I just started performing shows(even though I've been doing magic seriously for 2 years) and I was thinking about posting flyers at my local library and maybe giving some of my business cards to a few shops in the town square(it's only about 3 minutes from my house). What do you guys think? Thanks, Roy

Those are both good thoughts. Just make sure you put some good thinking in to what the flyer is going to say and show.

Go down to the Tricky Business forum. There's lots of good info there.

Ed

Being in the advertising & marketing business for many years, my best advice is to make sure that anything you put out with your name on it looks professional. A poorly designed business card, website or flyer may get your contact information out there, but if they haven't seen you perform, it also is the first impression someone may have about your ability as a magician. Make the effort to do it right, even if you have to get some help, and it should pay off for you in the long run.

Those all look like great ideas, but as Robin4Kids said:


You could also look for community events such as fairs and other social gatherings

Also, I had a similiar post at http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=509900&forum=41&3. You could look there for more ideas

-Magicman344

If you are going to design your own flyers and need some really professional graphics, spend $50 at shutterstock.com and download images (search for "magic background"). You need to know how to edit images on your computer and have good software.
If you don't know what you're doing, at least choose a good design and speak to a graphics designer (usually a website designer can do this)

Creating photo ops from local papers can help.

Back in the 1980's I did a show called Mime over Matter.(silent comedy)
Rather than going in traditional white, I showed up at a Zucchinni Festival in Green Face.

I juggled and did magic with the vegetable. Got me some coverage and photos.

Harris
still thinking outside the gift bag.

Consider having some professional photos of yourself shot.

Also I like the idea of coloring sheets. I send out an advertisement to elementary schools, pre-schools, and libraries etc. enclosed with about 10 coloring sheets of me with a rabbit with a note allowing them to make as many copies as they would like. These Coloring sheets are also great advertisement for me because they have my logo and phone number on them. Kids color them take them home you get where going. But I agree with everyone else make sure it looks professional.

Thanks for all the advice, just for clarification I have only done one "show," it was going table to table during a dinner show at my church, all close-up effects: a couple card effects and my sponge routine. I have been trying to get together a stage act for my youth group but I haven't gotten it yet. My being a magician has barely spread past my youth group, I say barely because my going table to table did spread it a little bit. For the most part only people that I know personally have seen my effects. Only being 15 years old is very limiting as far as where I can perform and who I can perform for. I am also short on funds, there is only so much I can do with money that I get on my birthday and on Christmas. This is a lot of information, but with this in mind, how do I get the news out that I will gladly do magic shows for birthday parties or perhaps strolling effects at different events?

By the way, I have also done some magic for a few preschool/kindergarten classes, my sponge routine and card levitation went over really well. I also through a little juggling into the mix. -Roy

I used to handle advertising for a small business, and we would advertise with the search engines (Google, Bing, etc.) You can set it up so your ad only shows up for people in your area. A search for "YOURCITY MAGICIAN" isn't very competitive, so you might be able to reach potential customers that way.

ROY>>>>>>

I will PM you with a few thoughts, as soon as I can find a few minutes!

Dick Oslund
Sneaky, underhanded, devious, and surreptitious itinerant mountebanc!

(Sixty-eight years, making a living with magic--and I'm going to continue until I get it right!)-- hee hee!

Roy, don't be surprised if your library won't let you post your info.

My wife is an art teacher, and our library wouldn't let us post a flyer for her summer art camp because we are not a non-profit organization.

If the library says no try the supermarket.