talkmagic.co.uk

Ok

I wanted to know how much experience one should have in magic before jumping into working. I personally feel I am ready to perform. I have a few routines that I am working on now I feel my repotoire has slowly built up to a point where I can perform the tricks I do perform very confidently.

The reason I ask is because my beautiful, ever supporting wife wants me to make money.. or quit magic

I have a great personality I know this and I have practiced routines to people I both know and dont know, am confident with strangers etc..

its just that I read so often that magicians spend aroud 10 years learning before going proffessional.. is this neccessary?

I agree with everyhting the top pros say and respect this art on the same level I respect my life.. I dont want to run before I walk..

but anyone here that knows me knows I have come a long way and my kowledge has increased somewhat drastically considering I only started magic last March really..

So what do I do to make money performing.. just little evens like parties and things where I can improve and get comfortable before doing table hopping etc working my way up to corporate events where I want to end up?

The old, grey and wise.. please inform!!

well...i seem to be in the same situation.
i've dabbled with cards all my life. but i took magic on "seriously" june 06. so i haven't been doin it for very long. however, i am always practicing routines, making new effects up, looking up stuff on the net and i am always performing-to people i know and complete strangers, people i like and hate as well.
however, i am only 15-but 16 on the very close valentines day . come then I'm going to be going round local restaurants and seeing who will take me on, during this i will also be setting up my own "business" myspace, website, youtube and making my own business cards-really trying to sell myself...and tehn all you can do is practice and hope for the best me thinks.

hope that helps
mike

Thus is an interesting question and you will get a lot of answers some will say shorter some will say longer. Question is have you ever totally performed out side your friends and family zone in some where totally alien to you? I know you said you performed for strangers but did you have friends close by or was this some where you never been before. And how did it feel I am not talking about all the cliché stuff about the amazement and wonder I am talking about how comfortable did you feel in your shoes performing.

Confidence is the biggest thing .a lot of magicians don’t go pro because of fear, “what if I am not good enough to charge money for my shows?” you may feel you are the best thing since sliced bread and really approachable but are you? . Deconstruct your self and if you are sure you know you ready then you have to test the waters.


If you are generally that confident and you want to do it then do it, but you must believe that you can, from your question I get the impression you are not 100% sure. What is the rush anyway? You could wait another year and get an even more solid grounding in magic. I would you only been in the game for a year, learn a bit more about people etc, then go for it, but having said this don’t put it of till next year then the year after……

I turned professional on a wing and a prayer. I hardly knew anything when I began actively looking for paid work. The first pub restaurant place I worked at, I had one card routine and a pair of lightning handcuffs. How I cringe now.

However I would suggest that the only way to become a professional magician is to become one. Does that make sense?

I did my "learning" in front of the public. It's a great way to learn very quickly. I assure you that you will know 100 times what I knew the first time I ever got paid for performing magic. Go for it. You'll do great and the buzz is incredible.

My own thoughts on this is that

ONLY YOU WILL KNOW!

Get out there and go for it man. Real confidence and performance ability come with experience. Go get some buddy, and I wish you the best of luck.

I think it depends on what kind of work you would like to secure. Can you sustain a 45 minute performance with a beginning, middle, and end? Do you have good transitions between effects? Could you book a show from a cold call that wants a magician for a launch event? A casino night?
Or, do you have a series of powerful effects that could be repeated at restaurant tables?

The reason I ask is that you may want to figure what kind of services you can offer. You will be amazed what clients will want you to do and you want to make sure that you do not take on something too onerous.

You will, however, learn by doing, and if you feel confident enough to pose the question, then why not get out there and do your stuff? The jury of the great public awaits you!

I find that you can think too much about things like this.

I've been in front of strangers in a number of different contexts - as an actor in a theatre company, as a lecturer, as a tour guide, as a tutor in the art of Scotch malt whisky tasting (I really liked that one!), and even as a magician!

I never ever felt 'ready' to go out there and give a public performance, but once you're there and there's nowhere to go, you just get on with it. You can either race to the end and hide, or have fun. I'd recommend the latter. Especially if there's a good Scotch malt involved. You really should see my disappearing Balvenie routine.

Thanks for the comments

I perform to evryone I meet, the young chav on the bus.. the group of ''intimidating'' yoots... the fragile old lady waiting patiently in line at the post office and the young working proffesional walking round town on their hour lunch.. I adapt to each personality differently and I dont perform anything I cant perform naturally. ie ( i wont perform silver dream for 3 months regardless of the fact I can do the routine pretty well already.

I could do cold calling.. I have a background in direct sales, events and concessions and telesales ( all succesful ) but to promote yourself as a magician where do you go.. I want to ''build'' up to corporate events.. but I always learn to walk before I run.. I will start off with little gigs just to say Ive gone up the chan properly

I do cards mainly.. but I have an array of tricks with paperclips, rubber bands... mentalism-esque acts ( courstesy of Boris Pocus and Banchek PSI series ) ( not threw myself into this area YET - but have everything I need - corinda / Annemman etc) , coins a few really decent coin tricks.. five different bill switches ( though only one learned perfectly ), and a bunch of gimmicked effects.. and bits and bobs around spoon bending, torn and restored napkins, a couple of solid sponge ball routines, im learning cups and balls next month. So Ireckon I have enough to get a few routines together.. Will just work the patter around a solid script Ill create and as I have a decent drama background I can adlib where neccessary no problem.. One of my strong points is that any sceptical spectator that comes out with those random comments.. i can usually come back with something smart straight away that shust him up..

im pretty funny at times judging by reactions but Im not going to go downt the comedy route... I think Ill mix it up depending on who Im performing for like I normally do..

But how does one go about advertsing themself? I am ordering some (200) free businesscards this week and thats about as far as I have got.

When I first dabbled in the 'real world' I was doing unpaid gigs. Sounds uneconomical, but it builds your confidence up.

Once you're happy that you're cut out for it, start charging money.

..the way i see it is, depending on what "character" you are, should point you in the direction of where and when you should work...

if you're a bizzarist for example, would they be the type to table-hop? or would they have a table to themselves, and ask people to join him/her?

if you're an out-going magician, who performs a few card effects, that flow together beautifully, and can make coins appear out of thin air, then maybe a nice bar or a pub would best suit you (sir)...

i reckon the best way is to steal a little of Reverend Lewis' advice, and just sit down somewhere, and start "practicing" by yourself, any stray eyes looking over, just smile and maybe wave them over, or approach in a quiet moment...

might be worth going to a bar you feel relaxed in, and approach the owner and just say casually that you're into your magic and offer a quick demo...go from there...as siege says...best way to get someone to say yes is - don't charge.....at first anyway...a month's free...then go from there...

You know how bars sometimes have a chalkboard or a Sky schedule telling punters what's going to be on over the coming weeks? Well, perhaps an interesting angle would be to talk yourself into a table hopping gig to tell each table about those events and hand out flyers. What astute bar owner wouldn't want to go for that?

I thinking the same thing ID. I'm going to judge it on how my wedding gig goes and then maybe look for unpaid stuff. I sent a letter to the British Legion about doing a table hopping session there for free one night and they're interested. I figure that even if I don't get paid for the gig, it's a good chance to hand out my card to anyone who's interested. I've also got a few friends who are in a band and have asked them about performing during thir intervals.

British Legion gig would be great for Lady of Mystery! I did an impromptu one on Cornwall and then passed the hat! They love something new and different.

DrTodd wrote:British Legion gig would be great for Lady of Mystery! I did an impromptu one on Cornwall and then passed the hat! They love something new and different.

That's a damned fine idea. Being paid in tips might mean heavy pockets, but you might get more money the better you are.