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cafeinst Elite user 489 Posts |
I had a successful part-time magic show business as a teenager (mostly birthday parties) in the 1980's for about 5 years. All I did was advertise in my local free press and got enough calls to keep me busy on weekends and sometimes weekdays. Eventually, I didn't need to advertise anymore and got shows from word of mouth. Then I went to college and that ended it all.
Now, I want to get back into the magic business again doing shows part-time. What is the best way to start, given that I'm living in the internet age? I've never built a website before. Is a website necessary? |
Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
In my opinion, the only necessary thing to have as a part time worker is a business card, a phone number, and at least one YouTube video (I would argue it doesn't even need to be a demo, just a video of a cool trick that shows personality). Be sure to put the link on your business card. Websites are great for being a brochure, but only a fraction of people even see it, and an even smaller portion even read it.
WordPress provides free websites/blogs, Facebook is free, and so is YouTube. If you're only looking to be part time, I think you'll get by just fine with those tools. If you don't know how to build them, there are tutorials on YouTube. |
Benji Bruce Special user 930 Posts |
Which market do you want to get into? If you want to do corporate gigs then...yes you need a website. You have to start by building clientele and then getting most of your gigs through referrals.
And when I say "referrals" I don't mean the way 99.9% of entertainers do it. Most entertainers do a show and expect the client to give them referrals because they "have a good show." You have to be rigorous with your referral system. Don't get a free site...either do it right or don't do it at all. Here is some info on how to build the right website http://www.paidtoperform.com/building-a-website/ And if you need someone to design a site for you then send me a PM and I can talk with my internet guy. So the real question is how serious do you want to get with your business? If you just want a couple shows here and there, only charging a couple hundred...ignore everything I said |
BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
Benji, being "serious" and doing it your way are not mutually exclusive. There are part-time professionals who do a couple shows "here and there" for a few hundred dollars a pop and are *completely* serious and dedicated in their craft. Just because people have different goals than you does not mean they aren't as serious.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
As usual the point is missed. More than a web site and referals you need a product. And a darn good one.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
cafeinst Elite user 489 Posts |
I'm limited by my 9-5 day job. I've got a great show. My goal is a couple shows here and there, for the time being. I just want to start performing again.
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-04-15 16:11, Benji Bruce wrote: Done. |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Keeping it simple .. you need to things..1) a show and 2) a Business. That is why they call it show business. You must have both and know how to run both to be of any success long term. So develop a polished show for the market/s you want to work and 2) study as much about business and marketing as you possibly can.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
I didn't listen to any "marketers" when getting my business going. What works for them may not work for you. Most of it is recycled info from what I've seen.
-Matt
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Matt: Sound marketing is sound marketing. The principles of a successful business is based upon knowledge of how to run your magic as a business. Learning how to market yourself and your services is critical to your business' success. So read as much as you can and absorb information and then learn to apply it so that it best works for you.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
I definitely read. But it isn't anything from "magic marketers"
I work hard marketing myself and what I do works for me. I have not purchased any marketing programs, and I did not spend thousands of dollars for a website. Marketing your business successfully has nothing to do with how much money you put into it. It has to do with how well you put yourself out there.
-Matt
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Matt: I did not say magic marketers. I also did not say you need to spend a fortune to learn how to market. I simply said you need to learn the business side of your magic business if you want to be a success with it. Learning how to be successful at marketing your services is just plain smart. You can acquire this knowledge from the library or a teacher or many sources. So it has nothing to do with money you place inn to it. It does have a lot to do with how much time and energy you put into it.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
drewer New user NoVa 100 Posts |
Obviously a website and phone number are essentials. And as you learned as a teenager, word of mouth is key to success. To start with kids shows, trying performing a free show for one of your friend's kids and their classmates. Pass out advertisements to the kids. Act professional and don't mention that the show is free. Hopefully parent's will notice your talent (or the advertisement) and want to hire you. You can then start charging (as long as you have a great show). Don't do too many free shows as free shows lead to more free shows. And when you do free shows, don't mention that they're free.
Also, going to a local fair or just on the street and perform kid-friendly magic while handing out advertisements is a good way to get your name out there. The more that you're in the public's eye, the more likely you will get booked. Obviously paid advertisements online and in local newspapers can help. Also promote your website everywhere. Get listed in every website for entertainers and magicians. Do some research on SEO to get a higher Google ranking. As mentioned in above posts, a video is one of the best forms of advertisement online. Put the video(s) on every video website and include a link to your website. It takes time, effort and some money to get started, but it will be worth it. Drew |
Benji Bruce Special user 930 Posts |
Caféinst if you PM me your email then I'll send you a video about a gig I booked in Finland for $12,500 which goes step by step on how I got the gig...which you can easily apply. The video isn't finished yet but once it's done, I'll email it to you
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Caféinst,
Check out my post on the $100 PR. This might be of interest to you. |
Dreadnought Special user Athens, Georgia 836 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-04-16 14:53, Matthew W wrote: I have to say, I kinda agree with this statement more than anything else said here. That has been my experience. I read book after book, sat through presentation after presentation and watched dvd after dvd on how to book shows and get clients and market yourself. They all said the same thing and it just didn't work. It might work for many but I can guarantee you that there are just as many that it did not work for and this is probably especially true if you are working a 9-5 job. I just remember trying to make contacts and head way with corporate CEOs, Human Resource people, VPs, booking agents etc. and people making promise after promise and delivering nothing but microscopic bits and pieces of nothing in return. Someimes a person just needs to blaze another trail and take a fresher approach to doing things. I got tired of people telling me the only way to make it is to follow what the others have done as that is the only way to do it. The only people who say it is the only way to do it are those selling the books, dvds and making all those presentations. I don't have a website anymore. To me, websites are the yellow pages of the 21st century. Yellow pages are only good if you are a lawyer or emergency plumber. Now, I just manage the facebook site. I've gotten way more business from it that I ever did from a web page. Publicity is the way to go, not advertising. Publicity is free, with advertising you have to pay someone, who probably doesn't care about you, a lot of money to target certain "demographics." The best booking agents are not the ones who have the corner office in some luxury high rise, who is the talent buyer or works for talent buyers in casinos, hotels, night clubs, cruise ships, trade shows etc. The best booking agent is the person(s)in your genre who has purchased your show, loves your show and who, for a few bucks, actively puts your name out in their circle of friends. Or find the person with the blog that knows your genre who has a huge following and have that person handle your blog, social network and/or link to your free sites. For instance, you perform children's birthday parties? Find the mom who has the blog where she offers insight on making rainy day crafts, healthy snacks etc. Make contact with her, give her a free show for her children and you may find she will be worth more money to you than all the books and dvds you bought, presentations you attended and booking agents you can find. Peace and Godspeed.
Peace
"Ave Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum..." Scott Would you do anything for the person you love? |
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