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MaGiShN46 Loyal user 244 Posts |
How long did it take you guys to start getting gigs out of your ears?
I've been awaiting this day for a long time, but I'm still trying what kind of advertising would you use, and what age did you start doing gigs at and are you by yourself in your gigs? |
Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
When I was sixteen I was doing two shows a week in schools.
It's really a two process cycle. One having a sellable good show, and selling yourself. Word of mouth follows. I went to school conventions and sold my shows there, offered free show contest got a lot of bites (prospects). Direct mail is still very powerful.
Dennis Michael
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Saydean Loyal user Omaha,Nebraska 206 Posts |
I would go to Dean Hankeys website (I think it's the Deans Success list) and read all you can, as well as taking part in the chats on Sunday nights. It will teach you what to do to get more gigs and everything connected to the bussiness side of magic.
I started performing for pay around 15 but I'm now 55. Knowledge of magic is good, but, if you want to make a living at it you better become a master of marketing and contractual wizard. I've met a thousand really good magicians but they never work because they don't know how to get the work. So, there they sit, with $10,000.00 worth of props,lights,cases and costumes growing old and waiting for that one phone call: "Hello,Magic Bob? Great! We are large corparation who's never heard of you,seen you perform or been in anyway solicited for your services and we want to hire you and pay you $5,000.00 for your one hour show." It wont happen! For anyone to hire you you must market yourself like a fiend. Direct mail, addressed to the person who makes the bookings, Phone calls, Press kits, (with a quality head shot and most times a CD with you performing) Insurance certificates,and about a kazillion other things. It sounds complicated but to rise above the Johhny Jump Up garage magician, that's what you have to do. What den said is true but you need to work at it. Go to the Dean. |
LarryTaylor New user Miamisburg Ohio 72 Posts |
I started performing for free at pancake breakfasts, for schools and birthdays for family and friends. I did magic on the streets of Dayton Ohio, the streets are where I gained the most confidence in my self. I became acquainted with various magic clubs and I made it a point to perform at every meeting I attended. I entered convention contests won some and lost some, however even when I lost I learned something. I have had adds in the phone book, newspapers and direct mail. What has worked best for me so far has been my performances at an upscale restaurant. When people have seen me perform before and I give them a card they already know what my performance personality as well as my professional personality is, when referrals call for a show it seems that the price does not matter, they have already made up there mind that they want me to perform at their event. I have found it hard to make a living at just performing, I have to teach magic lessons, build props for others and I am a commercial artist. I have found that instead of focusing on earning a living doing magic I have to enjoy what I do.I am now 44 years of age a full timer and loving every moment of it.
Magical Entertainer,teacher and creative consultant.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
MaGiShN46,
You gave becoming well known as the topic. That you would attack somewhat like a political campaign. It is not the same as being booked up or most successful. Having owned an agency, I learned very quickly that the "Best Known" performers were not the most booked or even the most financially successful performers. In fact, they weren't even the highest priced ones. The trick is becoming the best liked by talent buyers. They sign the contracts and write the checks. Bob Magic By Sander |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
The first mistake most people make is that they simply WAIT for success to happen. Once I learned that waiting for success is never ever going to get me anywhere unless I take ACTION to make success happen for me.
Sounds stupid and simple doesn't it. BUT, that is exactly when I started becoming more successful and getting the gigs I wanted. I simply took a lot of action upon myself to make it happen for me and not wait for the phone to ring. This is the power of "Active Marketing". I started magic when I was about 15 and began by simply learning all I could learn and to LISTEN to others around me who have done what I wanted to do. Then I began the process of entering a few contests. I wanted to get my feet wet, hone my skills and learn what I could do better. For me, it was a great experience. I started like most magicians do by doing birthday parties. I started first with relatives and friends of the family and charged a lower amount cause of this. BUT when first going out, MONEY was not as important as it was to simply go out there and do it. You need the experience more then anything else. Experience is what no one can possibly sell you in a kit or product. You can learn more by doing then you can in any other format. For me, this learning process was powerful and I got more gigs from the first shows I did. Word of mouth works well. But, I will say this much, word of mouth will only get you so far as your show is good, decent, and a lot of fun for the market you are targeting. You simply must have a good show. Also, and others may disagree, but word of mouth will only get you so far. To really get the gigs you want to get, you must learn marketing and the business side of show business. For me, I did ok in my shows but I made a conscious effort once I met my wife, that we together were going to take a step up the performance ladder and do shows as a team. This ment searching for a new market and it also ment I simply had to figure out how to get people to know who I am. I went to the den.net and started there and learned a ton. It is a free site and it simply has some wonderful people and resources. From there I just dove head first into learning marketing skills and techniques. It works! If you want some specifics or examples of what you can do, please just let me know. I would be happy to help you out. 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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