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magicleland Regular user 197 Posts |
Buy a trailer they work great! What size should I get?
zig zag illusion - $3,000
theater rental - $500 geting advice from othe magicians on the cafe - priceless |
Rob Johnston Inner circle Utah 2060 Posts |
??
Ummm....A Winnebego?
"Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable." - Margot Fonteyn
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Mr. Muggle Special user 999 Posts |
Funny Rob; that should be just enough room for that chair suspension I've been wanting to add to my act.
MM
"Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it because you're not really looking. You don't really want to know the secret... You want to be fooled." - The Prestige (2006)
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Harry Murphy Inner circle Maryland 5445 Posts |
Are you talking about a house trailer or a cargo trailer?
If it’s cargo trailer then don’t bother. Rent a truck. Rent the size you need. Blackstone traveled his show from one side of this country to the other. His show filled several trucks. He never bothered to buy them. He rented. That way he only had to pay for them when he needed them. No monthly insurance payments, no monthly bank payments, no maintenance, no upkeep. When one broke down on the road he simply used the toll free number and had the company send a backup truck. If your show is a small one but big enough to fill a small trailer and you absolutely want to have a trailer to store the stuff in between shows then figure get all your stuff in their travel cases and organize them in your yard or garage and see what size of trailer box you need. Then go larger! Don’t forget the moving dollies and odds and ends that you will have to pack. If your show is that small then maybe you ought to consider going smaller!! That is get rid of some of the boxes and tables and minimize the clutter and maximize the magic. I think about Billy McComb who performs a complete evening show from a briefcase! If you are thinking about travel trailers, well I used to own an Airstream. I had the smallest they sold in the day and it was more than I needed. Then I found that it was just as easy to stay in a motel!
The artist formally known as Mumblepeas!
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Bob Sanders 1945 - 2024 Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
I agree with Harry and the hundreds of show people I've known before him. Use the right tool for the job! Owning the wrong equipment often makes us avoid making good decisions. If you don't need it every day and it is available, rent it.
We tried the Winnebago route. It was fun but it caused time and money to be mis-invested in the wrong things, in the wrong place at the wrong time. Think, why would you be doing magic where nobody lives? There will be accommodations even if you have to rent them. They won't eat up your time and energy. I tried the van route. My real complaint is that I hated driving a van. It made a long day a longer day. Thieves love them. Everybody hates to work on them. For years I used a pickup truck with a cover and trailer. It was better than a van. They don't drive the same. They cost the same to operate and they will go places a van will not go. (Ground clearance) It had more alternative uses and for some reason it was not the invitation to thieves the van was. (Maybe it was the visible gun rack!) The very best was in the 80s and 90s when Cadillac made good road cars. That's all over. But it was great when it was great. We had several. My kids were raised in the back seats of Cadillacs. (I essentially raised kids alone. Their mom died when they were little and she was somewhat unavailable for years before.) If I could still get the good Cadillacs, I would. The three big Ford cars are all that is left. They are grossly inferior to the good Cadillacs. But those days are gone. They won't safely pull a trailer either. Hauling is a separate function for an illusion show. We have a pickup truck but don’t use it for magic. It’s used at home and with the horses. SUVs don't attract me at all. My dad always had a Suburban. No thanks! A truck makes the worst of cars. Then remove its ability to function as a truck and not much is left. I don’t own a box trailer but have considered it. But now it takes a real truck to safely tow one. Just rent a truck! Until this topic came up, I never realized how much of the time the major hauling was handled by my corporate sponsors. Perhaps I’ve been ungrateful. They have done a great job of handling this problem. God is Good! Working through agents and knowing how to work through agents has also solved many of these problems. Most magicians think I have too much duplicate equipment. However, it solved many of the hauling/timing problems. The solution really depends on how you work. However, it will also limit you to how you work! Bob Magic By Sander |
muzicman Special user LaCenter, Wa 989 Posts |
I have been considering a trailer for my shows. I am eyeing a 14 foot enclosed with a ramp. I considered a truck but the insurance and gas and maintenece would eat up my money. A trailer could be painted with my logo and get me some exposure as I traveled to and from my gigs. Up til now, I have either rented a truck or a U-Haul trailer to get my act around. In my state, where it only rains twice a year, I need something that will protect my investments.
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Bob Sanders 1945 - 2024 Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Muzicman,
A trailer is good storage and is also added flexibility. It is also sign space. Because they are closer to the ground they are also easier to load and unload. The costs of keeping a trailer are low. Moving a trailer can get expensive. Towing a trailer increase the fuel consumption of the tow vehicle. It also stresses the breaks, engine, transmission, etc. that result in extra costs. Let us know what you learn. Enjoy! Bob Magic By Sander |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
I have used various trailers for over thirty years,but mine have always been dual purpose.
On my site you can see the latest one. All have been my stage,storage,haulage and accomedation.Useing your own setup also brings in the oportunity for extra cash,,,,other entertainers at the show venue can also use your stage for their performances,at a cost! It makes you completely self contained (Sound wise,lighting wise,setup wise)Which is an added saving for any potential booker. This of course applies to working the outside show venues only. Ken. Highly reccomended for the pro OS act`s. |
GWSchott Veteran user Southeastern Michigan 361 Posts |
Regarding promotional stuff on the side of a trailer, beware...Some states (Michigan, for example) LOVE to find a reason to classify a trailer as commercial, which opens the door to all sorts of record-keeping requirements and, of course, fees. It's worth checking out before slapping that sign on the side.
Yours In Magic,
Gordon |
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