Mr. Burger,

As an amateur magician, I find it hard to develop a performance venue. I usually perform for friends and family on occasion and at the local IBM Ring. Apart from that, I find it hard to branch out without turning semi-pro (paid shows).

Before you stated working in restaurants and performing in paid shows, what was your performance venue like?

It may surprise you but, before I turned professional, I had NO paid close-up shows. I had been doing the seance show "Hauntings" with friends in the attic of the house we were sharing, but I had no experience actually performing for paid audiences.

Before I became a professional, I had performed for my friends only. But I believed in my heart that I could do it (be a professional magician) and so I took the leap and quit my job and went for it. Looking back it was both a very stupid thing to do and a wonderful thing to do which changed my life in the most magical ways.

When I was a teenager, I loved performing for MYSELF. I pretended there was an audience and had a great time. I cherish the memory of those hours of blissful solitude.

Thank you!