Magician Contract Essentials: What to Include

A handshake and a WhatsApp message are not a contract. Yet a surprising number of working magicians in the UK still operate without proper written agreements — and an equally surprising number of clients book entertainment with nothing more than an email confirmation.

This approach works fine until it doesn't. A cancelled wedding with no refund clause. A corporate client who expected a stage show but booked close-up magic. A performer who turns up to find no performance space, no power, and no one expecting them.

A good contract prevents all of this. It protects the performer, reassures the client, and ensures everyone knows exactly what's been agreed. Here's what yours should include.

Why Every Booking Needs a Contract

Even if you've been performing for twenty years without a single dispute, a contract is essential for three reasons:

Clarity. A contract forces both parties to agree on the specifics before the event. Performance time, duration, type of magic, fee, what's included — all confirmed in writing. No assumptions, no misunderstandings.

Protection. If something goes wrong — a last-minute cancellation, a payment dispute, a venue issue — a contract gives you a clear framework for resolution. Without one, you're relying on goodwill and memory, neither of which is reliable under stress.

Professionalism. Sending a contract signals to your client that you're a serious professional. It builds confidence in your service and sets the tone for the entire working relationship. On platforms like FolkAir, clients increasingly expect professional booking processes — a contract is a fundamental part of that.

Key Contract Clauses

1. Booking Fee and Deposit

The deposit secures the date and commits both parties. Your contract should specify:

• Deposit amount: Typically 25–33% of the total fee. Some magicians charge 50% for peak dates (Christmas, New Year's Eve, bank holidays).
• When it's due: Usually within 7–14 days of the contract being signed.
• How to pay: Bank transfer is standard. Include your bank details or payment link.
• Refundability: State clearly whether the deposit is refundable and under what circumstances.

Example clause: "A non-refundable deposit of £[amount] (25% of the total fee) is payable within 14 days of signing this agreement to secure the booking. The remaining balance of £[amount] is due no later than 14 days before the event date."

2. Payment Terms

Beyond the deposit, your contract needs clear terms for the remaining balance:

• When the balance is due: 14 days before the event is standard for private clients. Corporate clients may require 30-day invoice terms — specify this.
• Accepted payment methods: Bank transfer, card payment, or cheque (if you still accept them).
• Late payment: What happens if the balance isn't paid on time? Common approaches include a late payment fee (e.g., 5% per week) or the right to cancel the booking.
• Corporate invoicing: If you work with corporate clients, include your company details, VAT number (if applicable), and any purchase order requirements.

3. Cancellation Policy

This is the clause you hope never to use — but when you need it, you really need it. Cover both scenarios:

Client cancellation:

• More than 90 days before the event: deposit retained, no further liability
• 28–90 days before: 50% of total fee payable
• Less than 28 days before: 100% of total fee payable

Performer cancellation:

• Full refund of all monies paid
• Reasonable efforts to source a suitable replacement performer
• No further liability beyond the refund

These timescales are guidelines — adjust them to suit your business. The key is that they're clearly stated and agreed by both parties in advance.

4. Performance Details

Ambiguity about what's actually being performed is a common source of disputes. Nail down:

• Type of performance: Close-up magic, stage show, mentalism, children's magic — be specific
• Duration: Exact start and finish times, or total performance duration
• Format: Continuous performance, sets with breaks, roving/strolling, or a structured show
• Audience: Expected guest count and age range (particularly important for children's shows)
• Schedule: Where in the event timeline the magic fits — during drinks reception, between courses, after dinner, etc.

Example clause: "The Performer will provide 2.5 hours of close-up/table magic during the drinks reception and wedding breakfast, commencing at approximately 15:00 and concluding by 17:30."

5. What's Included vs Not Included

Spell out exactly what the fee covers — and what it doesn't:

Typically included:

• The performance itself
• All props and equipment needed
• Travel within a stated radius (e.g., 30 miles from the performer's base)
• Setup and breakdown time
• Appropriate performance attire

Typically extra (or excluded):

• Travel beyond the included radius (state a per-mile rate or flat supplement)
• Accommodation for distant venues
• Additional performance time beyond what's booked
• Bespoke/branded tricks (design and preparation time)
• Sound equipment or lighting (for stage shows)

Being explicit prevents awkward conversations on the day. If travel is included up to 30 miles and the venue is 60 miles away, the client knows in advance there'll be an additional charge.

6. Travel and Expenses

For local gigs, travel is usually absorbed into the fee. For events further afield, you need a clear policy:

• Included radius: State the distance from your base that's covered by the standard fee
• Mileage rate: HMRC's approved rate is 45p per mile — many magicians charge this or a round figure
• Accommodation: For events requiring an overnight stay, state whether the client provides accommodation or reimburses a reasonable hotel cost
• Parking: Specify that the client is responsible for providing parking or covering parking costs at the venue

7. Venue and Space Requirements

This clause prevents the nightmare scenario of arriving to find you're expected to perform on a tiny dance floor with no lighting, or discovering the "stage" is actually three tables pushed together.

For close-up magic:

• Adequate lighting for guests to see the performance
• Reasonable noise levels (you can't compete with a live band)
• Access to guests (not performing through a serving hatch)

For stage shows:

• Minimum performance area (specify dimensions, e.g., 4m × 3m)
• Power supply within reach (number of sockets needed)
• Appropriate lighting
• Sound system access or space to set up your own
• A private area for preparation (changing room or backstage space)

Example clause: "The Client will provide a performance area of no less than 4m × 3m, with access to a minimum of two 13-amp power sockets, adequate lighting, and a private area for the Performer's preparation. The Performer should be informed of any noise restrictions or venue limitations at least 14 days before the event."

8. Public Liability Insurance

Include a clause confirming your insurance coverage:

• Cover level: State the amount (e.g., £10 million public liability)
• Provider: Name your insurer
• Certificate availability: State that a copy is available on request

This reassures the client and satisfies venue requirements. Many corporate venues and hotels won't allow performers on-site without proof of insurance.

9. Force Majeure

Force majeure covers events beyond either party's reasonable control. After 2020, every performer should have this clause. It covers:

• Severe weather making travel impossible
• Pandemic restrictions or government-imposed lockdowns
• Venue closure or cancellation beyond the client's control
• Serious illness or bereavement affecting either party
• Transport infrastructure failures (strikes, major road closures)

Standard approach: If the event cannot proceed due to force majeure, both parties are released from their obligations. The deposit may be transferred to a rescheduled date or refunded in full, depending on the specific terms you set.

10. Substitution Clause

What happens if you fall ill on the day of the event? A substitution clause addresses this:

• Performer's obligation: Make reasonable efforts to provide a suitable replacement of equivalent quality
• Client's approval: The substitute must be approved by the client (they booked you specifically, so they should have a say)
• Refund alternative: If no suitable substitute is available and the client doesn't want a replacement, provide a full refund

This clause protects the client from having a random stranger turn up and protects you from a claim for breach of contract if genuine illness prevents you from performing.

Contract Structure: Putting It All Together

A professional magician's contract doesn't need to be a ten-page legal document. One to two pages is plenty. Here's a clean structure:

1. Parties — your name/business name and the client's name
2. Event details — date, time, venue address
3. Performance details — type, duration, format
4. Fee and payment — total fee, deposit, balance, payment method, due dates
5. What's included/excluded — travel, equipment, extras
6. Venue requirements — space, power, lighting, access
7. Cancellation policy — client and performer terms
8. Insurance — confirmation of cover
9. Force majeure — exceptional circumstances clause
10. Substitution — illness/replacement clause
11. Signatures — both parties, dated

Sending and Signing Contracts Digitally

Paper contracts are fine, but digital is faster and more convenient for both parties. Options include:

• DocuSign or Adobe Sign — industry-standard e-signature platforms. Professional and legally binding.
• HelloSign — a simpler, cheaper alternative that works well for freelance performers
• PDF with typed signatures — acceptable for most bookings, though less formally binding than a proper e-signature
• Email confirmation — at the very minimum, send the contract as a PDF attachment and ask the client to reply confirming acceptance. An email confirmation of agreed terms is legally binding in the UK.

Whichever method you use, keep a copy of every signed contract. Cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) with a clear filing system by date and client name makes retrieval easy if you ever need it.

A Contract Is a Kindness

Many magicians worry that sending a contract feels overly formal or off-putting. In reality, the opposite is true. Clients appreciate the clarity and professionalism. It tells them you've done this before, you take your commitments seriously, and they're in safe hands.

A contract isn't about preparing for the worst — it's about ensuring the best. When both parties know exactly what's been agreed, everyone can focus on what matters: a brilliant event.

Find professional magicians with clear booking processes on FolkAir — or create your own profile and show clients you mean business from the first enquiry.

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