| Hiring a Portland magician for a corporate event or | | | | You want to see references. More than that, you |
| party can be a difficult task. There are so many to | | | | want good references -- people you can contact. |
| choose from. How do you find the best magician for | | | | (Other Portland companies.) |
| your party? Portland offers unique magic opportunities, | | | | What you don't want are the references written by |
| but also has more than its share of problems. | | | | the magician's best friends or relatives. Also, the local |
| Here are three hiring tips, that will help you make the | | | | church or retirement home are not what you need to |
| right choice for your next corporate event. | | | | see, at this point. Of course, charities loved the |
| Magician-Hiring Tip #1 | | | | performance. It was for free. |
| Portland has more than its fare share of magic clubs. | | | | Obtain references, real Oregon companies -- Umpqua |
| You have everything from the Society of American | | | | Bank, the Portland Trailblazers, Wyatt's Eatery, etc. -- |
| Magicians to the International Brotherhood of | | | | and then call or email the contacts. Ask pointed |
| Magicians... and some exclusive ones in between. Add | | | | questions. For example, "Was there anything that could |
| the meetings and conventions, like Portland Magic Jam, | | | | have been improved? Or were there any hassles |
| Magic Fest, the Pacific Coast American Magicians | | | | dealing with this magician?" |
| Convention, and you have a glut of magicians. | | | | Magician-Hiring Tip #3 |
| So, which club should you go to, in order to find a | | | | See samples from the Pacific Northwest; I'll tell you |
| professional magician? | | | | why it's important in a minute. Make sure the samples |
| My advice is to avoid all of those clubs. Face it, clubs | | | | show the audience reaction. Does the magician have |
| are really for amateurs. You need a professional -- not | | | | video clips posted anywhere online? If not, could he or |
| someone who is nothing more than a legend in his own | | | | she send you a CD-ROM with a sample performance |
| mind. (A couple of years ago, I went a meeting/event | | | | or promotion? |
| in Portland. There were over 100 magicians. And 90% | | | | Look at the magic; determine the audience interaction |
| of the men that spoke bored us to death. Imagine their | | | | and response; judge entertainment value. Is this what |
| acts.) | | | | you want for your event? |
| And if you ask the club member for a reference, be | | | | Make sure you are looking at video samples from |
| assured you'll get his buddy... not necessarily the best | | | | your area -- Oregon, the Pacific Northwest. It does you |
| for your corporate occasion. | | | | no good to sea a cruise ship performance, where |
| So, stay away from the clubs. Start with | | | | everyone is in a festive, ship mood, in the |
| recommendations from other Portland companies -- | | | | Mediterranean. Nor do you want a sample of a street |
| find companies who have had events at McMenamins, | | | | performance on the sidewalks of New York. Again, it's |
| Jake's, or other Portland venues. (Playing the Rose | | | | not representative of your venue or audience. |
| Garden is not necessarily appropriate for your event. If | | | | In Oregon, we have a casual way of dressing, even at |
| you are from Portland, then you understand.) | | | | more formal events. We are also laid back -- and we |
| Also, look on the internet for professional Portland | | | | shy away from the more "in-your-face" personalities, |
| magicians. | | | | typical of the East Coast magicians. We also lack |
| Then... | | | | various accents associated with different parts of the |
| Magician-Hiring Tip #2 | | | | country. |
| Don't hire the first Portland magician that you find. Let | | | | This is another instance of choosing local over global. |
| me rephrase that... after you find a performing | | | | A Portland magician will tailor the humor... have the |
| magician, your research has just begun. For some | | | | inside track on the spectators and what they enjoy |
| reason, there are a lot of birthday magicians in Portland | | | | watching. The "flavor" of the act will be a better fit. |
| who "want" to move into the corporate world; | | | | With someone from a different part of the country, |
| unfortunately, a company party needs something | | | | the best you can hope for is a somewhat lame |
| different than the bunny produced at the end of the | | | | insertion of the the Burnside Bridge or the Willamette |
| kids' party. | | | | River; it's canned humor. |