How to Choose the Best Type of Magic for Your Event

So you’ve decided to have some Magic at your event to make it an extra-special celebration. Congratulations! A wise choice! (Okay, I’m biased…) Now the big question: what kind of conjuring is best for your event? Well, I’m glad you asked! In my many years as a professional magician, I’ve learned that this question is actually the most important of all; more important than even the budget you have allotted.

Just like using the correct flavoring for a delicious recipe, the right magical element for the right group can be discovered by asking a few basic but important questions.

First, “Who?”

Is this party to celebrate one individual, or is it for an entire group of people? If the company president is retiring, even if I am just doing a regular show, I would be certain to add features that highlight him a bit, and end the show by bringing him/her onstage to participate in a grand illusion that makes them look incredible! It would certainly be worked around their personality. (Note: If they are the shy or retiring type, I would forgo using them as a volunteer and instead compliment them in other ways.) But now let’s say instead the event is a holiday party to reward an entire company for a good year; then I would create a custom show with that in mind. Many volunteers, lots of shout-outs, prizes and laughs.

You also want to ask, “How?”

Is there going to be a cocktail party before the big dinner? I usually always recommend having me roam around doing amazing close-up magic for the guests before they go in to eat. Not only does it get a head-start on the entertainment, but I get to pump up the excitement that there is going to be a very special show right after dinner! It really gets people in the right frame of mind, and they have something to look forward to.

Another important question is “What?”

After consulting with a book company for entertainment for their upcoming awards show, I proposed to them that I thought the best idea would be for me to be a Magical Master of Ceremonies. Instead of stopping everything for a show, we would weave the magic into the actual presentation, making trophies float, a winner’s name magically appear on a previously blank board, etc. They LOVED the idea of that, so I wrote up the entire experience for them, including the tricks. (I must confess with no false modesty – it was a SMASH!)

So of course budget and other factors are important things to consider, but when I have that first call with a client, I always try to start off with the Who, the Why and the What. It pretty much guarantees that the final magical product is going to be exactly what they were looking for for their event entertainment!