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Billy Bo Special user 627 Posts |
My current situation: I've done quite a number of shows now and have got what I think is a fun and wacky, slightly different show. I am going part time at work withh the plan of freeing up my weekends to perform shows. Also I'm going to actively market myself lots to get my name round.
My dillema: I have just been offered to be a local franchise for a magic company who shall remain nameless. I am totally at a loss at what to do and am after some advise from those more experienced than me. Here are what I think are some pros and cons. Pros: Guaranteed work of about 4-9 2hr shows per week All equiptment for disco and magic show supplied everything is paid for by the company Good experience Cons: Cannot perform any shows under my original name so if I want to go solo at some point it will be very hard to promote myself from scratch again. The tricks they perform are performed by every person working for the company and are taught word for word. You have to perform what they say and not your "better" routines. There is one part of their show I definately don't want to do. I will probably not enjoy it as much as its not my magic show. I'm only 23 and feel now is the time to get my own company up so I can support my family |
mystic shriner New user Midwest, USA 64 Posts |
Is what they're paying you worth it? (Please don't disclose the exact amount) Also, is the job on the weekends so you can't perform YOUR character during that time? Is this job, the 4 to 9 shows...all week long?
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ralphdean Loyal user Northern Ca 300 Posts |
Will they let you not do the part of the show you do not want to do?
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PROFED Loyal user Chicago,Illinois 229 Posts |
You seem to have good insight- read your post- and you will have your decision.
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
[Sound of crowd yelling from the street below:] "DON'T DO IT! DON'T JUMP!"
Let trained professionals from the Café talk you off that ledge and get you some counseling. You've written, in your post, a very clear "why I don't want to do this." You haven't included a single reason why you should. Especially troubling is that "same tricks word for word" - it's like those poor devils working for minimum wage in a theme park show, dancing about to a badly-scripted recorded audio track ... it's not "performance experience," it won't help you grow as a performer, and the minute you start doing it you'll be in a strait jacket, unable to put an ounce of "you" into the show. |
mystic shriner New user Midwest, USA 64 Posts |
I agree, he does NOT want to do it...so let's look at why he's posting here in the first place....FAMILY.
Are you worried that you will be turning down an opportunity for more money? I believe that if you market more effectively, you won't have to worry about this job...but it may be that very gamble that worries you. It looks nice to have a steady schedule...and being in business for yourself is no cakewalk...it can be scary because there's no buffer between you and...well...the world and it's worries. A manager/boss/company is that buffer..it is a false sense of security in these times. |
esther_scheffer Veteran user the netherlands 316 Posts |
You might maybe just as well keep your dayjob fulltime then ??
For experience I guess it only works if you are still working on getting comfartable on stage etc. It sound you are already way passed that stage! You won't get any more experience out of it on creativity, iprovising, routining or trying new acts and/or routines. Nor will you be able to hand out your own buisness cards or other forms of promotion. If you feel the step is too big maybe you could look for an other agency to work for. One for who you can do your own show. You will still not be able to hand out your own buisness cards but if it is a good agency you can benefit from their marketing. |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
Two observations.
Your name is your brand. Or should be. So you protect it. But that shouldn't prevent you working for them under a different name. Surely if this a clone entertainment company you would work under their brand name. The other is obvious - yes, you would in the short term gain some valuable experience, not only performance experience but the even more essential business logistics experience. Remember, being a pro entertainer has a great deal more to do with running a business than being a talented performer.being a magician comes way down the list where making a living is involved. Personally I wouldn't have touched it at your age. Too inhibiting for me.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
Marvello Inner circle It's amazing how little I can say in 1612 Posts |
If your own magic gigs aren't paying the bills, and the prospective employer still allows you to market/perform your own show on your own time, then by all means take the job - you need to feed your family, and it sounds better than flipping burgers.
Never criticize someone else until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Then, when you do criticize them, you will be a mile away from them and you will have their shoes.
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Marvello Inner circle It's amazing how little I can say in 1612 Posts |
I guess I should also add to my above post, that what worries me about the setup you mentioned is exactly how felxible the agency will be with your schedule - How far in advance do they tell you what shows they will need you for, and if you already have a gig booked at that time are you allowed to turn it down?
Never criticize someone else until you have walked a mile in their shoes. Then, when you do criticize them, you will be a mile away from them and you will have their shoes.
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esther_scheffer Veteran user the netherlands 316 Posts |
"How far in advance do they tell you what shows they will need you for, and if you already have a gig booked at that time are you allowed to turn it down?"
ood (important) point!! If you take your own bookings, no way you should cancel them after you confirmed! If the job asks this -- a no go!! (exept when you do not want to take own booking) But who says he's flipping burgers? Maybe that's a good consideration to: is the performance job better (do you like it better, and/or does it pay better) then the job you are doing right now. For some reason I assumed that this was a nice and steady job. |
jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
At this point, with your show set and experience on your side, you have nothing to gain by working for somebody else .... unless of course, you need the money and you need it now. The day will certainly come when you will want to go out on your own, for whatever reason. I would keep my independence, and establish myself. Once you've built a following, (which probably will take a year or 2 if you are aggressively promoting), nobody can take it away from you.
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mystic shriner New user Midwest, USA 64 Posts |
We've been bending his ear so long he's probably lost the job to someone else!!!
Just try it for a week or two, that will tell you everything you need. You may even like the "audience control" experience it will give you. You may have a script, but no one said you could'nt use your own inflection on it!!! There's ALWAYS a loophole...anything man-made has one... |
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