Here are Brad’s three insider secrets to hiring a qualified magician to perform at your next event.

Secret #1: Not all magicians are equal

Unlike most artists, magicians often get lumped together as a group. “We had a magician last year; magic doesn’t work for our group” is one of the most frustrating things an experienced performer can hear. When a group hires a bad singer or a hack comedian, they don’t dismiss music or comedy as a viable entertainment for their organization. But for some reason, many groups assume that if one magician failed, all will fail.

Now, there is likely good reason for this false belief. Unlike many arts, there is a large market designed to appeal to people interested in magic as a hobby. Consequently, many people who are interested in magic end up buying the same tricks and telling the same jokes as everyone else who bought the same tricks which came with the same jokes. I once knew a booking agent for a cruise line who kept a special box filled with videos from “new” magic acts—all comprised of the exact same four or five tricks. While most audiences recognize a cover band when they see one, and judge them accordingly, the secrecy at the heart of magic often prevents prospective buyers from having a fully informed background from which to judge the originality of any given performance. It should go without saying that the best magician will generally be an original who presents their material better than those whose act consists of material culled from the work of other entertainers.

Having said that, just as there are classic songs, there are classic “tricks,” and there are a handful of magicians who sing the classics better than any people on earth. This only complicates matters for an entertainment buyer—how can you be sure that the magician you are hiring is both skilled at the highest level of his or her profession and offering material either original or presented at the pinnacle of perfection?

Identifying the Best Magician

First, find out if the magician performs primarily for groups like yours or for other magicians. There are many magicians who perform almost entirely for other magicians, and while their material may be clever, there is no guarantee that it will appeal to people who are not already well versed in the magical arts. Magicians are an odd breed of people. Just because magicians love someone’s magic is no guarantee that it will be well received outside of that niche market. If your magician’s biggest claim to fame is how many times a year he or she lectures for other magicians, or how many magic conventions they perform for, or how many magic tricks they sell to other magi–they might not be the best magician to hire for a group of non-magicians.

But there are two sides to that coin. If the magician does perform for groups like yours, are they also well respected in the field of magic? Have they written books or articles for the major trade publications or are they the type of act who is more skilled at hustling for work than delivering the goods? As one of my mentors observed, “It’s easy to work a show once. The real trick (no pun intended) is getting booked back year and year.” Many performers make up for lack of performance skill with amazing marketing prowess.

Today, it is easier to become a master at video production and social media marketing than to become a master magician. And let’s face it; fame is easy if you are willing to pay the price. Putting on a mask and revealing the secrets of old illusions may land you a TV show, but wouldn’t a talented performer be more successful performing and enchanting rather than debunking and exposing? If someone has to expose magic to his or her audience to get them to watch their magic, doesn’t that say something?

As someone who loves magic, I have taken every opportunity to give back to the art, including writing for every major magic magazine and publishing a handful of critically acclaimed books designed to help other magicians become better performers. It is always rewarding to be able to ask to consult on a TV show or book for the mass market, but ultimately none of these experiences compares to the hours and hours of real life performances for real people all over the world. It is this real world experience that sets the amateurs apart from the professionals.

In conclusion, ask yourself, does the magician have experience performing for groups like yours and are they respected by their peers for their knowledge and abilities as a performer for groups like yours? Your group deserves the best magician—not the hackneyed stereotype who plays to the lowest common denominator. With only a little effort you should be able to find a talented artist who is capable of creating a one-of-a-kind experience for your group—or get in touch and we’ll help you find the perfect performer for your next event.

Check back next week for the second secret to hiring the best magician for your event.