Calling all corporate event planners. We need to have a chat, please gather around. So you're planning a corporate event? You got the venue, the catering, the guest list all sorted. But what about your entertainment? This is an often overlooked aspect of many events and can be left till the last minute. But if you do, be warned, it will be slim pickings.
Why Corporate Entertainment Matters
Today we're talking about how to book amazing corporate entertainment, specifically how a corporate event magician can take your event from ordinary to extraordinary.
But with so many options, it's hard to know who to book. That's why I'm here to walk you through the process and give you some valuable information about what type of magician to look for, who might be the best fit, and how to bring them to your next event. Let's get into it.
Defining Your Goals for Hiring a San Jose Corporate Magician
First, it's important to define why you want to hire a San Jose corporate magician in the first place. And what do you want this performer to achieve at your event? Is it to help break the ice? Encourage networking and conversation? Perhaps it's your headline entertainment. You want to keep your guests entertained and engaged and make sure they have a fantastic time. Or is it branding? Do you want to incorporate your company's message or theming into the performance to help sell it to?
What to Look for in a Corporate Magician
So many applications and solutions that a magician can provide. All of this starts with you understanding what your goals are and how the magician can help you achieve them.
For example, are you a tech company releasing a new smartphone? Perhaps you want to hire a magician who specializes in magic with technology. This can help align the entertainment and your overall message, making for a cohesive package.
Key Questions to Ask a San Jose Magician
The second thing to look out for is the experience level of the magician. You're going to want to hire somebody that has a lot of experience performing as a San Jose corporate magician. Corporate audiences are very different from general audiences, so the magician needs to be professional and adaptable. As mentioned previously, if you're looking to relay a specific message or brand, product or service, you're going to want to hire a magician who has the skill set to adapt their magic.
Pro tip: It's helpful to write down your goals and share them with the magician to make sure that they are on board with your vision and can help execute that through their craft.
The Importance of a Consultation
During your initial discussion with the magician, here are a few questions that you can ask them. How many corporate events have you performed at? This helps give you an idea of their level of experience in this specific market.
Another question is, can you provide references or testimonials of past corporate clients? This again demonstrates that they have experience performing for these types of audiences. Many magicians will have quotes and reviews from past clients listed on their website and throughout their promotional material. So this is a great place to double check that they are in fact, the right type of San Jose corporate magician for your event. This will prevent you from making a mistake. For example, hiring a children's birthday party magician to entertain a group of tech engineers. We love birthday party magicians, but they are not a good fit for this type of crowd. Make sure that your magician has experience performing in the corporate scene.
I'm a big fan of social proof. To me, social proof demonstrates that the magician can do what they're claiming they can do. And we're not talking about the magic tricks themselves. You want to ensure that the magician has experience performing for your specific group.
Red Flags to Avoid When Researching
When watching their videos, whether clips from their show or a promotional sizzle reel or video. Be sure to look for clips showing them performing for audiences like yours. You're looking for footage of them performing at trade shows, conferences, networking events. Office parties, and holiday parties. These are the types of events that are synonymous with corporate magicians. Make sure your performer has these types of experiences that you can see.
This is also a great way to get an idea of the magician's persona and how they present themselves and their level of professionalism. Are they dressed in street clothes? Or are they dressed in suit and tie? Which look works best at your event? Lean in that direction.
Pay attention to the audience reactions. Are people amazed in the video or are they simply just watching? You're going to want to look for reactions of the audience, to make sure that the San Jose magician is able to amaze and delight at your corporate event.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Booking Process
Another key component to keep your eye on is customization. For many event planners, if you're planning a product launch or planning to deliver a special message, ensure that the magician you're speaking to or considering is able to provide this service as not every magician does customization.
Can the magician incorporate your company's branding, theme, or even inside jokes into their presentation? Will they adapt their act to suit the needs of your audience?
If they are a comedy magician, are they able to perform clean, PG rated comedy that is appropriate for the workplace? These are all valuable things to keep in mind when considering entertainment for your event. For more info on the booking process, check out my Step by Step Guide.
The Magic of Customization
Customization can be simple, such as including a company's colors or their logo. Or more in-depth customization, such as combining your message with a specific magic trick or routine. Depending on the level of customization, the San Jose magician may request an additional fee to fulfill this type of project for your corporate event.
Green Flags in a Corporate Magician
Are they punctual? Easy to communicate with and respectful of your events schedule? Do they seem like a team player? The last thing you want to do is book a magician or performer who is a diva and only cares about their act. A magician should be adding to your event and helping to make your event a success, regardless of the amount of time that they are performing or on stage, they are there to add value to your event and make sure everyone has a great time. This is the importance of having a call with the magician to discuss your needs. Feeling out the vibe to understand if they're a good fit.
A few other things to look out for include: Does the corporate magician have liability insurance in San Jose? Most magicians already carry this with them. If your event is bigger, they may need to acquire. Do they have their own equipment and supplies, or will they need to tap into your AV team's setup to utilize sound and lighting? Understand their technical rider and any gear that they will need for their performance.
This ensures that the event runs smoothly. This ensures that my portion of the event runs smoothly, as I'm always looking to make my clients.
Secret to Finding the Perfect San Jose Magician
This next part is important and I can't stress it enough. When searching for a corporate magician online I find so many people want to just email the magician, get pricing, and book them without even discussing their needs on the phone. This is a surefire way to book the wrong performer. Please be warned. Not to do this. It is of the highest importance to get on the phone with the magician, to have a conversation. You can also do this via Google Meet or a zoom call.
This ensures there is no miscommunication and that you're understanding exactly who the performer is, how they operate, and if they are the right choice for your event. Having a consultation is an important opportunity to gauge their communication skills and enthusiasm. You can also ask them questions like. Is your show appropriate for the workplace? What kind of magic do you perform? How much experience do you have? Can I read reviews and see videos of your past work?
All these questions and so much more occur during the consultation phase. And again, this is not a phase that you want to skip over. This will make or break having a San Jose corporate magician at your event.
Summery of Key Points
I know I've gone over a lot of information here, but let's summarize some key points. Magicians are very flexible with their performances and it can incorporate your brand, your company's branding and message making for a memorable experience.
Choosing the right magician ensures your event is a success and is one of the most important aspects of hiring a magician is booking the right one.
If you have any doubts on this process or would like more guidance and information, please feel free to reach out to me, Spencer Grey. I perform full time as a corporate event magician in San Jose, I'm always happy to offer advice and guidance to ensure that your next event is a success. Thanks so much for joining me, as always, I will see you on the next one.
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