So You Want Real Magic on Your Wedding Day? Then Follow These 7 Steps

CLOSE up magic is becoming an ever more popular choice of wedding entertainment, but where do you start looking?

Professional close up magician and Member of the Magic Circle, Neil Devlin from Halstead, Essex has provided a comprehensive guide from finding to booking your perfect magician. Read on…
 

1. DECIDE HOW MAGIC FITS INTO YOUR DAY!
   There are FOUR key areas where you might decide that you want a magician and you may want one of these or a combination of all (a) during the photos (b) during the wedding breakfast (c) between the end of the wedding breakfast and the evening celebrations when new guests are arriving (d) during the night time celebrations.
   
2. GET ONLINE AND GET SPECIFIC!
   Search phrases such as “hire wedding magician” or “book close up magician” will throw up a whole host of direct hits and these will provide direct links to a magician’s website like www.neildevlinmagic.co.uk. You may also wish to add a geographical location such as, “wedding magician Essex” or “close up magician Halstead”.
   
3. GET ON THOSE WEBSITES AND HAVE A GOOD LOOK!
   Is it easy to navigate around their website and make an initial enquiry? How quick do they get back to you, when you email/text them? We all have smart phones nowadays, so there’s no excuse for keeping you waiting! Do they have lots of real-life, professional photos of themselves “in action” or are they just publicity-style shots? You definitely want to be seeing action shots! Are there any video links provide or a show reel demonstrating their skills? Once again you want to be seeing evidence of live performance. Is the website itself of a professional nature and are their testimonials from previous clients? Are there any links to social media and how up to date are they? “When you know, you know” is a phrase we’re all familiar with; if it looks supremely professional, chances are your potential performer will be.
   
4. APPEARANCE IS EVERYTHING!
   Let’s be brutally honest here…does the performer look like someone you want at your function? Everything has its place; you wouldn’t have a clown performing at an exclusive venue you’ve paid thousands of pounds for any more than you’d want a magician in a dinner suit at a kid’s party. A well turned out, presentable performer should be expected by a paying client. They are going to have to mix with all of your guests. Do they LOOK like they can do this?
   
5. MAGIC CIRCLE OR NOT?
   This will be a matter of personal choice. The Magic Circle does exist and its members are excellent exponents of the magic arts, so here’s a link: www.themagiccircle.co.uk. They have an extensive selection of performers should you choose to pursue this route. The famous logo can be found in the top left corner of Neil Devlin Magic’s website at www.neildevlinmagic.co.uk and this is an assurance of performance excellence.
   
6. GET ON THE PHONE AND TALK TO THEM!
   You’ll get a very good idea of the magician you want to book by their demeanour on the telephone, so don’t just email them! Do they exude an air of confidence and professionalism and do they sound customer-driven and enthusiastic? Are they asking YOU lots of questions about your requirements? A close up magician (and you!) will need to know the following, so, have this information to hand, when you call: a)Time, day & date of function. b) How many guests (and a good rule of thumb is one magician for 100-120 guests. c) Whether they will be required to perform “walk around” / mix & mingle magic, which is exactly what it says – walking among your guests and performing for a 2-3 minutes to individuals, pairs or small groups before moving on or “table magic” – entertaining the guests between courses during the meal. d) Do they have full public liability insurance? (you may not think this is important, but some venues will insist on it, so it’s worth checking with your wedding co-ordinator). A true pro will be insured and will be accommodating to your needs.
   
7. WHAT’S THE COST!
   Weddings and events of any type all come with a price, so how much do you pay? Budgets are a personal thing, but you’re now in a position to shop about for quotes and make an informed decision. Magicians in London and Southeast can charge around £200-£300 per hour – some may charge more. It may be less in other parts of the country (£100-£200 per hour) Sure, you can book somebody, who will do your whole day for £50 and a meal, but be wary of such offers – would you pay a hobbyist electrician £50 to rewire your house?! That aside, please take note of the following: a) Make sure you ask whether potential add-ons such as travel expenses/food are included in the price. b) Ask if they are running any offers. After all, magic is a business like any other and there are deals to be had. Neil Devlin Magic provides a 100% money-back guarantee if your guests are not completely satisfied. c) Do they provide packages rather than just an hourly rate and can they provide a price list? This way the entertainment on your big day will be tailored to you. Contact Neil Devlin for a copy of his current prices/packages. d) Once you’ve agreed a price are all payments/balances correctly, professionally and efficiently invoiced? A working professional’s reputation is at stake here, so the best of the bunch will make payment a simple, stress-free experience.

So there you have it. Follow this 7-step guide and you’re on your way to booking a truly unique form of entertainment guaranteed to be the talk of your wedding!

If you have any questions that you feel have been left unanswered, feel free to drop Neil an email at info@neildevlinmagic.co.uk at any time and he will do his utmost to provide an answer.

Contact Information

Neil Devlin

Wedding Magician

Neil devlin Magic

info@neildevlinmagic.co.uk