How to choose your wedding magician from the internet

Congratulations!  if you’re reading this article – you’re getting married yeah! A second congratulations is also in order for considering hiring a magician to entertain your guests.  As a wedding magician, of course I am biased on the on the importance of hiring a magician to break the ice at a wedding.  However, for my brother’s wedding when I knew I had to get him something really special -I hired a magician – so it’s not just me trying to advertise my services.

Now onto the bad news – If you get a bad magician then they can actually be detrimental to your special day.  They can turn up late(or not at all), talk to your guests like children, swear, be rude/arrogant or more likely – just be rubbish at performing.

So here are some steps you get the right man for the job

After searching the net and finding a few magicians that you like the look of, contact them and request a meeting.  Inform them that you will also be meeting a few other magicians.  This is the most efficient method of ensuring you get a good magician for your wedding. Every magician will proclaim his brilliance on his website, on the phone or through email.  However, when they know they will be judged against other magicians only competent/good magicians will agree to a meeting.  You’ll also be able to tell a lot about the magician, if they arrive on time, have polished shoes and they get on well with your friends and family, then chances are your guests will feel exactly the same.

If the option of meeting them isn’t available, then a phone call is the second best option.  Virtually every magician claims to be funny and wildly entertaining on their website; however, in reality it’s not always the case.  As Paul Daniels say’s – “Don’t tell me you’re funny, make me laugh”.  Again if they can make you laugh over the phone and give off the likeable vibe then they’re probably a good option.

When you have your meeting / phone call, these are good questions to ask to ensure the magician is a competent performer:-

1)      Are you a full time professional magician?

If they have another job, ask if he ever works weekends because if they have to choose between their main source of income and their bonus income they get from magic shows you will unfortunately not have a magician at your wedding.

2)      Have you performed at many weddings?

It’s very easy to put together a website and offer wedding services.  However, you do not want your magician to be learning his trade on your special day.  It is very important you hire an experienced performer who knows what he’s doing.

3)      How do you get most of your work?

Although websites and agents will bring in a large percentage of a magicians income, the top magicians live off word of mouth and repeat bookings.

4)      Do you perform both strolling magic and table magic?

There are magicians who have performed for years under the same conditions i.e. always with/without a table, with/without background music  They will only perform in an environment where they feel comfortable so make sure they have worked in an environment similar to what you intend to book them for.

5)      Do you work with children?

Some magicians are children’s entertainers that believe because the parents enjoy their show that they can perform in the same manor with an adult crowd.  Likewise, some magicians that perform solely for adults will not perform for children.  As weddings are generally 80% adults, I strongly suggest you hire a magician who has a residency in a restaurant.  This allows the magician to work with children without being exclusively a children’s entertainer.

6)      Will perform for the bride and groom?

Magicians are generally hired on an hourly basis and if you hire a magician only for your wedding photographs he may be gone before you arrive, thus you will not get to see what you have paid for.

7)      Are there any other magicians in the area you would recommend / advise against?

You might think it would be counter-productive for one magician to advertise the services of another magician.  However, as of recent times, reality TV shows such as Britain’s / America’s got talent have portrayed magicians in such a poor light that the magic community is happy to recommend good magicians and warn against poor ones

8)      Do you have references that we could contact?

Ask for references even if you have no intentions on calling the person.  The magician’s reaction to the question will give you more than enough information.  If they struggle to think of anyone who could give a positive reference; they either; have never worked as a wedding magician, do not believe their wedding clients will give a positive review or if they feel akward about giving someone elses details, it’s likely they have not provided a service to the client.

9)      What do you wear whilst performing?

Magicians are performing artists and therefore express themselves through fashion.  There are some younger magicians that perform in Jeans & T-shirt and this may not be what you want on your wedding day – be sure to ask.

10)   Are you insured?

Every professional performer should have insurance.  Chances are they’ll never use it, but if they’re not willing to make an investment into themselves, why should you make an investment in them.

11)   Can you provide me with a contract / invoice

If the magician can provide you with a contract and Invoice then they are professional, if they can’t provide you with these documents, chances are they are amateur / semi-professional.

12)   Do you have a sound system / PA system?

If you are having more than 100 guests at your wedding, it is advisable to use a sound system / PA system during the speeches.  Most professional magicians will have a sound system and will be able to provide it for free or for a small charge which will usually be less than what it costs to hire it off another company.