What different types of magician are available and what will they do at my event?
Magicians offer a range of tricks and performances tailored to various event types, including weddings, parties, and corporate events. These performances typically contain a mix of sleight of hand, mentalism, and illusions, with close-up magicians focusing on one-to-one interactions with guests, while stage magicians perform more elaborate illusions for a larger audience, often in the style of an after-dinner cabaret show.
Close-up magic at events is popular because of its intimate and interactive nature, allowing guests to experience phenomenal magic up close and personal. This style of performance encourages interaction between the magician and the audience, as well as between guests, helping to break the ice, and creating memorable moments that leave a lasting impression.
Party Magicians
A party magician can be booked for a birthday party, anniversary party, retirement parties, a Christmas party … pretty much any kind of celebration. Whether it’s a party at home or at a local venue or restaurant, a magician for parties will mix amongst your guests performing illusions and mind bending sleight-of-hand magic tricks, which is a great way to add wow factor entertainment to your event. Also see our party entertainment ideas.
Wedding Magicians
A magician for weddings will mix and mingle with your friends and family, usually during your wedding drinks reception, performing close up magic tricks to the amazement of small groups of guests. This is a great way to break the ice and bring different guests together, interacting, and creating a talking point on your wedding day. Typically, magicians at weddings will perform for two hours, and will aim to have performed tricks for all of your guests by the time your reception finishes. A wedding magician is one of our most popular types of wedding entertainment.
The Table Magician
As the name suggests, Table magicians perform close-up magic tricks to guests who are seated at tables, usually before or during dinner. They’re a popular option for a wedding breakfast or for any event where guests are formally seated to eat. Creating a magical ambience, performers work the room using cards and everyday objects to mesmerise the crowd. They are also frequently booked to provide entertainment in restaurants.
Corporate Event Magicians
A corporate event magician will wander amongst guests at business gatherings, showcasing a range of sleight of hand tricks and illusions. They can also be booked to perform after dinner cabaret stage magic shows, and they’re a top pick for trade shows and exhibitions, where they're a great way to keep delegates entertained at your booth. Magicians are one of our most popular choices of corporate entertainment.
The Children’s Party Magician
A Magicians for a kids party will deliver a magic show tailored for young audiences. Depending on the age of the children, this may take the form of an informal stage show, where magic tricks and illusions are performed for a seated audience. Tricks are tailored to the age of the children, who are often encouraged to participate in or even learn some magic themselves. Kids will love the variety of tricks and the chance to witness magic in real life, something they'll remember for years to come. For older or teenage children, the magician may perform mix-and-mingle close-up magic, performing to small groups. This interactive approach makes them a fantastic magician for parties, where they can tailor their performance to the delight of the audience. Also see our children’s party entertainment ideas.
The Stage Magician
A stage magician dazzles with large -scale illusions and tricks, often incorporating props, assistants, and elaborate sets. American illusionist David Copperfield is a good example of a renowned stage magician, while here in the UK, TV personality Paul Daniels became a household name.
The Mentalist / Mind Reader Magician
A mind magician, or mind reading magician, specialises in the art of mentalism, using mind-reading, telepathy, and psychological illusions to give the impression of psychic abilities or extraordinary mental acuity. The English mentalist Derren Brown has gained worldwide acclaim for his astonishing mind reading performances.
The Escapologist Magician
An escapologist magician is a master of escaping from restraints, handcuffs, straitjackets, and other confinements, often in dramatic and suspenseful performances. Everyone’s heard of the famous escapologist Harry Houdini, who would escape from a straight jacket while submerged in water!
The Street Magician
A street magician (think about UK magician Dynamo) performs magic in public places like parks, streets, and markets, engaging with passers-by with interactive magic tricks that are often more intimate and interactive. Street magic transfers well to private events because of the opportunities for audience participation. Feedback from previous clients tells us that guests have really enjoyed this style of magic, and would recommend as a great ice-breaker.
The Comedy Magician
A comedy magician incorporates humour and comedic elements into their magic routines, using jokes and funny situations to entertain the audience while performing captivating tricks. If you're looking for non-stop laughter, and a hilarious way to keep your guests entertained, an comedy illusion show can guarantee absolutely brilliant fun. Jump to our comedy illusionists here.
The Hypnotist Magician
A hypnotist magician skilfully merges hypnosis with traditional magic tricks. Using hypnotic techniques, they induce a trance-like state in audience volunteers, allowing them to suggest and influence their perceptions and actions. In their routines, they may incorporate illusions that play on the altered state of consciousness, such as making people forget certain things, convincing them of false realities, or making them believe they possess extraordinary abilities.
The Pickpocket Magician
A pickpocket magician blends sleight of hand and misdirection to "steal" watches, wallets, and other items from unsuspecting volunteers, (all in good fun of course) leaving everyone amazed at their skilful manipulations.
Click here for more information about choosing the best type of magician for your event.
What’s the average price to hire a magician?
In 2024 the average price of hiring magicians for weddings was £501, with the price changing based on the length of their performance, travel costs and the magician’s level of experience.
The average price of a party magician was the same at £501.
Our selection of magicians spans the UK, with prices ranging from £196 up to £7188 for the top tier luxury event magicians.
Stage magicians tend to be more expensive due to the additional equipment required for a stage magic show, with costs from around £1000 upwards.
How long will a magician perform for?
Most professional wedding magicians and party magicians will perform around 2 hours of close up magic or table magic. Some offer the option to extend this up to 3 hours.
A stage magician performing a cabaret style show will usually perform for 30 - 40 minutes.
If you’d like a longer performance, just let us know what you need and we’ll find a magician to accommodate your requirements.
How far in advance should I book?
The best wedding magicians get booked up to a year in advance, especially over busy summer weekends, but 6 - 9 months in advance would still offer a good choice.
Do you have a local magician near me?
Yes we have a network of wedding magicians near me in every part of the UK, so we should always be able to find a local wedding magician for your big day. Use the search form above to enter your event type, date and location to find the best local magicians near you.
What are the most popular types of tricks performed by a close up magician?
The best magicians will put their own unique spin on popular magic tricks, but these are a few of the most common magic tricks you might expect to see:
- Card Through Table
The magician selects a card, usually signed by a spectator, and then visibly pushes it through the surface of a table or solid object without causing any damage.
- Coin Vanish
A coin is placed in the magician's hand and then seemingly disappears into thin air, only to reappear in another location or in the spectator's possession.
- Penetration Effects
Various objects, such as rings or rubber bands, appear to penetrate through each other or solid surfaces, creating a visual illusion of impossible penetration.
- The Ambitious Card
A chosen card repeatedly rises to the top of the deck, even after being placed in the middle or shuffled by the spectator, demonstrating the magician's control over the cards.
- Cups and Balls
Miniature cups are used to cover balls, which magically appear, disappear, and multiply under the cups' cover, showcasing the magician's skill in sleight of hand and misdirection.
- Ring and String
A borrowed ring is threaded onto a string or shoelace, which then visibly penetrates through the ring before being magically restored to its original state.
- Three-Card Monte
A classic gambling-themed trick where the spectator must guess which of three cards is the target card, only to be deceived by the magician's sleight of hand and misdirection.
- Floating or Levitating Object
Small objects, such as a ring or coin, appear to float or levitate in mid-air, seemingly defying gravity under the magician's control.
- Invisible Deck
A spectator selects a card from an "invisible" deck, and the magician reveals the chosen card despite not physically handling any cards, creating a baffling illusion of mind reading.
- Haunted Deck
A deck of cards seemingly comes to life as the chosen card eerily rises out of the deck, guided by invisible forces, before returning to its place in the deck.
What kind of tricks can I expect from a stage magician show?
Once again, renowned stage magicians will all develop their own signature illusions, but here are some of the most iconic stage magic tricks:
- Sawing a Person in Half
A staple of stage magic, the magician saws a person, usually a female assistant, in half while she lies in a box, only to magically restore her unharmed.
- The Disappearing Car / Elephant / Plane
This grand illusion involves making a large object like a car, elephant or even a plane - vanish from a stage or platform, often using curtains or elaborate props to create the illusion of the object’s disappearance.
- The Bullet Catch
A daring and dangerous trick where a magician catches a marked bullet fired from a gun, typically using a specially designed device or sleight of hand to create the illusion.
- The Houdini Straitjacket Escape
Made famous by legendary magician Harry Houdini, this escape involves being strapped into a straitjacket and suspended upside down, only to wriggle free in a thrilling display of skill and daring.
- The Linking Rings
A classic manipulation trick where solid metal rings appear to link and unlink magically in the magician's hands, showcasing deft sleight of hand and timing.
- The Floating or Levitating Woman
In this illusion, a woman appears to float or levitate above the stage, seemingly defying gravity as she hovers in mid-air.
- The Zig Zag Girl
A popular stage illusion where a woman is placed in a cabinet and divided into three sections with blades, only to be magically reassembled unharmed.
- The Cups and Balls
A timeless sleight of hand routine where balls appear, disappear, and multiply under three cups, showcasing the magician's skill in misdirection and manipulation.
Who are the most famous magicians ever?
Here are some of the outstanding magicians who've inspired our collective of UK magicians for hire:
- Harry Houdini (United States)
Known for his daring escape acts, including escaping from handcuffs, straitjackets, and various confinement devices. His most famous trick was the Chinese Water Torture Cell, where he escaped from a locked water-filled tank while suspended upside down.
- David Copperfield (United States)
Renowned for his grand illusions and stage performances. One of his most famous tricks is "The Vanishing Statue of Liberty," where he made the Statue of Liberty disappear live on television.
- Penn & Teller (United States)
Known for their unique blend of magic and comedy, Penn & Teller have captivated audiences with their innovative tricks and mind-bending illusions. Their most famous trick is "Bullet Catch," where one of them catches a bullet fired from a gun into their mouth.
- Dynamo (United Kingdom)
Dynamo gained international fame with his street magic performances and television specials. His most famous trick involves walking on water across the River Thames in London.
- Siegfried & Roy (Germany)
Renowned for their extravagant performances with white lions and tigers. Their most famous trick involved making these large animals disappear and reappear in seemingly impossible ways.
- Criss Angel (United States)
Known for his edgy and daring performances, Criss Angel has stunned audiences with illusions that defy logic and gravity. His most famous trick is "Levitation," where he appears to float in mid-air.
- Derren Brown (United Kingdom)
Renowned for his psychological illusions and mind-reading feats. One of his most famous tricks is predicting the outcome of the National Lottery live on television.
- David Blaine (United States)
Known for his endurance stunts and close-up magic. David Blaine's most famous trick is "Frozen in Time," where he was encased in a block of ice for over 63 hours in Times Square.
- Houdin (France)
Often referred to as the "father of modern magic," Jean Eugène Robert-Houdin was a French magician known for his innovative tricks and mechanical contraptions. His most famous trick involved a mechanical orange tree that would magically produce fruit.
- Max Maven (United States)
Renowned for his mentalism and mind-reading abilities, Max Maven has astounded audiences with his uncanny insights into the human mind. His most famous trick is "Kurotsuke," a routine where he correctly identifies the hand containing a hidden object without ever seeing it.
What security will I get with my booking?
Booking a professional entertainer with Alive Network is secured with a legally binding contract. We also offer 24 hour emergency support, 365 days of the year, so if something unforeseen happens and your magician were unable to attend your event, we’ll be on hand to help find a replacement.
You also get the peace of mind that comes from booking with the UK’s leading entertainment agency. With 25 years experience booking for over 170,000 events - you’re in safe hands.
- Safe, secure booking contracts
- Outstanding five-star customer service
- 24/7 emergency cover, 365 days of the year
- Hand-picked magicians for the ultimate reliability
Established in 1999, Alive Network has grown to become the UK's largest wedding entertainment agency and one of the leading online entertainment booking services in the world. We're passionate about event entertainment. We organise wedding entertainment, party entertainment and corporate entertainment, trusted by companies like Apple, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Coca-Cola & Nike, and we have helped over 170,000 customers to hire fabulous live entertainment for their events.
Other Frequently Asked Questions
If you have any other queries, simply visit our FAQ page.
Alternatively, our dedicated expert entertainment coordinators are on-hand to help. Simply call 01782 740 839 or email enquiries@alivenetwork.com
I'm a local Magician, how do I join your agency?
For information on joining Alive Network please visit our how to join page where you will find our online application form. There is no cost to join Alive Network but we are not a directory, so every application is individually assessed and we hand-pick the best artists to represent.
