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Xelena New user 7 Posts 
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Are there any guidebooks out there regarding the pitching/costs/breakdowns/concerns regarding producing your own Cabaret Show?
Any "How to be a Producer" resources available online geared towards Mentalists. I'm reading and rereading the final chapters of 13 Steps to Mentalism in preparation for going out to local businesses and hustling. (Finally, I'm financially ready) I'm curious as to what else is out there. |
Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts
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Are you looking to 4 wall?
Ray |
Alwow Special user Los Angeles 544 Posts
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Check out the tricky business forum, lots of good info there.
"Everything I show you is the truth... And the truth is the loveliest of lies"
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Xelena New user 7 Posts
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Magic Dimensions, I don't know wha thet you mean by 4 wall. If it's about the Fouth Wall in performance, part of my introductory patter is a bit about the 4th wall being down for Mentalists.
Thanks for pointing me towards Tricky Business, Alwow. I've got quite a bt of reading ahead of me. |
DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts
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Not an expert by any means, but this is how I got started. Basically “Four-Walling” has to do with the agreement you make with the venue owner. In this case, you are getting the “four walls” and nothing else. Set-up, sales, sound, seating, even advertising is completely up to you. I think I stumbled up on a niche, which is now becoming a little better known, but still shunned by many “in the business”. It worked to get me rolling, but may implode later on, unless you are (or have) a DYNAMITE promoter.
There IS a way to do this with no money up front (other than the cost of your act, equipment, etc.), just to get your feet wet, but I’m unwilling to post it on an open forum (I might want to come back to this some day!  )
BTW, Cabaret is my favorite way to perform. I generally set up the tables so that they completely surround me, with just an aisle for me to get in and out. Very personal, up-close, and about as intimate as you can get with a crowd. So anyway, you can DO this, and I encourage you to spend some time thinking about it. Don’t ignore the nay-sayers, because they have a point. It’s a tricky thing. But totally do-able!
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10606 Posts
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Great advice, but I must say you've piqued my curiosity as to your "way." The good thing about such an arrangement is it offers you control over many of the important elements, especially performance dynamics which can be the most important to an entertainer, yet completely missed and not understood by most venues.
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Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts
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Also you can get local businesses to buy advertisement space for a mention in a flyer/card/brochure. There are also other things that can be done to create other streams of money before and after your event.
Ray |
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Xelena New user 7 Posts
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I've got a candidate!
A Bar and Grill (literally) that is just starting out in a renovated house Downtown. And it has a spooky upstairs that is not utilized... PERFECT FOR A SCEANCE SHOW!!!! I left a business card after introducing myself to the owner's girlfriend/bartender and dong some tricks...(er I mean experiments) Going to follow up this weekend. |
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Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts
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This is really cool. Don't forget to market other ideas that could be used there. Such as a mentalism or a bizarre show. Or what ever you like. Position yourself as the house entertainer. A steady gig that separates this bar and grill from the others by having you there.
Ray |
Al Desmond Inner circle Secret Mountain Lair in Conifer, Co 1511 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 25, 2015, Magical Dimensions wrote: Ha. So some people are still doing "telephone" shows. Back int he 70's I worked for a promoter who had a boiler room operation. He would get a local fire department or other charity to supply the four walls and tell them he would supply a two hour magic show, no charge, and they could have the gate. And then his phone people would get to work, calling local businesses and getting them to advertise in the program, telling the businesses that the show is a fundraiser for the charity. Of course, the businesses din't understand that the ad revenue was NOT going to the charity. The ad revenue went to the promoter and the promoter then paid the acts. Everyone made money, no one got screwed and everyone walked away happy. |
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Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts
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Al, yes, the old ways are still good......
I did exactly this method years ago when I first stared out. I didn't think people remembered this marketing method but you proved me wrong. Hey, it was the thing to do back then.
Ray |
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Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts
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Quote:
On Apr 30, 2015, Xelena wrote: So you do a seance act also? Ray |
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Al Desmond Inner circle Secret Mountain Lair in Conifer, Co 1511 Posts
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Quote:
On May 1, 2015, Magical Dimensions wrote: If someone has the gumption, it's a thing to do again. It's not illegal and everyone get's what they paid for (or didn't pay for). Actually the recipient of the money gets more than they would normally if they were working on a percentage basis. And this makes sure the charity has a buy-in on the project, since it's their job to sell tickets. I never saw anything wrong with it then and I still see nothing wrong with it. Heck, you can even explain to the advertisers what the arrangement is all about. Their contribution is still tax deductible, the promoter still has to pay taxes on profits and the entertainers are usually assured that they are getting paid. The promoter I worked for had a set price he'd pay the acts and anything he made over his costs was his. There are TONS of small towns and rural areas that would enjoy live entertainment, so the community gets something too. Most of our shows were across North Texas, small towns, venues were usually a high school or community center. I MC'ed the shows, doing a short turn between the acts. |
Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18038 Posts
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Quote:
On May 1, 2015, Al Desmond wrote: I knew promoters that did this in Washington State .. However they even kept 85% of the gate and oversold the venue by an additional 100% since half the people who buy charity tickets don't show up. The police department was 100% happy with the arrangement as they got thousands with no work. BTW..We have a member here who has written such a book.
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Xelena New user 7 Posts
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Hi Ray!
Yes, I am working out a Seance Act. Point taken. |
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Slim King Eternal Order Orlando 18038 Posts
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John Pyka... Contact him IMHO
THE MAN THE SKEPTICS REFUSE TO TEST FOR ONE MILLION DOLLARS.. The Worlds Foremost Authority on Houdini's Life after Death.....
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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts
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Xelena, This is John Pyka. Thanks for referring me, Slim!
I wrote an e-book called How To Produce Your Own Theater Show. I wrote it for people just like you, based on 20 years of experiences king a living producing my own shows. It is available from www.lybrary.com or Amazon. |
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Xelena New user 7 Posts
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John Pyka,
I just bought your book. I've only had a chance to thumb through it so far, but it seems impressive. It has a lot of the information I have been lacking thus far!oward to reading it! Looking f |
| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Penny for your thoughts » » Hustling up a Cabaret Show (3 Likes) | |
Posted: Apr 23, 2015 08:46 pm 
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