal past every week for 10 straight years at the reputedly haunted landmark, Excalibur nightclub. It was named among the Top 10 Things To Do in Chicago by TripAdvisor.com.
After that came Palace of the Occult, a two-act play staged at the venerable Prop Thtr, which told the true story of a Jewish psychic trying to survive during the rise of the Nazis in 1933 Berlin. From the Windy City Times review: “Highly recommended…The fascinating true story related by the trickster is enough to keep us spellbound.”
Next up is Near Death Experience, previewing in August at the Indianapolis Fringe Festival with the ambitious intent of helping audiences make peace with mortality and embrace life more fully. This project’s so big, there’s even an accompanying book on Amazon. Details at http://neardeathx.com.
Outside the theatre, I’ve brought my approach to interactive magical and psychic entertainment to bring intrigue and fun to a variety of corporate and private events. A typical evening for me may include mingling with guests at a cocktail party, reading their palms, tarot cards, and even their minds. Or inducing laughter and gasps in an after-dinner show.
My official title? Necromancer, since what I bring to the party is uniquely mysterious—with just a hint of darkness audiences love. Event planners can find me through my website, http://necromancerevents.com.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Actually, at one time I thought I was going to be a lawyer! But when I was in my first year of law school in Los Angeles and hadn’t been involved in magical or psychic performance in years, a light bulb went off in my head that The Magic Castle (the private club for mystery performers) was a stone’s throw away in Hollywood. So I took a couple of law-school friends with me to visit, and my love for it all was immediately reignited. The next day, I was back to buying books on arcane subjects. I never completed law school—but my friends who did often tell me I made the right choice.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Neil Tobin, Necromancer – what should we know?
Among event planners, I’m known for delivering a professional, distinctive blend of the magical and psychic that makes their events memorable.
I’d say the key is adapting to the specific needs of each client. For a cocktail-party atmosphere or wedding reception, I’ll often mingle and provide one-on-one demonstrations of palm reading, tarot reading, and mind reading. For a formal corporate dinner, I may give a 45-minute feature presentation that involves the whole room at once.
On occasion, I’ve even been asked to do one of my full-length theatre shows. But even outside of theatre, my experience in that area brings a level of depth to my work that I could never have gotten working parties alone.
And then there’s the personality of the performer that can set one apart. I was looking at a bottle of cider the other day, and on its label was a three-word description: dark and dry. Well, I thought, that pretty much sums up my sense of humor right there! So if that’s what you and your guests appreciate, there’s only one Necromancer.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
When mingling with guests at cocktail parties, my sense of empathy and genuine caring for people are what’s most essential—people just know when it’s real. Standing in front of a group and entertaining larger audiences, I’d say my sense of theatre and improv experience really come through. As for making a professional impression at a wide range of corporate events, charity fundraisers and private parties, it does help that I look particularly fetching in a suit.
Contact Info:
- Website: necromancerevents.com
- Phone: 708.308.1280
- Email: neil@necromancerevents.com
- Instagram: NeilNecromancer
- Facebook: NeilTobinNecromancer
- Twitter: NeilNecromancer
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/neil-tobin-necromancer-oak-park
- Other: Latest theatre show: http://neardeathx.com
Image Credit:
Jonathan Cohon, David Linsell, Mark Jungers
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