Establishments that showcase magic acts are some of the most desirable places for magicians to work. There are dozens of such venues in the United States, and while they certainly vary—some advertise their magic front and center, for example, while others include magic as part of a larger evening or dining experience—they all seek magicians who create wonder, amazement, and entertainment for their guests.

Genii brought together the bookers for four of these venues to discuss what they look for in an act, what it takes to succeed at their establishments (and get asked back), and how magicians can work toward getting hired by these theaters.

The participants, who took part in a panel discussion moderated by magician Rachel Wax, included Zoe Ruth, who manages Liberty Magic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Zoe, who has worked for Liberty Magic for three seasons, books performers who have a 70-minute theatrical show that they perform every Wednesday through Sunday for roughly a month-long run.

Joey Martinez—who, for the past six years, has booked House of Cards, a Nashville- based dining and entertainment establishment with a parlor-sized theater and areas designated for close-up magic—also took part, along with Benjamin Barnes, who has selected acts for The Chicago Magic Lounge since 2018.

Rounding out the group was Jack Goldfinger, The Magic Castle’s Director of Entertainment since 2009, and his Entertainment Coordinator Melody Robusto, who handles logistics for performers once they’re hired.

All of their venues have idiosyncrasies, including specific needs dictated by their entertainment model, stage space, and the makeup of their guests. Despite this, they had similar advice and helpful insights on current magic trends and how to improve your chances of catching their attention. They also had a great time talking shop with each other, and Jack even asked when they could get together on Zoom again.

Here are the major revelations that came out over their hour-long discussion.