How Much Does a Magician Cost on the Sunshine Coast? (2026 Guide)

Planning something on the Sunshine Coast and trying to work out what a magician actually costs? It is harder to find a straight answer than it should be, and the numbers you do find swing wildly.

I’m Jason Gray. I’m based on the Gold Coast and I travel to the Sunshine Coast for weddings, conferences and private parties. Here is what the market charges, why it varies, and what my own prices include.

The short answer

My bookings start from $1,000 ex GST in off-peak periods and from $1,500 ex GST in peak periods. Travel to the Sunshine Coast is included. For context, the closest published price guide I could use as a yardstick, which covers Brisbane, puts an hour of close up magic at about $400 to $800 and a short stage show at $1,000 to $2,000.

How that compares

Format	Typical published Brisbane range
Close up or roving magic, 1 hour	$400 to $800
Close up or roving magic, 2 hours	$700 to $1,400
Stage show, 20 to 30 minutes	$1,000 to $2,000
Jason Gray (close up, roving or stage)	From $1,000 ex GST off-peak, from $1,500 ex GST peak, travel included

Ranges are from Entertainment Now’s published Brisbane price guide, checked in October 2026, because it is the nearest published guide. Entertainer marketplaces also list magicians advertising “from $300”, so always check what a low number includes.

What pushes a Sunshine Coast quote up or down

• Experience. A performer with a decade of weddings, galas and conferences behind them is a different proposition from someone starting out.

• Booking length. More time means more groups reached and a better chance the magic lands at the right moment, whether that is the cocktail hour or a conference break.

• Format. Close up and roving magic travels to your guests. A stage show needs space, sound and a seated audience.

• Guest numbers. The bigger the crowd, the more time it takes to reach everyone.

• The date. Peak dates book first and cost more, which is explained below.

• Travel and extras. Some quotes add travel, parking or overtime. Mine include travel to the Sunshine Coast, so the figure you see is the figure you pay, ex GST.

What peak means, and how it changes the price

Peak means the dates in highest demand: peak wedding dates, the Christmas and EOFY party season and popular weekends. Those start from $1,500 ex GST. Everything else starts from $1,000 ex GST. If your date is flexible, that $500 difference is the easiest saving available.

Typical Sunshine Coast events and what they involve

A conference or client function from Maroochydore to Noosa. Delegates mingling between sessions suit roving close up magic. A gala dinner might suit a short stage feature as well. Busy corporate periods such as EOFY and Christmas are peak dates. See corporate magic on the Sunshine Coast.

A wedding at Mooloolaba, on the beach or in the hinterland. Most couples book the cocktail hour, when guests are waiting around while photos are taken. Peak wedding dates book first, so ask early. The wedding magician cost guide compares cocktail hour with table to table, and there is more on wedding magic on the Sunshine Coast.

Here is how one couple described it:

We were absolutely blown away by Jason at our wedding. He performed during our cocktail hour and was honestly one of the highlights of the whole day.

Courtney Paikea, Google review

A hens, bucks or milestone party. A weekend on the coast is a popular excuse to book entertainment. A short burst of close up magic fits into a packed itinerary, and it works for adults who want a laugh, not a children’s act. See roving magic on the Sunshine Coast, hens magic and bucks magic.

Is paying more worth it?

Sometimes it isn’t. If you want a bit of fun at a small casual gathering and the budget is tight, a lower quote can be a perfectly good fit.

When the event matters, the person you book becomes part of how it feels. I have performed at more than 1000 events over more than ten years and have more than 200 five-star Google reviews you can read before you decide. One guest summed up what I aim for: “super friendly, funny and great value.”

Four ways to make the budget go further

• Move the date if you can. Off-peak starts $500 lower.

• Choose the right format. For mingling, close up or roving magic usually does the job. A stage show costs more and only suits a seated room.

• Book early. Peak dates go first. See how far in advance to book a magician.

• Send a clear brief. Date, venue, guest numbers and timing let me recommend precisely what you need.

Questions to ask before accepting any quote

• How long does the performance run, and in what format?

• Is travel included, or charged separately?

• Is the date being charged as peak?

• Does the price include GST? (Mine are ex GST.)

• What are the deposit and payment terms?

• What happens if the event runs over?

• Is there a wet-weather plan for outdoor events?

Get your Sunshine Coast quote

Send your date, venue or suburb, guest numbers and a rough timeline, and I will come back with a recommendation and a specific figure. If you are new to hiring a magician, start with the guide to how to hire a magician, or see magician Sunshine Coast for local detail. You can also compare the Gold Coast and Brisbane cost guides.

How this guide was put together: market ranges come from Entertainment Now’s published Brisbane price guide (October 2026). Client quotes are verbatim Google reviews. My prices are current as of the date above and are always confirmed in your written quote.