That's what we look for when we find you a magician for a kids party. Tell us the date, where it is and roughly how old everyone is, and we'll come back with who's free near you and a price. Nothing's booked until you say yes.
What a kids magician actually does
Most of our magicians open with something quick and very visual to grab the room. Then it builds. A silk that changes colour, a wand that keeps drooping at the wrong moment, a card trick where every child can see where the card went and the magician somehow can't.
Kids love being cleverer than the grown-up, and the best shows lean right into that. Children come up to help, everyone shouts the magic word together, and the quieter ones get a job they can do from their seat. Nobody gets dragged up who doesn't want to be there.
The birthday child's big moment
Almost every magician saves something special for the birthday boy or girl. They might be made chief magic assistant, make something vanish, or finish the show with a trick that only works because of them. It's usually the bit that ends up in the photos.
If your child would hate being in the spotlight, tell us when you book. Some children would much rather help from the front row, and a decent magician will happily work around that. And if you'd like them to lead the singing when the cake comes out, just ask.
Pitching the magic at the right age
A three-year-old and a nine-year-old want completely different things from a show. Little ones like colour, puppets and things popping out of nowhere. By six or seven they want to catch the magician out. Older kids want to be properly fooled, ideally by something happening right in their own hands.
So the age of the birthday child is the first thing we'll ask about. If you've got a very young crowd, have a look at our page on toddler party entertainers. For a tougher audience, our magicians for 9 to 12 year olds page explains how the show changes.
How much room you need
Not a lot, honestly. A clear spot at one end of the room for the magician and their table, plus enough floor for the children to sit in a group in front. A living room is fine for a small party once the coffee table's been moved.
For a whole class it's easier to hire a village hall or community centre, mostly so the children aren't squashed and the grown-ups have somewhere to stand. One tip from experience: put the presents out of sight before the show starts. Otherwise they become the show.
Before the magician arrives
A few small jobs make a big difference. Clear the performing space before the guests turn up, not while the magician is standing there holding a suitcase. Pop the family dog in another room. Tell them where to park, especially if it's a hall with a tricky car park round the back.
It's also handy to have a rough running order in your head. When's the food? When's the cake? Who's doing the party bags? Magicians are flexible, but they'll do a better job if they know the plan, and you'll feel a lot calmer on the day too.
Magic on its own, or the whole party
Some parents book a magic show for the middle of the party and run the rest themselves. Others want the magician to take charge of everything, with games and music first, a break for food, then the show, and maybe some balloon modelling to finish. Both are completely normal.
Say which you'd like on the quote form and we'll price it that way. If you want the full games-and-magic package, our children's entertainer page explains how a longer party usually runs.