There are lots of them out there so how do you choose the best one for your event? Here’s a run down on some ways you can check to make an informed decision.
1) How Long Have They Been Performing Professionally?
A good starting point is to consider how long a magician has been performing at actual events. Having started in magic aged 4, I began performing professionally in 2002 aged 22 with a baby faced smile & no real life experience. I was enthusiastic but the lack of experience meant I was terrible.
Malcolm Gladwell wrote that “asserting that the key to achieving true expertise in any skill is simply a matter of practicing, albeit in the correct way, for at least 10,000 hours.” Assuming the typical magic booking is 3 hrs long & assuming that a magician has 3 bookings a week it will take 21 years to become a true expert. 2023 is my 21st year of performing at professional engagements worldwide. #JustSaying
Young Russ 2002
2) Are They A Member Of The Magic Circle?
Formed in July 1905, The Magic Circle is the most prestigious magic club in the world. Prospective members need to be nominated by two existing members, have an interview, perform an audition & be proficient enough to be voted in by a judging panel. “Are you in The Magic Circle” is probably the most asked question I get at gigs… other than, “Can you make my husband/wife disappear?”
If a magician is a member of The Magic Circle you know that they are at a certain standard. You wouldn’t get your gas pipe fixed by someone who wasn’t CORGI registered so why would you hire a magician who isn’t in The Magic Circle? It’s one of the easiest ways to check if a magician is right for your event. Look for the official logo on their website. I’m a member & after my performance in The Magic Circle Close Up Magician Of The Year Competition, was promoted to Associate Of The Inner Magic Circle With Silver Star For Performance. #JustSaying
3) Have They Won Magic Related Awards?
This is another good way to check their credentials. Lots of people (especially wedding suppliers) claim to be award winning. Brace yourself… wedding awards are not based on skill or professionalism. They’re ‘for profit’ organisations. You have to pay to be nominated & usually every entrant instantly becomes ‘a finalist’. You have to contact all your clients from the previous year breaking all sorts of GDPR laws & beg them for votes. Then they make you pay around £100 per ticket to attend the award ceremony & you’ll only win if you’re there. You also sometimes have to pay to become a member of that award or advertise in their magazine before you can even start the process.
A better way is to see if they’ve ever won any magic related awards. Some local magic clubs are better than others & it depends on the overall skill level of other members but it’s a better gauge than a wedding award which has been essentially paid for after hassling clients for votes. Magic awards are often voted for by a mix of magicians & lay people (general public) so you’ll be getting a better idea of both magic skill levels & personality. Here’s a few photos of a selection of awards I’ve won including The Magic Circle Close Up Magician Of The Year Competition 3rd Prize. #JustSaying
Awards & Competition Wins
4) Who Have Been Their Previous Clients?
This is dead easy, who have they worked for previously? Check out the clients page on their website or have a look at their social media posts to see the kinds of people who’ve hired them in the past. Big companies like Netflix, Warner Brothers or Playstation won’t be hiring some awful, cheap magician who’s been around for a couple of years. They’ll do their research, possibly use established events companies or talent agencies & make sure they get someone experienced enough for their needs. FYI, I’ve worked for Netflix, Warner Brothers & Playstation. #JustSaying
Russ On The Set Of A Playstation Ad.
5) Do They Have A Sense Of Humour?
I imagine you don’t want to hire someone who will bore the pants off your guests. You probably also won’t want to hire someone who has a sense of humour from the 70’s & might offend them. The best way to hire a magician is to meet them in real life & experience their magic & personality. If this isn’t possible then having an actual phone chat or better yet, Zoom call will help you decide if they’re right for your event. I often have a Zoom chat with potential clients who then immediately decide to book me with no influence from subliminal messaging whatsoever. #JustSaying
Some Subliminal Messaging
6) Do They Look Like They’ve Killed?
Let’s be honest… magic attracts some odd people. I love magic & all it entails but it does tend to appeal to the odd bods. The biggest magic convention in the world takes place every year in the seaside town of Blackpool & I’m convinced, for one weekend every February, the crime rates everywhere else in the world drops dramatically. Don’t get me wrong, as a teenager I spent hours on end locked in my bedroom playing with my deck. But crucially, I also took the time to build a life outside of magic. One which included human interaction & real life experiences that helped shape who I am & more importantly, how I perform. I’m not your normal magician & I’ve never killed anyone. #JustSaying
No Dogs Were Harmed During This Photoshoot
