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Frosty.jpg "View Profile") Loyal user Texas 244 Posts 
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3 weeks ago I worked a weekend fiesta event in San Antonio.. it was great and I even got to see another magician perform on stage!
Then the week after that worked another small festival with about 10,000 in attendance. The vendors were placed on the grass away from the foot traffic.. What the Hell were they thinking? Next to me was a cool young lady doing glitter tattoos and behind me was a fortune teller... I started ballying my tip using my PA system and combined with my flash was able to work some ok tips most of the day even though.. The fortune teller wasn't getting much attention so she got up and started feeding off my tip.. Yep! Right in the middle of my pitch she started soliciting them for her services.. OH HELL NO!!! I quickly told her to get the !@#$ away! Not exactly in those words but it worked! Later throughout the day the News cast asked me if they could broadcast me live on TV later in the day? I said sure! But As I waited my nerves started kicking in and my heart started beating faster.. Then they showed up for the live broadcast and I started performing for them but my shakes got so bad I DROPPED THE CARDS ON LIVE TV...! Yep, I guess I still have stage fright! Oh well Sh*t happens but I kept on with my day after that even though.. The next day folks were coming back saying "we saw you on TV".. AND YOU DROPPED THE CARDS..! It was too funny as quite a few showed up telling me the same! LOL! It wasn't the first time being on tv news clips of the festival but a first on live TV and I messed it all up! Maybe I didn't get the shakes before as I was already working my tip when they showed up but this time was different LOL! My performance whent well till the end when my shakes got really bad and the cards ended all over the table.. Oh well! Still gotta get over that one! This past weekend was a little better as I was working a Cinco de Mayo festival.. Friday was great till right before it got dark. The winds started picking up and you could see lightning from a distance away... I saw the signs and quickly packed up my joint and right on time after closing down it started pouring..! Other vendors weren't so lucky as they got all washed out... Been through that too many times and learned my lesson.. LOL! This weekend I'll be working a new venue! Well see how it goes.. Any advice on avoiding the shakes? Hope you all don't mind my ramblings and Hope you all are doing well..! |
jlibby Inner circle 1044 Posts
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Which Fiesta event were you at?
I wish I had a surefire way to avoid the shakes.
My new FREE ebook on the classic Mismade Bill trick is ready for you:
https://funnybirthdayshow.com/mismadebill/ |
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Frosty Loyal user Texas 244 Posts
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Hey Joe, I was at Fiesta de los Ninos.. it's a small event but many kids there... Also there was a magician performing on stage by the name of Tim Saint John.. I think that was his name.? Cool guy! I think he was a one man show but he had the audience really entertained.. even I was entertained LOL!
About my shakes I guess I gotta just face my fears.. that's one of the reasons I stepped away from performing and got into pitching. Its more in my comfort zone.. |
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jlibby Inner circle 1044 Posts
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Frosty: You know, I was trying to see about working that event, but I guess I was too late. I couldn't get anyone to reply to me. Ha ha! Glad you got it, and I hope it was profitable for you.
Tim St. John is a good friend of mine; his act is big fun!
My new FREE ebook on the classic Mismade Bill trick is ready for you:
https://funnybirthdayshow.com/mismadebill/ |
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Frosty Loyal user Texas 244 Posts
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I worked another 2 more festivals this past 2 weekends.. One was in Marble Falls and the other was in Copperas Cove next to Kileen TX.
The Marble Falls was a Mayfest and it was a dud in my book. It was my first time there.. Once I ask around other vendors and I find out most are also first timers there and you see many unsold vendor spaces, more likely it's not a good event.. still didn't blank.. made my nut and more but not what I expected to bring in. I think I'll pass for next year LOL! At that event I had a guy that traveled with the carnival selling novelties keep coming by my joint and just checking out my merchandise many times.. I'm no mind reader but could easily tell he was just trying to see if he can copy my slum as he saw many kids walking by his joint with my tricks.. but little does he knows that you gotta pitch this stuff in order for it to move.. The one in Copperas Cove was much better. It was a 4 day Rabbit festival but rained on the Saturday which should of been the best day. Oh well! Still did very good on that one even though and there wasn't a whole lot of Mark's walking by do to the weather as it was all wet and muddy! And the same carny guy selling novelties was also there too at that event and again checking out my merch.. I don't have an event for this coming weekend so I might just hit a Fleamarket... or? By the way Joe, I looked in your website and saw one of your customers was the Luling Watermelon Thump.. I'll be there this year.. though not sure which space I'll be at... I'm no where near the greatest pitchman alive.. far from it! I'm more like the greatest broke down pitchman alive LOL! But stop by if you can! |
Phil Ainsworth Regular user 180 Posts
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Just catching up on the latest posts, sorry to read about the dropped cards! I don't have any great advice other than maybe cut down on the coffee next time and chalk it up to experience. I'm sure next time you'll boss it
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Frosty Loyal user Texas 244 Posts
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Hahaha! Yep! Gotta cut back on coffee.. and I do drink it day and night.. Should of known your a mentalist too LOL! Hows your pitch on your side of the pond Phil? Glad your still posting here!
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Phil Ainsworth Regular user 180 Posts
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Things are good thanks, I've been street performing a lot more lately (just for a bit of variety). Oh, I've also been trying out pitching Dynamic Coins as well as the Svens, they seem to be going well.
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Frosty Loyal user Texas 244 Posts
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Good for you Phil! Gotta look into the Dynamic Coins...
Is that the one with a ring and nickles shell +brass cup? |
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Phil Ainsworth Regular user 180 Posts
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It's the coin effect that JoeJoe pitches a few times in the video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1elLumJU69o They cost a bit more than Svens, but you can charge more for them. I use them so that people who want to spend more have an option to do that. I charge £10 (thats about $12.50) for a Sven Deck with a free 2CM or Worm (their choice) OR £20 ($25) for a set of Dynamic Coins with a free Sven Deck, 2CM AND a Worm. It makes the upsell seem like much better value because once they've committed to spending £10, they are only spending £10 more to get loads more. |
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Frosty Loyal user Texas 244 Posts
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Nice! That lookes great! Never thought that could be a good pitch item but JoeJoe sure has it down packed..!
Also that floating card looks very impressive! I'd like to try that one as a kicker but don't know if it'll work outdoors with the wind and outdoor lighting.... guess I gotta try. Thanks Phil! |
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Phil Ainsworth Regular user 180 Posts
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The floating card is a great attention-grabber. As you can see in the video, JoeJoe uses it to stop people n their tracks as they are passing by.
I don't know if he actually pitches them.... I know that Will Roya used to and also that they pitch them at Universal Studios. I've never tried pitching it myself, it seems too much of a rip-off to me. At least with the Sven cards and 2CM, the purchaser will be able to perform a couple of effects with only a few minutes practise. Even the worm doesn't take that long to get to a half-decent standard. Most importantly, all 3 of these can be performed straight out of the packet. But using IT to float a playing card not only takes a lot of practise, it also requires learning how to strip the thread and setting it all up before you even begin. Plus, I can imagine you'd get a fair few angry 'returns' when they open the box and see a thick black section of IT, a playing card and instructions.... It doesn't feel like value for money, to me. That's why I've never pitched it. As I saythough, it's a great attention grabber. Same as a floating cane, which is my personal preference... |
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Frosty Loyal user Texas 244 Posts
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A couple of months ago I was told there was someone else pitching the floating card at a Fleamarket I work sometimes.. Not sure how well he did but I feel the same as you Phil being a rip-off.. I think I'd be disappointed to pay big bucks for a thread and a card..
But as a kicker I wouldn't feel bad as they feel it was a freebie in their mind! |
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daffydoug Eternal Order Look mom! I've got 14077 Posts
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Quote:
On May 9, 2019, Frosty wrote: All you said is exactly the reason I don't do shows outdoors. Between the wind blowing my props off my table and ALL OVER THE GROUNDS, there is the rain which is the very worst enemy of expensive props made of paper or cardboard...like CARDS. I've tried it, but out of disgust, I just don't perform outdoors any more. Disgust, and fear of fighting a LOSNG battle with the weather. The weather ALWAYS wins.
The difficult must become easy, the easy beautiful and the beautiful magical.
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| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Step right up! » » I DROPPED THE CARDS..! (2 Likes) | |
Posted: May 9, 2019 12:45 pm 
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