At a birthday party magic show last weekend, afterwards one of the parents in attendance asked me, “Are you also a Realtor?” “No.” “Oh, I just wondered if you were because that’s a really old photo of you on the activity page… and realtors are notorious for using old photos of themselves.”

Said jokingly, but it’s the truth about certain promotion materials I use.

Yup, I’ve known that I need to do a photo shoot… time to get cracking on that.

It made me take a hard look at which items / places have older photos. I have old photos on my giveaway activity pages, my postcards, my activity book, a photo inside my magic kit (yet the label has an updated photo), etc. Yet, more current photos on my website, on Facebook, on my promotional flyer, my letterhead, etc.

- Donald

P.S. It's reminds me of the old expression, "Don't fall in love with your marketing." Or, it could just be busyness & laziness.

Look at avatars here on the cafe. Few if any change them.

Too many think these things just don’t matter. Well they do. Imagine how many times people thought this prior to saying it to you! That becomes the lasting impression you leave with others.

So true, but let me tell you, you are definitely not alone. I see this all the time from websites and promotion materials I am asked to analyze and critique. Most don't even realize it, or worse yet, think they still look like their 15-20 year old photos.

I've never heard the real estate reference, although I have seen this with many female realtors. They look nothing like their materials or billboards. I always tell those I work with - Be sure you look like your promo photos. My pet peeve is when I decide to work with or book someone based on their promotional materials, yet when I see them in person, it is like they are a completely different person.

I have also had clients contact us about this every once in a while saying when the person arrived, they did not look anything like their promo.

Also, you should have said "yes" and sold him/her a house!

Thanks for the post. It is something every performer should remember and keep in mind.

This is SOP for most magicians, even the big names, like Lance. One LV magic friend of mine told me specifically, "never change your pic." I suspect this is normal for other entertainment categories.

Naw it is not normal at all. Or maybe better said it might be "normal" to those who do it, but it isn't the way to do it.

The fact is the person who shows up needs to be the person they thought they purchased. It really is that simple. If you are going on casting calls it REALLY matters.

Nobody wants to admit they age. I guess there are valid reasons for that, but it can be a bad thing. In Vegas it doesn't matter as much if it is a sit down show. If you are using the photos and materials to get people for one night gigs, yea it means quite a bit more.

The main problem I see on kids entertainer websites and social media isn't old photos, it's bad photos and either no video, or bad video. By bad video, I don't mean there's anything wrong with the show, just the quality of the video/audio. But yeah, when photos obviously look old, that makes you look bad even before they see you in person.

It’s a sign of getting Old and just don’t want to admit it.

When trying to do things around the house that I’m just too old to be doing,
(like trying to get on the roof) my wife tells me I’m not stuck in time.

Tom

How many are guilty here of using 30 year old photos as avatars? It is a sign of a lot of things, and yes getting older is one of them.

But that is no excuse. Because the REAL problem is you show up and the FIRST thing they experience is disappointment. They feel as if they have been misled. And indeed they have. You have now put yourself in a bad position where they feel deceived before you have done anything. Not the best way to start a relationship. It takes the experience of using you down a notch from jump.

There is no excuse for it. Why do it? Vanity is not such a great excuse.

It's funny, when I was younger and starting out, I wanted to look older and more mature than just looking like a kid/teenager. Now I see old guys in their 60s, 70s and beyond using old photos to try to look younger. Go figure.

Yesterday, I was attending church, and then afterwards I was heading off to do a birthday show. So, I came dressed in my show clothes to church (white tuxedo shirt, red vest, bow tie, black pants).

After the service, as I was leaving, a lady asked me if I was a magician and if I had just sent her daycare a letter with information about my magic shows (cover letter on letterhead and a show flyer). I said yes.

She recognized me because I looked like the photos in my mailing.

- Donald

You see, this was a mistake Donald. Now everyone is going to recognize you everywhere you go!

I think it’s understandable that photos on mail outs can look a little different or older.

But for most people it takes a very time for them to change to the point they're not recognizable.

Tom

I also had someone else come up to me after the church service, introduce themselves as a new attendee, and ask to fill out a card to keep in touch with the church. They assumed I was one of the pastors, or an usher, or someone "in charge", who could help her, because I was dressed up. The pastors weren't wearing tuxedo shirts, bow ties, or colourful vests (nor a suit of any type). So, I got "recognized" that way, too. lol! She had no idea I was dressed for my job as an entertainer, after the service.

I did help her find the right people who could make her feel welcomed and answer her questions.

(And I didn't give her a business card and try to sell her a show.)

- Donald