After lurking in this area off-an-on for more than a year, I recently purchased Don Driver's videos from lybrary.com. As I was telling Don in a PM, I was asked to be part of a an inaugural two-day art festival in Northeast Ohio last year, and I told them I would perform a general magic show on Day 1 and a mindreading show on Day 2. My shows run between 40-50 minutes. At the last minute, they asked me to do walk-around magic. I had moved away from that type of magic, but I agreed to do it.

My experience was very good, but for other reasons. I connected with a serial entrepreneur who had bought and sold 18 companies, his latest, ABS Materials, could strike it big. Anyway, he gave me great advice about branding my act, which I immediately put into practice. While I always received positive feedback from my audiences, the reactions were even stronger just because of advice he had given me.

While the overall experience was good, the stipend I received to be part of the event was very modest. I vowed if I go back, I am pitching decks and worms. I have been invited back, and I will pitch worms, decks and then do some general magic stuff and pass the hat, thanks to Don Driver's video about building a tip.

Anyway, I want to thank you pitchmen for sharing a lot of information on this board. I had ordered some decks and worms last year, but never had an opportunity to pitch. I just ordered some more to get ready for the event in April, and I am so looking forward to it.

Thanks again for your help,

Bobby

p.s. When I post here, it is usually in the mentalism-related boards.

Bobby:

Good luck with your event. Let us know how you did.

LeoH

What was his advice?

I would be interested to know specifics as well! I am thinking of starting to pitch myself.

The advice had nothing to do with pitching, rather how to present myself during my magic shows. The comments were specific to my style, my physical attributes and my location in establishing a framework for my magic show.

Bobby

Which is the gentleman's way of saying, "I ain't telling!" Seriously, the information would be marginally helpful to anyone but you, because it is act specific, though basic principles could be extrapolated to other acts.

Comments related to "physical attributes"? If he were giving me comments it would be "fat guy" lol......

LeoH

LeoH,

I am a big boy, so he told me to introduce myself as the Midwest's Biggest Magician. He had advice on what to wear and even gave me a stage name, that I have never adopted because I don't like it. So, I tell the crowd, "My name is Bobby Warren, and they call me the Midwest's Biggest Magician. I think it is because of my stature (pause) in the magic community."

So, everyone gets a laugh thinking I am talking about my weight, and then it switches and they wonder if they were laughing at the wrong thing.

Bobby

Bobby:

I like that! Good ice breaker.

LeoH