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Scott Grimm Regular user Chicago 141 Posts |
In magic as well as all other forms of entertainment you must first find out who YOU are. Some peolpe will say that they are first and formost an entertainer or an artist or a magician. That is fine and in fact, encouraged. But if you list the words that describe you and the words "buisiness man" are not in the top three, don't even think about it. Part time or hobbiest can get away with it but full time pros can not.
Faith is at the heart of all magic.
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Scott is right. As a professional, you will spend far more time being a business man then you actually do being an entertainer. You must be ready to be able to handle this as well.
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
I was full time for about many years but about 10 years ago I decided my family was suffering—or as I tell people, they have a bad habit...they like to eat on a regular basis.
I went to part-time pro, with a regular job. I have a Monday to Friday job, and most of my shows fall on weekends anyway. If anyone is considering full time, think it over very carefully. It's a wonderful way to make a living, but like all performing arts, a hard way to make a living as well.
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
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King Of Pop Veteran user Estonia 392 Posts |
I just started looking for small cafés and restos for performing.
God Bless You, I Love You From The Bottom Of My Heart
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MagicalPirate Special user Shamokin, PA 828 Posts |
If you are going to go pro and don't have a website create one. You are on this forum so you obviously have a computer or access to one.
Get your own personal domain name. These are so cheap now that nobody can seriously say they can't afford it. I pay $8.75 a year for my .com names and this shouldn't make you go broke. If it does I would rethink your plans of going pro at this time. There is at least one registrar that I know of, if you register your domain through them they will give you one free month of hosting on the sister site they built for hosting websites. If you want more information on this PM me. Further, this goes for anyone who already has a website too. Once you have a website up with your own domain name don't use a yahoo or aol or some other email address use your domain name for your email. Paul@superentertainer.com looks more professional than paul123@yahoo.com ever will. If you are a pro then you should act like one and your website is one of the places they will look at to determine this. Now don't say I can't build a website, I don't know how. If you can conceive it you can acheive it. There are books, CDs, videos, etc. that you can learn from. I think there is even one of those books for Dummies on website design. At the very least anyone can create a contact page so they at least have some presence on the internet. I used books, I taught myself graphic design, computer programming, website design, all of which I do for others. Now I'm not advertising my services here, I'm just saying if you want to do it you can. There are no excuses. If you are an excuse maker always finding reasons why you can't do this or that while knocking down your next beer, you won't make it as a business person anyway. For the serious people on this forum, I don't think this is a problem anyway. It's also a lot harder if you are single. If you are married and your spouse works, the bills can still be paid while you get it together and build your business. Once you are successful you can give your spouse a much needed and desired vacation. Know what you want out of it and what you are before you start. Are you a Birthday Magician, Restaurant Performer? Do you do close up or is stage your thing? All of these are okay to be you just have to know which one you are so you can pursue your market. If you haven't already, you should invest in some of the many fine new books that have come out on marketing. More Shows! More Money! by CJ Johnson. Jim Snacks new book Success In Magic. Dave Dees Products. http://www.TheDean.net for his university and Sunday night marketing forums. Subscribe to: http://www.MagicCoach.com if you haven't already. Plus many more that I'm not thinking of off the top of my head. These will give you marketing knowledge and some will even give you direction. Invest in yourself. No tricks but knowledge is where the money is. Without a paying client all you are is a trickster. Well that's my two cents. If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them.
Martin Blakley, CSH, DASH, CMSA
http://www.thehypnoguy.com/HYPNORESOURCES http://www.docgrayson.com/ How To Sell Anything Online http://tub.bz/?r=1z Copyright to my own words retained 100%. |
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ufo Inner circle Phoenix, Arizona 1185 Posts |
Thanks to all of you for your input on a topic that really needs dealing with in a free environment.
"What's your drug?" she asked. "Hope" he said, "The most addicting one of all."
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Steve Hart Veteran user Cocoa, FL 388 Posts |
Are you willing to take RISKS?
Deep desire and self-confidence. Read Napoleon Hill's book, "Think and Grow Rich". That book helped me the most. Since then there have been many other books to inspire me and instruct me. Invest in yourself. Buy books, tapes, and go to seminars, learn from others and save yourself from what they have learned. Your biggest battle will be within your own mind. Your ability to see and understand the universal laws that govern the art and business of magic are critical. That is your mission. Once you discover this, you will be self-employed for the rest of your life and never go back. Steve Hart Cape Canaveral, FL USA
www.SteveHartSpeaks.com
www.magic2motivate.com "Motivational Magicians are some of the highest paid magicians, find out why?" |
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Tim David Regular user MA 164 Posts |
Raise your fees. Just do it.
That has nothing to do with going full-time, but you may as well earn more, right? But seriously, most of us can stand a fee increase. It's like what Steve said...the biggest barrier is the one you place in front of yourself. Don't believe for a minute that you can't raise your fees $10 tomorrow. And hey, another $10 wouldn't be bad either, would it? In fact, if I were the betting type, I'd say that you could increase your fee by a MINIMUM of $25 tomorrow and your bookings would barely decrease, if at all. In some cases, your bookings would probably increase. Anyone who is trying to get out of the birthday party market knows what I mean. We THINK that by raising our fees, people will want to book us less. NO WAY! We become that much more DESIRABLE, the second we elevate our own perceived value. Raise your fees. Just do it. Then sign up for the business of shows newsletter: http://www.businessofshows.com There's my two cents. I think I just motivated myself to raise my fees again. |
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