talkmagic.co.uk

Hi Guys,

After a lot of people asking I am thinking of putting on a days (possibly 2 days) course.

This would be about magic as a working professional or trying to turn professional, with information and advice on getting shows networking and the business side of magic. I would talk about magic in restaurants getting and holding residency's. people skills, pocket management and the like.

I always feel my in my lectures I never have enough time to go into detail so this would give me the chance to do so.

I would also be teaching some of my favourite routines and creations that I earn a living from.

My question to you guys to make this the best course possible would be what other info would you like me to talk about if you was to attend such an event? I want to include as many ideas and tips as possible. There will things I not think of or may over look as a full time professional.

This info could really help me.

Many thanks.

Lee.

As I'm sure you know I've gone from being a hobbiest to trying to work out in the real world. My hope is to slowly build up business and quit my job. I've been getting gigs but certainly not enough to leave my employer. I'm not 100% committed at the moment as I have a 2 year old boy so I want to wait until he starts school before I really go for it. What I would find useful may therefore differ to others but certainly on my agenda would be the following:

1) Routining. What to include in routines, how long should they be etc. This leads nicely into:

2) Pocket management. How many routines. I found in restaurants I got a bit stumped when faced with really long table. The first 4 - 6 people can see what you're doing but the rest can't. But they may catch glimpses. I have this overwhelming desire to perform different things for everyone else on the table. It also means that if you have anything that requires a reset, you need to do it on the fly.

3) Income generation. Everything I've earned has been through Google Adwords. I know (I think??) that you don't do this?? I got my restaurant residency because they saw my website believe it or not!!

4) Income projections and pricing. What can I realistically expect to earn each month throughout the year if I'm doing things right. When are the peaks and the troughs.

5) Approaching spectators - self explanatory. Best practice for openers.

6) Business model. Are you self employed or a limited company. Just a little about the financial admin side would be welcome.

Finally on the matter of showing some of your rouine, this would be extremely useful. Not least from an intelectual perspective but just to see what's actually working. That said, from a selfish point of view I tend to think that most people who would attend such a course would already have a stock routine (maybe I'm wrong) I'd rather be focussing on how to turn my already hard earned olympic talents into cold hard cash!!!


Hope this helps. And I'll book a course - but you must promise not to do any DL's!!!!! - I hate 'em!! :lol


K

Kev,

Thanks so much for all this. Really helps.

These are the exact subjects I would like to go into detail on. I have plenty of other ideas but more are welcome.

Can't say there will be no DL's tho

Hi Lee

I think it would be good to know your strategies on working different crowds. I have been looking at starting to do gigs but I don't want to go in blind and be the magician who is always in the corner setting up or neglecting some of the guests.

All the best

Craig

Thanks guys. Keep them coming. I am 90% going to be doing this at the end of the summer.

Lee Smith wrote:Thanks guys. Keep them coming. I am 90% going to be doing this at the end of the summer.

Oh I forgot to mention couples. I always feel really bad approaching a couple in the restaurant. I just assume they've come out for some privacy. Do you have different methods for different group sizes.

Also, dealing with total kxxxx!!! I always get one.

And how you specifically made the transition to pro. If I get redundancy this year like I'm hoping then that will force my hand!!

K

kevmundo wrote:

Lee Smith wrote:Thanks guys. Keep them coming. I am 90% going to be doing this at the end of the summer.

Oh I forgot to mention couples. I always feel really bad approaching a couple in the restaurant. I just assume they've come out for some privacy. Do you have different methods for different group sizes.

Also, dealing with total kxxxx!!! I always get one.

And how you specifically made the transition to pro. If I get redundancy this year like I'm hoping then that will force my hand!!

K

Great points I will be sure to add this.

slightly different to routining, i would be interested in what a Professional Magician looks for in a trick to add to their act? are there cetain things that a trick must have (maybe an instant reset etc) and are there other things that you would always avoid?

Social Dynamics.

I know this is going to sound like a joke, I don't really mean it to be.
It could be very beneficial to some folk for a course focusing on how to interact with people, approach them, build rapport etc...
Basically you'd be doing a social dynamics course but with less focus on sleeping with people.
For a 2 day course it seems natural to fit a "night out" in

Lawrence wrote:Social Dynamics.

I know this is going to sound like a joke, I don't really mean it to be.
It could be very beneficial to some folk for a course focusing on how to interact with people, approach them, build rapport etc...
Basically you'd be doing a social dynamics course but with less focus on sleeping with people.
For a 2 day course it seems natural to fit a "night out" in

It's very important information. It's more important than the magic itself. I try to do this in my lecture but don't have the time. Plus in two hours people just want to see the effects. This is the exact the sort of subject I want to do.