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I've read a lot recently on this forum about full-time professional magic as a career. There are lots of pieces of great advice, and discussions on how to go about getting into it. However, I have found comparatively little that can give an idea of what professional magic is actually like. I realise that this is a very open question, as there will be a massive range of different experiences relating to the subject, but what I would like is to find out about life as a professional magician.

What sort of hours do you work?
How often do you work?
How regularly do you work?
What sort of annual salary do you earn?
How did you get to the stage you are at now with professional magic?
Where do you perform?
How would you describe your working conditions?
Do you enjoy it as much as you expected when starting out?
What's the best gig you've done?
What's the worst gig you've done?
What are some interesting/amusing anecdotes that you have gathered?

Those are just some questions I've come up with off the top of my head to get you started. I'm sure there's a lot more that can be discussed, and I think it would be very helpful, to anyone on the forum who has ever thought about full-time professional magic, to hear as wide a range of experiences as possible. Overall, as I said at the start, I'd like to know what it is like to be a full-time professional magician. Thanks!

Hello. Never worked as a Pro, but can still sum up your question? Work you take when and were you can get it.. As the first answer,you work when and were the work is.. never really got a annual salary, but only charged £50 hour, back in 2008.. Learnt my magic like most people,reading,, watching,, and magic clubs.. working conditions were always good, your like a celebrity around the people when you are performing, Honest!!.. dont get involved no more sadly, but will always keep practicing.. Biggest gig was a stag night in London, earned lots of money that night.. Worst gig was a hen night, very risky with crazy drunken women Lol.. Performing to drunk people is quite amazing, especially there reactions,, And finally impressing a non-believer was amusing to me.. Hope this helps Garry

Thanks, that's just what I'm looking for!

It is a very tough business. I shouldn't bother if I were you unless you absolutely HAVE to do it. It should be noted that David Berglas who was pretty successful advised against getting into it as a profession. Or consider doing it as a semi pro on the premise that show business for most people is a very good icing but a lousy cake.

But if you really HAVE to do it then nothing will stop you. Consider the advice of John Booth to try it for one year and if it doesn't work then go back to something else.

And don't be too influenced by what other supposed professional magicians tell you. Most of it will be bragging and bunkum. If someone tells you that he is earning vast fees and doing a ton of shows the odds are that he is lying or exaggerating. It is a very egotistical business. However, keep an eye on the ones who are somewhat non commital or even pleading poverty. They may well be the busy ones.

To follow up on Mr. Lewis. Having a magic store in the family, having worked at that store for 20 plus years one thing I learned is when a magician starts talking about how many shows he/she does, and how much money they make, and who many people they have performed for, how many standing ovations, etc. The rule of thumb is to divide by three.

There are the exceptions I'm sure, but I've yet to find one.

The hours are good. I get plenty of time with the kids, and plenty of time to pursue my other interests, including writing. I normally do about 400 shows a year during a good year, but down to 250 at the moment. Also the money is down. Being self-employed you are at the mercy of the economy.

I do kids shows, weddings (don't like them), festivals, theatre shows, colleges, hypnotism shows and the odd seance. I thoroughly enjoy 95% of the gigs. The biggest fee I get is E700 for college hypnosis shows. My lowest is E110 for a midweek special offer birthday party in my neighbourhood. Best gig I got were two trips to Abu Dhabi, fourteen seasons in Lapland, and a summer on Kos.

I am broke now, but will be rich again, and I would not swap it for the world. Hope that helps.

bmat wrote:To follow up on Mr. Lewis. Having a magic store in the family, having worked at that store for 20 plus years one thing I learned is when a magician starts talking about how many shows he/she does, and how much money they make, and who many people they have performed for, how many standing ovations, etc. The rule of thumb is to divide by three.

There are the exceptions I'm sure, but I've yet to find one.

I am actually more generous than you. I always divide by two! Besides the mathematics are easier!

Anyone else? I'm sure there are plenty more pros out there whose thoughts would be very much appreciated.

I have some information about my career and how I got started etc in the audience with section.

I did the interview a month or so ago.

There may be some bits you find interesting?


Lee.

Lee Smith wrote:I have some information about my career and how I got started etc in the audience with section.

Thanks, that's very interesting and useful.

I do corporate, wedding, public events and dinner parties. Since i changed over to performing paranormal entertainment i am much happier and even during a slow month i still earn what i need. I spend a good amount of time during the day in my home office answering emails and chasing work. It can be long hours as i work all over the Uk and don't limit myself to any area. The corporate events are normally the highest earners, but get the right area for dinner parties and you can earn a nice living. I am doing a seance tonight at a local dinner party.

I work when and where I can, I have only just switched over to full time and things are picking up pace.
I have found some nice venues for constant work, you will also be suprised how creative you become both with your shows as well as where you can perform and how you will perform there.

Mr. Invisible,
Try to perform for a bunch of marines in a military club on base with a gut full of beer.

Have done paid shows since the age of sixteen. My first at that time was a doosie. No less than a private club with mixed languages and a wet tee shirt contest. I still save the flyer of those days.

I perform for royalty, my favorite is performing private for the parties at the villa of the Countess of Naples Italy. Also, with U.S. military and european military (Nato), private gigs, WWF- the muscle bound guys. Ect.

Not easy to get from piont a to point b, lots of but K_____g, and luck lots of it. There are so many good people out there
that need the attention deserved. For those that I teach I tell them we must first become artist then we come to the equipment.