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ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
To those of you who became full-time illusionists or full-time stage performers after having a previous career:
1. What was your profession before you became a full-time performer? 2. When and/or why did you decide to make the "cut" to full-time performing? 3. What preparations did you make while in your other profession that prepared you to make the change?
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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AmazingEARL Veteran user Tennessee, USA 350 Posts |
1. Radio Personality for eight years
2. Too many gigs. Living a double life was wearing me out, so I quit the one that was the least fun. 3. Constantly booking evening and weekend gigs for a smooth financial transition. Constant promotion. Constantly chiseling from my radio paycheck to supplement the gig money that financed the promotion and props. In 1990 I was single, owned my house and had no car payments, so I set a goal. If I could see $20,000 in the bank to fall back on, I'd jump ship on the radio job. At the end of that December, there it was; a little nest egg and a full performing schedule. I didn't burn my bridges with the old job in case it all fell apart, but I left it and never, NEVER looked back. It was my dream and I was going to LIVE it! Performing and touring full-time was probably the most exciting fifteen years of my life. Do it slowly and do it smart...but DO it. Dan/EARL |
Christo Loyal user Cyprus 229 Posts |
Good for you Dan....
1. Property Developer, Restaurant owner. 2. Heart Attack. 3. Plenty of time to prepare in my 18 months of recovery time. Chris
"Humpty was pushed!!"
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ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
Anyone else???
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I was a printing salesman. I was offered a job as magician on a Riverboat Casino. It seemed like a good time to jump ship.
I have since returned to a "real job" as a schoolteacher (nice to have benefits likes insurance and a pension.) Surprisingly, I still do aobut 80% as many shows as I did as a full-timer. after all, I have evenings, weekends, and summers off! |
KeithP Regular user 171 Posts |
I have a friend who was a comptroller (high level accountant) before he went full time magi.
Keith |
randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
1.. I was a film prop artist that worked in Dallas, then Hollywood, for ten years.
I got sick of it and moved back to Texas and went to nursing school. 2.. After all the school, I didn't like nursing. I got back into magic after a long break from it. Rediscovered how much I loved it. 3.. I went to work as a temp phlebotomist (blood drawer). That way I could be off when I had a show. Anything else, was just getting out and doing it. Now I have rediscovered my enjoyment of building stuff. So now I build magic props for me and other magicians. Randi |
Lyndel Inner circle wrote the theme to the TV show COPS! 1623 Posts |
1) Police Officer
2) It was becoming difficult to schedule as much time off at the police department to meet my performing obligations. 3) Built up a nest egg, began accepting additional bookings, and promoted, promoted, promoted. Still promoting BTW! Lyndel |
Tony Chris V.I.P. Vancouver, Canada 714 Posts |
Before becoming a full time magician, hmmm.....let me think.
Oh yes, in the late '80s, after high school, I played lead guitar in a few heavy metal bands that toured North America until the mid '90s, then I went back to college for a few years and studied law. Then I worked in law offices for a few years, then as a chef, and finally, in 1996, turned full time pro as a magician. I have been doing magic full time now since '96, but whenever I can, I still like to plug in my 1972 cherry sunburst Les Paul (electric guitar) and bang out some metal in my home recording studio.
As magicians we create what onlookers call magic. If they truly believe in what we have created for them to witness then magic is real!!!
- TONY CHRIS, A.K.A. Zany Zack http://www.tonychris.com |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
1. What was your profession before you became a full-time performer?
-I was a Union (Equity) Stage Actor / Director for over 20 years. 2. When and/or why did you decide to make the "cut" to full-time performing? -When I moved to San Francisco from Chicago just about 1988. 3. What preparations did you make while in your other profession that prepared you to make the change? -There was so little union work in the Bay Area for actors, I decided to make my part-time magic into more theatrical performance-art and gear it to corporate events. Magically, Walt |
danielluskmagic New user 97 Posts |
1. Radio/TV, Internet Development, Saw Blade Delivery, Contract for Federal Trade Commission (still the voice on all of the FTC 888 numbers), Field Construction Manager for new home builder. --- wow
2. The home market went downhill and got laid off. 3. Not much....I had to start making money to support my family.....looked at what I could do and what I did best...guess what?...that's performing. |
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