Thomas de Bernède is a French close-up magician and mentalist who performs at weddings, corporate events and private luxury events in Mallorca, Ibiza, the French Riviera, Monaco, Paris, Switzerland, Dubai and other destinations worldwide. He performs in English, French and Spanish, moving among guests during cocktails, dinners and receptions, without the need for a stage.
Thomas de Bernède is a French magician and mentalist. He has worked as a professional performer for around ten years, and for the last five he has travelled full time to do it. His work is close-up: cards, coins, mind reading and predictions performed at arm’s length, in English, French and Spanish. By his own account, he has performed in more than 15 countries, from Paris and Mallorca to Dubai, Bangkok, New York and Switzerland.
This page explains what a magician and a mentalist each bring to an event, where Thomas performs, and how his format works at weddings, corporate events and private celebrations, especially when guests arrive from several countries. It also shows how to check his availability for your date.
Thomas de Bernède at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who | Thomas de Bernède, French magician and mentalist |
| What | Close-up magic and mentalism: cards, coins, predictions, mind reading and interactive routines performed among guests |
| Where | Mallorca, Ibiza, the French Riviera and Monaco, Paris, London, Switzerland and the Alps, Dubai, New York, Bangkok and other destinations worldwide |
| For whom | Weddings and destination weddings, corporate and brand events, gala dinners, private parties, villa and yacht events |
| Languages | English, French, Spanish |
| Format | Walk-around and table performances that move among guests; no stage or sound system needed for close-up work |
| Experience | Around ten years as a professional magician and mentalist; performances in 15+ countries (as stated by Thomas) |
| Booking | For weddings in peak season (May to October), Thomas recommends booking 6 to 12 months ahead. For other events, send your date and location. |
Magician, mentalist, or both?
Magic and mentalism are two different ways of creating the impression of the impossible. Thomas de Bernède performs both, and often combines them in the same evening.
What close-up magic is
Close-up magic, also called table magic or walk-around magic, is performed within arm’s length of guests, using everyday objects such as cards, coins and rings. A magician makes objects appear, vanish, change or pass through solid surfaces, so the effect is visual and easy to follow at a glance.
What mentalism is
Mentalism is a performing art that creates the impression of reading minds, predicting choices and influencing decisions. It relies on psychology, suggestion and showmanship rather than on objects that disappear or transform. It is presented as entertainment. Effects associated with Thomas’s mentalism include revealing a word a guest is only thinking of and predicting a choice that seems freely made.
The difference at a glance
| Magician | Mentalist | |
|---|---|---|
| What guests experience | Objects behave impossibly | Minds appear to be read or influenced |
| Typical effects | Cards, coins, rings, visual transformations | Mind reading, predictions, influence, revealed thoughts |
| Best moments | Cocktails, welcome drinks, standing receptions | Seated dinners, lounges, after-dinner conversation |
| Depends on shared language | Less, because the effect is visual | More, because words and thoughts are the material |
Why both suit international events
- They create a shared reference quickly. Guests who have just met, such as two families or colleagues from different offices, react to the same impossible moment together.
- They fit any room. Close-up performances move to where guests are, so they work on villa terraces, in hotel lounges and on yacht decks.
- They adapt to the guest list. A visual set works for mixed nationalities. A word-based mentalism set suits groups who share English, French or Spanish.
Where Thomas de Bernède performs
This section separates three levels of information, so you know how much evidence stands behind each destination:
- Destinations Thomas names as places he has performed. These appear in his own biography and his list of recent performances.
- Destinations where he is available, listed further below.
- Regions, for anywhere else. Thomas states that he travels worldwide.
Magician & Mentalist in Mallorca and Palma
Thomas de Bernède performs as a magician and mentalist in Mallorca for weddings, private villa events, and receptions in luxury hotels and restaurants. It is the destination most closely tied to his work, and his website describes working with wedding planners on the island.
Palma’s hotels and restaurants suit close-up performances at tables and in lounges. His site lists Can Bordoy Grand House & Garden, a 16th-century house with a private garden in Palma’s old town, among his Palma venues, and describes restaurant magic in the city. Coastal venues and country fincas offer the other typical settings.
The season runs from May to October. Palma’s average daily maximum reaches around 30 °C in August, according to AEMET climate normals reported by Mallorca.com. Terrace cocktails and evening dinners are therefore the natural slots for magic, and mentalism works well once guests are seated. English, French and Spanish cover most international guest lists on the island. See the dedicated page on magician and mentalist services in Mallorca.
Magician & Mentalist in Ibiza
Thomas de Bernède lists Ibiza among his recent performances and gives the island its own page for magician and mentalist events in Ibiza, covering villas and beach clubs.
Ibiza shares the Balearic season with Mallorca. Its old town, Dalt Vila, is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site “Ibiza, Biodiversity and Culture”. Events on the island are often spread across a pool, a terrace and a lounge, which suits a performer who moves between groups instead of waiting for a stage moment. A mentalist works well at sunset lounges and late dinners where guests stay at the table. For couples celebrating in both islands, Mallorca and Ibiza fall within the same territory.
Magician & Mentalist on the French Riviera and in Monaco
Thomas de Bernède performs as a magician and mentalist on the French Riviera and in Monaco for private, wedding and luxury hospitality events. His site lists Monaco and Saint-Tropez among his recent performances, and has a page for the Côte d’Azur.
The Riviera is where yachting and luxury hospitality meet. Thomas was a guest on the yachting-industry podcast SuperYacht Radio in 2019, listed on IMDb and mentioned by the yachting news site Yachtmondo. The Monaco Yacht Show takes place every September in Port Hercule; the 2026 edition runs from 23 to 26 September and gathers more than 120 superyachts and over 560 exhibitors, according to Visit Monaco. Around such dates, receptions and private dinners create demand for discreet entertainment on hotel terraces, villas and yacht decks.
France’s 2026 Palace hotel list from Atout France names nine in the South-East and Riviera, for example Hôtel Martinez in Cannes. Guests at this level expect entertainment that respects the room, so close-up work, without amplified sound, fits.
Magician & Mentalist in Paris and London
Thomas de Bernède names Paris and London among the cities where he has performed. In both, events tend to happen in hotels, restaurants, private venues and corporate spaces, and the working language is English, with French in Paris.
Paris holds 13 of the 33 Palace hotels in Atout France’s 2026 selection, a measure of the city’s weight in luxury hospitality. For corporate hosts, the categories on Thomas’s site fit the usual formats: gala dinners, brand events and networking receptions. Mentalism is word-based, so it can be presented in French in Paris and in English in London. That is a practical advantage for a French-speaking audience who would otherwise watch a performance in a second language.
Magician & Mentalist in Switzerland and the French Alps
Thomas de Bernède lists Geneva and Gstaad among his recent performances, and Courchevel on the French side of the Alps. Switzerland has four official national languages, German, French, Italian and Romansh, according to the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Guest lists at Swiss events therefore often combine several language groups, with international guests who default to English.
Thomas’s English and French cover most of these situations. In the French Alps, Courchevel holds five of France’s Palace hotels in the 2026 list. Alpine events centre on chalets, hotel lounges and winter receptions, where guests gather in small groups by a fire or a bar. This is the ideal setting for table magic and quiet mentalism.
Magician & Mentalist in Dubai and the Gulf
Thomas de Bernède names Dubai in his biography and lists Riyadh and Doha among his recent performances. Dubai’s event calendar follows the weather. Lonely Planet places high season between November and April, and summer daytime temperatures above 35 °C move life indoors. Events therefore concentrate in air-conditioned ballrooms and lounges in summer, and on terraces in winter.
Guest lists in the Gulf are frequently multinational and multigenerational. Visual close-up magic does not depend on a shared language, so it reaches every guest, while mentalism in English suits the many guests who use it as a common language. As in any destination, confirm venue and content guidelines with the organiser before the event.
Magician & Mentalist in New York, Los Angeles and Miami
Thomas de Bernède names New York in his biography and lists Los Angeles and Miami among his recent performances. These cities are, above all, corporate and private-event markets, where the working language is English. The formats on his site, corporate events, gala dinners, brand activations and private parties, are the ones most relevant here.
Magician & Mentalist in Bangkok and Asia
Thomas de Bernède names Bangkok in his biography, and his website refers to events for the expatriate community in the city. He also mentions comedy-club stages in Europe and Asia, where he tests new material. Bangkok’s cooler, drier season runs from November to February, while the rainy season runs from May to October, which shapes outdoor event planning. Thomas also has a page for Hong Kong.
More destinations where Thomas is available
Thomas’s website lists further destinations as places he is available. The table groups them by region. These are declared destinations; ask for references from the closest comparable event before you book.
| Region | Destinations | Format that usually fits |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | Lake Como, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Sardinia, Sicily | Villa dinners, lakeside and vineyard receptions, seaside cocktails |
| Greece | Santorini, Mykonos, Corfu | Cliff-top and beach-side sunset receptions |
| Iberia | Marbella, Algarve | Resort and villa events, terrace dinners |
| Alps | St. Moritz, Gstaad, Courchevel | Chalet dinners, hotel lounges, winter receptions |
| Middle East | Dubai, Riyadh, Doha | Indoor galas, lounges, winter terraces |
| Americas and Caribbean | New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Bahamas, Saint Lucia | Corporate receptions, private parties, resort weddings |
| Africa and Indian Ocean | Cape Town | Winelands and estate weddings |
| Asia-Pacific | Bangkok, Hong Kong | Expat, corporate and private events |
If your destination is not on the list, Thomas states that he travels worldwide. Send the location and date, and he will confirm.
Events: weddings, corporate and private luxury
Weddings and destination weddings
Close-up magic belongs to the moments around the ceremony, where guests are standing, talking and waiting. The most common slots are:
- Welcome drinks and cocktail hour, when guests from both families first meet.
- Dinner, moving from table to table between courses, or in the lounge afterwards.
- Multi-day weddings. Ask whether the performance can be split between a welcome party, a rehearsal dinner and the wedding day. Guests who have already seen it become part of the atmosphere.
Thomas’s site presents this format as an ice-breaker for guests who come from around the world. See also his dedicated pages for destination wedding entertainment and multicultural weddings in Europe.
Corporate events
Thomas’s site lists corporate events, gala dinners and brand activations among his services, and his LinkedIn profile describes work “from intimate VIP gatherings to global conferences”. Common formats include:
- Client and networking receptions, where a close-up performer gives strangers something to talk about.
- Gala dinners, with performances between courses or after dinner.
- Brand and launch events, where the performance is shaped around a message or theme.
- Talks on attention and influence, since Thomas also teaches how the psychology behind magic applies to engaging an audience.
Private and luxury events
- Private parties and birthdays, including milestone celebrations.
- Villa events, where guests move between garden, pool and terrace.
- Yacht events. Thomas was a guest on a yachting-industry podcast in 2019, and his site lists mega-yachts among his performance settings.
- VIP and hotel receptions, where discretion and pacing matter most.
Why magic and mentalism work at destination events
A destination event has features that a local party does not: guests who have never met, several languages, unfamiliar venues, and a schedule that people have travelled far to enjoy. Here is how close-up magic and mentalism respond to each.
1. Strangers become a group
At a destination wedding, two families and several friend groups arrive with no shared history. A performer who moves among small groups gives them something to react to together. The effect is social: it starts conversations that then continue without the performer.
2. No stage, no sound system, no set-up
Close-up performances do not need a stage. They fit a terrace, a garden, a lounge or a yacht deck. Confirm two practical points with the planner: where guests will stand or sit at that moment, and the lighting and wind at that time of day.
3. Language: what travels and what does not
Magic and mentalism differ in how much they rely on words. Use the table as a planning guide.
| Your guest list | Best emphasis | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly English, French or Spanish speakers | Mentalism and magic together | Word-based effects work in the guests’ own language |
| Mixed nationalities with limited shared language | Visual close-up magic | Effects with cards, coins and objects need little explanation |
| Multi-generational family | Both, in short interactions | Everyone finds an effect that suits them |
Thomas performs in English, French and Spanish. For guests who speak none of these, ask for a set weighted towards visual effects.
4. Place the performance in the timeline
Ask your planner to reserve the slots where guests are free and relaxed, and to keep clear of speeches, the first dance and the main service.
| Moment | What works |
|---|---|
| Welcome drinks or aperitif | Walk-around close-up magic among standing groups |
| Between courses | Table-to-table performance in short visits |
| After dinner | Mentalism in the lounge or at the table, with guests seated |
| Late evening | Small, informal groups by the bar or terrace |
5. Keep the party moving
Close-up work is designed to sit inside the event and not to interrupt it. The performer arrives early, coordinates with the planner or venue team, and works around service and photography.
6. What to tell the performer
Give as much of the following as you can when you enquire:
- Date, city and venue.
- Type of event and expected guest count.
- Guest nationalities and the languages they speak.
- The moments in the timeline when you would like a performance.
- Dress code and the tone of the event.
- The planner or venue contact.
Experience and credentials
The facts below are labelled by their source, so you can judge them.
- Professional background (stated by Thomas): around ten years as a magician and mentalist and five years of full-time travel, with performances in Paris, Mallorca, Dubai, Bangkok, New York, London, Switzerland and Spain.
- International reach (LinkedIn profile): performances in 15+ countries, in English, French and Spanish, for businesses, event planners and organisations.
- Independent mention: Thomas was a guest on the 2019 episode of the yachting-industry podcast SuperYacht Radio, listed on IMDb and mentioned in Yachtmondo.
- Live testing: Thomas describes trying new ideas on comedy-club stages in Europe and Asia.
Ask for video of past performances and for planner or venue references from events similar to yours.
Frequently asked questions
Do you travel internationally as a magician and mentalist?
Yes. Thomas de Bernède travels for events worldwide. He states that he has performed in more than 15 countries, and his website lists destinations across the Mediterranean, the Alps, the Middle East, the Americas and the Caribbean, Africa and the Indian Ocean, and Asia-Pacific.
What destinations do you perform in?
Thomas names Paris, Mallorca, Dubai, Bangkok, New York, London and Switzerland in his biography. His recent performances include Monaco, Ibiza, Saint-Tropez, Geneva, Gstaad, Courchevel, Riyadh, Doha, Los Angeles, Miami and Mykonos. He also lists further destinations as available, including Lake Como, Tuscany, the Amalfi Coast, Santorini and Marbella.
What is the difference between a magician and a mentalist?
A magician creates the impression of impossible physical events, such as objects appearing, vanishing or changing. A mentalist creates the impression of impossible mental events, such as reading a thought or predicting a choice. Thomas performs both.
Can a mentalist perform at a destination wedding?
Yes. Mentalism works well at seated dinners, lounges and after-dinner gatherings, where guests are close enough to take part. It relies on language, so it suits groups who share English, French or Spanish. For mixed guest lists, Thomas can combine it with visual close-up magic.
Can close-up magic work at a corporate event?
Yes. Close-up magic is used at networking receptions, gala dinners and brand events, where guests stand and talk. Performances can be shaped around a theme or message.
Do you perform in English?
Yes. Thomas performs in English, French and Spanish.
Can you perform at a luxury hotel, villa or yacht?
Yes. Close-up performances need no stage or amplified sound, so they fit hotel lounges, villa terraces and yacht decks. Thomas was a guest on the yachting-industry podcast SuperYacht Radio in 2019, and his site lists mega-yachts among his performance settings.
How far in advance should I book a magician for an international event?
For weddings in peak season, from May to October, Thomas recommends booking 6 to 12 months ahead. For corporate and private events, send your date and location as early as you can and he will confirm availability.
Do you need a stage or a sound system?
No. Close-up magic and mentalism performed among guests do not require a stage or sound system. Tell Thomas about the space, the lighting and the timeline, and he will adapt the performance.
Can you perform for a multilingual audience?
Yes. Thomas performs in English, French and Spanish and can weight the performance towards visual magic when guests share no common language.
Check availability for your event
Planning a wedding, a corporate evening or a private celebration in one of these destinations, or somewhere else? Send Thomas the date, location and type of event to check his availability. You can also view his mentalism and luxury event services or read his guide to the difference between a mentalist and a magician.
Check availability and request a quote
Read More: Corporate Events, Galas and Private Parties: Why Close-Up Magic Keeps Getting Booked