I have a promo DVD I made myself that is 13 minutes in length.
Should you include a whole magic sequence or only the finale of the effect?
Should you have still shots showing you with well-known celebs, etc?
I have seen some other magician's promos and they are artistically put together, but you don't really get a feel for the style of the performer and his audience reaction. What should be in a good Magic Promo DVD?
How Long should it be?
Darryl the Wizard

What are you promoting? And please don't say "my magic show."

Who are you promoting too?

What does your program have that makes it worth a client investing in?

Etc etc.

Robert Bloor

Darryl,

I have an article called "Keys to a Successful Promotional Video" I would be willing to send you. I think you would find it quite illuminating.

PM me if interested.

Michael Sibbernsen
Starr Video Productions
Promotional / Performance / Instructional Videos for Entertainers

No longer than ten minutes, thirteen is okay. I like to include stills, just parts of acts and highlites.

I am in the process of doing one myself , but I believe it should probably be about 2 mins at the most , you think of a tv advert and you get the picture ,

Please make it high quality....for your sake and magic's sake.

I can't stand these terribly filmed and edited promo flicks. The better quality, the more impressed your audience shall be.

I did one last year for a BBC unit. As you can see, you don't know who the hell I am! Didn't get commissioned but I agree with Jezza, 5 mins absolute tops they told me.
And we filmed over 3 days in Bristol. No Joking!!!

My suggestion would be to make some cut shots and get a 3 minute "preview" ... put that on the front of the video, then have the entire 13 minute act.

I would do about 10 to 15 minutes at most. I would include your best routines, and a short bio of yourself. This is what you are going to use to help sell your act. If it is a birthday show, tradeshow, or some other big event. You need to have your best foot forward. If you want some real good advice go to Jeff McBride's web site and get the number for Tobias Beckwith or you can pm me and I will give it to you. Tobias is a wizard when it comes to promo. He has helped me out greatly. If you want to put stills in it great, but that does not show your potenal clients what you can do; it only shows them a picture. If you have pic with celebs that might get you a job or two, but you should be hired on your ability as a magician not as a celeb hound. That is just one magician's opinion, take it or leave it.

Keep the Magic ALIVE

Tom James

Have a look at Jeff McBrides web site.
http://www.mcbridemagic.com/
Look at the videos in the gallery section for an idea!

From my experience you have to get good quality film. I have seen many and I don't think the home camera cuts it. One idea is to go to your local film school and put the project to them. I have done this several times and the results can be surprising. They use the best equipment and costs very little.

I'm doin mine at the mo and I've started with the opening titles and then around 2 minutes of hard hitting shots of no longer than 4-5 seconds. Like a movie trailer! I've then got each type of magic/illusion that I perform (i.e.Grand Illusion, stage Illusion, close-up, etc, etc) in segments of around 1-2 minutes. The whole thing will total to around 10 minutes.
This of course suits me and what I want to achieve but may not be everyones cup of tea!!!!!

Ten minutes is a good lenght. Someone mentioned two minutes in an earlier post, this is way to short.

Mine is about 8 minutes but I do have a shorter teaser that is about 4 minutes long....

Good quality is important but equally good material is also..

Ok, so I do comedy magic (ala: David Ginn style). How would you edit that type of show down to 13 minute promo if most of my routines are 6 minutes in length? I know I don't want to give away the farm, but want to give them bits of a giggle. I want to promote a non cicluar program for churches...Because of Harry Potter people now don't understand the type of magic I do. They think I am going to conjur up a giant lizzard or something like Harry does.

Richard:

You might want to read this post, from J......ths ago. Note - I start this link in the middle of that thread, right at Jim's post.

- Donald.

I sugest you start with the most visual moments and audience faces and reaction a couple of minutes. Then you have the option of musical background and only images or put one or two of your better routines. The people usually don't waste more than 4minutes in a promotional video.

If I were to make one this is what I'd do:

run time 4 minutes

1. opening montage of illusions set to music that best fits the mood of your show

2. an Interview: get a presenter and set it up - its remarkably easy.

3. no more than 3 illusions with audience reactions

4. a trick that involves the viewer! (like DC's "you're on the moon" or Blaines "remember a card")

5. Contact details (fade to black)

6. bonus material : more performances!

Check out http://www.murrayhatfield.com We did his promo video with proper cameras, lighting and a well written voice over. Check it out it has done well for Murray

I agree, Murray has a very effective video.
It is long enough to give a good idea of what he does, yet short enough to keep your attention...two very important things.

Reza