HOT TOPIC Local experts offer stellar advice on wedding dilemmas MAGIC MOMENTS We’ve booked our venue and are now looking for a magician. What advice can you share to help us in our search? Now that you’ve decided to book a magician for your special day and understand the added value one can bring, how do you know a supplier will be great? You should try to meet any supplier you’ll have on your special day to get a feel for their personality, which is vital. Websites can make anyone look good, but can they match up to that in real life? I get the majority of my weddings from meeting couples at wedding fayres, where couples can meet me and see what I do for real. No camera tricks! If you can’t meet them, research the supplier. Are there videos/photos of the magician performing at weddings online? Does the magician do as many weddings as they say? It’s easy for suppliers to say, ‘We do X number of weddings a year’, but is there evidence of that? If there isn’t, ask yourself why. A big indicator of a magician’s quality is reviews. Check what previous couples said about the magician, but keep in mind if it’s a real review. The company should have verified reviews, preferably with dates and locations of weddings, on Google reviews, Trust Pilot and more. Is the magician recommended at any venues you know? When an established and respected venue recommends a supplier, it’s usually a good sign that they’re both good and trustworthy. Cost is very subjective, and every wedding will be working to a ‘budget’ of some sort. You probably already know how quickly the budget can get out of hand! Magicians vary significantly in cost, as does the quality. I’m probably in the mid to higher range of pricing, but with that comes the assurances that have been mentioned in the other paragraphs. If a price seems too good to be true, ask yourself why. As well as performing magic, your wedding magician needs to be entertaining. He needs to be personable and be able to make guests feel relaxed and at ease. There’s no use in having a technically amazing magician if he is as dull as dishwater. Any supplier at your wedding must have the relevant insurance. For magicians, it’s Public Liability Insurance. Most venues will insist on it and not let a supplier go on-site without it. You don’t want to discover that your magician has been escorted off the premises, as he hasn’t got PLI! Nearly every magician has ‘award-winning’ on their website! But what is the award? It’s easy to add this term without specifying what that award was for. Ask them what they have won and when. Check if the magician is a member of The Magic Circle. This isn’t vital, but you can get peace of mind if a magician is a member. He will have been through a rigorous application procedure of an interview, exam and audition in front of some of the best magicians in the country. Only those deemed good enough are admitted. For any couple, trustworthiness in suppliers is vital. You’re investing significant money with them and trusting they’ll make your day amazing. This is a huge responsibility and one I take very seriously. Ensure your magician gives you a legal contract that covers your money and their terms and conditions. Also, ensure they give you a full invoice detailing what you have paid. Owen Strickland | Owen Strickland Magician www.owenstrickland.co.uk www.shotbycarrieanne.com www.shotbycarrieanne.com 68
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