Battle-of-the-bands.info/blog

There’s no need to enroll in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn how to hire the right party magician for your child’s birthday. All it takes is a little research and a phone call or two to produce the perfect conjurer to amaze a roomful of children.

Call up your favorite online search engine and type in “party magicians in [your city or area]. If you don’t find one in your immediate town, don’t fret; professional magicians are usually willing to travel reasonable distances. Depending on the kind of party you’re having, or the age of the guests, you might want to modify your search to “birthday party magicians” or “kids’ party magicians” to be more specific.

Next, contact the candidates that look best to you. The first question you should always ask a professional party magician is whether he or she is available on the date you’ve chosen for your party. If the magician is already booked, there’s no point in continuing the conversation any further. However, if the magician would be available to perform at your event, you can start talking about the details. Treat this part of the conversation as professionally as if you were hiring the magician to work for your business. Among good questions to ask are:

* What are your professional affiliations [such as the Society of American Magicians, International Brotherhood of Magicians or Kidabra, especially for children's magicians.]

Watching an online video, you’ll be able to hear the magician recite the “patter” that accompanies the program so you can decide if it’s appropriate for your child’s age group. Some magicians use onstage characters that have accents difficult for children to understand, so it’s important to make sure the little ones will know what’s going on.

Check several magicians’ websites and then pick two or three finalists to contact in person. The first question to ask a magician is whether he or she is available on the date of your party. There’s no point in discussing any details if the magician is already booked on your chosen date.

* What is the total cost for your magic show, including any extra charges for time or props?

Ask how much space the magician needs for his act, and if he needs to survey the party space ahead of time. Then ask for the total cost of the show, and whether there are any additional charges for things like overtime or special props.

Another aspect to consider asking is whether the magician is adaptable to performing for different age groups expected at your party. For instance, the magician may be a whiz at a magic show for kids, but can he or she perform “close-up” magic for the grown-ups who’ll be chaperoning? A magician who can amaze both kids and their parents is definitely worth the expense of a magic show.

Be sure to ask the magician for references and then call the references. Don’t be afraid to ask the references any question that concerns you. Both a professional magician and his or her business references want you to be entirely confident about the engagement. Once you’ve chosen a magician, call back and confirm the engagement. Find out of if you need to pay a deposit or fill out a contract. Pay a deposit as quickly as you can, because this will hold your party date. Get the contract as soon as possible, review it carefully, then sign it and mail or fax it back, keeping a copy for yourself.

Prepare for your party like every good london party magician prepares a show: Do the research, and then practice until you have it perfectly, and voila! Your partygoers are entertained just like magic.

Tags: Arts & Entertainment // Add Comment »