Corporate Event Guide
The Complete Guide to Hiring a Corporate Magician in Minnesota
Last Update: July 2026
Planning a company event comes with a lot of decisions, and choosing the right entertainment can have a bigger impact than most people expect. After performing at corporate events throughout Minnesota for more than 26 years, I’ve learned what helps events succeed (and what to avoid). Whether you’re planning a holiday party, conference, sales meeting, client appreciation event, networking reception, or awards banquet, this guide will help you choose entertainment your guests will rave about.
Imagine Reactions Like This at Your Event
Why Companies Hire a Corporate Magician
Magic is different from almost every other form of entertainment because it brings people together instead of simply giving them something to watch.
During cocktail hour, it helps strangers start conversations. At networking events, it naturally creates small groups and shared experiences. At conferences, it gives attendees an energy boost between sessions. During holiday parties, it becomes the moment people talk about long after the event ends.
The best corporate entertainment doesn’t interrupt your event – it enhances it. Great magic entertainment creates laughter, breaks the ice, encourages interaction, and leaves guests with stories they’ll still be telling the next day.
Whether your event has 30 people or 3,000, a top tier corporate magician is able to create memorable moments that will fit naturally into almost any schedule and venue.
Top 3 Reasons Magic Creates Better Company Events
Brings People Together
One of the biggest challenges at any company event is getting people to interact naturally. Whether guests are meeting for the first time or reconnecting with coworkers, interactive magic creates shared experiences that spark conversation, laughter, and genuine connections throughout the event.
Completely Customizable
Every company event is different, and your entertainment should be too. Whether you’re planning a networking reception, holiday party, conference, awards banquet, or sales meeting, a professional magic performance can be tailored to fit your audience, schedule, theme, and event goals.
Creates Lasting Memories
Long after the event is over, people remember how it made them feel. Great entertainment creates those unforgettable moments – the kind guests talk about on the drive home and continue sharing with coworkers long after the event has ended.
What Clients are saying:
AT&T
AT&T Corporation
The Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers
The Home Depot
The Home Depot
Target Corporation
Target Corporation
3M Corporation
3M Corporation
Microsoft
Microsoft
General Mills
General Mills
American Express
American Express
Best Buy
Best Buy Corporation
Which Type of Corporate Entertainment Is Right for Your Event?
Every company event has different goals. Some are designed to celebrate employees. Others focus on building client relationships, energizing a sales team, or creating memorable conference experiences. That’s why there isn’t one “right” type of performance.
Here are a few of the most common ways professional magic is incorporated into corporate events:
Interactive Cocktail Hour Entertainment
Cocktail hour is the perfect opportunity to create energy before dinner or the main program begins. Interactive magic happens naturally as guests mingle, creating conversation, laughter, and memorable moments without interrupting the flow of the event.
Corporate Stage Shows
When you want to bring everyone together for one unforgettable experience, a stage show is often the perfect choice. Combining impossible magic, audience participation, clean comedy, and plenty of surprises, a corporate stage show creates a shared experience the entire audience enjoys together.
Holiday Parties
Holiday parties often combine multiple styles of entertainment. Some companies choose interactive magic during cocktail hour before transitioning into dinner, while others feature a stage performance after the meal. Both approaches create memorable moments while fitting naturally into the evening’s schedule.
Conferences & Sales Meetings
Large meetings benefit from entertainment that energizes the room. Whether opening a conference, closing a leadership meeting, or breaking up a full day of presentations, professional magic provides a memorable change of pace while keeping attendees engaged.
Awards Banquets
Awards banquets celebrate accomplishments, and the entertainment should complement – not compete with – that purpose. Whether performed before the program, between presentations, or as the evening finale, magic helps maintain energy while creating an unforgettable experience for guests.
Stage Show or Interactive Close-Up Magic? Here's How to Decide.
One of the questions I’m asked most often is whether a stage show or interactive magic is the better fit. The answer depends on your audience, schedule, and event goals.
STAGE SHOW
Perfect for bringing everyone together, easily follows dinner and awards, and acts as the highlight of the event that everyone will be talking about.
What to Expect
One unforgettable experience that brings your entire group together. Hilarious comedy, audience participation, and a customized presentation that can be adapted to any environment.
Best For
✔ Conferences
✔ Holiday Parties
✔ Awards Banquets
✔ Sales Meetings
✔ Company Celebrations
INTERACTIVE CLOSE-UP MAGIC
Creates conversation naturally, keeps guests engaged throughout the event, and delivers memorable moments without requiring a stage, sound system, or formal setup.
What to Expect
Entertainment that happens naturally, requires no set-up, and will have your guests laughing and buzzing throughout your event. Expect close-up magic for small groups that will bring people together for some incredible wow-moments.
Best For
✔ Networking Events
✔ Cocktail Hour
✔ Welcome Receptions
✔ Team Bonding Events
✔ Client Appreciation Dinners
Still can't decide?
Most corporate clients actually choose both. Interactive close-up magic during cocktail hour followed by a featured stage show later in the evening creates the best of both worlds.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring a Corporate Magician
- How far in advance should I book corporate entertainment? The earlier, the better – especially if your event falls during the busy holiday season. While I can occasionally accommodate last-minute events, most corporate clients book several months in advance to secure their preferred date. If your event is coming up soon, it’s always worth reaching out to check availability.
- What types of corporate events are the best fit for a magician? Professional magic works well for a wide variety of company events, including holiday parties, conferences, client appreciation events, awards banquets, sales meetings, networking receptions, trade shows, fundraisers, and employee celebrations. Whether your goal is bringing people together, creating conversation, or ending the evening with a bang, the right style of corporate magic can be tailored to fit your event.
- Should we choose a stage show or interactive magic? It depends on the type of experience you want to create. A stage show is perfect when you want everyone to share one memorable experience together, such as after dinner or during an awards banquet. Interactive magic is ideal for cocktail hours, networking events, and receptions, where the entertainment naturally becomes part of the conversation. Many companies choose both!
Planning a Company Event? I'd Be Happy to Help.
Whether you’re planning a holiday party, conference, client appreciation event, awards banquet, or company celebration, I hope this guide has helped make the entertainment decision a little easier.
After performing professionally for more than +26 years, I’ve learned that every event is unique. The best entertainment isn’t about choosing the biggest production – it’s about finding the right experience for your audience, your venue, and your goals, and budget.
If you’re still deciding between a stage show and interactive magic, wondering what would work best for your schedule, or simply looking for a few ideas, I’m always happy to help. There’s never any pressure, and I’m glad to share recommendations based on what I’ve seen work at hundreds of corporate events.
I’d love to learn more about what you’re planning.
Magician Alan Smola
