Hire a Magician ? Definitions and Tips
Noel Qualter
For a lot of people the last time they wanted a magician at their
party was when they were 8 years old but magicians don’t just
work for children. Adults have always been a great audience for
magic because they have defined critical thinking. They “know” it
isn’t “real magic” but if the performer does his job right he can
bring about the childlike state of wonder in an adult. A good
magician can bring you right back to experience the fuzzy feeling
you had as a kid when your grandfather pulled a coin out of your
ear.
There are 3 types of magic that are most often hired for events
where adults are in the majority.
Close-up magic (the most popular choice for people hiring
magicians)
Cabaret shows
Drawing room shows
Close-up magic is often seen at cocktail parties where the
magician mingles amongst the guests performing miracles with
borrowed objects and simple objects he has on him. He works
without a table and uses people hands when he needs to. This is
an excellent choice if all the guests will be standing with
drinks and eating finger food.
Another type of close-up magic that is closely related to
strolling magic is table magic. Table magic is performed between
the courses at dinners, wedding breakfasts, balls and banquets.
You are more likely to see a short (between 3 – 8 minutes) mini
cabaret act that has a structured feel to it. The magician may
use the table but it will be as unobtrusive as possible because
at banquets there is a premium on table real estate.
Close-up magicians are being hired more and more for Trade Shows
to draw people to the stand with customized magic presentations.
Presentations are designed to showcase the features and benefits
of the stand they are representing but with amazing magic and not
just dry sales pitches.
Cabaret Shows are a great way for a lot for people to see some
great magic in a relatively short space of time. Often a close-up
magician who has performed strolling/table magic before hand will
also do a 20 minute cabaret act after dinner.
There are many different styles of cabaret magician - comedy,
traditional manipulation act to music, mind reading etc. The type
of event you are organizing will dictate the type of cabaret
magician you will require. If you would like lots of audience
participation and laughter go for a comedy magician, if there
will be lots of non-English speakers present then go for a visual
act like the manipulator and if it is a very business orientated
environed maybe a mind reader would be more suited.
You also see cabaret magicians at comedy clubs, cruise ships and
also occasionally at motivational events where the magic is
combined with a motivational speech.
Drawing room shows were almost a dead art for nearly a 100 years.
They were immensely popular with the Victorians where the gentry
would all gather to watch a conjurer perform magic. In recent
years it is coming back into fashion at private parties where a
magician may perform after dinner for 30 minutes or so. This is a
taste of days gone by and is close enough for apparently no
shenanigans to be going on yet far enough away to use larger
effects for everyone to see. This kind of show is most related to
a cabaret show but the effects are smaller and it is more
interactive as the audience in only a few feet away.
When choosing a professional magician it is important to choose
wisely as in any industry there are “cowboys”.
Questions you may like to ask any prospective performer you are
engaging are...
How long have you been a professional?
Some magicians may seem great on paper but as all know paper
doesn’t refuse ink. Experience is the key in this industry so
make sure they have cut their teeth.
Can I see you perform?
The answer depends on the type of performer you are considering
engaging. If it’s a cabaret magician he may well work at comedy
clubs where you can go and see him perform and close-up magicians
often work at hotels, restaurants and bars as the resident
entertainer several times a week. If it’s open to the public then
go and see them work. However if the performer works mainly at
corporate events, weddings and/or trade shows you may find it
impossible to see him work live as these are closed events.
Have you got a brochure/video I can see?
Most professional performers will have promotional kits including
photographs, video and brochure. A good promo kit doesn’t mean
they are a good magician, it may just mean they know somebody who
works at a printing press. A cheap and tatty looking promo kit
doesn’t definitely mean the performer is bad, but it does show a
lack of professionalism and that is a warning sign. In this day
and age some performers have no hard copy for promotional use as
it dates so quickly so there website acts as the brochure. If the
website looks like it was made from cut outs of magazines then
they are not interested in making a good first impression. Would
you trust somebody who didn’t make a good first impression at
your event?
Does the price include VAT and any other charges?
When in negotiations don’t forget to clarify if there as any
other expense other than fee quoted.
What magic tricks do you do?
You should be able to gain a good idea of the style of the
magician from any online or hardcopy brochure but if you want to
know what kind of effects he/she performs – go ahead and ask!
Are you a member of any magic societies or performer bodies?
Many magicians will be members of different magic clubs around
the world. In the UK the most prestigious is the The Magic Circle
where there are only 1500 hundred members world wide and you have
to perform in front of experienced peers to gain membership.
Again in the UK you will find many magicians are members of
Equity the performs union which is another sign of their
professionalism.
Have you got any referees I could phone?
This may seem like a reasonable question but a lot of magician’s
work mainly in the corporate area and are not permitted to pass
out the contact details of their bookers. You should be able to
see testimonials and letters from clients on the
websites/brochures. Of course the best way is personal
recommendation; ask friends if they have ever hired a magician.
Have you got public liability insurance?
This is crucial. The magician will be in close contact to your
guests and maybe borrowing objects from them for effects. You
don’t want to end up with a magician who isn’t covered!
I hope this all helps to give you a better idea of the different
types of magic that are available for you to hire for your next
event and what to look out for when hiring.
Noel Qualter
About The Author
Noel Qualter - I'm a 28 year old full time professional close-up
magician in London, UK. Magic has been my life since I was a
young child and I am delighted to be able to make my career from
something I love. I have been a full time magician for 5 years
and I work at corporate events, banquets, balls, private parties
and weddings performing sleight of hand magic. I work all over
the UK and internationally. If you'd like to know anything more
about me you can find out more at my website
http://www.noelqualter.com
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