talkmagic.co.uk

I'm 16 years old in central london, I've had a few bookings but that has only been from word of mouth.

I've thought of setting up a website but does that, for a 16 year old, help with the bussiness and if anyone has any stats on this that would be very helpful.

thanks

Well as i do quite a bit of CSS and HTML coding I'm pretty good on this kinda stuff. I'll start with the nitty gritty, the cost. Unless you know basic HTML and CSS running a website will become very difficult. As with all things problems will arise and then you will have to pay for a web designer to fix them. Unfortunately at £50 an hour standard charge these guys don't work cheaply. Also, unless you know HTML or CSS, finding a designer to work for less than £50 an hour or a template that is suitable for you will be a challenge. From a buissness point of view a website wouldn't be the way to go. This is due to many established and accomplished magicians already having websites advertising their talents. This means that unless you advertise the website in a newspaper or through flyers, the only way people will be able to find you is on like the 100th page of google when searching "Magicians" or "Working Magicians In London" in which case you may slog your way to the 25th page. Over time it can turn out to be quite a shroud investment however in the first couple of years it would be money thrown away.

Hope that has helped

Sam

i can also make websites php and HTML coding and my brother sells webspace to me cheap

hosting isn't the problem i have to pay £5 for life as long as the site is not adult or gaming and then i just have to pay for the domian.

codeing the site isn't a problem but you said that it wasn't worth having one

but

what if someone knows you are a good magician and would like to pass on that info he/she would rust refer him to your site rather than writing a phone number. aslo it would be a place to demo your tricks so the buy would know what he is getting rather than it being just based on recomendation.

krazy ace wrote:what if someone knows you are a good magician and would like to pass on that info he/she would rust refer him to your site rather than writing a phone number. aslo it would be a place to demo your tricks so the buy would know what he is getting rather than it being just based on recomendation.

You have just answered the question for yourself then bud

Sam

I'm looking for other ways and if anyone has actualy got a sale or is it just something which enables you to say

"I've got a website so i must be a good magician"

it makes you look more professional.
The good example of this is that you can use the email, i.e.
magician@krazyace.co.uk or contact@krazymagician.com instead of krazymagician100001.1@hotmail.com

The site does not need to be too expansive (as opposed to expEnsive), it is better to have a minimal site that is consise and to the point than lots of pointless pages and worse still, the dreaded "COMING SOON" with the regulation men at work sign on half the pages.

Bets thing I found when I was starting, was to read the local papers, looking for charity events to perform at. Offer them your services for free (as a learning curve into performing in front of crowds and also as a means to get your name known).

Make sure you get a business card printed, for example Vista Print do free business cards, im a part time professional and I still use the free Vista Print Cards. This way when you are at your event, you can leave a stack of cards by the exit/in your pocket/ on your case etc.

What Ive found to be a real help recently is the media. I sent out one press release regarding one of my large Gigs, and as a result, I got 3 radio Interviews, BBC Radio York, BBC radio Leeds (which is on the 4th December at 7.20am), Fresh Radio (My local Radio station) and 1 TV interview (BBC Look north, last friday night). As a result of the 2 media appearences ive made so far, ive taken loads of bookings. I already had quite a busy schedule up untill 2007 but now im working most evenings and weekends with various Christmas bookings (the Tax man will be happy!)


At the end of the day, all you can do is ring up people and basically say "hey, I exist, and I do magic". Thats what got me started back when i was about 13 years old wanting to become a performer, and ive never looked back since!

Hope that helps

Mark

I could always help you, but I couldn't do it all for you for free. Contact me for help.