How to Hire the Best Birthday Party Magician

Think back to the very first magic trick you saw that fooled you.  Do you remember what year it was? How old you were? Where you were?  Who performed it? How it made you feel?  Can you answer most or all of these questions while looking to hire birthday party magician?

The fact is that well-performed magic, aside from its sheer entertainment value, can have a profound and transformative effect on an audience.  So much so that they will remember the birthday they attended, the wedding couple, the company party, or the corporate message at the sales meeting. The kids party magician will attach that feeling of astonishment to that event. If you were planning an event, would you want your guests to remember it?

Where and how do you find a magician here?

The best way to ensure that a magician is best for you and your event is to see their performance first hand.  Maybe you saw a magician at a wedding reception, office party or a birthday party. Stay after their performance and talk with them.  Magicians love to talk with their audience and listen for feedback. This is the time to ask them for their business card and let them know about any events you may have coming up.  They should ask you for your business card and offer to follow up with you regarding your event.

Things to look for on a good magician's website:

• Are there photos of real performances?  How is the audience reacting?
• Do the photos and videos look up-to-date?
• Does the website look up-to-date?
• Do the testimonials look genuine?
• Do they specialize in your type of event?

Aside from their website, prospective kids magician should have some social media presence.  This shows that they engaged and maintain a relationship with their audience.  Check for profiles on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. What you should be looking for when researching magicians online is not only evidence of successful past performances (through photos, videos, testimonials, and reviews) but also professionalism and organization.

Whom do you have to avoid here?

Aside from the “jack of all trades”, avoid someone with poor interpersonal and communication skills.  Did they take 3 days to call you back after your inquiry? How are they over the phone? Are they listening to your needs or just giving you the same script they give everyone else?

How much will you have to spend on a magician?

A magician’s fee will vary due to a range of factors both specific to them (their expertise,  years in the business, technical skill, quality of service, average rent in the city/town) and specific to you (What type of performance is needed?  How many guests are there? What is the time commitment? How far ahead of time are you booking?). All of these factors make up a magician’s fee.

All of these factors will contribute to the performance fee.  If you think you’ve found the right magician, but you think the fee is a little steep, consider the above factors before attempting to negotiate. 

Check out their communication skills

At least half of a professional magician’s job is communication; public speaking, interpersonal skills, phone calls, and emails. Communication is also a two-way street in any relationship.  You as the client share the responsibility to communicate: your needs for the event, and to respond to phone calls and emails.

Aside from picking the correct, quality entertainment for your event, communication will ensure its success.

Check out their contract and their deposits that are made

Every performance should have a contract.  This is to protect both the client and the entertainer while preparing for magic show hire.  The magician should send you a contract well in advance (a month or more out).  The contract should include: the date of the event, the event location, what specific services will be provided, the cost of those services, when and how the fee is to be paid, deposit details, and any additional stipulations.