What you need for a staff magic show

A staff magic show needs more than a magician and an audience. Plan the guest-facing basics first: chairs, tables, name badges, glasses, cups, plates and serving equipment. Drinks and catering also need practical equipment, including coolers, coffee supplies, kettles and thermos flasks. Check the venue’s power and sound setup before buying anything, because microphones, speakers, extension cords and cable mats are easy to overlook.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Chairsqty 70
Buffet tablesqty 6
Magic table
High tablesqty 6
Clothes racksqty 2
Waste binsqty 4

Tableware

Glassesqty 80
Coffee cupsqty 80
Platesqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 80
Serving traysqty 8
Serving tongsqty 6

Equipment

Wireless microphone
Active speaker
Microphone stand
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Cable matsqty 6
Coolersqty 4

Kitchen

Thermos flasksqty 4
Coffee maker
Kettlesqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knifeqty 2
Serving plattersqty 10

Decorations

Backdrop cloth
Buntingqty 8
Name badgesqty 70
Badge holdersqty 70
Wayfinding signsqty 6

Lighting

LED spotlightsqty 2

Cleaning

Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee beans - 2 kilograms
- Tea assortment - 4 boxes
- Sugar - 2 kilograms
- Milk - 10 liter
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Still water - 10 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Sinas - 4 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Tonic - 3 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 kilograms
- Mini rolls - 80 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 2 kilograms
- Back ham - 1,5 kilogram
- Hummus - 1 kilogram
- Par-baked rolls - 30 pieces
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Mayonnaise - 1 bottle
- Ketchup - 1 bottle
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Snack mix - 3 bags
- Pretzels - 3 bags
- Popcorn - 3 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Grapes - 4 kilograms
- Apples - 50 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Cookies - 5 packs
- Brownies - 60
- Gluten-free crackers - 3 packs
- Vegan cookies - 3 packs
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Trash bags - 2 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs

Tips

Allow one chair per registered guest, plus a small number of spare chairs if attendance can change on the day. Provide a clear magic table and enough space for the performer to move safely.
For drinks, plan roughly 2 to 3 servings per person for the first hour, then 1 to 2 servings per person for each additional hour. Use coolers for chilled drinks and thermos flasks for coffee or hot water.
Buy or collect at least one complete place setting per guest, including a glass, coffee cup, plate and cutlery set. Add serving trays, tongs and platters so food can be replenished without guests reaching across the buffet.
Test the wireless microphone and active speaker at least one day before the show. Bring extension cords, power strips and cable mats, and confirm that the microphone stand fits the equipment.
Prepare name badges, badge holders and wayfinding signs before shopping day. Door and route signs are often forgotten, even though guests need them before they can find the magic area, drinks or seating.

Frequently asked questions

What equipment do I need for a staff magic show?: Plan for a magic table, wireless microphone, active speaker and microphone stand. Add extension cords, power strips and cable mats, then test the complete setup at least 24 hours before the show.
How many glasses and cups do I need per guest?: Start with one glass and one coffee cup per guest, plus about 10% spare if washing during the event is not possible. For 50 guests, that means 55 glasses and 55 cups.
How much food and drink should I buy for a staff magic show?: For drinks, allow 2 to 3 servings per person during the first hour and 1 to 2 per person for each later hour. For catering, confirm registrations and dietary requirements before placing the final order, preferably 3 to 5 days in advance.
What should I prepare the day before the magic show?: Check all supplies, test the sound equipment, prepare name badges and print the route signs and run sheet. Chill drinks and confirm catering quantities no later than the day before the event.

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