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There’s no need to enroll in Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry to learn how to hire the right party magician for your child’s birthday. All it takes is a little research and a phone call or two to produce the perfect conjurer to amaze a roomful of children.

Start with a quick Internet search for “party magicians in (your city or town)” or “children’s magicians in (town).” Then check out the websites of two or three good-looking candidates. Look especially for magicians who post online videos of their shows. It’s particularly helpful when choosing a children’s magician to view his or her show in advance. You’ll be able to see the act, the costume, and possibly even some of the audience reactions. You also will be able to hear the “patter” that the magician uses to accompany his or her magic acts. This way you’ll get a better idea of whether the magician is right for your child and his or her age group.

First, do a search on the Internet. Type in something like “professional magicians in [your town]” and see what results you get. These days most professional party magicians have websites, and they often include online videos of the magician performing. The opportunity to watch a magician in costume while performing can be an enormous help in deciding whether to contact the artist about your party.

* What are your professional affiliations [such as the Society of American Magicians, International Brotherhood of Magicians or Kidabra, especially for children's magicians.]

Watching an online video, you’ll be able to hear the magician recite the “patter” that accompanies the program so you can decide if it’s appropriate for your child’s age group. Some magicians use onstage characters that have accents difficult for children to understand, so it’s important to make sure the little ones will know what’s going on.

Check several magicians’ websites and then pick two or three finalists to contact in person. The first question to ask a magician is whether he or she is available on the date of your party. There’s no point in discussing any details if the magician is already booked on your chosen date.

* How much space do you need for your show? Do you need to check out the space before you perform?

Ask how much space the magician needs for his act, and if he needs to survey the party space ahead of time. Then ask for the total cost of the show, and whether there are any additional charges for things like overtime or special props.

Ask the magician to pencil in your date while you check his or her references and testimonials. A good professional magician will be glad for you to contact his or her references. Once you’ve satisfied with the magician’s competence, call back immediately and confirm the date, including paying a deposit if necessary.

If your party will include adults as well as children, ask if the magician can perform “roving magic” as well as the planned show for the little ones. An experienced magician almost always has a close-up trick or two up his or her sleeve.

Prepare for your party like every good (http://www.magic-man.com/party-magician.htm) party magician prepares a show: Do the research, and then practice until you have it perfectly, and voila! Your partygoers are entertained just like magic. – 35634

Andrew Edmonds is a full-time (http://www.magic-man.com/party-magicianhtm) party magician providing magicial entertainment in the United Kingdom. For more information on his services, promotional offers and to learn some tricks to entertain your friends, visit http://www.magic-man.com and sign up for his newsletter.