Selecting the Best Type Of Magician For Your Chicago Event
- Eric Thirstin
- May 18
- 4 min read
When you’re putting together an event and looking for live entertainment, magic is always a strong option. Whether you’re planning a large wedding or a small birthday, an upscale corporate holiday event or a casual house party, there is always one major decision to consider before you select the performer: Do you want a Stage Show for all your guests at once, or Strolling Magic, where the magician goes from small group to small group, presenting intimate closeup magic as guests mingle? This may completely change how you prepare for the big day and how you select from a pool of talented magicians. I will endeavor to demystify this important, often-overlooked decision now.
OPTION 1: STAGE SHOW
Let’s begin with a Stage Show (which does not require a stage, but it is indeed a single continuous show, perhaps 20-80 minutes long). This would be appropriate for any event where you can easily get/hold everyone’s attention. For example, a Halloween-themed house party where guests wander from small room to small room may not be appropriate, but if the house has a large enough living room to accommodate everyone at the same time, then it could be a hit. On a larger scale, let’s say there is a wedding in a ballroom, and the evening is so packed with speeches and dancing that to pause everything for 30 minutes for a large show would seem inappropriate. At a large corporate event in that same ballroom, however, maybe after a cocktail hour full of networking, guests want to sit, eat some food, and enjoy a bit of fun and inspiring entertainment. This would be a perfect opportunity to perform a stage show and provide some fooling magical moments for them to discuss for the rest of the evening.
Stage shows may also require more technical consideration than Strolling Magic. For an audience of 50 guests or fewer in a fairly quiet indoor space, nothing is needed, but for groups of over 50 guests, or in noisy outdoor areas, a microphone and speaker is definitely required. Most professional magicians can bring their own gear if the venue has nothing built in, but they must factor in this additional set-up time before the performance begins. For larger audiences, lighting may be a consideration as well, particularly if you are hoping to achieve a theatrical feel, with a darker audience and bright stage. On the upper end of complication, a corporate magician may require a small stage be built, “pipe-and-drape” curtains be constructed to provide wings and a “backstage,” and multiple spotlights directed at the performance area, all constructed prior to their arrival. It’s completely a case by case basis, though, and some performers are extremely low maintenance in this regard.
OPTION 2: STROLLING MAGIC
Strolling Magic is far more practical in a variety of situations, and no less powerful a form of entertainment–merely different. A magician can step into almost any environment, with a handful of props in their pockets, and begin wowing small groups of guests at a time. This type of magic is perfect for cocktail hours as it helps break the ice, gets shy guests engaged, and sparks conversation and wonder. At a busy wedding filled with action, or at the end of a long day of important meetings when businesspeople want to let loose, strolling magic provides a more nuanced and personal layer of entertainment that is less obtrusive than a stage show. The one technical concern to keep in mind is that while the room does not need to completely quiet down, if there is a DJ blasting deafening music, it can make it difficult for magicians to properly engage with guests. The truth is, guests shouldn’t have to shout to talk to each other to begin with, otherwise they may as well be at a nightclub. So as long as guests are able to chat with each other easily enough, then a strolling magician should be able to do their job properly. Sometimes they may bring wearable mic/speaker packs which can help guests hear, but it does take away some of the charm and intimacy.
As for selecting the right type of magician depending on your needs, some very clearly promote themselves as sleight of hand experts (in which case Strolling Magic would be their area of expertise) whereas others tout a list of big clubs/stages they’ve performed at (indicating Stage Magic is their specialty). Nowadays, there are more young magicians that specialize in closeup magic, so it can be more difficult to find a solid stage magic option, but I’d strongly suggest watching their promo materials. If you see footage of them performing with cards and coins, that’s a closeup/strolling magician, vs if they’re cracking jokes for loud crowds.
For our part, my wife and I have made it a point to offer a very unique Strolling Magic act (we go from group to group performing our powerful second sight act, a classic 2-person mentalism routine). This sets us apart, as there are only a handful of couples in the world who can do this. However, we still focus
almost all of our effort into Stage Magic, as that is definitely our specialty, and if you were to look through our promotional materials/list of accolades, you would be able to deduce that.
In conclusion, first assess your event’s needs, then research talent. While assessing your event’s needs, ask yourself if it is reasonable to gather everyone’s attention for a long period of time or if it would be more appropriate to let guests continue to mingle throughout. Next, when researching talent, take the extra time to ascertain the magician’s area of expertise by watching their reel and scouring their website for accolades. Simply having the idea to hire a magician is not enough to ensure a successful event. So if you're looking to hire the best magicians in Chicago, take the extra steps necessary to make your event a hit–your guests will thank you for it!
Regards,
Eric Thirstin Siegel
