If you want to hire a good professional magician for your special event, here's some tips to find the right person.  Since magic is an unregulated industry, you have to be careful or you might end up with the magician from hell. 

My name is Michael E. Johnson, and I'm one of the top magicians in California.  I'm a San Diego Magician, and for real, I'm not trying to get you to hire me; I just want you to find someone good.  I've heard plenty of horror stories about bad magicians, and every time this happens, people's special events are ruined and the magic industry suffers.  I care a great deal about the magic business.  I'm a member of the Academy of Magical Arts, the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Society of American Magicians.  I've been a full-time professional for more than 14 years.  Here's what I recommend.

First, decide the date and time and place of your special event.  This is crucial to find out if a potential magician is even available for hire.  You should also know what type of audience you will have, whether it's adults, children, or both.  Some magicians can't handle children, who have short attention-spans, and other magicians can't handle adults, who have sophisticated entertainment needs.  You should also know the parking situation near your event.

Second, decide what type of magic you want.  There is close-up magic, where the magician mingles with your audience and performs with coins, cards and small objects.  This works out great for large audiences where the crowd is dispersed and you have no stage.  There is also stage magic, where the magician performs for everyone at once.  This works out best if you have a stage area, and you want to gather the attention of everyone in the audience at the same time.

Second, seek recommendations from your friends and family.  Maybe they have experience or knowledge about a good magician.  A personal referral is always best when you have to trust your entertainment to a stranger.  People often see magicians at birthday parties, festivals, schools, churches, corporate events, receptions, trade shows, fundraisers and banquets.  Ask around, and listen to the grapevine.

Third, interview as many magicians as you can stand, to gain a true perspective of your entertainment options.  You can find magicians on the internet, in the Yellow Pages, and in ads in the local family magazines.  It's is super important to talk directly with the magician you might hire.  That way, you'll know what you are getting.  Booking direct is most cost effective. 

Otherwise, you'll probably end up talking with an event planner or an entertainment agent.  These people serve as middle-men, connecting magicians with clients.  They take a piece of the action, anywhere from 20% to 75% of the fee.  To keep a good reputation, some brokers only hire good magicians with a positive track record.  On the other hand, other brokers hire anyone they can get for the cheapest price possible.  They care more about making a short-term commission than building a long-term relationship.  Watch out for these fly-by-night agents.

When you interview a magician, here's what to ask:

1. What makes you so special?  Let the magician talk about themselves for a while, to get a feeling for their personality.  Does this person make you feel comfortable or uncomfortable?  Unless you feel positive about the conversation, it might be risky to hire them for entertainment.
2. What happens in your magic show?  Find out specifically what the magician does in their magic show.  Is it appropriate for your audience?  Are there live animals, fire, water tricks, risque jokes, dangerous stunts, or large stage requirements? 
3. What are your professional credentials?  Ask them what groups they belong to.  Serious working magicians always belong to magic societies like the Chamber of Commerce, the Academy of Magical Arts, the Magic Circle, the International Brotherhood of Magicians or the Society of American Magicians.  These groups promote business ethics, protect consumers from fraud, and provide continuing education to keep their magicians in top form.
4. Is magic your full-time business or part-time business?  This is the question that magicians don't want to answer, especially if magic if their part-time hobby.  Almost anyone can slap together a box of magic tricks, charge a fee and perform a show, as long as they have a day job to pay their bills.  However, only a few magicians ever survive in full-time status.  This is the A-list, the cream-of-the-crop, the entertainers who have to be good.  Few people would trust a part-time dentist to drill on their teeth.  Yet it's surprising how many people hire a part-time magician to entertain their guests, only to discover humiliation far more painful than teeth drilling.
5. Are you licensed and insured?  Every legitimate business has a city business license, and the most responsible magicians also carry liability insurance to protect their clients and guests.  Find out if your magician is legit.  This is especially important if the show is in a public park or private facility.
6. Can you send me your credentials?  If a magician really wants your work, they should be able to provide you with letters of recommendation, testimonials, a website, newsclippings, videos and/or DVDs.  It also pays to do a Google search of their name.  You might be surprised what you'll discover.  I always encourage my clients to do a Google search of the phrase "Magician Michael E. Johnson", because they can discover what newspapers and other websites have written about me.  Don't just trust what's on their website, or what's listed in their brochure. Magicians are notorious for exaggerating their credentials.

After speaking with several magicians, you should have feelings for who might be right for you.  You must also decide your budget.  If you hire based on the lowest price, you'll probably get what you pay for.  Be careful of the budget magicians.  If your special event is important, budget accordingly.  In the end, no one will remember the party food or the decorations, but they'll sure remember the entertainment.  To avoid embarassment, give yourself the budget to hire the best person for the job.

Once you've found your magician, hire him or her immediately.  The best magicians book out quickly, so you want to make sure you secure a reservation.  Ask for a contract, and pay a deposit.  Otherwise, you may get tossed aside at the last minute if the magician is offered a higher-paying gig.  I've seen it happen before.  A good magician might book a $300 child's birthday party, and then a week later get offered $1,500 to do a corporate gig.  The honorable magician will decline the $1,500, and live up to their promises.  If a magician isn't locked in, he or she may consider backing out at the last minute, due to "unforseen circumstances," only to try and set you up with another magician.  For your own piece of mind, get a commitment in writing.

Then, once you've hired your magician, give them all the details you can about your event: the date, the time, the location, the parking situation near the venue, the theme of the event, the audience, and any special considerations.

Finding the right magician make take a bit of effort, but in the end, it will all seem like magic.  Your audience will be thrilled, and you'll be relieved!