talkmagic.co.uk

Sometimes (and I know as I have done it myself) the promoter makes no profit at all as the costs of the venue hire, etc can be quite extortionate (especially in central London) and for entertainers that perform in the provinces, the allure of a glam location can be too much.

As for performing for free, if the audience is one worth performing to, as in that your reputation will spread and you may get paying work from it then it's well worth it. I have done showcase performances and been offered very lucrative shows afterwards. I see these shows as an advert for my (dubious) talents.

As for trying out material, it's never a case of performing something that's not ready or under rehearsed, it's using the public for quality control.
Something which you may be proud of and took you an age to learn, with fancy sleights and a clever and convulted plot may bore and audience to tears but you love doing it. Sometimes it's good to see what audience reponse you receive for each effect (or have someone noting it down for you) so when you get a nice, big fat, paying gig, you know you have surefire material which will astonish the layman.

The entertainment industry is a hard one to get into these days (as I'm sure it was years ago) and the best way to get a good reputation and bookings is for you to be seen and known. Some shows I use to earn cash, others (in prominent places) I use to further my reputation.

My aim is get into television and get my scripts read, so if someone asked me to do an hour's show in front of a room full of tv execs, then I obviously would do it. If no one knows about you then you aren't going to get what you want. Things don't come to you.

Earning cash at weddings etc is fine, but my ultimate aim is to have a television show and because of the nature of the industry I would do what I can to get our act exposed and known amongst people. (Without resorting to spam!)

This is totally an individual conviction as to whether or not you would work for free. I too am in in the music business and have just returned from Jamaica on a promtional trip, I played for free and it was too my benefit. If I was good enough to perform magic on stage and could handle the un-pc comedy I would jump at the opportunity that Freddy is offering. Thank you for making the offer to us at TM Freddy Every year artists including name brand request to perform on my sound system at notting hill carnival NO ONE gets paid. For me its about the music / magic not the money, so what if someone makes a fiver out of me

Thank you. It's good to see an evening of people who are passionate about what they're doing perform. Sometimes people that perform regular corporate bookings perform like robots and it's just a job to them.
If my club night comes off next year there will be spots for magicians every time and if people want to table-hop and hand their cards out at the end then feel free.
Magic, as an entertainment and art, has been away from the mainstream for too long and as we all know, the public love a good magic effect performed well. it would be nice to try and revitalise it as a dominant force in entertainment rather than third rate karaoke singers all over the tv.

I think the music business is somewhat different. I find it very odd indeed. The artists work for no money all the time and I am quite astonished by it. My niece is quite well known in the music business but doesn't seem to earn much money and is quite happy to play for no money at all. At one time she was part of a duo that did very well and even got an advance of a hundred grand from a record company. She doesn't seem to have anything left out of it though. By the time various people are paid out it all evaporates.

My friend Tony Moore who used to be in the Iron Maiden and had a hit record with Cutting Crew called "Died in your arms tonight" often performs for no money and I find the concept very odd indeed. He came to Toronto last year and performed. His airfare and hotel were paid for but he didn't actually get a fee. And he was treated better than the other musicians that he brought over from the UK. They had to pay their own fare and hotel!

I think magicians don't know how well off they are. I find the music business most peculiar and I think I am terribly glad I have no talent in that area.

its these times when I wish I lived over there. I need gigs, and even if its not paying, it is paying in experience. If anyone knows of any places in NYC/NJ please tell me.

HenryHoudini wrote:If anyone knows of any places in NYC/NJ please tell me.

Isn't Times Square in NYC?

yes it is... yes it is...

let me restate that. Does anyone know of any places that allow magicians to perform in NYC/NJ

but lol

You love ittttt

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

You love ittttt

do I though? Do I really?

HenryHoudini wrote:

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

You love ittttt

do I though? Do I really?

yes

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

HenryHoudini wrote:

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

You love ittttt

do I though? Do I really?

yes

okay... you could have fooled me though

HenryHoudini wrote:

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

HenryHoudini wrote:

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

You love ittttt

do I though? Do I really?

yes

okay... you could have fooled me though

I'm a magician...I'm good at fooling people

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

HenryHoudini wrote:

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

HenryHoudini wrote:

Blapsing_Beard wrote:

You love ittttt

do I though? Do I really?

yes

okay... you could have fooled me though

I'm a magician...I'm good at fooling people

I'm a magician...just not so good at fooling people

as you know freddie i shall look forward to working with you in the near fututre.

all the best

andy

russellmagic wrote:as you know freddie I shall look forward to working with you in the near fututre.

all the best

andy

Yes, me and Andy will be the Rik Mayall and Ade Edmonson of mentalism!
You heard it first here folks...be afraid!