How do you hire the best magician for an event?

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When hiring a magician, there are several types of magic shows to consider. They include Close-up magic, Cabaret/stage magic, Grand Illusion magic, and Mentalism magic. Close-up magic, or "strolling magic" is suitable for smaller more intimate audiences such as banquets, cocktail parties, and hospitality suites. The magician goes from table to table and performs sleight of hand tricks using playing cards, coins and other small objects. Cabaret Magic or Stage Show Magic is most often performed on a small stage, and is usually supplemented with comedy, music, and audience participation. Grand Illusion magic shows are performed by trade show magicians on larger stages, and feature more elaborate magic acts such as sawing a person in half, making an audience member disappear, and escape artist tricks. Mentalism is a type of magic which focuses on mind reading, telepathy, clairvoyance, telekinesis and other psychic illusions. Professional magicians can also perform a "kids magic show" suitable for birthday parties and other events.
A magician performing tricks, card tricks and mind reading tricks at a table is generally referred to as close up magic or as tabletop magic. In recent times funkier close up magicians have been referred to as performing street magic. Unfortunately, there are lots of so called “entertainers” out there either it's a trade show magician, corporate magician or a comedy magician, who call themselves magicians but do little more than put on bad shows, waste your money and embarrass you. So how can you separate the bad magicians from the great ones? Here’s how. Comedy magic is not nearly as easy as most people think. In fact, the most basic mistake performers make is assuming that they can throw a few jokes into the patter (the lines used during a magic performance) and become comedy magicians. The only trick to doing comedy magic is the bitter truth about being funny.
Unfortunately, there is no certification for magicians. Anyone who buys a few cheap tricks from the magic or toy store can call themselves a magician. And many bad magicians, as well as incompetent clowns and characters do just that.
The first thing is to decide what type of magic you want for your event. Magicians generally perform two types of magic: stand-up, stage and close-up, strolling. In stand-up, the magician performs a show that’s appropriate for small to large audiences that can include birthday parties, schools and theaters. The bigger the venue, the larger the tricks and presentation.
In close-up performances, the magician walks around at an event and performs “close-up” tricks using cards, coins and other objects. Strolling magic works well at open houses, cocktail parties, company picnics, holiday gatherings, hospitality suites, picnics and other events.
Hiring the right trade show magician for an event is important. You don’t want someone who performs mental predictions and mind-reading for a kids’ show. And you don’t want to hire a magician who only performs for kids to perform at a grown-up function. Also, if you have visions of people being sawed in half and levitated at a grand event, you need to look for a big time illusionist. It is generally understood by most people that the effects in the performance are accomplished through sleight of hand also called prestidigitation, misdirection, deception, collusion with a member of the audience, apparatus with secret mechanisms, mirrors, and other trickery. The performer seeks to present an effect so clever and skillful that the audience cannot believe their eyes, and cannot think of the explanation. The sense of bafflement is part of the entertainment. In turn, the audience plays a role in which they agree to be entertained by something they know to be a deception.

Information about the Author: Bryan leach is a patron of every form of performing arts. He likes writing about magic shows and events, comedy, ludicrous and farce performed by stage show magicians. Humor Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com

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