5 things to be aware of when booking a magician for your wedding

Hiring a wedding magician for your wedding can be a daunting task since this is, after all, one of the biggest days of your life and getting everything just right can be a bit overwhelming. Also, being the centre of attention, your mind will not always be on the general welfare of your wedding party, especially during the photographs where you will likely be occupied for an hour or so.

This is where a wedding magician can step in to add that extra dimension to your guests experience and give you peace of mind knowing that they are in safe hands.

But how do you go about finding the right magician for your big day? The last thing you want is an untidy hobbyist with no personality showing a few tricks that your grandad once taught you as a kid

I've compiled five things you should take into account when considering booking a magician for your wedding day. If you follow each of these points you can be assured of getting the entertainer your guests deserve!

1) Different styles of magician
Decide firstly the type of magician you want and when you wish him/her to perform. The following is a list of things to consider.

Children and/oradults
Decide if you want just the kids entertained or just the adults or maybe a mix of both. Most entertainers specialising in magic will work primarily on entertaining your adult guests but would still be happy to show the children a trick or two to keep them happy.

Magic or mindreading
Decide if you want just visual magic tricks with cards and coins etc or mindreading. Most magicians do a bit of both thpugh a full time mindreader is a very specialist area which is becoming very popular and will cost a little extra. So think, do you want Derren Brown (mindreader) or David Blaine (magician)?

Mix and mingle/close up
This is a form of close-up magic performed whilst people are standing around in small groups, whereby the magician mingles with the crowd. This works well for the drinks reception and evening entertainment.

Table magic
This is a form of close-up magic performed whilst people are sitting at tables, whereby the magician entertains a table at a time, between courses. Idea during the wedding breakfast

Cabaret/Standup show
A magician who performs on stage to an audience. This can work well during the evening reception as a bit of light relief for everyone.

2) Price
It's likely you have a strict budget for your wedding so the cost for hiring a magician is obviously a key factor. It would be foolish to just go with the cheapest magician you can find. If you want quality, expect to pay in the region of £300 - £500 for two hours of close-up magic. A deposit of 20% up front with the balance on the day is normal.

3) Quality of entertainment
You cannot judge a magician's quality of performance by the price he sets. Likewise DO NOT gauge a magician by how wonderful looking his/her website is. Anyone can pay a web designer enough to create a great looking site, but that doesn't mean the magician is a good entertainer. Also, do not be drawn in by lines such as "The world's top magician" as this is likely to have been written by the magician themselves. The following points should be seriously taken into consideration when looking over a website.

Testimonials
These are vital. It is very important you have a thorough read of what past clients have said. Remember, no magician will ever put bad/average comments on his/her website so pay particular attention to the way in which a testimonial has been written. For instance, if all the comments say "He was superb" or "Cool magic"; then be wary. However, more detailed testimonials which really show that the wedding couple were totally amazed and had their day given that extra special touch is what you are looking for. Do not be shy to ask for a phone number of anyone on the testimonials page if you want to be 100% they are genuine. A magician should be able to provide this.

Video/Radio/Pictures
There is absolutely no substitute for seeing or hearing the magician in action. Promotional video or radio clips are a great way to do this. If a magician doesn't have any of these on his/her website you should seriously doubt how long they have actually been performingl; video footage is one of the highest priorities for a magician when owning a website. Make sure all pictures are of good quality and clearly show the people having fun, also that the magician looks smartly dressed; you certainly don't want them turning up in David Blaine style dress wear of jeans and a t-shirt; believe me, I've seen it!

4) Live performance
If you need that extra bit of reassurance then request the magician to give a live demonstration. If you really feel you want to see the magic happen in front of your own eyes and make a judgment then ask! If the magician lives within thirty miles he should be willing to come to your home. Further distances may require you meet halfway in a public house. You can also ask about any wedding fayres they are exhibiting at and pop along to those instead.

5) Email contact/Phone
Too many people shy away from calling nowadays with the ease of email. Though emailing your initial request is fine to get a quote, please call before booking. Everyone has first impressions when talking to someone for the first time. Does he sound likable and friendly? Trust me, you will instinctively know if he is the right man for the job, all other things considered.

Good luck!

Article written by Andrew Edmonds