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Levi Bennett Inner circle 1778 Posts |
I thought I'd share some of the exciting ways I'm approaching my future re-start in magic. Maybe it can help someone else.
First off... I'm LISTENING to many people around here with much more experience than myself. That sounds simple. A lot of people think they are listening, but they are sometimes only hearing what they want to hear. A seasoned pro could tell someone ten great principles for business growth, how to be a professional, what books to read and a newbie magician would think, "Yeah that's great, but should I buy trick A or B that will skyrocket me to stardom?" A principle I've learned over the last several years is this: if you listen to successful people and do what they do, you can be successful as well. I've lived this in my new job. After my last knee surgery I took a job in a call center. I had no prior experience in this area. I was daunted at the amount of info they threw at us in training and wondered if I would last. I decided to listen to the most successful people there and do what they told me to do. Before I was even out of training I was nominated for associate of the month and didn't win, but I was also recruited for a more elite position within the company. I took that position and had to basically start learning from scratch again, but I kept applying that principle of listening and doing whatever the best people told me to do. Oh, and praying! lol it was a daunting new job! Long story longer, my new supervisor watched me listen and grow into the best member of her team and she nominated me for associate of the month again. This time I won! There are approximately 700-800 people in this call center and I took home a nice bonus and the gratification of hearing all the nice things she said about me in her nomination as a result of hard work and applying what I was told. So - I'm doing the same thing around here and it is already paying off hugely. I'm learning a ton from the pros we have to talk with here. It's actually like trying to drink from a fire hose at this point so I'm trying to get my thoughts together in an organized way. More about that in a minute. I'm READING. A lot. Dick Oslund suggested the library to me, a resource I had honestly forgotten all about, and I got some great books from there that will help me as a person and a performer. And they aren't magic books! I'm currently reading some books on public speaking. Since a lot of what we do as magicians is speak to the public I thought they might help develop my knowledge. I'm learning some great principles of creating a story, how to speak to people, how to control your body and use body language and many more. These are all powerful skills to have in our arsenal as magicians and I'm genuinely excited to be reading these eye-opening books. I can really see how the info applies to magic and can't wait to start applying it. I also got some books on customer service. I'll be reading those next. They have great information on relationship building and putting others first. Again, things that are great to know as a magician. There are so many areas I've overlooked that apply directly to what we do. And even if the application isn't direct, with a little thought one can see how things can indirectly apply and overlap or cross over into our field. I'm on fire with excitement to be learning this stuff and applying it to my future performing opportunities. I'm also getting organized. Like I mentioned above, I'm trying to organize all this in ways I can digest it and have it accessible for the future. I'm a big list-writer type of person so I'm writing lists of different "to do" topics so I have an outline for moving forward. One list is my general Plan of Action. This is just a general outline of principles and things I want to do going forward that I can periodically look at and gauge my progress by. Here's what it looks like: ___________________________________________________ Practice 1 hr/day minimum Read 1 hr/day minimum Beyond Secrets Library books Bill Tarr, the Magic Book, CCIM - books for general principle review Study Impromptu and Principles Study and compile notes from all I'm reading Buy list for action plan: Card bricks Clothes Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber Website Business cards Sankey - Anytime Anywhere Jaw Droppers Listen to Experienced Pros Find a mentor Join a Ring after I move Focus on entertainment Learn Marketing Get a License KEEP IT FUN ______________________________________________ The list is just a way to get some thoughts straight on what I want to do and it is fluid. It can and will change going forward. And yeah, I almost always end up reading and practicing more than one hour per day. This is just for structure in my daily routine. Notice my focus on reading and learning through several avenues: books, mentors, joining a ring/club. Also, one of my goals currently is to learn more impromptu tricks so various things on the list point toward that. I have several other lists as well. There is a list of books I want to read, a list of ways to channel and control fear prior to performing, a list of things I've learned about public speaking that I want to apply to my magic and a list of specific tricks I want to practice, develop stories for and build into my new sets and routines. So, maybe it wouldn't work for you, but I find putting these simple lists down on paper gives me a good guide going forward while helping to gather my thoughts. If you are new to magic you might want to LISTEN to more experienced magi, READ books outside of the realm of magic that can help you as a performer, GET ORGANIZED and MAKE AN OUTLINE for the path you want to take. It sure beats having NO plan. YMMV
Performing magic unprofessionally since 2008!
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TeddyBoy Special user New York, NY 595 Posts |
From one Theodore to another, I congratulate you on your new journey and hope you can stick to your roadmap. Just as an aside, how about providing the names of some of the public speaking/performing books that Dick Oslund suggested to you. I'm an old newbie and putting myself "out there" has never been my strong point. I can use all of the help I can get.
Continued good luck.
So many sleights...so little time.
"Slow...deliberate...natural." Bill Tarr Cheers, Teddy |
Levi Bennett Inner circle 1778 Posts |
How To Win Friends And Influence People!
I plan on getting How To Win Friends And Influence People along with 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People. Some titles I found at the library that I've gleaned some great information from: A Novice's Guide To Speaking In Public by Dr Michael Lawrence Faulkner Do You Talk Funny? by David Nihill I just grabbed whatever my local library had and am reading them with an open mind. I'm really finding some great stuff that can cross over to what we do. Two more that I haven't cracked open yet: Well Said! Presentations And Conversations That Get Results by Darlene Price The Service Culture Handbook by Jeff Toister Of course, there may be sections on using power point presentations, etc that don't apply. I just skim through those and read what I think applies. They have been really eye opening so far. I also grabbed a book on marketing, Marketing For Dummies. Haven't had time for that one yet. Some other titles I want to get ahold of that have been recommended around here before: The one up above in my "to buy" list: Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber The Wealthy Magician: Manifesto for Professionals by Richy Roy https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014013......K55XCGG2 https://www.amazon.com/Be-Our-Guest-Perf......est+book https://www.amazon.com/Sanford-Meisner-Acting/dp/0394750594 https://www.amazon.com/Definitive-Guide-......9282012X I also recommend Dick's book The Road Scholar. He is always talking about ways to travel light, set up quick, keep it simple and make it fun, make it entertaining and he shares many routines in the book. His book is great to read for inspiration as well! The problem for me is that several of the above titles are expensive and right now we're saving to move, so the library is a great way for learning "on the cheap." I recommend going the to library and browsing the public speaking section, the marketing section, the entertainment section and so on. You're bound to find something that you can get good information from. Hope this helps!
Performing magic unprofessionally since 2008!
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
GREAT NEWS!!! It appears that I 'lit a fire'! I am so happy to hear that!
I'm a great believer in the old "wise saying": "Fail to plan, and you plan to fail" Mindpro has been writing some very worthwhile posts. I think that his posts are worth, not only reading, but also "memorizing"! Thank you for your very kind words about my "magnum opus". I hope that the dvd will help you to see how PRESENTATION is what makes magic ENTERTAINING. Or to put it in "every day" words: "It aint WHAT ya do, it's HOW ya do it!"
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Levi Bennett Inner circle 1778 Posts |
Dick,
You have very much lit a fire with your simple suggestions and through your wonderful book! I am so excited to be learning these things OUTSIDE of magic that will help me be a better magician. Thank you for suggesting the library! Mindpro's posts are being cataloged into my notes. He and Danny have so many great suggestions, I'll say it again... I feel as if I'm drinking from a fire hose! I'm so very grateful to have you as my friend! I'm approaching my future in magic very differently from my past attempts and am very excited about the path I am on! I can't wait to join a ring in Washington and build some friendships. This is such an exciting time for me. I want to thank everyone for their help. I am very grateful to you Dick, for the time you've spent sharing with me. It won't be wasted.
Performing magic unprofessionally since 2008!
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stevefaulkner Regular user 166 Posts |
It's great how you are approaching this Theodore, as it will help so much to have a plan. I'm not selling anything at all here, but if you are interested in the learning journey, I do write a blog, and make videos, on such things in my other life as a trainer and speaker. It may interest you, as I'm very much for blending other avenues with magic to find the best approach. It's at http://getgoodatstuff.com . Nothing to buy there, so rest assured it's not an annoying sales-funnel thing or anything.
I hope it helps and good luck with it. Seven Habits is a brilliant blueprint, especially Habit 3. What you are talking about here is the Quadrant II stuff. This is where all the magic happens
Review Channel - Real Magic Review
https://youtube.com/realmagicreview Podcast. Search 'Steve Faulkner's Magic Show' or Apple https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/steve-faulkners-magic-show/id1484648736 Membership. https://www.onlinemagic.co IBM UK Close-up Champion 2013 Award Winner at The Magic Circle Close-up Magician of the Year 2010 National Street Performing Champion 2009 British Street Performing Champion 2005 |
Levi Bennett Inner circle 1778 Posts |
Thank you! I'll check it out!
Performing magic unprofessionally since 2008!
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debjit Loyal user India 213 Posts |
Thank you for your post, Theodore. It inspired me to make a list of my own too
My new effect: www.penguinmagic.com/p/10638
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