What types of real world magicians are there?

You have decided to book a magician for your event to entertain your guests, but you may not know which type of magician is best suited to your needs.

To give you an overview of the possibilities, I have listed and explained the different types of magicians.

All magicians who are booked for special occasions or events are called event magicians. The various categories of event magicians are distinguished by their presentation style and the size of their audience.

Close-up magicians, who are occasionally also called table magicians, show their magic up close to the audience. They either move from group to group or from table to table, performing for a few minutes before moving on to the next group. This type of magic is very flexible and can be easily integrated into any event. It is well suited to break the ice or loosen up the mood at the beginning. Especially at networking and business events, closeup magicians can help the organizer entertain their guests without endangering the open, informal character of the event.

Stage magicians stand on a stage in front of many viewers for their performance. They work with objects that are easily recognizable from a distance. They often use animals, people, or large apparatuses in their magic. It makes sense to consider booking a stage magician or illusionist when the audience is sizeable. (Around 150 people and more) One of the most famous illusionists is David Copperfield. A clear and well-organized event plan is necessary when booking a stage magician. Clarify all details beforehand, such as necessary equipment, required technology, and space needed. Make a precise plan for when the magician performs and announce the time in your flyers or event moderation. It would be a shame if you spend a lot of money on a great magician, but there are hardly any people present at the time of his show because they didn’t know about it. The stage show will be particularly successful if the magician tells a story with his magic, instead of just showing effects. The group Magus Utopia does a fantastic job of storytelling here:

Stand-up magicians fill the niche between close-up magic and stage magic. They often perform in front of an audience of 10 to 150 guests and entertain them with their magic. If necessary, they can reach broader audiences with the help of live broadcasting on video screens. They show effects that are still visible from a few meters away, but do not require the same planning effort as a stage magician and they do not need as much space. At medium-sized events, stand-up magicians can provide a highlight for your guests with their show. Although they often stand on stages during their shows or use microphones, they are not as dependent on them as illusionists are.

Magicians can also be distinguished by their content orientation instead of their presentation form. There are various flavors, of which I will list the most well-known here.

Manipulation magicians have devoted themselves to the most technically demanding class of magic. All their effects rely on dexterity and years of training. They often work on stage with playing cards or balls. Furthermore they can make the cards disappear or produce incredible amounts of them from their seemingly empty hands. The focus of their magic is on their hands and fingers. Often they perform their routines, choreographed to music. An example of a modern and great manipulation magician is Winston Fuenmayor.

Mentalists display effects that revolve around the mind. They read thoughts, make surprising predictions, and amaze with their apparent understanding of body language. These magicians are very skillful in making their tricks appear like genuine abilities and can even make skeptical audiences ponder.

Business magicians specialize in performing for companies. Often they are booked for trade show events. They use their skills to attract audiences and focus their attention on specific products or services. At networking events, they lighten the mood with their magic and create opportunities for participants to connect. Business magicians are usually smartly dressed and would not stand out among other attendees if they were not conjuring banknotes out of thin air or reading their minds.

Pickpocket magicians entertain audiences by skillfully directing their “victims” attention and displaying precise dexterity. They often bring a volunteer on stage under a different pretext, perform a magic trick, and then explain afterwards what they have stolen from the volunteer and give it back. This amuses the audience. They steal wallets, cell phones, ties, and even belts. A well-known pickpocket magician is Bob Arno.

Quick-change magicians are able to change their entire outfit within seconds, often repeatedly choreographed to music and to the amazement of the audience. The show becomes particularly good when they tell a story with these effects. This is shown expertly in this wonderful performance by Ellie and Jeki.

Comedy magicians do not take themselves or magic too seriously. They play with the audience’s expectations and perform silly or extreme magic tricks. They often make fun of common magic clichés and walk a fine line between magic and clowning. Many comedy magicians are more like clowns who show a few magic tricks. But there are also comedy magicians who take magic seriously and display high-quality magical effects with a humorous presentation. One of the most successful and well-known comedy magicians is Mac King.

While my next advice applies to all magicians, it is even more important when booking a comedy magician: Get a personal impression! Talk to them on the phone and watch their videos. Humor is a very subjective topic. If you keep that in mind and are attentive when booking, you will notice the difference between a humorous professional and an embarrassing laughingstock.

Wedding magicians mingle among your guests and break the ice at your wedding. As the audience ranges from young to old, they present effects for both children and adults. The goal of many couples is not only to celebrate a wonderful wedding and entertain their guests, but also to unite two families. Wedding magicians achieve this through their skillful use of close-up magic. They often also offer a magic show as a highlight for the family. Some magicians involve the bride and groom in the show, so that everyone can celebrate and applaud them together.

Escape artists manage to escape from seemingly life-threatening situations through skill, tricks, and illusions. They allow themselves to be tied up in front of the audience, locked in boxes, and to often be exposed to danger from which they escape at the last moment. The most famous escape artist is Harry Houdini. Through skillful public stunts, he gained fame and had more success as a stuntman and escape artist than with his magic. The reason why he is now considered one of the most famous magicians in the world can mostly be attributed to his great self-promotion and less to his magic talent.

Card magicians entertain their audience solely with playing cards. They make cards disappear, reappear, change color, and tell stories with them. The best of them manage to evoke the most diverse emotions and feelings with the help of the cards and show varied and entertaining effects. Especially Spain is known for producing some of the best card artists in the world. One of them is Dani DaOrtiz:

Children’s magicians specialize in presenting an entertaining program for children. They are often booked for birthday parties or school enrollments. Children have less patience than adults, so their magic effects are often short, colorful, and very visual. Good children’s magicians involve the children in the show and give them opportunities to actively participate in the show. They also show effects that are surprising and entertaining for adults.

Street magicians can occasionally be found in crowded places and at street festivals. They make their money by making passers-by curious and encouraging them to stop. This gives them the chance to present their magic and if the audience likes it, they can donate money to them. There are street magicians at all skill levels. What they all have in common, however, is that they bring a lot of courage and a thick skin, because that’s what it takes to make it as a street magician.

Bizarre magicians perform illusions that are reminiscent of ancient rituals. They move in a world of demons, spirits, witches, old legends, and customs. Often they perform their effects by candlelight, creating a creepy atmosphere. Some of them are great storytellers, like Eugene Burger:

With the help of this list of the most common types of magic, it should hopefully be easier for you to find the right magician for your event.