FAQs
If you are wondering about anything from Magic to Event Planning, here are all the most Frequently Asked Questions Matthew receives on a daily basis completely answered.
Questions about Event Planning with a Magician
"I've never booked a
Magician before!"
Q: How much does a magician cost? Answer: When booking a magician, you aren’t just paying for tricks; you are paying for the professional assurance that your event will be a seamless, high-impact success. Prices vary based on the performer’s experience level, the customization required, and the production value of the show. The Price Hierarchy Hobbyists ($200 – $500): Often perform as a side interest. While lower in cost, they may lack the professional-grade reliability, insurance, and audience management skills required for high-stakes events. Professional Performers ($700 – $1,500): These professionals provide reliable entertainment for private parties, weddings, and smaller events. They bring polished routines, consistent performance quality, and a commitment to professional conduct. Premium/Corporate Entertainers ($1,500 – $5,000+): These are seasoned experts who specialize in corporate events, gala functions, and high-end luxury parties. You are paying for a premium, highly customized experience, sophisticated show design, liability insurance, and the ability to command a room of any size or demographic.
Q: What time should a magician start their performance? Answer: For Staged Shows (The "Feature" Performance): The "early-middle" of your event is the sweet spot. You want your guests to have had a moment to settle in, enjoy a drink, and socialize, but before the energy shifts too late into the evening. A staged show is highly interactive and requires your guests' full focus; scheduling it before the crowd becomes too distracted or "over-served" ensures the magic lands with maximum impact and engagement. For Stroll/Walk-Around Magic: I recommend starting 45 minutes to 1 hour after your event’s official start time. This allows guests time to arrive, find their bearings, and get comfortable in the space. It ensures the magician is circulating among guests who are already relaxed and ready to be entertained, rather than being the first person they encounter at the door the moment they walk in. Bottom line: My goal is to enhance the flow of your event, not interrupt it. When we discuss your timeline, we will coordinate the start times to align perfectly with your program, ensuring the magic serves as the perfect highlight to your guest experience.
Q: What is the difference between a mentalist and a magician? Answer: While both magicians and mentalists perform in the realm of the "impossible," they utilize different psychological tools to achieve their effects. The Magician: Focuses on spectacle and visual deception. Magicians use sleight-of-hand, specialized props, and theatrical misdirection to perform feats that defy the laws of physics. The audience knows they are witnessing a performance of skill, where the "magic" lies in the beauty and impossibility of the illusion. The Mentalist: Focuses on psychological influence and perceived cognition. A mentalist performs feats that appear to tap into the human mind such as thought-reading, subconscious influence, and precognition. Rather than using "tricks," a mentalist utilizes advanced techniques in body language, psychology, and persuasion.
Q: What's a Walk-around Magician? ANSWER: To ensure your event is perfectly balanced, it helps to understand how these two formats engage your guests. Both create unforgettable memories, but they serve different roles in your event's flow. The "Walk-around" Magician (Strolling Magic) Best for: Events with 40+ guests. The Experience: This is highly interactive, intimate magic performed in the guests' own hands. As I mingle through your cocktail hour or reception, I use sleight-of-hand to create "miracles" inches away from your guests, filling lulls in conversation and breaking the ice. Why it works: It is fluid and organic. It keeps energy high without requiring your guests to stop their socializing. It is the perfect way to ensure every single person feels included, even if they aren't part of a formal program. The "Stage" Performer (Feature Show) Best for: Crowds ranging from 5 to 5,000+. The Experience: A scheduled, high-impact performance designed to capture the undivided attention of the entire room. Whether it's an intimate parlor setting or a massive corporate gala, I use theatrical misdirection and psychological influence to create a shared, emotional experience. Why it works: It provides a clear "centerpiece" for your event. It builds a collective moment of wonder that brings the whole room together, creating a powerful narrative arc that your guests will be talking about long after the event ends. Choosing the Right Format for Your Event Choose Walk-around if your goal is to spark conversation, warm up a room, or manage a high-traffic networking environment. Choose a Stage Show if your goal is to provide a "wow" moment that serves as the climax of your event. The "Pro" Strategy: Many of my most successful clients book both. Combining walk-around magic to energize the cocktail hour with a feature stage show later in the evening creates a comprehensive, premium entertainment experience that covers every phase of your event.