How much does a strolling magician cost?

How much does a strolling magician cost?

If you're considering booking a magician to perform strolling magic, you'll be keen to know the cost to hire. Expect to pay from £450 and above for a great close-up magician who knows how to work a crowd and deliver an unforgettable event.

What is a strolling magician?

A strolling magician is simply a close-up magician who wanders around your event performing incredible feats such as sleight of hand, mind reading and pickpocketing. Entertaining small groups of 4-10 guests at a time, close-up magicians make wonderful entertainment options at corporate events, a private party or any special event requiring some ice-breaking moments.

The perfect entertainment?

A strolling magician really is a fantastic addition to your upcoming event as it brings many benefits:

A great ice-breaker
Interactive entertainment
Encourages conversation between guests

There is no set fee when hiring strolling magicians but as most things in life, you get what you pay for!

Are you hiring a professional magician?

Although it's not a given that this person will be a good magician, you can expect a certain skill level from most magicians who perform solely
for a living.

Are you hiring an amateur magician?

If your close-up magician has a day job to pay their bills, expect the amateur entertainer to come in at a lower fee. This doesn't mean they'll be a poor choice - there are some world-class magicians out there who have secondary jobs. The trouble is, searching on Google is tricky business, so asking for a recommendation from a friend or checking the magician's performance via Youtube, etc., can really help you make the right choice.

Hiring for local events?

The cost to hire close-up magicians will possibly be cheaper by hiring someone local to your event. Many magicians charge for additional travel costs so if you have a tight budget, try and factor this when hiring magic entertainment.

What's the Event?

Magicians tend to charge differently depending on your event type. For corporate events, the cost to hire will be more than if you're hiring a close-up magician for a birthday party. For more info on hiring a wedding magician cost, see this page.

Hiring a magician for trade shows? The cost is often much more due to the longer hours and bespoke magic they would perform for your company.

Performance Time

Most magicians will charge per hour - although the very best magicians charge by the event which includes travel fees to your location. A Corporate magician will typically know that they will entertain during the cocktail hour and then around the tables during the meal, and putting an exact timeframe on this is often tricky when you factor in things like speeches, awards and delays. For this reason, if you're hiring a magician for your corporate event, you'll most likely receive packages that cover sections of the event instead of an hourly rate.

Event Date

The average price for magicians can expect to increase during the festive season when the demand for magic is much greater. Don't hate the player, hate the game!

High Profile Events

If you're hiring a magician for a special occasion which is high profile, such as a celebrity wedding or prestigious corporate event, expect to pay more than the average price of hiring a close-up magician. This is because these events require the very best in entertainment and often have higher standards for performers.

Tv Appearances

If your incredibly talented magician has performed on TV, expect the fee to but in the thousands. Have they had their own Las Vegas magic show (David Copperfield)? Expect little change from a million pounds! Of course when you hire a magician your audience won't care a jot that they're famous , they just want some fun and unforgettable memories for their wedding guests.

Conclusion

Strolling magicians typically charge around £300-£500 per hour. However, as we've seen, there are several factors that can affect the quoted fee: travel distance, audience size, do they have TV credits, do they require special equipment, and whether they are a Magic Circle member. When it comes to close-up magic, the cost to hire is largely based on the experience of the magician. Ideally, know your budget, watch videos so you can see them perform magic/see the reactions from guests. Are you looking to make a magician booking? Get in touch for a quick quote.