talkmagic.co.uk

How many of TM's users are seriously thinking of going pro/semi-pro? Not necessarily going 100% for the magic, but at least doing magic which would be a serious part of your daily life, both the way you live and your income.

If you are thinking of it, - what's your biggest concern?

what's your biggest concern? in a word tax and public liability in old blighty its a nightmare.
take car insurance you can get it if you carry hazodose chemicals but you try to get it as an entertainer or magician.

You should be concerned about

Props repair and replacement
Cost of consumables (cards, ropes, balloon etc)
Amount of competition in your area
Have far you are prepared to travel to perform
What to charge (taking into count insurance, petrol, etc)
Lengths of shows
Type of shows
and so on...

Biggest concern - finding enough paid work and on a regular basis. Everything else should then be relatively easy (ish)

I hope to be able to work in a restauraunt or somewhere like that for a few nights a week when I go to college in about a year from now. My biggest concerns are: 1- how much to charge; there is nobody else doing this kind of thing, so there would be no competition, and I haven't a clue how much money to look for (I mean not a clue).
2- Coming up with new material. This isn't really a concern, but something to think about none the less. If customers come in to a restauraunt a second or third time, I will have to remember them, or else I will probably end up showing them the same material again. Then again, remembering customers can't be too hard, I can bent cutlery with my mind !!!

2- Coming up with new material. This isn't really a concern, but something to think about none the less. If customers come in to a restauraunt a second or third time, I will have to remember them, or else I will probably end up showing them the same material again. Then again, remembering customers can't be too hard, I can bent cutlery with my mind !!!

As part of my initial introduction to a table I generally ask if they have seen close up magic before, at this point if you have performed for them before they will usually mention it.

I have considered it. My biggest concern is a stable income. It would be difficult to match my current income doing the kind of gigs I'm doing now so I'd need to focus more onn corporate. I'm very much a beginner to that market so I've given myself two years and then to re-evalate.

The other concern is at the moment - even though i get paid pretty much every time I perform - I still just do it for fun. If it became my job I'm scared I'd lose some of that. Some pros I've spoeken to assure me that won't happen - but my current job used to be my hobby - and I can't really say I do it for fun anymore.

Repeat customers in a restaurant aren't too bad - ofetn they'll come specifically to see something again - like bending cutlery. It's annoying in that it takes away some of the psychological advantage of them not knowing what's coming next - but at the same time it's a compliment to me so I try and make them feel special. I have a few things I only do when the moment's right. Things that require more 'work' from the customer - like a 'graphology' routine - where they need to draw something, or an ESP card routine where it takes a bit more time than is usually acceptable in a restaurant - those are the things I'll do with repeat customers.

where it takes a bit more time than is usually acceptable in a restaurant -

Just out of interest how do you determine that a certain amount of time isn't acceptable? I ask because I sometimes spend up to 30 minutes at one table.

Just out of interest how do you determine that a certain amount of time isn't acceptable

I guess it's a matter of personal style and preference - and maybe because I'm new to all this. I usually do effects that are quick, visible, powerful and don't invade their space that much - in that I try not to have to put anything on the table or have them do too much. I'll spend a maximum of about 5mins at a table - usually less. I'll often go back to the table later in the evening. At the time when I'm at the restaurant they're extremely busy and I see my job as being there to add to the vibe - get people laughing and relaxing so I try to get to as many tables as possible. I also like to do different things for tables that are close together - that way I'll often get asked back to a table to do 'that thing I did at that other table' - and people don't feel like I'm rattling off my set stuff.

I guess 'acceptable' was the wrong word to use - I think it's more what feels right to me.

As the evening goes on I'll usually slow down a little and focus on more intimate stuff. I could never spend 30 mins at a table - unless at least half of it was conversation. Quite frankly - I don't have enough material

taneous wrote:

As the evening goes on I'll usually slow down a little and focus on more intimate stuff. I could never spend 30 mins at a table - unless at least half of it was conversation. Quite frankly - I don't have enough material

You do not need lots of effects to to spend 30 minutes at table. The time you have had a little chat, asked how they are enjoying the meal / evening etc time is taken up. Maybe a few jokes inbetween effects. As Faye Presto said "Magic is not about going up to a table with a deck of cards and showing how clever you are, magic is about people".

Magic is not about going up to a table with a deck of cards and showing how clever you are, magic is about people

I know that - and sure - I could probably spend that amount of time with a group of people, but I'd rather have them wanting more than wishing i'd shutup and leave . The management also wouldn't be too impressed with me if I did that - I'm only there for two hours.

Anyway - back to the thread topic..

Reason for starting the thread was that I have always had a dream of starting as a bar magician. Part-time stuff. Maybe in weekends, and late nights in the weekdays, more for fun. I know a couple of bar-owners, so I should be able to get a job, but, who wants to pay for such an entertainer?

but I'd rather have them wanting more than wishing i'd shutup and leave .

Trust me if I stay at a table it's because they want me too, not cos I'm pushing myself at them. I have done an hour at a table and still struggled to get them to let me leave. Of course when your doing this amount of time there is a fair amount of conversation it's not just one effect after another.

Bar owners will often book a magician on a regular basis. In fact you will find many brewery chains that do this on a regular basis. If you do turn pro then the best of luck to you. I hope you enjoy it as much as i do.

who wants to pay for such an entertainer

I used to feel that way about restaurant magic - but I was very wrong
I think one of the major hurdles I had to get over in my mind was to realise that people actually do want to se me perform - and they're willing to pay for it. I wasn't brave enough to actually approach a restaurant - but I had a plan
Every time I went to a restaurant i thought could use me, I'd bend one of their forks for the waitron - and then afterwards I'd go to the management and offer to pay for the fork I bent. It got me a reputation quite quickly and eventually one of the restaurants approached me. Whether it was to stop me destroying more cutlery - I'll never know. I do know that since I've been there there turnover has increased dramatically and from having a few tables open every night - they now have a queue outside (and I use my own cutlery).

not cos I'm pushing myself at them

HappyToad - I wasn't implying that you were - sorry if it came across that way.