Types of Magicians for Corporate Events: A Complete Guide
Choosing the wrong entertainment for your corporate event can turn a $10,000 investment into an awkward memory.
The difference between a successful company gathering and a forgettable one often comes down to picking the right type of entertainer for your specific audience and goals. Whether it's a corporate function, company holiday party, or client entertainment, the right entertainment choice is crucial.
Corporate magicians are not just walking around doing simple card tricks. Professional corporate magicians specialize in adult-focused entertainment for networking, reinforcing company messaging, and creating memorable experiences that attendees discuss long after the event ends.
This guide breaks down the main types of magicians for corporate events, highlighting the different types of magic performed at these occasions, and helping you make an informed decision that aligns with your budget, venue, and business goals.
Introduction to Corporate Magicians
Corporate magicians are professional entertainers who bring a blend of entertainment, clean comedy, and fun to corporate events of all sizes.
Unlike children's magicians, a corporate magician specializes in performing magic tailored specifically for the business world, making them a popular choice for company parties, conferences, product launches, and networking events.
What Makes Corporate Magicians Different?
Corporate magicians specialize in business-focused entertainment that aligns with company goals and professional audiences. Unlike a children's magician or general party magicians, these performers understand corporate culture and tailor their acts accordingly.
Their shows are designed to be amazing, fun, funny, and 100% clean for company audiences.
The Benefits of Hiring a Magician for Your Corporate Event
Corporate magicians are experts at engaging audiences, whether they’re performing close up magic for small groups during a networking session or delivering a high-energy stage magic show for a large audience.
Their magic tricks are designed to create laughter, amazement, and conversation, helping to break the ice and foster connections among attendees. A professional magician can also customize their act to align with your event’s goals, making it an effective way to communicate company values or highlight key messages.
The result is a unique and memorable experience that boosts morale, enhances brand awareness, and ensures your corporate event stands out.
Your goal for any corporate event is simple - to get your guests talking about it - long after it's over!
A magician performing at a corporate event, captivating the audience with tricks.
What Are Close-Up Magicians and When Should You Book Them?
Close up magicians perform magic with cards, coins, and everyday objects for small groups of 2-8 people. Also known as strolling magicians, roaming magicians, roving magicians, or table magicians, they move between guests during cocktail hours, networking breaks, or dinner courses.
The best time to hire a close up magician is if you need more buzz at your next corporate event. More people talking to each other, more fun during cocktail hour, and incredible sleight of hand your guests will be talking about forever
Close up magic excels at breaking ice and starting conversations among attendees. The interactive nature of sleight of hand performances creates natural networking opportunities as guests bond over shared amazement at magic tricks they’ve just witnessed.
These magicians perform magic tricks in a humorous way, often leaving audiences laughing. These performers work perfectly for trade shows, networking events, and corporate parties where mingling is the primary objective.
Table magic ensures every guest experiences the entertainment, with close up tricks happening at their table. Walk around magic relies on organic interactions throughout the venue generally while guests are standing, during cocktail hour!
It's like having a street magician, but classier and better dressed!
When Do Stage Magicians Make the Most Impact?
Stage magicians deliver a stage show designed for large audiences of hundreds to thousands of people, featuring illusions and highly theatrical presentations. These performers create experiences that captivate entire corporate gatherings at once!
This is typically a magic show that happens after dinner or desert at for the entire company or team.
Stage magic works best for major corporate events like product launches, holiday parties, company anniversaries, and annual conferences where creating a memorable spectacle is the primary goal.
The technical requirements for stage magic include professional lighting, sound systems, and advance coordination with event planners.
Why Do Companies Love Mentalists and Mind Readers?
Mentalists specialize in psychological illusions and apparent mind reading effects that challenge intellectual audiences. They use a combination of real psychological techniques and theatrical methods to create seemingly impossible mental feats.
Companies seems to LOVE bringing in mentalists to perform at their event and entertain their audience members. These performers particularly appeal to analytical professionals like executives, lawyers, and engineers who appreciate the cerebral nature of mentalism.
Are Virtual Magic Shows Still a Thing?
Virtual magicians perform live interactive shows via Zoom, Teams, and other video conferencing platforms. This entertainment format gained prominence during COVID-19 but remains populE for remote teams and hybrid events.
Virtual magic shows work perfectly for webinars, virtual conferences, and hybrid corporate gatherings where attendees join from multiple locations. The format allows companies to engage distributed teams and global partners in shared experiences regardless of physical distance.
The technology requirements are minimal compared to stage shows, making virtual magic a cost-effective option for companies with remote workforces. If you've got zoom, or microsoft teams - you probably have the right tech you need for a virtual magic show!
When Do Comedy Magicians Work Best?
This might be exactly what you're looking for for your next corporate gathering!
Comedy magicians focus on humour as much as magic, using magic as a vehicle for team-building entertainment. Their objective is simple: to make sure the guests are laughing, the show is full of audience participation, and to make mind blowing tricks while the audience is laughing.
Believe it or not, most famous magicians are comedy magicians. Because it engages the audience in multiple ways!
The combination of laughter and amazement creates positive associations with the corporate event. Comedy magicians help reduce workplace stress and build camaraderie among team members through shared enjoyment.
Customizing the Magic Performance for Your Brand and Audience
A professional magician will collaborate closely with event planners to understand your organization’s values, goals, and event theme. Bringing corporate magic to your event means you're bringing someone who exclusively performs at events like this, so they are familiar with your goals and can help you customize things to make it happen.
If you want they can weave company logos, products, or key messages directly into their magic tricks, creating a magic show that feels personal and relevant. Whether it’s unveiling a new product through a custom illusion or incorporating industry-specific humour and references, a corporate magician can ensure the performance resonates with your guests.
How Do You Choose the Right Magician Type for Your Event?
What Factors Determine the Best Choice?
First you need to decide what type of magic you need. Not all corporate magic is the same. Close up - best for mingling and cocktail parties. Or a stage show, designed to reach the entire group. Once you've decided that, it's about finding the best magician for the job!
Start with your goals. Choose close up magic for networking and relationship building, stage magic for group experiences, and cabaret magician (also known as parlour magic) for intimate and interactive performances, or mentalists for intellectual engagement and motivation.
For close up magic your options are sleight of hand magicians, ipad magicians, or a pickpocket magician. But really the type of magic that they do isn't as important as their expirience performing at events like yours.
For stage magic, you're looking at a comedy magician, mind reading mentalism show, a dove magician, or an escape artist. But again - unless the theme of your event is "escaping", then there's no reason to hire one type over the other. What you're looking for is someone who specializes in amazement for your type of audience
Factor in venue constraints and technical requirements. Stage shows need professional audio-visual support, while close up magic requires minimal setup. Virtual shows need reliable internet and basic video conferencing capabilities.
How Do Event Goals Influence Selection?
For trade shows and networking events, strolling magicians create conversation starters and keep energy levels high throughout the gathering. Their mobility ensures coverage across the entire venue.
For awards ceremonies and formal dinners, stage magicians provide entertainment that complements the structured program format. Their performances can incorporate company achievements and recognition themes.
For team building and motivation, consider comedy magicians or motivational magic speakers who combine entertainment with business messaging. These performers reinforce company culture while providing memorable experiences.
For family-friendly company events or gatherings with employees' children, a children's magician is ideal. Children's magicians specialize in engaging young audiences with interactive tricks, colourful visuals, and performances tailored to shorter attention spans, ensuring fun for all ages.
How Magicians Boost Employee Morale and Team Spirit
Corporate magicians are powerful catalysts for boosting employee morale and fostering team spirit at company events. Through interactive magic tricks and engaging performances, they create moments of wonder and excitement that bring colleagues together.
Whether performing close up magic in small groups or delivering a dynamic stage magic act for the entire company, magicians encourage participation and shared laughter, breaking down barriers and building camaraderie.
These magical experiences can also be used to recognize and reward employees, making them feel valued and appreciated. By incorporating team building elements into their routines, corporate magicians help strengthen relationships and create a positive, collaborative atmosphere. The result is a more motivated and connected workforce, ready to tackle new challenges with renewed enthusiasm.
What Do Corporate Magicians Cost and How Do You Budget?
Corporate magician fees typically range from $2,000 to $10,000, with most professional performers averaging around $3,500 for quality corporate entertainment. The cost varies depending on the type of magic performances selected, as different styles and settings—such as stage shows, close up acts, or interactive experiences—can influence the overall price. Several factors influence pricing beyond the performer’s reputation.
Experience and business expertise command premium rates. Magicians who understand corporate culture and can customize their acts for specific industries provide greater value than generic entertainers.
Don’t compromise on quality to save money. Inexperienced or “cheap” magicians may lack the corporate expertise necessary to connect with sophisticated business audiences, potentially undermining your event’s success.
What Are the Best Practices for Hiring Corporate Magicians?
How Do You Verify Corporate Experience?
Choose performers who specialize exclusively in corporate entertainment rather than those who perform for all occasions. Request references from similar corporate events, such as a corporate function, and verify their experience with professional audiences.
Review video samples of actual corporate performances, not just highlight reels from various event types. Look for evidence of audience engagement and professional presentation style that matches your company culture.
Check testimonials from other businesses in your industry. The best corporate magicians understand different sectors and can adapt their presentations accordingly.
What Should You Communicate Before Booking?
Always announce the magician in advance rather than surprising guests. This builds anticipation and ensures the performer can coordinate logistics and customize their presentation for maximum impact.
Share your company culture, event goals, and any messaging you want reinforced. Most corporate magicians can incorporate magic into their performances to reinforce company messaging, making the act more relevant and impactful.
Discuss technical requirements early in the planning process. Stage performers need specific lighting and sound capabilities, while close up magicians require appropriate performance spaces and guest flow patterns.
Transform Your Next Corporate Event with the Right Magic
The type of magician you choose directly impacts your event’s success and attendee satisfaction. It’s essential to select a magician whose act aligns with your event's theme, ensuring the performance supports the overall purpose and message of your gathering. Close up magicians excel at intimate networking events, stage performers dominate large gatherings, and specialty acts add unique value for specific objectives.
Start your search early, prioritize corporate experience over general entertainment background, and communicate your expectations clearly. The investment in quality magical entertainment pays dividends through enhanced networking, improved morale, and unforgettable experiences that strengthen your company culture.
If you're looking for the perfect corporate magician for your event. Reach out to us at the Toronto Magic Company. All we do is corporate events, and we can recommend the best options to make sure you have magic performances that your team will be talking about for year! We guarantee it!
