I know several magicians are thinking about and actually looking to be able to perform magic commercially (i.e. for $) to some extent, whether it is part-time, full-time or just to fund the hobby.

Rather than dispense advice on what you should do, I though I’d provide you with the entertainment buyer’s perspective when they are choosing an act to book for an event or venue.

This interesting approach may help you reflect on your show and see how ready it is for commercial bookings.

The below is what an experienced entertainment agent would advise a lay client:


Suitability of Entertainer

The most important thing you need to consider when looking for an entertainment show for your event is to see if it is suitable for your audience. This refers to the Nature of the Act & Delivery Style of the Act.

The nature of the act refers to the inherent content of the show. For e.g., the nature of acts like balloon twisting, face painting and storytelling are generally more suited for children audiences.

The delivery style of the act includes the way the performer speaks, dresses and communicates to the audience.

Some shows are ideal for kids & family audiences but would bomb (fall flat) at corporate events.

On the flip side, an act like a large-scale illusion show that is perfect for high-end corporate audiences will be a disaster when performed to an audience of five- year old kids (due to both the nature & delivery style of the show).


Promotional Material

View the performers’ promotional material, video, photographs, clients list or do a simple background check on them. If they have been around for some time, they should have a decent portfolio and someone would have seen their show before.

An entertainer’s promotional material is directly proportionate to his/ her show market price. If an act commands $5000 a show, he would have a high quality promo video, a professional set of photos and an impressive brochure.

However, if you receive promotional materials from an entertainer whose marketing copy is full of grammar & spelling mistakes and whose promotional video is home video made, you would not expect to pay more than $350.


Professionalism

Besides the quality of an act, the professionalism & dependability of an act is important. Some excellent performers have a reputation of being late for shows, getting double booked or canceling shows at the last minute.

Often, event organizers prefer to play safe. It is better to have a good act that is there to perform the show rather than a world-class act that may not turn up. You have to decide whether the risk or ‘headache’ involved is worth it.


Fees

The entertainer’s fee will give you an indication of the quality of the act. You can pay $350 for a decent kids show but can expect to pay up to $15000 for a world-class show for a corporate event.

Fees for the same type of talent need not be the same across the board and usually differ depending on the demand of the act. For example, if a singer charges $500 for a 10-minute set and another singer commands $5000 for a 10-minute set, there must be a (quality) reason for this difference.

However, the same type of entertainer priced within the same price range are generally the same in standard so you should decide which one you prefer based on their promotional material.



The above is a reality. Are you ready?


Best of luck,

J C Sum