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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Mark is right... the number of shows depends on where you are in your career.
Early in my career, I would take any and all bookings I could squeeze into my schedule. My strategy for accepting a booking was simple - if I could physically get to the venue, I would take the booking. It didn't matter if that meant missing meals, sleep or other things. I just want as many shows as possible in order to get experience before as many audiences as possible. And that's a good thing. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything. It allowed me to polish my current routines, build my business, and move up the career ladder. Now, I can sit back and be a little more selective about which ones to take. I don't need, or want, 30 shows a month, although I still occassionally take a few that I should probably pass on. I actually took a library show this summer for very little money. I hope my corporate clients don't hear about it! But then again, it wasn't about the money, it was about repaying a favor to someone who gave me lots of work many years ago, and I had a blast doing the show. At some point it shouldn't matter if you do 4 or 40 shows a month, as long as you are still enjoying doing them and are making enough money to run your business. |
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TheDean Inner circle Reno, Nevada 2164 Posts |
AMEN Brother Jim!
Dean Hankey, *M.D. - The Dean of Success Solutions!
Serving & Supporting YOU and Your Success! "Book More Shows... Make More Money... SERVE MORE PEOPLE! - Not Necessarily In That Order…" (*Marketing Doctor) |
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
Well, the way around the "price" is to use the Karrell Fox method of different "characters".
Karrell Fox got a lot more money than "Wow the Wizard". Milky the Clown got more than both of them put together! About the "number" of shows: Introduction It has been a great many years since I have put pen to paper (or more correctly, fingers to keyboard), to speak on the performance of Magic. I choose that term “performance” very carefully, as that is the only magic I know how to write about. There are other fields of magic to be sure. From the historical to the technical to the construction to the marketing, and much more. However, it is the performance of magic that has always interested me. I never wanted to be anything but a performer, and my chosen performance field was magic. Yes, I have acted, done stand up comedy (with and with out my magic), musical and dramatic theater, and even belted out my share of show tunes and ballads in my day. Still, my drive and ambitions have always been to be a magical performer. Now, I also made a direct decision not to make “magicians” my audience of choice. I was not interested in “fooling the boys” at the magic meetings, nor did I care to work any of the conventions. My chosen venue was what we in the field call “laymen”, although today the term “muggles” might be more correct, if not up to date! I say, with all humility, that I have done more live shows in one year than most magicians will ever do in a lifetime. Lest you think that a casual boast, lets look at one year, 1988. In 1988 I was working for Paul Osborne as an Illusionist, Mobile Education as a School Assembly performer, and various Comedy Club agents as middle to headliner act in the mid-west. The Osborne show was at Dogpatch USA and was six shows a day, seven days a week, for 112 days (no days off). The School Shows ran the full school year and were at least 2 shows a day, five days a week, but 4 shows a day, (2 at each school) were not uncommon. I booked comedy clubs around my school tour and did 6 comedy club shows a week (4 on the weekends plus 2 during the week). Now, I leave it to the math majors to work out, but from the above you should get three very important facts; One, over a 40 year career, I have done a LOT of shows. Two, I have done them over a WIDE range of places, people, age groups, and conditions. Three, I did them very well to keep that schedule up as long as I did. Age and health have slowed me down, or I’d still be keeping that pace. How did I do it, and what did I do? Well, that’s what this book is all about! So come, let’s take a walk down the yellow brick road, and I shall tell you a tale… |
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Mark,
I'm sure you and I could share many stories... |
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
Mark,
I did a little math with just the school shows you did. Now from my humble beginning in the school assembly programs in my city at a mere $450 for two shows back to back at the same school. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm, who says magic doesn't pay:) Candini
ClICK HERE for HOW TO MAKE TRANSITION FROM MAGICIAN TO MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER WORLD NEW BOOK!
Click here for NEW PROMO TRAILER! 90 seconds of pure laughs without a standing ovation! Click here for Magicians Austin Mentalist Performance https://www.facebook.com/AustinMagicians https://www.speakermatch.com/profile/gianicano/ Magicians Company Entertainers in Dallas, TX https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sHW_zVuSc https://about.me/motivationalpublicspeaker |
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
Well....
current price is $495 for one and 50% off for the second one. Yes Jim, I am sure we could. My goal, as there are many teaching marketing, is to teach people how to REALLY have a kick butt show, rather than just thinking they do. There is great resistance to this, but it is where my interest lies.... |
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-09-16 17:39, MarkTripp wrote: My feeling is if I'm so smart, why aren't I RICH! I'm not rich so I have to keep learning. So, no resistance here. Start teaching or getting the book out and you have a willing student HERE!! Peter |
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paulajayne Inner circle London England 1160 Posts |
Hi
I am full time since 1994 - close-up cabaret and illusion design. Paula
Paula Jay - Magic to Remember -
--------------------------------- I once wrote a book on elephants, I think paper would have been better. ---- |
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
Well... its really not ready yet, but
http://www.marktripp.com Go see what the teachers say, and then we can talk about why. |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Nice site, Mark. It's coming along nicely.
I know you didn't ask for feedback, but don't forget to add the trademark symbol after the "Safe and Smiling" show name (I assume this is the same licensed show title that I've seen in some of the Sammy Smith's "Promoting Your Act With... " books). - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
Actually it is there because I am trying to learn how to format the page a different way. It is not a show I am doing, nor would I has there are about a zillion "magicians" trying to do that kind of thing in schools now.
Being a "Mac" guy I have a slow learning curve so I haven't "published the site". I am using an "idiot proof" web program (I qualify) yet it is still a slow process. Thank you however for the input! |
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TheDean Inner circle Reno, Nevada 2164 Posts |
I AGREE with Mark 100%!
The fact of the matter is, no matter how good your marketing is, if your act sucks, your career will be short-lived! "Good news travels FAST. Bad news travels even FASTER!" As "professional performers and supports of the successes of others" we say in all our success support information that “You MUST have a great act or your marketing will eventually implode on itself”. HAVE a GREAT ACT, then be successful at booking it! As Stephen Covey would say: "First Things First!" I am at your service and In His Service, Deano <><
Dean Hankey, *M.D. - The Dean of Success Solutions!
Serving & Supporting YOU and Your Success! "Book More Shows... Make More Money... SERVE MORE PEOPLE! - Not Necessarily In That Order…" (*Marketing Doctor) |
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
Gentlemen;
It goes WAY beyond the obvious. I would guess it was about 1970, I was watching the Mike Douglas show, and Milton Berle was on. I will NEVER forget this line: "The problem is there are no places for the kids to go and be bad anymore. You have to be bad before you learn how to be good. In the old days there were thousands of dives all over the country where you learned your craft. Today, if you bomb, you are finished." What do you think its like 30 years later? Add to this the reality that MOST magic acts REALLY stink. I can't name the name here, but I was talking about this with a major magicial writer/speaker/performer and he told me of a convention that had an "open mic night" for the people there, and he was stunned at how bad the people were. This is why the final goal of my carrer as I slide down the "twilight side of the hill" (bonus points if you know what that is from); or my 4th quarter as it were, is to give back to magic what Karrell Fox gave me at his Kitchen Table, the tools to be OUTSTANDING. You know I have offered my lecture FOR FREE, to two magic shops in the New England area, and they are simply NOT interested. So, we will have to see.... |
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MagicalPirate Special user Shamokin, PA 828 Posts |
Morning Side Of The Mountain by Donnie and Marie 1975
Martin
Martin Blakley, CSH, DASH, CMSA
http://www.thehypnoguy.com/HYPNORESOURCES http://www.docgrayson.com/ How To Sell Anything Online http://tub.bz/?r=1z Copyright to my own words retained 100%. |
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
WAY older than that, but I supose they did a version...
ding ding... you win! |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Dean and Mark are so right. Most of my tips and suggestions are based upon the notion and idea that you have an established show that is good, proven and entertaining. If you do NOT have these qualities in your show, or are not sure, then you first must spend the time learning, studying and getting the show to that level.
The best marketing in the world will not work if the product your giving to them stinks. It may work for a little bit, but eventually it will collaspe on itself. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Tim Hannig Inner circle Chicago area 1147 Posts |
I've been a full time entertainer for 10 years.
About 1 1/2 years ago, I hired a secretary who works out of her home. She does, on average, about 25 hours a week for me. I love not having to answer the calls or doing the paperwork anymore!
Author of PERFORM, the 2020 Magic Cafe Book of the Year
"I loved this book!" Ken Weber "4 out of 4 stars!" Nick Lewin "This will be a classic of magic!" Mark Pocan performbettershows.com |
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MarkTripp Special user Michigan 618 Posts |
Just remember to keep an eye on things....
...that little boo-boo cost me about $17,000.00 years ago. |
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