Based in Manchester, Magic Frank works across the North West of England providing a variety of magic tricks and shows. He also specialises in mind reading. He caters for weddings, birthday parties and more.

What do you need to know from an organiser in order to provide a comprehensive quote?

For me to provide an accurate quote to a prospective client there are several things I would ideally like to know. These are: the date and time of the event; its location; approximately how many guests are expected and roughly how long the client is thinking of booking me for. It is also helpful to know whether the client wants mix and mingle, table magic, a show or a mixture of these. From this information I can suggest the best package.

What advice would you give to a customer looking to hire a provider in your area of work?

I would ask them about the experience they have of working at the type of event you have booked. A magician who is an expert children's party entertainer, may not necessarily be suited to entertaining adults at a 40th wedding party. I would ask them if they can direct me to some video testimonials from previous clients. I would also ask them if they offered a money back guarantee. If they do, you can book with more confidence.

Please tell us a little bit about how and why you started the business.

I began studying magic seriously about 25 years ago. I had shown a simple trick to some children while I was on holiday in India. They wanted to see more, but I didn't know any! So, when I returned I borrowed some books from the library and began to teach myself. After a while I realised I wanted to take my magic to a more serious level and I found a teacher to train me properly. I then studied for an audition to the Magic Circle. About that time, I began to preform at friends' parties. One night the DJ offered to pay me to perform at his mother's birthday party. From there my business grew. I now work in a variety of environments from weddings to anniversary parties.

Please tell us about a booking you've had through Add to Event, how did it go? Would you recommend us to others?

Add to Event is my favourite platform for advertising my work. The communication system between me, the prospective client and the Add to Event team is excellent. It's a well designed platform in terms of its functionality and is managed with a high level of technical skill, so there are no glitches. In other words, it does a good job for client and service provider. I remember the party I performed at in Skipton. We had talked through all the details before the event, meaning that all the guests had the opportunity to have an extended close up magic show as they sat around the tables. Later, there was time for them to come together as a group and join in with my magic and mind-reading show. I like to work closely with a client before the event and this meant that John's guests got exactly the type of experience of magic he wanted them to have.