talkmagic.co.uk

Hi guys,

I need some help/advice on getting paid to perform, what is the legal way to get paid (taxes etc)? is it by cheque?
Also what insurance/licenses do we need when peforming proffesionally?

Many thanks, Jared

Indeed a topic with a lot of aspects! There are some previous threads on this subject, one is at ftopic39493.php and the others can be found via the Advanced/Google Search function - best of luck!

jaredmagician wrote:Hi guys,

I need some help/advice on getting paid to perform, what is the legal way to get paid (taxes etc)? is it by cheque?
Also what insurance/licenses do we need when peforming proffesionally?

Many thanks, Jared

Can you let us know where you're based.
We'd need to know before we can properly answer

Also where are you performing and for what sort of audience?

If you are in the UK then you pay tax as a self-employed person. If you are uber successful and break the threshold fro VAT you will have to charge and pay VAT.

There is no difference between being a working magi and a shop keeper in many respects as you are working under the guise of being a self-employed person. Albeit a self-employed entertainer.

It's up to you whether you open a business bank account or have cheques, transfers etc, made payable to you personally. I'd recommend a business account once things pick up work wise as it helps to simplify accounting.

There are all kinds of venues that help small business start ups. My advice is to check your area and meet with some of these groups. Check your local university, banks usually have a lot of information for starting your business, your chamber of commerce or whatever you call it on your end of the world.

I know I'm repeating myself if you check my comments on many of these threads but the biggest contribution to magicians failures either being a performer, creator, lecturer, manufacture or dealer or any combination of, is not lack of magic skills but lack of business skills. Every area is different no matter where you live. And asking advice on here is risky because you really don't know what we really know when it comes to these types of issues. And what are you going to tell the judge when have to explain your tax evaison. You learned the tax code on a magicians board on the internet?

Yeah I'm going to extremes but thats my mood at the moment.

thanks for the advice so far guys! , im based in hampshire, U.K

Well it's always worth getting a CRB even if you're not specifically looking to work with children. You'll need to think about an entertainment license although that might be covered by the venue. Public liability insurance is always a really good idea, yoou never know when you might need it.

Lady of Mystery wrote:Well it's always worth getting a CRB

Just to note that a CRB is property of the person or company that performs the check and it's technically a breach of the data protection act to show it to anyone else.
You CAN get a CRB on yourself and tell people you've got one, you just can't show them it (legally).

Unless rulings have changed recently?

you can get PL insurance by joining equity.
fairly easy way of doing it and they are well recognised.

http://www.equity.org.uk/home/" target="_blank

To join equity though you need proof of paid performing

It doesn't matter how you get paid as long as you keep records, and declare it, as income from self employment.

Joining equity is vital if you are thinking of performing for money regularly, as it provides up to £10M public liability Ins.
You unfortunately have to produce 2 contracts(I think) which prove that you are indeed performing for payment before being accepted.

With regard to CRB, I used to have one (last done 2007) but I have found that no one asks anymore. I do specify that under NO circumstances would I perform alone with children, and would be happy to undergo a CRB at the clients expense.

I have been a full time pro for 12 years,