How to Choose the Right Magician for Your Party or Special Occasion

You've decided you'd like a magician at your party. Great. Now comes the slightly harder question:

How do you choose the right one?

Search online and you'll find plenty of magicians telling you they're professional, experienced, entertaining and perfect for your event.

But a private party isn't just another date in somebody's diary.

These are your guests.

Your family.

Your friends.

And potentially several generations of people you've brought together for an important celebration.

So I think there's a better question than simply:

"Is this person a good magician?"

Ask:

"Are they the right magician for my event?"

Because those aren't necessarily the same thing.

Start With the People, Not the Tricks

When clients speak to me about a private event, I'm interested in much more than the date and venue.

I want to know about the people.

What's the occasion?

How many guests are coming?

What's the mixture of ages?

Do most people know one another?

What's happening during the rest of the event?

What atmosphere are you trying to create?

That's because the same performance isn't necessarily right for every group.

A lively 40th birthday with friends might need a completely different approach from a Golden Wedding Anniversary bringing several generations of a family together.

The magic still needs to be excellent.

But who is experiencing it matters just as much as what I'm performing.

Look at the Guests in the Videos — Not Just the Magician

If you're looking at a magician's website or social media, naturally you're going to watch some performance videos.

But here's something I'd suggest.

Stop watching the magician for a moment.

Watch the guests.

Are they genuinely laughing?

Are they interacting with each other?

Does it look relaxed?

Are people naturally getting involved?

Can you see different ages and personalities enjoying themselves?

Or does everything feel heavily staged?

A promotional video can show you an impressive piece of magic.

But the guests' reactions can tell you much more about what having that entertainer at your party might actually feel like.

Can They Read Different Personalities?

Every party contains different personalities.

You'll have people who can't wait to get involved.

Someone who wants plenty of banter.

Someone quieter.

Perhaps a sceptic.

Maybe somebody who doesn't particularly want to watch a magician at all.

Children might unexpectedly become involved.

And later in the evening, you may have guests who've enjoyed a few drinks!

A professional entertainer needs to recognise those differences.

I don't believe guests should have to adapt themselves to suit the magician.

The magician should be capable of adapting to the guests.

I've written much more about this in Reading the Room: Why Great Party Magic Is About More Than the Tricks.

Ask What Experience They Have at Events Like Yours

Being able to perform great magic is one skill.

Performing successfully at real events is another.

A private party doesn't happen in controlled conditions.

Timings change.

Guests move around.

Food runs late.

Someone makes an unexpected speech.

Children appear.

The room layout isn't quite what everyone expected.

The DJ starts earlier than planned.

Real events are unpredictable.

Experience teaches you how to adapt without making those changes the client's problem.

So when you're choosing a magician, don't be afraid to ask about their experience at events similar to yours.

Do They Understand When Magic Should Happen?

This is a big one for me.

I don't think a magician should simply accept whatever time slot happens to be empty on your schedule.

Sometimes that gap is perfect.

Sometimes there's a much better option.

For private parties, I often recommend the initial drinks reception and mix-and-mingle period, because guests are arriving, getting drinks and naturally socialising.

At some events, a buffet-style meal can also work very well.

What I generally don't want to do is compete with loud music, another entertainer or an important part of your celebration.

A good entertainer should be prepared to advise you — even if that means recommending something different from what you originally had in mind.

I've explained this in more detail in my guide to choosing the right entertainment and timing for a private event.

Ask How the Magic Actually Works at the Event

Not everybody knows what hiring a close-up magician actually involves.

Do you need a stage?

Does everyone have to sit down?

Does the party stop for a show?

Will the magician perform at tables?

Will they move between groups?

These are perfectly reasonable questions.

For the type of private events I perform at, close-up magic is usually highly flexible.

I can mix and mingle amongst the guests, performing for smaller groups while the celebration continues around us.

But don't assume every magician works in exactly the same way.

Ask them.

If you're unfamiliar with this style of entertainment, I've written a separate guide explaining what close-up magic is and how it works at parties and special occasions.

Reviews Matter — But Read What People Actually Say

Reviews can obviously be useful when you're choosing any supplier.

But don't just look at the number of stars.

Read the words.

What do previous clients actually talk about?

Reliability?

Communication?

Guest interaction?

Professionalism?

How the magician dealt with different ages?

How people felt afterwards?

Did the entertainment fit naturally into the event?

Those details can tell you much more than a simple five-star rating.

You're looking for evidence that previous clients experienced the things you want for your own event.

Professionalism Matters Before the Magic Even Starts

You're not only hiring somebody for the period they're performing.

You're trusting them to be part of your event.

That means communication matters.

Reliability matters.

Presentation matters.

Turning up prepared matters.

Understanding the venue and timings matters.

And being able to communicate professionally with you before the event matters.

You should feel confident that once you've booked your entertainment, it's one less thing you need to worry about.

Don't Choose Purely on Price

Price obviously matters.

Everyone has a budget.

But I wouldn't recommend choosing any important event supplier purely because they're the cheapest.

You're not buying an identical product from two different shops.

You're buying somebody's:

Experience.

Personality.

Performance ability.

Professionalism.

Judgement.

And ability to interact with the people you've invited.

Two magicians can perform technically similar magic and create completely different experiences for your guests.

So rather than asking only:

"How much does a magician cost?"

I'd also ask:

"What am I actually getting for that money?"

Equally, Don't Choose Purely Because Someone Has Awards

I say this as someone who is proud of the recognition I've received.

Awards, nominations and professional recognition can provide reassurance.

They can be useful evidence that somebody takes their work seriously.

But I don't think an award should make the decision for you.

You're not inviting a trophy to your party.

You're inviting the person.

Look at their work.

Read their reviews.

Watch how they interact with people.

Speak to them.

Then decide whether you'd be comfortable having that person entertain your family and friends.

Speak to the Magician Before You Book

This is probably the biggest piece of advice I can give you.

Have a conversation.

Wherever physically possible, I speak with my clients before they book me.

Sometimes that's over the phone.

Sometimes it may be a video call.

The point isn't to give them a hard sell.

I want to understand their event.

And I want them to understand me.

Clients often have questions or concerns they haven't put into an enquiry form.

They might have a preconceived idea about what a magician does.

They might be worried about somebody embarrassing their guests.

Perhaps they've seen a magician before and didn't particularly enjoy the experience.

Those are useful things for me to know.

Because then we can actually talk about them.

It's Okay if the Magician Isn't Right for You

This might sound strange coming from somebody who wants people to book him.

But I genuinely believe this.

Not every magician is right for every client.

And not every client is necessarily right for every magician.

Personality matters.

Expectations matter.

The style of event matters.

That's one reason I value that initial conversation so much.

It gives you an opportunity to decide whether you like my approach.

And it gives me an opportunity to decide whether I genuinely believe I can add something worthwhile to your event.

I'd much rather discover we're not the right fit before you book me than after.

Be Wary of Someone Who Doesn't Ask Questions

If you explain you're organising a party and the immediate response is simply:

"Great. Here's my price. Where do I send the contract?"

I'd personally want to know a little more.

How can somebody recommend the best way to entertain your guests if they know virtually nothing about your event?

You don't need to undergo an interrogation!

But I'd expect a professional entertainer to have some interest in what you're actually planning.

Because your party isn't just a slot between two other bookings.

What Questions Should You Ask a Magician?

You don't need a 30-point interview checklist.

A normal conversation will usually tell you a lot.

But useful questions might include:

• Have you performed at events like mine before?

• How would you normally entertain this number of guests?

• When would you recommend performing?

• How does the magic fit around food or other entertainment?

• What happens if some guests don't want to participate?

• Do you need any special setup or equipment?

• How do you approach mixed-age groups?

• What happens if timings change?

• Can I see reviews from previous clients?

• What do you need from me before the event?

And then there's perhaps the most important question of all:

Do I actually feel comfortable with this person entertaining my guests?

Choosing a Magician for a Birthday or Anniversary

For milestone celebrations, there can be another consideration.

Can the entertainment feel personal to the occasion?

At birthdays, for example, I make sure the birthday person receives their own private magical experience as part of the overall performance.

At anniversaries, I can create something specifically around the couple and their relationship, culminating in an impossible signed object they can keep afterwards.

Those details can transform the experience from:

"There was a magician at our party."

into something that genuinely belongs to the people celebrating.

If you're planning an anniversary or vow renewal, you can read more about creating magical memories at an anniversary celebration.

So How Do You Choose the Right Magician?

Ultimately, I think it comes down to a combination of things.

The magic should be excellent.

They should have genuine event experience.

They should be professional and reliable.

They should understand timing.

They should be capable of reading different groups.

And their personality should feel right for you and your guests.

But above all, I'd recommend speaking to them.

Because you're not simply choosing someone who can fool people.

You're choosing someone you're trusting to entertain the people who matter to you.

That's a much more important job.

Looking for a Magician for Your Special Occasion?

If you're planning a birthday, anniversary, christening or private celebration across Manchester, Stockport, Cheshire or the wider North West, I'm always happy to talk through what you're planning.

You don't need to know exactly what type of magic you want or how long you need me for.

That's part of the conversation.

Tell me about your event and your guests, and I'll explain where I think an ACMAGIC experience could add the most value.

You can find out more about my special occasion magic in Manchester and entertainment for private parties and celebrations.

Please get in touch and let's have a conversation about your event.