What Questions Should You Ask Before Hiring a Magician?
Hiring a magician for your corporate event or private party can feel like navigating unfamiliar territory. How do you know if a performer is actually good? What separates a professional from someone who learned a few tricks on YouTube? And how do you make sure they're the right fit for your specific audience?
This guide covers the essential questions to ask before booking a magician, what good answers look like, and red flags that should make you pause. Whether you're hiring directly or working with a booking service, these questions will help you make a confident decision.
Questions About Experience and Fit
How long have you been performing professionally?
Why it matters: Professional experience indicates that a performer has refined their skills in front of real audiences, handled unexpected situations, and developed the polish that comes from repetition.
What to look for: Full-time professional magicians typically have 5+ years of experience. Part-time performers can also be excellent, but should have substantial experience in settings similar to yours. Be cautious of performers who are vague about their history or can't point to a consistent body of work.
Have you performed at events similar to mine?
Why it matters: A magician who primarily performs at children's birthday parties will have a very different skill set than one who specializes in corporate cocktail receptions. The material, pacing, humor, and audience interaction all differ by context.
What to look for: Ask for specific examples. A good answer includes details: "I performed at a law firm's partner retreat last month for about 80 guests" is more reassuring than "I've done lots of corporate events." If they don't have experience with your event type, that's not automatically disqualifying, but they should be able to explain how their skills translate.
Can you provide references or testimonials from similar events?
Why it matters: Past clients can speak to the performer's professionalism, punctuality, and how well they connected with guests. Reviews on a website are helpful, but direct references carry more weight.
What to look for: A professional should be able to provide references without hesitation. Look for testimonials that mention specific outcomes ("guests were talking about it all night") rather than generic praise ("he was great").
Do you have video of your performances?
Why it matters: Video lets you see the performer's style, personality, and how audiences react. It's the closest thing to seeing them live before you book.
What to look for: Ideally, video should show actual performances at real events, not just a self-produced demo reel with dramatic music. Watch for genuine audience reactions and how the magician interacts with people. Notice their demeanor, attire, and communication style. Does it match your event's tone?
Questions About the Performance Itself
What type of magic do you perform?
Why it matters: Magic comes in many forms. Close-up strolling magic works well for cocktail hours and receptions. Stage or parlor shows suit dinner events where guests are seated. Mentalism (mind-reading style performances) appeals to intellectual audiences. The format needs to match your event structure.
What to look for: The magician should be able to clearly explain their specialty and recommend what works best for your situation. Be cautious if they claim to do everything equally well or can't explain the difference between performance formats.
How do you engage guests who might be skeptical or uninterested?
Why it matters: Not every guest will immediately want to see magic. A skilled corporate magician knows how to read the room, approach groups naturally, and win over skeptics without being pushy or awkward.
What to look for: Look for answers that demonstrate social awareness and respect for guests. Good performers talk about reading body language, letting uninterested guests gracefully exit, and earning attention rather than demanding it.
Can you customize your performance for our event or incorporate our company/theme?
Why it matters: Customization shows effort and makes the performance feel integrated into your event rather than generic entertainment dropped in.
What to look for: Professional magicians should be willing to learn about your company or occasion and incorporate relevant details. This might mean using branded materials, referencing your industry, or tailoring jokes and patter to your audience. Be realistic about the extent of customization, though. A few personalized touches are reasonable; rewriting an entire act for one event is not.
How long is the performance and what's the format?
Why it matters: You need to understand exactly what you're booking so you can plan your event timeline accordingly.
What to look for: Clear, specific answers. For strolling magic: "I'll perform for approximately 2 hours, moving through the room and engaging small groups of 4-8 people at a time." For a show: "The performance runs 45 minutes including audience participation segments." Vague answers like "however long you want" suggest a lack of structure.
Questions About Logistics and Professionalism
What do you wear to perform?
Why it matters: The performer's attire should match your event's dress code. A magician in a t-shirt at a black-tie gala (or vice versa) creates awkwardness.
What to look for: Professional magicians should ask about your event's dress code and dress appropriately. Many corporate magicians default to a suit or business attire. They should be willing to adjust based on your guidance.
What time will you arrive and what do you need from us?
Why it matters: You need to know the performer will be there when expected and won't create last-minute logistical headaches.
What to look for: Professionals typically arrive 30-60 minutes before their performance time to get settled and assess the room. For close-up magic, requirements are minimal (they carry everything they need). Stage shows may require a performance area, microphone, or specific lighting. Clear communication about needs prevents day-of surprises.
Do you carry liability insurance?
Why it matters: Many corporate venues and event spaces require vendors to carry insurance. It's also a sign of professionalism and legitimacy.
What to look for: Established professional magicians should carry general liability insurance and be able to provide a certificate if your venue requires it. If a performer doesn't have insurance, that's a yellow flag for corporate bookings.
What happens if you have an emergency and can't make it?
Why it matters: Illnesses and emergencies happen. You need to know you won't be left without entertainment the day of your event.
What to look for: Solo performers may not have a backup plan, which is a risk you take when hiring directly. Booking services like See Magic Live maintain rosters of performers and make every effort to arrange a replacement if something unexpected occurs, though last-minute situations can't always be fully resolved.
Questions About Pricing and Contracts
What's included in your fee?
Why it matters: You need to understand exactly what you're paying for and whether there will be additional costs.
What to look for: A complete answer includes: performance duration, travel (is it included or extra?), setup/breakdown time, and any materials provided. Ask specifically about travel fees if your event is outside the performer's local area.
What's your payment structure?
Why it matters: Understanding deposit requirements and payment timing helps you plan and protects both parties.
What to look for: Most professional magicians require a deposit (often 50%) to secure the date, with the balance due before or at the event. This is standard practice. Be cautious of anyone asking for full payment far in advance with no contract.
Do you provide a written contract?
Why it matters: A contract protects both you and the performer by documenting expectations, deliverables, and policies.
What to look for: Any professional should provide a written agreement that includes: date, time, location, performance duration, fee, deposit amount, cancellation policy, and what happens in case of emergency. If someone resists putting terms in writing, that's a significant red flag.
Red Flags to Watch For
During your conversations with potential magicians, watch for these warning signs. The table below summarizes what separates professionals from performers who may disappoint.
A few of these warrant additional explanation:
Significantly lower prices than others: If one quote comes in dramatically lower than comparable performers, ask yourself why. It often indicates less experience, lower quality, or someone who doesn't do this professionally.
Pushy sales tactics: Pressure to book immediately or claims that their calendar is "almost full" should be viewed skeptically. Professionals let their work speak for itself.
No contract or insurance: These are baseline professional practices. Their absence suggests you're dealing with a hobbyist rather than a professional.
Unwillingness to discuss your specific event: A good magician asks questions about your audience, goals, and event format. Someone who just quotes a price without understanding your situation is unlikely to deliver a tailored experience.
The Alternative: Let Experts Handle the Vetting
The questions above work well if you have time to research multiple performers and conduct thorough interviews. But many event planners don't have that time, or they feel uncertain about their ability to evaluate responses.
This is exactly why See Magic Live exists. Every magician in our network has already been vetted by Kostya Kimlat, a professional magician who fooled Penn & Teller on their TV show. He evaluates performers on skill, professionalism, reliability, and ability to connect with adult audiences.
When you work with See Magic Live, you tell us about your event and we recommend the best magician for your specific audience, goals, and budget. We handle the logistics, work to arrange backup performers if emergencies arise, and ensure you're working with someone who meets professional standards.
You can still ask all the questions above if you'd like. But you won't need to, because we've already asked them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I expect to pay for a professional corporate magician?
Professional magicians for corporate events typically range from $1,500 to $5,000 or more, depending on the performer's experience, the type of performance, and the duration. Factors like travel distance and peak dates (especially December) can also affect pricing.
Should I hire a local magician or fly someone in?
For most events, excellent local or regional talent is available. Flying in a specific performer makes sense for large-scale events or when you want a particular person you've seen before. Booking services like See Magic Live have national networks, so we can recommend strong performers near your event location.
Is it better to hire directly or use a booking service?
Direct hiring can work well if you have time to research and vet performers yourself. Booking services save time, provide expert matching, and offer backup options if something goes wrong. For high-stakes events or when you're unfamiliar with evaluating magicians, a booking service reduces risk.
What if I book someone and they're not good?
This is the core risk of hiring entertainment. Video research and references help, but they're not guarantees. Working with a vetted booking service significantly reduces this risk because performers have already been evaluated by industry experts.
How far in advance should I start looking for a magician?
For the best selection, start your search 6-8 weeks before your event. For December holiday parties and other peak dates, 2-3 months ahead is recommended. Last-minute bookings are sometimes possible, but your options will be limited.
Ready to Find the Right Magician?
You can use the questions in this guide to evaluate performers on your own, or you can let See Magic Live's team handle the matchmaking.
Tell us what you're planning. Share your event details, and we'll recommend magicians who are already vetted for skill, professionalism, and fit with your audience. You'll get options tailored to your situation without having to do the research yourself.
