How to choose a magician.
The questions worth asking before you book, from a magician and mentalist who has headlined over 700 shows at Hollywood's Magic Castle.
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Magic Castle headliner. 700+ shows.
Jacob Martinez is a magician and mentalist who has headlined over 700 shows at Hollywood's Magic Castle, and his work has been featured on the Today Show, FOX 11, and the LA Times.
Based in Los Angeles, Jacob travels across the country performing strolling magic and stage shows for events of every kind, from high-end living room shows and private parties to corporate events for Fortune 500 companies.
Services
Strolling Magic & Mentalism
Jacob goes from group to group while your guests mingle, so the magic is intimate and interactive, happening right in their own hands. He might reveal the name of a guest's childhood best friend, then have the card they signed appear under their watch.
It's the easiest icebreaker you can book and a great way to warm up a crowd, a natural fit for cocktail hours, receptions, holiday parties, networking events, and weddings.
Stage Show
Jacob specializes in mind reading built on the people in the room. In the stage show he might name a guest's brother and the day he was born, or the PIN code someone is only thinking of, and dozens of people end up part of the show. Audiences today have watched so much magic and mentalism on social media that Jacob builds every show around what they can't find in a feed, moments about their own lives and thoughts, said out loud in front of everyone they came with. Since all of it comes from whoever is in the room that night, your guests get an experience that has never been performed before and never will be again.
Jacob will work with you to create a completely customized show that fits your room and your timeslot, whether it's a high-end living room party with no stage or a theater for thousands. It's a perfect fit for galas, awards nights, conferences, company parties, and dinners where guests are seated and ready to watch.
“I've done magic show live shots, and I'm usually able to figure it out. This is the first time I have no idea.”
What to ask before you book.
Choosing a magician starts with the shape of your event, because that decides the format. If guests will be standing and mingling during a cocktail hour, between courses, or before a program, you want strolling magic, performed group to group right in their hands. If everyone will be seated after the meal, a full show gives the whole room one moment together. Table to table during the meal is the one plan that doesn't work, since nobody wants to be pulled into a trick mid bite. Many events book both.
The next question is how the show gets built. Your guests have watched so much magic and mentalism on social media that a routine they could have seen online will have a hard time holding them. The strongest shows are built on the people in the room, and Jacob builds every one from scratch for your event, so the material is about your guests and has never been performed before. Any performer you're considering should be able to tell you how your guest list shapes the night.
Credentials are the easiest part to check. A headline run at a respected venue and real television appearances are easy to verify, and video of a live audience shows how a performer handles a crowd. Jacob has headlined over 700 shows at Hollywood's Magic Castle and been featured on the Today Show, FOX 11, and the LA Times, and you can watch him perform in the promo video on this page. Reviews from hosts with events like yours are worth reading too.
The practical side matters as well. Jacob arrives fully set up, and large theaters only need early access for a sound check. Corporate events and weddings usually book 4 to 8 weeks out, holiday parties 2 to 3 months ahead, and private parties 2 to 4 weeks, though plenty of events book last minute too. Once the format and date are clear, Contact Jacob with the details, and the magician cost guide explains what shapes the quote.