seige wrote:Qualifications etc. should be secondary to your actual entertainment/skill level.
When employing someone, you are employing them for their skill, not their certification (unless it's a Corgi registered plumber you need!!!).
If it's a prerequisite that you are a 'member', then as discussed—lie. No businessman would ever forfeit a mistruth to gain a contract.
There's no fear about lying... if they ask "Are you a member of the Magic Circle", simply say "We're not supposed to mention that but... yes, I am a part of a Magic Circle". (Let me stress the 'a' in 'a magic circle'). That should shield you from guilt.
Elton John sang about it...
I had to chuckle at this in that there is so much truth in it. For starters I know of a heck of a lot of people with amazing pedigrees and certificates who are dumber than a box of rocks and fail miserably when it comes to their "vocation" be it magic or being a dentist... There are many within our world who have all kind of memberships and kudos based on the clubs they belong to (and forums they are stars of). One of my favorite stories is how some fool known as Baba introduces himself as being a VIP because he has so many posts at the Tragic Cafe... SFW! What have you done today that makes you stand out on the broader spectrum?
I am guilty of using my resume but I'm just as guilty for not "living up to it" as it were, in that
I'm only as good as the last thing I produced, be it a show, a marketed effect or book. This is applicable to all of us no matter what field we're looking at. What matters is how good you really are...
... and while I'm at it...
This should apply to those hip-slick-and-cool videos folks create now days; software and digital video allowing us to make ourselves look much bigger and "better" than we really are. Just like credentials can lie and deceive so can (and does) video.
Long ago, when I thought it a bright idea to leave the carnivals and try my hand at being a more "legit" commercial performer Ward Hall told me to go into every Casino along the famed Las Vegas strip and do a couple of card tricks for people... whoever I get get to gather around.
Why?
Because in doing this I would not be lying when I said (in my resume) that I'd performed at the Sahara, Caesar's Palace, The Riviera, etc. It would simply be an exaggerated truth -- a deliberate ALLUSION in which the person reading your resume assumes things to be a certain way but in truth, they are not a.k.a. Dual Reality.
Another "bending of the rules" that should be mentioned here is the famed term "Affiliated with" This allows you to list all sorts of organizations in your resume, all of which are legitimate ties... you're just not stating how close those ties are or even what they are e.g. you can list most all of the major magic related groups like the IBM, SAM, MAGIC CIRCLE, etc. because you ARE "affiliated" with them and probably on more levels than you present think, starting with the simple fact that you do magic and followed by the fact that we all know at least one or two people that belong to said groups e.g. you have a direct affiliation... again, you are stretching the truth but not exactly lying your butt off
The curse of building up a resume/credentials that are too "tall" is that you must eventually hurdle them -- live up to them and prove to your buyers that you genuinely are worthy of such alignments. I can't tell you how many folks I've encountered over the years who have failed to meet their own deluded self-image when it comes to this part of the task.
In defense to some (a small handful) of these folks I must ring in what I call the "Sinatra Syndrome"...
We all know as fact that Frank Sinatra was a mega star for decades. What few ever witnessed however is how horrible he became in his latter years... same is true of Elvis and a myriad of other "legends" who have not aged with grace. You will find it all too common in our ranks and in the personage of some very famous and successful icons, but the reality is that we all are susceptible and those of us that don't age with grace and adaptation suffer the consequences of not being able to live up to our legend. I can tell you from the perspective of both, the performer and the observer just how painful this can be. As one suffering said plight I can't begin to convey how frustrating it is, knowing that you aren't nearly as good as you were just a few short years ago... but life tends to do this to us all.
The Bottom Line is, we need to be as honest as possible when it comes to our resume and claims so that it is "balanced". This is why it is wise to invest in a genuine Public Relations type company who can help you keep things "up to date" and appropriate to who and what you really are. That includes the contacting of a professional Image Consultant about every five years or so who can help mold you into who you've become vs. your memories of who you were.
As a Footnote... I do believe that contractors of talent are far more impressed by one's legit ties to business oriented groups such as the BBB, Chambers of Commerce and civic groups like the Jaycees vs. the various magic societies. 
by Rob » Aug 14th, '08, 14:53 
