The Ultimate Guide to Birthday Party Magician Pricing in NYC
Interested in hiring a magician in NYC for your special event? Since this is probably the first party you’re considering arranging an appearance by a birthday party magician, it’s hard to know where to begin!
On top of that, you have to figure out how much it costs to hire a magician without blowing your budget. And pricing in NYC is all over the map!
How do you know how much it should cost to hire a birthday party magician in NYC?
The first thing you need to do is educate yourself about prices in the area. So give yourself a pat on the back for doing the smart thing by reading this report.
If I were you, I’d be asking myself, “Why should I listen to YOU?”
It’s a good question! So let me introduce myself…
My name is Evan, and after performing over 3,000 events and appearing on NBC’s Universal Kids, I’ve earned a reputation as one of the best birthday party magicians in the NYC area. I know how much it costs to get a great magician and where you can afford to cut corners.
I’ve also talked to parents who didn’t invest in hiring the right magician… and lived to regret it.
After seeing so many parents overwhelmed and frustrated over party planning costs, I just HAD to do something about it!
There are birthday party magicians in every price range. I’m not here to “sell” you on my business. I know what I do is amazing (in my humble opinion), but it’s not for everyone.
You deserve to know the truth about what it costs to hire a great children’s magician. I’m here to help you make an informed decision about what’s right for you.
According to GigMasters.com, a website that helps people connect with vendors for their parties, 7 out of 10 parents were spending more than $300 on their child’s birthday celebration in 2013, with slightly more than 1 in 7 admitting to spending over $1,000 on the big day.
But those numbers only tell HALF the story. The “average” figure includes parents who get Uncle Bob to put on a monkey costume as well as those who spend as much on a celebrity.
Generally, there are 3 price ranges for birthday party magicians in NYC:
#1: $100 – $175
#2: $250 – $375
#3: $425 and up
Let’s explore what you can typically expect in each of these ranges…
What You Can Expect at Different Price Ranges
If you hire a magician for $100, then you should expect someone who has less experience, mixed reviews (if any) and pretty standardized features. They are likely doing a few magic shows a year and just starting out. Everybody has to start somewhere, but know that you’ll likely find something to be desired in their performance, punctuality, and/or level of professionalism.
Birthday party magicians in the $250 – $350 range will generally have more experience, education, better reviews, and more features. They might be affiliated with an agency, have other full time jobs and perform on the weekends. They’ve done hundreds of shows, which means you’ll have more peace of mind.
Magicians who charge $425 and up are the cream of the crop. You can expect a magician in this range to have years of experience, training, excellent reviews, a stellar reputation and creative work.
The REAL Price of a Birthday Party Magician
At first, it seems like the least expensive option is the way to go. That’s the best way to save money, right?
Sometimes going cheap can be a good idea, but sometimes it leads to your special event melting into a disaster.
The first question to ask yourself is, “What kind of experience do I want to have on the day of the event?”
If you end up with a low quality or unreliable children’s magician, is that acceptable?
Does your child want a specific magician, or would any magician do?
If the magician is late or – even worse- doesn’t show up, will your child still have the best day ever?
If it’s not important to keep the children engaged and get EXACTLY what you want for your child’s party, hiring a low-price amateur can be a good idea.
On the other hand, if NOT having an unforgettably fun party is going to be something you regret, it makes sense to invest more in someone who can deliver the experience you want.
Why the Cheapest Isn’t Always a Bargain
Here’s something other kids party entertainers won’t tell you:
The cheapest isn’t always the best value.
Some children’s magicians charge a very low starting rate that doesn’t include most of what you’ll want for your child’s birthday party. For example, the package might cost only $125, but it doesn’t include travel, insurance or popular party favors like balloon-animals or magic goodie bags. By the time you add that on, you’re paying $600+!
Make sure you know the REAL price that includes all these things.
Sometimes it’s actually a better value to go with a more expensive package.
Here are some questions to ask a potential birthday party magician to learn about the value of his or her offers:
- How much experience does the magician have?
- Will I know who’s showing up at the party? Or will it be someone affiliated with an agency on their roster?
- Does the magician specialize in performing for children? Or is it someone who claims to do everything from corporate to cruise ships and kids parties?
- Does the magician have an agreement/contract/etc?
- Does the magician carry liability insurance?
- Does the magician offer to personalize the show with your child’s favorites?
Most of the parents I speak with spend between $325 – $625 on entertainment to get the quality they want.
When it comes to arranging an appearance by a birthday party magician, you really get what you pay for.
What Do You Get for the Price?
There’s obviously a lot involved in hiring the right birthday party magician. This report should point you in the right direction.
However, I’m happy to answer any questions you might have about arranging entertainment for your child’s birthday party.
If you’re only interested in the lowest price, I’m probably not the guy for you.
But if you’d like to know more about what you really get for the price, let’s talk!
Fill out the form below or pick up the phone and call me @ 1-855-624-4238
I’m Magic Evan, and I’m wishing you all the best in the planning of your special event!