Want to hire a magician for your party or event, one question you’re probably looking to answer is “How much does it cost to hire a magician?”
The quick answers is, it depends.
There are a bunch of things to consider:
- The type of event
- The type of performance you’re looking for (close-up, stage, cabaret, virtual)
- The time of the event
- The location – is travel a factor?
- Length of time required
- Time of year
You’ll find magicians will charge a range of fees, depending on some of the things above, plus their level of experience and how in demand they are.
The better and busier the magician is, the higher their fee is likely to be (d’oh!)
Most magicians don’t list prices on their websites – every event is different and it’s often necessary to get some details before quoting a fee. Some performers also charge premium rates for busy times of year. Corporate event magicians are very busy in December with Christmas parties for instance
Just a note that the advice below is for magicians for adult events. Kids entertainers are a different field that I don’t have expertise in!
With that in mind, I’ll try to answer the question “How much does it cost to hire a magician?“, plus some useful advice on what to look for when booking one.
Be wary of the “cheap” option
A cheap magician might not actually be that greatWhether you want to hire a magician for a corporate event, a wedding reception, or a you want a magician for a party, you get what you pay for. You’ll find magicians on comparison websites charging between £100-£200, but I’d be very wary of this – remember that cheap doesn’t usually mean good.
A great performer will make your event much more enjoyable, fun and memorable. They haven’t just learnt a couple of cards tricks – they’ll know how to engage with diverse audiences, make people gasp in amazement and laugh out loud, and will have experience working at hundreds of events and be able to adapt their performance accordingly.
A great performer is worth the extra cost; they won’t cancel last minute and won’t disappoint your guests. If you want to guarantee your event’s success, be sure to choose an experienced, professional magician.
How do I know if they’re with the money?
Booking the right entertainment can be tricky. You want to make sure the performer you choose is the right one for your event. Here are a few things to take into consideration:
- How long have they been performing for?
- Do they have testimonials on their website, or on external review sites?
- Can you watch videos and see photos of them performing at actual events?
- Are they professional when you contact them?
- Do they belong to any professional organisations? (If you’re in the UK, The Magic Circle and Equity are two to look for)
I also recommend having a chat with the magician on the phone (or Zoom!) before you book. This is a great way to get to know the person behind the act and ensure they are the right fit for your event.
Make sure the magician is experienced performing at events like yoursHow much does it cost to hire a close-up magician?
If you’re looking to hire a good, experienced close-up magician to performing magic at a private party or dinner, you’ll expect to pay somewhere between £500 to £1500.
Some close-up magicians might charge a different fee for 1, 2 or 3 hours, others will offer packages based on the type of event.
How Much Does it Cost To Hire A Stage Magician?
If you’re looking for a stage or cabaret show, expect to pay more than you would for close-up magic. It’s a much more specialist type of performance and there are fewer magicians who can perform well on stage.
Depending not the type of show and the experience of the performer prices will vary quite a lot, but you’ll definitely expect to pay upwards of £1,000 for a good stage magician. Prices might go up as high as £5000 if they’re very in demand, or have TV credits.
How Much Does it Cost To Hire A Corporate Event Magician?
Fees for corporate event magicians will be different depending on if you want close-up magic at a networking drinks event, a stage show at a gala dinner, hosting for an awards ceremony or a trade show magician to attract customers to your exhibition stand.
As a rough guide, take a look at the pricing I’ve mentioned for other types of magic – you may need to add a bit of a premium for corporate events too.
How Much Does It Cost To Hire a Wedding Magician?
Your wedding is a special day and so you definitely don’t want to scrimp and book cheap entertainment!
A decent wedding magician will charge somewhere in the region of £600-£1,200 depending on how much of the day you want them to perform. Some magicians offer hosting for weddings, combining profession emcee service with amazing magic. For this I’d expect to pay in the region of £1,250-£2,000.
How Much Does it cost to Hire a Virtual Magician?
Virtual Magician Darren Delaney performing a Zoom Magic ShowVirtual Magic Shows became all the rage in 2020 for reasons most of us prefer to forget about!
Since then, many magicians (incldiung me!) have continued to offer interactive online magic shows for corporate audiences on platforms like Zoom, Teams and Google Meet. It’s a bit like having your own private TV magic show that you get to participate in!
A virtual magician might cost anything from £500 – £2,000 depending on the type of show, size of audience and exactly what’s required.
How Much Does it cost to Hire a Trade Show Magician?
Some magicians work as trade show magicians, helping companies to attract passersby to their exhibition stands with magic. Often, they’ll design magic tricks that are branded to the company’s products too.
Costs for a good trade show magician vary considerably, depending on how many days’ work is involved and the costs of designing bespoke magic tricks.
How Much Does it cost to Hire a Celebrity Magician?
If you want Dynamo, Derren Brown, or a similarly famous celebrity magician, you’ll need at least £25k for them just to show up. If you’re planning on booking a celebrity though, you’re probably not that budget conscious!
Ultimately, there isn’t a simple answer to the question “How much does it cost to hire a magician?” Do make sure you get the best you can rather than looking for the cheapest. It will be worth it!
If you’re interested to hire me for an event or party that you’re planning, get in touch for a chat. I’ll usually respond within a few hours with some options and firm prices!
