How To Get On TV

Struggling with an effect? Any tips (without giving too much away!) you'd like to share?

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How To Get On TV

Postby krazy ace » Aug 15th, '06, 22:06



ever since i started magic i wanted to be on Tv even if it was only a few tricks but it would be the experience that would count

do any of the experienced tm members have any tips or stories that could help people like me.

thanks

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Postby Tomo » Aug 15th, '06, 22:16

Yes: don't!

Let your work become famous and earn you pots of cash, but whatever you do, stay anonymous.

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Postby krazy ace » Aug 15th, '06, 22:19

why?

bad experience?

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Postby Tomo » Aug 15th, '06, 22:32

Fame means strangers can hate you and possibly want to harm you. Fame and fortune run independently. Money is freedom on the other hand, so always get the money and sod having strangers hating you.

On a good month, if I'm in enough mags, 250,000 people might read my work. I get paid quite nicely for that, but I can still nip to the shops for a bottle of milk because I'm not famous :wink:

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Postby krazy ace » Aug 15th, '06, 22:55

you have a good point

thanks

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Postby Mikey.666 » Aug 15th, '06, 23:06

lifestyles of the rich and famous= good
lifestyles of the rich-a whole lot better :D

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Postby krazy ace » Aug 15th, '06, 23:11

my next topic is going to be:

HOW TO BE RICH AND FAMOUS WITH MAGIC

lol

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Postby Dominick » Aug 15th, '06, 23:16

How To Suceed In Magic Without Really Trying. A good book :lol:

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Dominick
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Postby Craig Browning » Aug 16th, '06, 12:01

krazy ace wrote:my next topic is going to be:

HOW TO BE RICH AND FAMOUS WITH MAGIC

lol


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Rich & Famous with Magic!?!

Have you looked at the prices of this stuff these days?

There's an old saying in Hollywood; to become famous you must be born rich, gay, or jewish or if possible, all of the above.

The only formula that seems to work is that you are a very creative and resourceful workaholic. I don't know of a single "star of magic" I've ever met or worked with that didn't put in 14-18 hour days (minimum) and defined the idea of having a vacation as being a few hours off here and there. But, there is a catch to this... you aren't assured of hitting the fame & fortune side of things... remember, Dai Vernon died broke (as have most of the "masters" in this craft); fortune don't always go hand in hand with fame.

Another thing to consider is that with very few exceptions like Copperfield, Siegfred & Roy and maybe Penn & Teller most "celebrity" type magicians like Lance Burton, can walk down the street in street clothes and not be recognized by the typical person... our sense of "Celebrity" caters to an amazingly small segment within the world populace.

The real secret to it all is very simple; stop trying to find the "easy way" of doing things, invest into yourself via education, practice and acts of creativity, get involved with anything and everything you can that will give you exposure (and still cover your basic bills)... after all Siefred & Roy did school shows for years and Copperfield worked the Hospitals just like Houdini did long ago. Study the formulas and attitudes of successful people in the world and learn to model them -- apply these attitudes to your life for this is a greater key to success on the whole, than any bloody trick you might find appealing.

I just can't bring myself to make up the list one more time as to what stimulates success in this business but the bottom line centers on WORK and not dreaming about being a "star" or "party child". Learn about building and running a business for that's what it all is :wink:

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Postby Mandrake » Aug 16th, '06, 12:11

This was doing the rounds on e-mail attachments a few weeks ago:
Bill Gates recently gave a speech at a School about 11 things they did not and will not learn there. He talked about how feel-good, politically correct teachings created a generation of kids with no concept of reality and how this concept set them up for failure in the real world.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world won't care about your self-esteem.
The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school.
You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity.
Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now.
They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were.
So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation,
try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT.
In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer.
This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters.
You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF.
Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.


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Postby Tomo » Aug 16th, '06, 12:43

Oh, I think it's time for the famous Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, but first this, which someone posted to Usenet a long, long time ago last century:


Turn off your television, right now. Unplug it.
Put your video games away for a few weeks.
Read big thick books by people that are dead.
Try to figure out who your real friends are, you'll need to know when the sh*t hits the fan.
Stop thinking it's cool to be cynical, ya dumb fu*k.
Don't identify yourself with an image like "raver" or "goth" or "hippie" or "punk" or anything else.
Be proud of your individuality ONLY, not your group affiliation.
Be adaptable, don't fear change, welcome it....even if it HURTS.
Be loyal to your friends, even when they disappoint you (and they probably will).
Stop talking about your plans to be creative and start DOING THEM NOW.
Don't be surprised if someone close to you dies. It's bound to happen.
Don't be a corporate d*ldo. Do something that will change the world positively.
Beware of those who talk about drugs all the time, and nothing else.
Beware of people with no interests outside of socializing and entertainment.
Treat occultists like the mentally ill because they probably are.
If something scares you, examine it...there's much to be learned from it.
Never steal from friends or family members.
Avoid methamphetamines, cocaine, heroin and downers et. al
Ignore any person who ever mentions professional wrestling, they are undoubtedly a moron.
Shun anyone who buys and listens to anything that's currently being played on MTV (does this even need to be said?).
Respect quiet people for they know when to shut the f*ck up.
Anytime you wonder about something, just type the topic into a search engine and READ ABOUT IT! That's what the internet is for.
Learn how to meditate.
Learn how to dance.
Learn how to give without expecting anything in return.
Learn how to LEARN if school isn't teaching you how.
Take control of your life...it's right there in the palm of your hand...see?
Whether you are religious or atheist, question your beliefs.
Open your mind but don't let just anything fall into it.
When you stop learning you stop living.


And now, the famous, the inestimably true, righteous, timeless (and out of copyright) Desiderata:

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Max Ehrmann, 1952.


Damn that's good advice... I feel born again! :cry: :oops:

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Postby JackWright » Aug 16th, '06, 12:44

a line from one of Derren Brown's books comes to mind, something along the line of 'I'll teach them to mock me! No, I'll teach them not to mock me. Yes'

Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one. thats so true lol.

I still hate email attatchments and chain-mail though.

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Postby Stephen Ward » Aug 16th, '06, 13:55

Must agree with every word Craig said, Magic for me is a business and should be treated as such. You can make a VERY good living without having the pressure of being on Television or be 'famous'.

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Postby Mandrake » Aug 16th, '06, 15:27

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.

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Postby Pitto » Aug 16th, '06, 16:10

I think the defenition of fortune needs clarification. You can make an excellent living out of magic (I know I don't but look at the prices magicians charge [that's not a dig at proffessionals]) compared to most but Im not sure it's popular enough to make a fortune even on TV.

Cheers,

Chris Pitt (AKA Pitto)

"If in doubt - be weird" Jay Sankey
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