Short note
Which format
fits your event?
The answer in one paragraph
Count your guests first
A room in motion, or at the table
Both work, almost anywhere
The obvious answer holds true as well: Walking works well when your guests are on the move, at a reception or walking dinner, and Seated when they're seated at tables.
But Seated also works when your guests are moving around. Groups take turns at the table and then drift back into the party. And Walking also works when your guests are seated, as long as the tables aren't too big. The shape of the evening rarely rules anything out.
That's why I'd rather count guests. Below 50 there's more time per guest, and that's exactly where Walking stalls: with a group that small, one huddle quickly grows into one big circle, and you don't want that. A fixed table keeps the groups small.
Above 150, a single Walking block doesn't reach everyone; Walking covers 40 to 50 guests per hour. At a fixed table guests pick their own moment, so whoever really wants to experience it will have experienced it by the end of the night.
The alternative for large events: Walking with fellow mentalists, two or three of us, for two to three times the reach. From 100 guests it adds real value, above 150 it's my recommendation. I only work with regular colleagues who, like me, do this for a living.
Duration
How long a performance lasts
Walking and Seated both usually run one to two and a half hours. With Seated, groups spend ten to twenty minutes at the table, and 25 to 40 guests take a seat per hour.
For very big parties I can play two blocks of three hours, with a break in between.
The combination
One evening, two formats
An example: a staff party opens with a reception and flows into a dinner. Then I play Walking during the reception and Seated after the main course. Any other split works just as well; the combination is at its best when it happens to fit the programme.
Whoever caught the Walking moment retells it at the table. Whoever missed it comes over to the table later in the evening.
In all honesty
Sometimes the answer is neither
Next to a dance floor, for instance: mentalism is language and attention, and after the DJ there's little of either left. Mentalism to screen your staff is a no without exception. And if you're looking for a full-evening show on a stage for hundreds of people, I'm not the right choice and I'll gladly refer you on.
In closing
A rule of thumb isn't advice yet
Between the rule of thumb and the right choice sit the details. The programme, the venue, the kind of guests, what you want the evening to do. Those sometimes weigh more than the number.
So just send me a short email about your event: date, venue, type of occasion and number of guests. You'll get personal advice on the format that fits best, even if it's a different one than you had in mind.
Answered briefly
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Walking and Seated mentalism?
With Walking the mentalist moves around among the guests; with Seated he works from one fixed table where groups come and go. Both work at almost any event.
How many guests suit Walking or Seated?
The rule of thumb: between 50 and 150 guests usually Walking, below 50 and above 150 usually Seated. From 100 guests, Walking with fellow mentalists adds real value; above 150 it's recommended. There's more to it than that; a short email with the details of the event is enough for personal advice.
How long does a performance last?
Walking and Seated both usually run one to two and a half hours, with ten to twenty minutes per group at Seated. For very big parties, two blocks of three hours are possible, with a break in between.
When is a mentalist not the right choice?
Next to a dance floor or after the DJ, since mentalism is language and attention. Mentalism to screen staff is a no without exception, and for a full-evening stage show Tijl will gladly refer you on.
Can Walking and Seated be combined in one evening?
Yes. An evening that opens with a reception and flows into a dinner can have Walking during the reception and Seated after the main course, for example. Any other split works just as well; the combination is at its best when it happens to fit the programme.
