talkmagic.co.uk

Hello Everyone!

I would appreciate some reviews, comments, or feedback on my Youtube videos. The videos can be found here:

www.youtube.com/magicianmike1234

Thank you for your time! I look forward to hearing your reviews, and all critiques are appreciated!

Michael Kras

I enjoyed looking through the selection of videos. Not being proficient in handling cards I'll leave it for those with the talent to offer up the critique but I liked the natural conversational patter. Sounded confident and in control. I was impressed by your magic.

As I mentioned to you elsewhere you need to think more about production values when you get around to re-shoot these or do more, especially the lighting. It was difficult to see your skill with the image, even on a large screen, so dark. Similarly, it may be worth your while finding a friend or local video club to help next time round in order to keep steady, focused shots.

Don't take this as all negative as you've obviously got the right ideas, just need to ensure your production is as good as your magic.

Thank you for your coments Jae. Videos will be brighter in the future! I thank you for being enthusiatic about giving advice on this forum.

Michael Kras

Mike, I might be alone in saying this, but I find that your videos and website are not your only problems. I do agree that the quality of your videos is sub-standard, especially if you want to get hired. Your promotional video especially is cluttered and chaotic. The best way to promote yourself is to keep things simple without the computer effects. Also, your website is much too complicated for simple web surfers to navigate, like your videos, it has to be simple and to the point.

Besides these issues, I do think you are facing a bigger issue: it does not seem like you are ready to be hired out as an entertainer. I am not disputing your abilities as a magician or as an inventor of tricks. I simply think that you should take more time to develop and work hard. I noticed in a lot of your performances, you had unsteady breathing. It's a little thing, but it is something that can show your nerves and you don't want to expose that to the audience. I might be the only one saying this but I feel that you should wait before being hired out as an entertainer.

Hello,

Thank you for your comment. I do agree with everything you have said about the Videos and may remove them from the website. I appreciate your input, but I feel the need to let you know that any speech or vocal problems have been dealt with, and now I speak quite professionally if I may say so myself. I do take that to heart, though, and will iron out all of the probles with my acts and personality before I start booking again. I haven't been booking for a while, since I have taken time off to get this new website and put together new shows. My business cards are at the ready when I feel good enough to start booking again.

Thank you!

Michael Kras

Just to let you all know, I have changed up my website by eliminating the videos. Anything else I should take care of or add? Thank you!

Michael Kras

The advertising and design are your main problems. You NEED to lose the advertising. .tk accounts automatically have that advertising and domain names cost around 5 pound a year on average. I think someone posted on here you can get them for 1 dollar a year. So I would recommend you part with a small amount of cash to loose advertising and to look a tad bit more professional.

Web hosting is more expensive, so stick with something like freewebs.com or places with no advertising. Im not sure if freewebs has advertising anymore.

Thank you for the reply and comments! Has anyone seen my Youtube videos? They can be found at www.youtube.com/magicianmike1234 and I look forward to comments and critiques here!

Also, are there any other free domains for websites other than .tk? I am not willing to pay for one until I start my company up again.

Thank you!

Michael Kras

Don't the major Internet providers in Canada provide you with a set amount of free webspace as part of the package when you hook up with them? It's standard in the UK. In my opinion you will be better off and appear far more professional with your shop window by investing in your own domain name with an ISP. It's not that expensive but I suppose it depends upon what you want the site to do for you. If it is just a place to dump odds and ends you wish to share just about anything will do but if you want to use it as part of your marketing and sales then its vital you invest thought, time and some cash into it in order for it to stand out from the many billions of others.

As far as the videos go, you should get some footage of live performances. The vids on my site are (for the most part) old and sub-par. I still don't have any video from paid gigs because my usual camera guy can rarely make them and I'm far too cheap to pay someone

There's a huge difference in performing for a camera and performing for people, though. If something goes wrong on camera, you shut it off and try again. If something goes wrong for people... well shoot. "What am I gonna do?" Cover for it and move on.

Live vids will help you critique yourself as well. I used to think my presentation for the cups and balls (just last month, when I filmed that video) was pretty good. Now I realize I move and talk way too quickly and have a lot of jerky motions. I'm working on making is slower and smoother, but it's a difficult process to break bad habits.

Further, if you're going to use these as promotional tools for a business (as it seems you are), you've really got to do better. It's a noble effort, but the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. Simply trying to do well isn't going to get you far in the business world; you have to do well indeed.

Just my thoughts. Ask and ye shall receive.

Ciao,
Rob

You seriously need to get rid of the adverts; this is what I was greeted with, when I had a quick look at your site this morning:





Sorry - it's just not in any way screaming, 'Professional' at me