talkmagic.co.uk

I worked for several years as a club promoter in Sheffield, purely to bring the type of music that I was into to a bigger audience. My philosophy was (and still is) "If I don't do it, who will?" Club promoters generally make no money - or very little - and do it for the love of the music or in Freddie's case the love of the performance.

I could never afford to pay bands or DJ's big bucks - and indeed when I wanted to use a bigger name I would have to finance it out of my own pocket. This is something that the averge punter never knows about or thinks about. Organising and promoting club nights is a thankless task undertaken only by people who truly love their art and have a screw loose.

More power to yer elbow Freddie.

Thanks matey. I did run a club a few years ago in Reading and then in the West End. We wanted to put on the best show we could and only have acts we wanted.
In those naive days I paid all the acts out of my own pocket, thinking that the money would be made back on the door, but after paying for fliers, Time Out adverts, sound people and hire of the venue I was left with bu**er all. And for all the effort you put in, some acts don't half moan!

The new club I'm starting next is an ANYTHING GOES variety club. That means that if a comedian isn't one of these studenty "have you ever noticed...." types who want to be Bill Hicks (dead!) can get a gig.
Comedy clubs are so bland these days full of people that are boring raconteurs rather than comedians. Fat people with frilly shirts telling Englishman, Irishman, Scotsman jokes in a Northern Accent. That's comedy!

Seriously though, I want to provide a platform for those unusual acts that have trouble getting bookings to show off their wares.

My Brother, if you still have this venue going in February ('08), you let me know. I'll make a point of getting to where ever it is that I need to and perform for you and your audience.

I know that I'll have at least one venue to perform in during that month, in England (which will be a paid performance), but if I can help you to sell your venue, then what the hell, eh?

Good deal.

Mike.

i used to run small 60s soul, rythmn and blues and 70s funk nights in carnaby street, romford in essex and elsewhere...

you never make money out of it, you do it for the sheer fun and joy of it don't you...bands, posters, adverts, flyering it yourself...everything...

hard work, good fun...for the love of it...same goes with magic...

we can't all be high-brow wallet on fire-makers can we

though its nice to see the majority supporting the underpinning soul of magic

I'd love to come to London for that night, but I can't get any more time off work in October. Definatly let me know what other nights you're arranging and I'll try and make sure I can get to one of them

Thanks for your kind words everyone, if my club gets off the ground (I have been n discussions with a film company who are interested in putting on a night with me) then all are welcome and Mr Jay, we'd love to have you come and perform. That goes for all of you on here (well most).

It takes a lot to run a night, the venue has to be right, the advertising done properly, a good attendance on the night and most of all a great show which is fun for both the audience and performers.

Obviously when my night gets off the ground, although being a variety club, will be very biased towards magicians! I think that television these days gives not scope for new or original acts to get through. What show does a ventriloquist make his mark on? Or a Mr Muscles style act? Or a memory act?
There is just nowhere for acts like this, which is why television is full of reality shows. Entertainers just aren't welcome. Unless you're a karaoke singer.

Another reason why I want to start promoting my own night is because I have written six scripts for a television show and hope to entice tv land people down to see the show. You can but try.

The night this month in Soho is not one that's organised by myself, but a regular networking event that takes place one a month in the capital called The Burlesque and Cabaret Meet Up. They are trying out the concept of having a guest host each month who will compere the show and perform and choose a couple of performers they like to have a short slot on the night.

abraxus wrote:I used to run small 60s soul, rythmn and blues and 70s funk nights in carnaby street, romford in essex and elsewhere...

I used to run a Northern Soul night up here - crazy talc filled nights! I also ran a swing and jazz night which was slightly - but only slightly - more sedate.

Don't listen to music much these days - my head's constantly full of magic type stuff. Still sometimes I'll put on an old tune and for an instant I'm back there behind the decks (record decks that is as opposed to bikes).

Fun days. But you know what, I get more of a buzz from performing magic than I used to from DJ-ing. It's strange but if I could turn back the clock, I wouldn't. Vive le magic!

yeah..same here...

i heard someone using Al Wilson's The Snake on an advert recently!

i substituted guitars and records, for a boon and mentalism...

abraxus wrote:
I heard someone using Al Wilson's The Snake on an advert recently!

That is one of my all time favourite songs and has now been forever ruined by that advert.......of all the products it could have been for it's bloody Lambrini

GETTING PAY OR NOT

TALKING ABOUT ME:
I have read all differents comments about this interesting subjet.
I start magic at 8years old
On stage first serious time at 13y.and got pay for it.
Equity at 17years......... and so on.....

The question here is to be prowd of yourself.
The question is not if you are good or not.
The question here is that someone, (local owner..) is going to make money OUT OF YOUR TIME, so I dont think why shouldnt he share a
tiny part of benefice with the artist on stage.(good or bad).

EVEN A SYMBOLIC 1£ BILL, just to say thank you.
(NOT DRINKS)
you cant pay taxes, or your rent , with a drink.

IS A QUESTION OF SELF RESPECT for yourself.

I bet you, that if all youngsters and starters (or less starters) in what ever branch of show bizz, "SAY NO", for free preformances,
local owners will start to wonder, and shurely will changes there attitudes
towards non NOW artistes.

I HAVE NEVER WORK FOR FREE,
and i guess no one should do it.

I do about 20 charities a year, all around,
I dont get pay for it, BUT I CANT ASK MY STAGE ASSISTANTS? MY TECKNICIANS? MY TRANSPORT AND BIG TRUNK?..............

TO WORK FOR FREE (just because i do it)
They all got famellies to fiit (?)

So, when i have a chariyty, for witch I have to use all the above poeple,
I have a basical FEES just to cover all the above expenses.
______________
Obvioiusly, if they only whant me to apear on stage, and do 15 minutes
ON MY OWN,
Then i dont charge fees-------(tomorow here for 2000 poeples)
_____________

TO FINISH:
Everyone on stage, in a venue in witch someone , local owners etc... (in one way or another) is making some cash,
SHOULD PAY THE ARTIST EVEN A SYMBOLIC £ BILL

for his self respect, and prowdnes, and this attitude of asking for, will make you feel GREAT,
and if the owner dont accept, JUST GO HOME.

I guaranty you, that that night, you will sleep very well.

The only problem, is that they are hundreds diying to finaly be on stage for first time.

Somebody sad before (above):
I preforme for free, if I have new material to try, ar a new number...then YES i do it free.

I DONT AGREE WITH THAT
Once you are infront of a public, you have to preforme it THE BEST YOU CAN,

[b]WE TRY THINGS AT HOME, WITH FRIENDS IN PRIVATE......BEFORE PRESENTING PUBLICLY

"NEVER ON STAGE"

hope this help
karl









[/b]

I certainly wouldn't perform for free if I had to lug a big show like Karl's around. However I am pretty self contained. I don't like the idea of presenting new stuff for the paying public until it is ready although of course I have been known to do so.

I dunno................

What do the rest of you think? Must we ALWAYS be paid?

I do have one problem though with free shows especially charity shows. They have a tendency to treat you like dirt just because you are doing it for nothing. In those cases I will pass on the matter. How do I know in advance how they will treat me? Usually big charities are the worst offenders so I tend to be reluctant to do anything for them.

I think Freddie will be nice to you all though.

Free performances now and then can be great publicity, and can also be used to develop your style etc.

Surely it cannot harm... after all, there's been many situations when as a consumer I've asked people to be charitable... with great success... even to the point of keeping two entertainers on our books for their stalwart work at a charity gig.

When I was a part-time DJ I used to work for free at charity events at the drop of a hat. Now I'm a full time pro magician I never work for absoultely nothing. I do plenty of charity or "good cause" work (schools etc), but I do it for a nominal fee of £50 or something. This is purely because I depend on the money I earn from magic to feed, house my family, and cannot justify "throwing away" a Saturday or Sunday or en evening doing a freebie when I could be earning money to keep the home fires burning. Charity does, after all, begin at home.

Talking of larger charities, a company I work very closely with who organise party events tell me that working for large charities (which they do often and for no charge) is a nightmare. They really do take liberties and expect the earth in return for..well..nothing. I am personally very wary of these larger charities who seem to have set themselves up as large corporate entities but who also seem to believe that occupying the high moral ground is their right. Am I a bad man?

I can understand not performing for free if the organiser is making money out of the performer and I understand what Karl said about self respect. Now I think this is fine if you're a professional but for us weekend magicians something like that would be a great oppotunity. How many of us ever get a chance to perfom in front of a big audience on a big stage. I'd love to do something like that, it's a great way to lean, gain experience and confidance and possibly get spotted by potential clients.

If magic is your job, then it's fine to say I wouldn't work for free. But the big majority of us just do it for fun, to get the chance to jump on stage and do what we love doing would just be fantastic.

When I used to DJ in clubs back in the 90's I always got paid as I am a professional DJ, but there was a never ending supply of bedroom DJ's who would play the warm up set for free.

The same would equate to this industry too - the professionals expect a wage, the amateurs are grateful for the opportunity to perform.

How are the amateurs to improve without these chances - when I first started DJ'ing I used to hire the equipment - I would charge the cost of hire plus a few quid on top for myself which probably equated to less than £30 for a night - my minimum for a disco is now ten times that.

We all have to start somewhere.

I, too, would be interested in tickets for this showpiece.