While the classic birthday magician and indeed the corporate event magician may require supreme talents, it’s often the wedding magician that faces the most pressure. In terms of why, it all comes down to the way in which weddings are the kind of events that only happen once in a lifetime and call for flawless perfection from start to finish. By contrast, business events and birthdays come around far more often so there’s every opportunity for a do-over – not so much when it comes to the most important day in a couple’s life.
This is precisely why it is of the utmost importance to take nothing for granted when hiring such a performer, but to instead carry out a strict and extensive vetting process. With no margin for error to play with and no second chances, you need to be on the lookout for the kinds of hallmarks that guarantee you a stellar outcome the likes of which will inject even more magic into an already magical day.
So with this in mind, here’s a quick look at the six primary hallmarks of a great magician you should be on the lookout for:
Professionally Presented Website and Pitch
First and foremost, it’s a good idea to let your first impressions be your guide when it comes to evaluating their website. Ask yourself whether you get an immediate sense of professionalism, or rather one of an amateur that doesn’t seem to care a great deal. When a magician advertises their services online, the way they do so tells you all you need to know about who they are and how they operate. Which in turn means that if you’re turned off from step one, it’s unwise to take any further steps at all.
A Long and Established History in the Business
New magicians are popping up all the time and it’s only fair to acknowledge that some of them are truly fantastic. But at the same time, practice will always make perfect and those that have been doing what they do long-term have to some extent earned their stripes. Experience doesn’t guarantee brilliance, but it can certainly be a very important box to tick when looking for the best performer out there for any given wedding.
Experience in Wedding Performances
In the same vein, experience is one thing but it’s the type of experience they have that makes all the difference. For example, they may have been in the business for decades and have an astounding track record – if however they’ve only ever done kiddie birthday parties, they might not be the kind of performer you’re looking for. Weddings are extremely specific given both the nature of the event and the mixed audience present. So rather than taking any chances, it’s crucial to choose a performer with plenty of experience with wedding magic.
Solid Feedback from Prior Clients
Most magicians and performers these days rely largely on word of mouth to sell their services and book new jobs. With the web being such an open resource, it’s unheard of for any magician or performer not to have plenty of feedback doing the rounds from past and present clients. Of course, the quality of this feedback varies enormously and some will never quite earn the same reputation as others. Feedback isn’t the be all and end all, but should certainly be taken into account before making a final decision with regard to who to book.
Willingness to Be Flexible
It’s also important for a good wedding magician to allow for a little breathing room in case the day’s schedule changes…as it often does. Weddings rarely run like clockwork and there will always be reasons for both delays and the bringing forward of scheduled events. As such, it’s good to choose a wedding magician that doesn’t have the strictest of time policies – i.e. if things overrun by more than 30 minutes, they do a disappearing act…quite literally. Make sure they acknowledge all of this and are willing to be flexible, just in case they need to be.
Large Immediate Payments Not Required for Bookings
Last but not least, the only reason a wedding magician would insist on being paid in full in advance is to cover their own back. If things turn out to be wholly inept or they let you down entirely, you might not have a leg to stand on nor may you hear from them again. By contrast, to work the other way around is to show supreme confidence in what you do and the service you offer – always the hallmark of a leading professional at the top of their game.
