Here's the line I hear on more sales calls than any other: "Sounds great. I just have to run it by someone."
Not price. Not the date. That one. The boss, the GM, the social committee, the CEO. You've done the research, you're excited, and now you have to sell it to a person who wasn't on the call and has never seen the act.
That's a hard job. You're the champion, and you have about thirty seconds of their attention. So here's what the person signing off is worried about, and how to answer it before they ask.
What the decision-maker is thinking
They're not asking "is this fun?" They're asking four quieter questions.
1. Is it worth the money? Entertainment looks like a line item until you put it next to the rest of the night. Venue, catering and bar are already the bulk of the budget. Entertainment is what people remember.
2. Could it embarrass us? This is the big one, even if nobody says it out loud. Nobody wants the off-colour joke, the volunteer who gets roasted, or an awkward email from HR on Monday morning.
3. Will it fit our people? Some leaders picture the birthday-party magician from when they were six. Fair. That's not what a corporate show is.
4. Is it going to be a headache to run? Another vendor, another set of needs, another thing to manage on the night.
Answer those four and you're most of the way to a yes.
How to answer each one
Worth it? Put the cost in context. For 150 guests, a $4,000 full evening of close-up magic plus a stage show works out to under $27 a person, with MC hosting included. Then name the outcome, not the act: people from different teams talking to each other, instead of IT standing with IT and accounting standing with accounting.
Embarrassing? Say it plainly: the material is 100% clean. No weird jokes, nobody gets embarrassed, no weird emails on Monday. Volunteers are the stars of the show, never the punchline. Ask for the insurance certificate if your venue needs one.
Fit? The best magic happens in your guests' own hands. The cards disappear while they're holding them. That's what makes grown professionals lose it, and it plays the same for every age group and culture in the room.
Headache? Close-up magic needs nothing from the venue. The show needs about 8 by 8 feet and basic lighting, and I plug into your sound or bring my own speaker. You hand over a run sheet and that's it.
The email that gets a yes
Keep it short. Decision-makers skim. Something like this:
Hi [name],
For the holiday party, I'd like to book a magician and MC instead of [last year's DJ / photo booth / just dinner]. It's close-up magic during cocktails, a 45-minute show after dinner, and he hosts the program, so we don't need a separate MC.
The goal is getting people from different teams talking. It's fully clean and corporate-friendly, insured, and he's booked by firms like McCarthy Tétrault, Deloitte and RBC, with 175+ five-star reviews.
Everything's on one page here, including pricing: kelmodernmagic.com/for-your-team
Dates are going fast. Can I get a yes by [day]?
That last line matters. A clear ask with a date beats "let me know what you think."
Make it easy on yourself
I built a one-page brief for exactly this moment. It covers what guests get, three reviews, pricing, insurance and the fine print, written for someone who wasn't on the call. There's an "Email this page" button that writes the message for you.
If it would help, check the date first. Asking costs nothing and commits you to nothing, and it means you're not pitching a night that's already gone.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convince my boss to book entertainment for a company party?
Answer the four questions they're quietly asking: is it worth it, could it embarrass us, will it fit our people, and is it a headache to run. Put the cost per guest in context, confirm the material is clean and the performer is insured, and send one page they can skim. A clear ask with a deadline helps too.
What should I include when asking for entertainment budget approval?
Include what guests will experience, the total cost and what's included, proof that others have booked it, and how risk is handled: insurance, clean material and simple logistics. Link one page with all of it, like Kel's one-page brief, instead of a long email thread.
Is a magician appropriate for a corporate event?
Yes, when the material is written for adults. Kel's shows are 100% clean, with no jokes at anyone's expense, and volunteers are the stars, never the punchline. The magic happens in guests' own hands, which gets people from different teams talking to each other.
How far ahead should we decide on holiday party entertainment?
As early as you can. November and December dates go first, and for October through December, six to twelve months ahead is ideal. If you're waiting on approval, check the date anyway. It costs nothing and tells you whether the night is still open.
