talkmagic.co.uk

That advice was deep. I mean, wow. I have to apply it to my life now.

Krazy Ace - I'm not meaning to disrespect you but it was only yesterday or the day before that you posted that you were having big problems with your audiences and you were asking for advice on getting them to take you more seriously as a performer.

I don't think that TV is something that you should be even considering at this moment in time until you;ve got that sorted.

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic13057.php

To me its more important to enjoy what you do, and make sure you pay your bills.

The fact that I enjoy what I do is the only thing I've ever really wanted out of a career and if you're there then be happy with that.

Don't ever forget why you started doing this, and if your only reason was to be famous then I dont think you're doing it right - find something that gets you excited when you go to work.

Thats my opinion and I love it!

Now I'm no expert but here's my advice.

IF you really want to get on TV. Consider a few things. The main one being what is your personality like? Are you just being you or are you trying to copy Blaine/Angel ? Most magicians you see on TV are different. Blaine has the idiotic/dead-as-a-doornail look/personality going on.. Criss Angel has the whole mysterious rocker/goth thing. Pete Firman is a comedy magician.. those 2 guys (Barry and Stuart i think?!) have the annoying b******s act.. what seperates you from them?

If you are just copying Criss Angels personality/act then you wont get anywhere.

Now here's my honest suggestion which will be affordable but not really cheap.

Setup a website. If you really think you have a shot at being a rich and famous magician then get your work out there. The internet is the best way to get recognised nowadays in my opinion. Setup a PROFESSIONAL looking website, not some stupid attempt that your mate done in MS Frontpage. Pay a professional to design and maintain your website (unless you are a web designer of course!). Invest in a GOOD video camera to record your tricks.. setup your own "TV Show" on the website and promote (notice I say PROMOTE, not SPAM) your tv show on other sites.

If you dont know anything about video editing, find someone that does. Edit your videos to make them look more professional. Find a local band (or get permission from a famous band) to use their music on your show or create your own little theme.

One of the main points, MAKE SURE YOUR SITE IS FREE. Dont even consider charging anyone to see your magic. I know this is a bit obvious but some people really are stupid.

Setup a message board, try and be a regular poster and interact with any fans that may sign up.

Make sure you upload your show to sites like YouTube.com aswell. If its good, it could get featured on the front page and you might get millions of views on your videos. READ THIS. They are in partnership with NBC so if you are american, you might get recognised and you could possibly get your own actual TV show and not an online one.

It is possible to get recognised and earn money online with your show. The best example I can think of is PurePwnage.com. An online show about gamers. The show was original when it was released online and in my opinion its hilarious. I love it. They dont charge people for the videos but once they got recognised, they setup a shop and sold tshirts, hoodies, stickers, bandanas and other stuff with their logo, catchphrases and stuff. HERE is a bit more info about PurePwnage. I mean look at this!

Wikipedia wrote:On March 27, 2006, Jeremy sold a lock of his hair with a signed bandana on eBay as memorabilia from Episode 10. It sold for US$4,200 through 10 days of 99 bids. They reportedly used the money to travel to the Netherlands to surprise visit long-time fans of the show. The Pure Pwnage crew obtained the address from clothing that was ordered from those fans

So yeah. I've said enough. If you really want to get a tv show, start online!

Mandrake wrote:As with comedians, once your act is shown on TV it's over and done with and needs to be completely renewed for the next appearance. If you stick with clubs/cabaret and other live venues you can perform the same miracles many times and let your act gradually evolve to suit you and the audiences rather than having to dump it and start all over again.

Ah, but if its a good act then you might never need to work again

I agree with Bizkitroach, but he missed out 1 thing, you need to be the best of the best to have your own show Remeber that

i disagree ace you don't have to be the best of the best, thats not what tv execs look for they look for something they can sell if they can sell you it doesn't matter if your good or not, i've seen a few magicians on tv and their magic wasn't anything special they just had a personality that tv execs could market for a quick buck. if you want to go into tv be prepaired to be used and abused by the rich guys at the top

ace of kev wrote:I agree with Bizkitroach, but he missed out 1 thing, you need to be the best of the best to have your own show Remeber that

You only need to be the best of the best if you get a real tv show. If you run your own online one then you have no-one to answer to but yourself

And all the idiots who go around posting "OH man that trick woz so obvioz u juz pulld tht coin out of a hat man u suk @ magix"

Cardza wrote:And all the idiots who go around posting "OH man that trick woz so obvioz u juz pulld tht coin out of a hat man u suk @ magix"

Yeah I hate that. It gets irritating how people post their theorys of how the trick is done in the comments on my youtube vids. Most of them are wrong anyway. I think it is kind of funny when they post some completely rediculous explaination.

"The rabbit was never in his hat! He had it palmed the whole time!!!!"

BizKiTRoAcH wrote:

ace of kev wrote:I agree with Bizkitroach, but he missed out 1 thing, you need to be the best of the best to have your own show Remeber that

You only need to be the best of the best if you get a real tv show. If you run your own online one then you have no-one to answer to but yourself

I hate to break it to you all, but if you think any of the acts on TV are "the best of the best" you are in for a serious awakening...TV can't afford to have "the best" on the airwaves these days and that's not what they are after. As has been stated, they are looking for what works, not the 'best' at anything. Secondly, they look at your resume and letters of recommendation to see who you know and more important, who knows and speaks well of you (especially sponsors and those of upper-end management positions within advertising groups). They also look for what they can best manipulate...

WHAT!?

Yes, they prefer the dumb, hungry, and needy that has a modicum of talent over the old salts that have the resume from hell and loads of experience... the old farts that know the games and what to look out for. They also look for those that are willing to do their work for them i.e. the go getter type that will solicit corporations for show sponsorship so that their sales teams aren't bogged down trying to sell a nobody.

Fame & "Success" are FOR SALE guys. You can be a headliner in a major showroom in Las Vegas IF you have the sponsor dollars required for renting the space and covering the advertising (it's called 4-walling and has been a big part of show biz for a very long time). If it had to do with talent certain well known acts would never have made it to the stage let along Television... (I'm getting the vision of a blonde bimbo getting the shaft for some reason...)

Though Vegas is known for hosting the cream of the crop it also has the horrid reputation of hosting some of the worse variety entertainers in the business, simply because of the 4-wall policy and the fact that "politics" comes into play (Guido's girl wants to be a lounge act... kind of deals)

Show Biz ain't fair and it's far from easy. If you think you'll be the next star of magic look around and add up the numbers for yourself; less than 20% of us actually make a fair living at magic (as in less than $100k but more than $40k) Less than 10% fall into the medium areas of success i.e. between a Million and $100k with less than 1% breaking that multi-million dollar a year mark... but even that is inaccurate when it comes to the Mega-Star types like Copperfield, Siegfred & Roy or Lance Burton... these guys represent less than a .3% factor

The odds are that most of you will never be more than hobbysts that do the ocassional show. That's not a bad thing when you consider that most of the more ingeniuous and lasting developments of magic came from such minds (you simply have more time to muddle and play with things). About a third of you will do a couple of low paying local programs and fundraisers a few times a month and you might even have a weekly close-up gig you do (for tips). There's also that huge segment of the assemblage that will, within the next five years, just walk away from it due to expense, the drain it causes in your life (family life), etc. Too, there are those of you that will dabble and read about it for the next 25-30 years, looking at Magic being your second career... what you and the wife will do after the kids graduate college and get out on their own.

Though my numbers may be off slightly, they are very close to the reality of how this business (all of show biz actually) tends to work and what the truth is... the fact that so very few ever make it anywhere close to what we would call "stardom".

Think more realistically and get your head out of the clouds. Stop looking at all those marketing books about Corporate Gigs when you've yet to master getting work in your own backyard and breakikng in an act. Stop envisioning yourself in Atlantic City or working Cruise Ships and just see yourself working, doing shows and having fun... the rest will fall into place and you will be far less stressed out and happier in the long run.

Ain't nothin' like having Ol' Mr. Browning around for a dose of cold, hard reality.

Well stated, Craig.

Mike.

Hmmm... I'd better let someone know a bunny got loose

Hey MJ, glad to have you here!

So Craig, which success group do you fall into?

Another thing worth mentioning is the lack of control. I don't mean, um, generally (being at the mercy of producers who may simply want to have a laugh at your expense), I mean practically. TV works hard to create the illusion of naturalness when it's really a very artificial situation. If it's your own show, fine, but as you're just starting out, and from the general tone of your question, I assume you're thinking of ten minutes on Richard & Judy or something. Practically, though, it'd be awful. Neither the angles nor the timing are your own, a production assistant has hurriedly stuffed a mic up your T-shirt (and you're sitting uncomfortably on its transmitter), the hosts are only half paying attention because they have one eye on the autocue/running order and one ear listening to the director. While giving the impression it's all fair and casual, of course, being in control and having things happen on your own terms is one of the most important things in magic. If you're Derren Brown and can oversee the edit (or plan it all out carefully beforehand if it's live), then it'd be no problem, but, otherwise, I reckon it'd be a bit of a pig.

Also, as has been pointed out here already, the woman on the checkout in Tesco saying, 'Haven't I seen you on TV?', doesn't in any way help pay for the stuff you're buying.

bronz wrote:So Craig, which success group do you fall into?

Why... being a Legend in My Own Mind, of course...

I've never been one of the "big boys" but have worked with many and known even more over the years. I know that they appreciated me for my mind and ability to be both, creative as well as resourceful along side my hands-on understanding of history and illusion design.

In the simplest of terms I've always been a "grunt" -- the guy that did all the bull work of moving equipment around and handling the technical side of things far more than he performed. Then again, that's the story of my whole life... the constant trudge and feeling as if you've gotten nowhere; which is why I can seem a bit bitter at times and very "real" when it comes to how this business operates... she can be a most cruel mistress