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ibm_usa Special user In Your Mind, Ky, USA 722 Posts |
Hello, I'm looking into targeting church's for my main audiences. I use to do Birthdays and some church events but I'm wanting to go full time and making church's my target market and audience for my show. I Know the business part of it should go into the " Tricky Business" forum but I felt that it should go here since it is dealing with churchs.
Does anyone have any advice on the show part as well as the business part? Any stories? One of my main concerns is how to approach churchs. with Birthday parties is was okay to look a little kiddy but not cheap or cheesy. Churchs will be different, they would be looking for quality. Does anyone have any advice on how to advertise and contact?
"You may think that i only talk of things from the past, you know, history, well magic is history"
-Guy Jarrett "Curiosity isn't a sin Harry, but it should be exorcised with great caution." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) http://www.jordanallen-mentalist.webs.com/ |
ibm_usa Special user In Your Mind, Ky, USA 722 Posts |
One of the reasons why I like performing for churches is that they are easy to work with, especially if you perform some amazing tricks or powerful Gospel Illusions.
"You may think that i only talk of things from the past, you know, history, well magic is history"
-Guy Jarrett "Curiosity isn't a sin Harry, but it should be exorcised with great caution." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) http://www.jordanallen-mentalist.webs.com/ |
Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
Churches shouldn't be looked at as just another potential client. My advise is if you're not doing it as a ministry, then you don't need to go into churches. If one should happen to call you for entertainment purposes, that's fine, but as one who has worked in churches doing Gospel magic for 28 years, I've never been asked just to come and entertain. It was always ministry related. (except for one time in 39 years of performing)
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dbearden Regular user Oneonta, AL 102 Posts |
I think the question you need to consider is, are you looking at performing in churches to provide a paycheck, or are you looking at performing in churches as a form of ministry? There is certainly nothing wrong with performing in churches as a means of supporting yourself, and I know several magicians that do just that...but they do so as a ministry, just as any other evangelist does. There are some churches that may book a magician just for entertainment purposes (banquet, special events, etc.) and I have done a few of those, but I have always approached them from a ministering viewpoint. I too would advise to look at it from a ministry viewpoint, or else consider other venues. If you do advertise to churches, you should be completely up-front and honest concerning your program and the content (will some of the effects be gospel-related? will it be a secular show?) so that there are no surprises for them or you once you get there. Even if you are booked for entertainment, churches will usually expect you to have a gospel-related theme to what you do (my experience, anyway)- and I always do. When performing as part of a worship service (as opposed to a banquet, for example), my program is always evangelistic in nature.
As for approaching churches, once you have answered that question, then you would be in a position to advertise. I myself am a member of a Southern Baptist Church, and have served as a staff member at various churches over the years. All denominations have a network of contacts (local & state associations), and if you can get information on those, you could make contact that way. Over the years, I have tried mailings, and those have worked to a degree, but the majority of my bookings have come from word of mouth, where one pastor recommeded me to another, or someone who saw me at one church told their friends in another church. I don't think anyone would want to discourage you, but I think what Terry was saying (and I agree with) is that before you go into churches, have a good idea of what your motives are and what you wish to accomplish. I fully believe that if you put your best effort into creating a show, perform in a top notch manner, and be sincere in your beliefs and message that God will take care of the financial end of things. Good luck. |
ibm_usa Special user In Your Mind, Ky, USA 722 Posts |
Ministry and a Good Time are my motives. The money will come, I will always have money so I'm not too worried about that, my main concern is how to address the Churches when I'm sending emails and letters. Should I include the term Magician or Illusionist, Magic Show, Illusion Show or should I just go by... Magicianary? I know a few churchs object to the use of Illusions as a medium for spreading God's Word but thank the Good Lord that I have not faced people like that before.
Financial ends is the least of my worries, one of the reasons my birthday shows never succeeded and that's one of the reasons I'm fed up with Birthday Shows, I will continue birthday shows if it is for people I know, but other wise I'm done in that Branch. A search for a good time is my second motive. Like I said in my previous post is that I find Church groups to be my best people to perform for, unless they aren't those who object to magic, they are always supporting my every movement and words in the show. I'm a bit more calm when up in front of a Church body then I am in some person's backyard or living room. Gospel magic is one of my main expertise behind stand-up/stage performance. Has anyone been successful with using doves in their church shows? I have but it's been a while and I would like to hear of your experiences. as far as the nature of the show, I could concider it a variety show, one moment I'm performing tricks, the next I'm giving a sermon, sorry for the ill timed humor. Seriously, the show is secular at the start as the show goes on Gospel Illusions are applied throughout or at least Gospel related points. The first is secular with hidden Gospel messages, depends on how it is interpreted, the closing is all Gospel. One reason I like starting with secular and ending with a Gospel Message is so that the audience is relaxed and entertained, then when the show gets ready to close the Gospel is well recieved. It goes from comedy to seriousness. The Human brain is programed to only remember a small preportion from what it hears, the rest of what the brain remembers is from what the eyes see, so by having the Gospel section at last, in my theory they will remember the message better and hopefully have something to think about on the way home. I don't know if my forumla for doing it is 100% but it does seem to work about evenly.
"You may think that i only talk of things from the past, you know, history, well magic is history"
-Guy Jarrett "Curiosity isn't a sin Harry, but it should be exorcised with great caution." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) http://www.jordanallen-mentalist.webs.com/ |
Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
Before going to pastor, I was going into churches fulltime with Gospel magic, doing up to 240 shows a year. God called me to do that, it wasn't something I just up and decided to do. But what I did was conduct Kid's Krusades which brought me into the same church for 6 days, on top of being a pastor, I still do the Kid's Krusades and have expanded to include a one night program called "Can You Believe" an Evening of Illusion, Laughter and ministry. My bookings came from word of mouth, and that's how pastors tend to operate. Being a pastor, we don't want just anyone coming into our pulpits, we need to know their life and do they have a successful track record in ministry.
Your formula of mixing straight performance with a message, that's good... As for name, I'm an evangelist who utilizes Illusion to share the message. Take a look at some of the websites and see how others deal with that...you have Toby Travis, Duane Laflin, my site and others. Be blessed |
ibm_usa Special user In Your Mind, Ky, USA 722 Posts |
Thank you Terry.
Duane, does he still have a book on working as a Gospel Magician both the show and the "business" part? Was it Duane Laflin that wrote a book on that or was it someone else?
"You may think that i only talk of things from the past, you know, history, well magic is history"
-Guy Jarrett "Curiosity isn't a sin Harry, but it should be exorcised with great caution." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) http://www.jordanallen-mentalist.webs.com/ |
dbearden Regular user Oneonta, AL 102 Posts |
When contacting churches, I use the term "Christian Illusionist." There are still some out there that don't like the term "magician." I usually address mailings to the pastor (by name, if you can get that information). Another thing I do is address mailings to the youth/children's pastor or special events chairperson (again, by name if you can get that information). Many denominations have a state directory that would be very useful in making contacts. You've got the right idea on the mix of effects/message. As for doves, I've not used them, but do use a rabbit. Duane has put out a number of good books over the years; I recommend them highly.
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Terry Holley Inner circle 1805 Posts |
I used doves for many years (had one live to be 21 years old)!
I did have two bad experiences during those years in two different church programs when two different women who had bird phobias reacted negatively and ran out of the room. But I think livestock can be a great addition to a show. Terry
Co-author with illusionist Andre' Kole of "Astrology and Psychic Phenomena."
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Joe Marotta Special user Can You Believe I Have 944 Posts |
Newspaper Headlines:
Magic dove makes 2 women disappear |
ibm_usa Special user In Your Mind, Ky, USA 722 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-12-30 18:28, Joe Marotta wrote: would that be negative publicity or positive publicity? I guess negative since the doves are doing the magic and not me! Just Kidding.
"You may think that i only talk of things from the past, you know, history, well magic is history"
-Guy Jarrett "Curiosity isn't a sin Harry, but it should be exorcised with great caution." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) http://www.jordanallen-mentalist.webs.com/ |
Joe Marotta Special user Can You Believe I Have 944 Posts |
What do they say? Any publicity is good publicity?
:bigsmile: |
ibm_usa Special user In Your Mind, Ky, USA 722 Posts |
Good Point Joe
"You may think that i only talk of things from the past, you know, history, well magic is history"
-Guy Jarrett "Curiosity isn't a sin Harry, but it should be exorcised with great caution." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) http://www.jordanallen-mentalist.webs.com/ |
Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
You soooo funny Joe...
Happy New Year to you all! |
Joe Marotta Special user Can You Believe I Have 944 Posts |
Quote:
Terry Owens wrote: Terry- I think you mean, Funny Looking! Happy New Year to All |
jkvand Special user Johnstown, PA 658 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-12-30 16:16, ibm_usa wrote: You are correct, Duane wrote an excellent book on this subject called "Greater Gospel Magic." Unfortunately, it's out of print now, but does show up on ebay occasionally, or here on the Café. It's definitely a book worth reading! |
ibm_usa Special user In Your Mind, Ky, USA 722 Posts |
What are the names of some of Duane's books? Are they well worth the cost and time as in are they helpful or just like every other book that claims it will help settle any confussions a magician might have about running some form of show?
Does Duane have a email address or a website I can view?
"You may think that i only talk of things from the past, you know, history, well magic is history"
-Guy Jarrett "Curiosity isn't a sin Harry, but it should be exorcised with great caution." -Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire) http://www.jordanallen-mentalist.webs.com/ |
Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
Their website is http://www.laflinmagic.com
Joe - Funny looking...the kettle doesn't want to call the pot black...lol |
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