Jean-Luc Dupont Magical Entertainer
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

On this page, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions I get. This should give readers a good insights on the services I provide and my general business approach.

  1. My son/daughter is turning x years old. Do you do children parties? How long is it? How much does it cost?
  2. Do you do children parties?
  3. How much do you charge?
  4. How long does your show last?
  5. Do you wear a funny costume?
  6. Do you make a rabbit appear?
  7. I just called someone who only charges x dollars/hour, claims to be a clown who does magic, juggles with fire on a unicycle, makes balloon animals, sings while a dummy talks and …
  8. There are other magicians out there. Why pick you? What’s unique about you?
  9. Have you ever been late for a show?
  10. Do you ever make mistakes?
  11. What is the worst mistake you have ever done?
  12. Do magicians use their sleeves?
  13. I would have thought that a magician would have a flashy website. Why is yours so simple?

 


My son/daughter is turning x years old. Do you do children parties? How long is it? How much does it cost?

This is the most usual call that I get. When I get the question above, this tells me that this person is considering having some sort of performer for their kid’s birthday and is obviously trying to find the best value for their money. They have likely not seen me perform and are shopping around and trying to educate themselves on what the various performers can offer. Hopefully the answers below will help get the most bang for the buck.

Do you do children parties?

While the main focus of my business is the performance of magic for marketing purposes, I truly enjoy and regularly perform for children either at schools or in private settings. After seeing me perform at a corporate function, many parents want their kids to experience the same sense of wonder that they just experienced. They have just witnessed me presenting baffling mysteries that will surprise their kids, make them laugh, stimulate their minds and imagination. They know my show is very interactive. Furthermore, they know that the magic they see is quality material. I am not just someone who buys a few props from a toy store and calls himself a magician. What I present is the result of many years of hard work.

How much do you charge?

I am hoping that by the time you finish browsing my web site, you will have decided that I offer what you are looking for and that price won’t be the primary factor for getting my services. That being said, I will say that my prices are competitive and reflect the value I bring. The final price depends on many factors, such as location, duration, type of events, number of spectators, availability, etc… Contact me directly for more details.

How long does your show last?

Both my kids and adults ‘official’ show usually lasts 45 minutes but can vary in length to accommodate the specifics of your event. That being said, I have occasionally performed for up to 5 hours straight…

Do you wear a funny costume?

I do not wear a special costume; I wear a suit (see my pictures section) except on some very rare occasions (outside performance at +35 C ). Because of my straightforward appearance, spectators find it more hilarious when something goes wrong (usually intentionally)! I happen to believe that a colourful costume detracts and distracts the attention of spectators from the magic. Interestingly, many children tell me that they like seeing a real magician, not some silly dressed person doing silly tricks.

Do you make a rabbit appear?

I do not use real animals in any of my magic show. If I was a rabbit I am not sure I would like it if I was ‘attacked’ by dozens of kids. I strongly believe that animals shouldn’t be used for financial gains. While, I recognize that animals hold a certain appeal to spectators, I prefer to rely on my own skills to entertain them.

I just called someone who only charges x dollars/hour, claims to be a clown who does magic, juggles with fire on a unicycle, makes balloon animals, sings while a dummy talks and …

You get my point.

My advice for the customers considering these performers is to have a clear picture of what they want. Some people are simply looking for someone to produce an animal that the kids can pet. Others want someone to manufacture balloon animals. Some people simply want someone dressed like a clown thinking that alone will make spectators laugh. Others want a juggler or a comic, etc.... I specialize in presenting baffling, entertaining and magical mysteries. There is no right or wrong answer here but having a clear idea of what your needs are will help you focus your efforts.

In an effort to capture as much business as possible, some performers offer a plethora of services but are usually mediocre at all of them. My advice for customers is to steer away from these performers. As an example, I know of a clown who bought a magic kit from Toys R us and started offering magic shows to schools the next day. Believe me; It takes many years of work to efficiently and entertainingly deliver any kind of act, let alone teach it. It makes you think that if that clown was really funny in the first place, he/she wouldn’t need to resort to other ploys like this.

That being said, some occasions do require variety and I do occasionally partner with other artists to properly and professionally fill the gaps.

There are other magicians out there. Why pick you? What’s unique about you?

You are correct; There are other magicians out there and a few of them are also very good. Just like singers and musicians who might end up playing some of the same songs, magicians have different styles. How do you know which ones are the best? My advice is to look at the testimonials for that performer. As an example, in my testimonial section, you will see that a wide range of people have been thrilled with my work and services. Another clue is to look at what drives that performer. Good performers in any field have one thing in common; they explore their art for the love of it, not because it is a way for them to show off or a way to make a quick buck. There are obviously business considerations in show-business, but it usually is not the primary driving factor for the performer.

I am a straightforward, energetic performer who uses clean humour to baffle and stimulate the mind. I aim to involve the audience as much as I can without mocking spectators or making them feel like fools. From a business perspective, I try not to commit to a job unless I know I can do it. In fact, I lose possible sales every year because I steer some customers away from magic if I believe it is not suitable for their conditions.

Have you ever been late for a show?

Despite a few close calls resulting from a busy schedule, I have always managed to be on time to all my shows.

Do you ever make mistakes?

Only those who never perform make no mistake. In fact, I have even seen magicians and perfectionists like David Copperfield make obvious mistakes!

Many hours of practice allow me to limit my errors. However, the truth is that I always try to push my limits and just like an olympic figure skater who constantly tries to go beyond what has been done before, I do sometimes stumble in attempting new things. The real trick is in getting back up and continuing…

What is the worst mistake you have ever done?

There is one specific occasion that comes to mind. Occasionally I make some water disappear and to prove it is gone, I turn the glass over the spectator’s head. That one time, I failed to make the water properly disappear and my volunteer got pretty wet. Fortunately, this incident happened in rehearsal and I am hopeful it won’t happen again.

Do magicians use their sleeves?

Movie directors use a wide variety of tools to bring you special effects and action sequences: Computer graphics, make-up, stunts, sound effects, editing, etc… Magicians also use a variety of tools to present illusions in a live setting. Sleeves are definitely a tool that can be used by magicians. Interestingly however, they are seldom used by magicians. First, it is a tool that has reached mythical status amongst the general public. If people think sleeves are used, it is logical for a magician to not use them canceling a possible explanation. Second, using sleeves effectively is actually quite difficult. There is a lot of friction, there’s a size limitation, etc… Chances are that most magicians you see do not use their sleeves. In fact, only the very few best magicians develop the skill to use sleeves as a tool…

I would have thought that a magician would have a flashy website. Why is yours so simple?

I have designed my website to be simple to read, easy to maintain and easy to download. Since I don't have to test a bunch of features and popups, this allows me to easily keep it up-to-date and to focus my energy on improving my magical services. I am hoping that people will realize that my goal is to properly inform them without resorting to superfluous fluff.