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SilasJude New user Buffalo 97 Posts |
Hey everyone, I am a 22 year old mentalist, fresh out of college, no debt, and willing to do anything to build myself a career in the Mystery Arts.
I have been doing monthly paid restaurant strolling gigs, that though are wonderful for my skill and presentation, are not in the type of place that would yield a private party gig or similar. I have talked to multiple restaurants and bars about coming in to perform and have been told yes by 2, but bailed on by one. I realize my approach and business skills are far from extraordinary but I am really not sure how to begin. I would rather not spend years banging my head against the wall when the is a door beside me that I'm just not seeing. I spend nearly all of my down time either working on a stage show I am writing, reading books on the subject (currently Maximum Entertainment and finishing up PS1), or running effects. I am currently working full time at Aldi that is very supportive of my goals and is very flexible with my schedule. I know I have plenty to learn, so any and all advice or insight will be appreciated. Regards, Silas Jude |
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JoshLondonMagic Special user 675 Posts |
Well the first place to start is a website. Do you have one?
Josh
Josh
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
MindPro will surely chime in with some great advice specific to the mentalism field.
I would sign up and listen to the various podcasts out there... Well Attended Podcast, Succesful Performer Cast, and MagicianBusiness.com - those three are an amazing amount of FREE podcasts that cover a lot of ideas. And then there are the magic business materials for $$$, Brad Ross (It Factor / Magic Marketing Center) has some good material out there for business building. It's a little pricey, but it will probably save you a lot of time and will certainly motivate you to move forward. |
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SilasJude New user Buffalo 97 Posts |
Josh: I own a website but I have not published it yet. I don't have good pictures of performance yet and I have been told that they are beyond vital. Additionally, I suppose I am self conscious about publishing my website without having my stage show completely finished. I am just wary of accidentally putting the cart before the horse.
Thomas: I absolutely love Magician Business, they have given me everything I know of business so far, and I just started on Successful Performer. I have not listened to ant Well attended, ill go do that now. On the topic of business building, I have purchased Ken Dyne's "GigFlow" which is wonderful, but I have gotten caught up in the fact that I haven't had and large scale gigs that I can tout as proof to new clients. |
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
What is your goal?
Like 1 year from now what would your schedule be filled with if you had your choice. |
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SilasJude New user Buffalo 97 Posts |
The market that I have been looking at was affluent weddings in the Toronto/Buffalo/NYC area. If I could have that in the next year my world would be turned upside down. I have also been exploring the idea of doing a solo act in black box or otherwise small theaters.
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
Are any of the restaurants upscale? do they have a private room that looks like a wedding reception would be held there?
I would try to get a photo shoot in the restaurant.. buy your friends dinner if they will come for the photo shoot dressed up nice? You want photos and video of you performing in a upscale environment. If that's your target... you will want to create upscale branding and marketing materials and market directly to wedding event planners etc. I would think going to the Wedding Planning Conventions and having a really nice booth set up would get you seen by the right places. Also advertising with local bridal and womens magazines. |
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SilasJude New user Buffalo 97 Posts |
Seeing it from that point of view, it seems like it will take a lot of up front cash investment to break into that market. Would you say that is correct?
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
It would take a bit of an investment yes.
I would work on getting photos and video for your website first though. That is #1 at this point. It's great that you are already doing restaurant work, that gives you the chance to meet people, get your name out, and practice your routines in front of an audience. |
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JoshLondonMagic Special user 675 Posts |
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On Jan 18, 2017, thomasR wrote: This is great advice but the biggest problem with this is that it is one of those things that will probably not get done. To do all this just to get some pics and vids will likely detail and just not get done - so then you're back at square 1 and you still need a website. Yes you should have images and videos but a good designer and work with what you have while you get your name out there and book some gigs - free or not (I do it all the time btw). Josh
Josh
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SilasJude New user Buffalo 97 Posts |
Thank you guys. I had a long discussion with an experienced performer last night and it seems as though my biggest issue right now is too much studying and not enough action. I'm going to get unbelievably good at 3 effects (or so) and get as much practical experience as possible, getting contacts and photo opportunities along the way.
Again, thank you for your time and insight, I'm glad I finally joined the Café |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
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On Jan 18, 2017, thomasR wrote: I agree with thomasR, you have to first make some initial determination and decisions as they will dictate how and where you proceed and your ultimate success or setbacks. Poor business skills will greatly diminish how you are received as a performer. One does greatly affect and impact the other. This is why many struggle as because they put much of their efforts into their performing and little into the business side of knowledge and operations. The key to what you want to do and where you are currently at is beginning with the right proper foundation. It is this that your entire business, image and reputation will be based upon. You are at a very important and crucial point so be careful who you listen to and what advice you accept as accepting the wrong advice can throw you off track, set you back and make you begin to skip important steps and aspects that WILL come back to haunt you later when you have to go back and correct them or start over. My advice is to get away from magicians thinking (or you will only just ever be a magician), but rather operate from an entertainer's and entrepreneur's mentality and position. In several weeks I will open registration to my Getting Started In Entertainment business program which is for entertainers at the exact position you are at. If you are interested I can provide you with more information. If you'd like to PM me I can make some personal recommendations and suggestions for you. Also my strongest advice from the beginning position you are at is learn from the perspective of "an entertainer" rather than "a magician." Operate from an entertainer's and entrepreneur's mentality and position. Especially of you are performing as a mentalist. I recently spoke about this at Mindvention (which I'm guessing you know what that is) and my live training event in as Vegas after MV. It is the exact information you are asking about. First and foremost is to have a well-rehearsed, market-ready show in place for the market you are targeting. Soooo many performers create a show first, then try to find markets to book it. They typically struggle. The first element is having a proper quality show. This can not be emphasized enough, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE SEEKING TO PERFORM IN PROFESSIONAL MARKETS (such as weddings!) In preparing for this you need to get stage time wherever you can (but not at someone's wedding). Also understand professionalism, what it really means and ALL it entails, not by your definition, but by the markets, industry and others. I have extensive experience in the wedding market. One of my specialty agencies I had was a wedding agency and I have produced many Bridal Fairs/Wedding Expos over four decades. The wedding market, along with the school market are two of the most misunderstood markets for performers and entertainers. Many nuances and specialized learning is necessary. Most approach these from a layman's perspective or understanding and will quickly find themselves disappointed, and screwing up someone's most special day can have some terrible consequences. I would venture to say more entertainers are sued in the wedding market each year than any other performance market. Get specialized learning and education. One key also is doing things in the proper order. A website is not "the first place to start". Nothing worse than making a wrong first impression. Sure photos and video are components you will need when the time is right, but certainly not the first thing. Invest in yourself and your business. Address and answer the key and crucial foundational questions first as your starting point, Then build your performing business upon this sold and determined foundation. This should really be done before creating your show as your show should also be congruent to these decisions. You'd be surprised how many performer's are not. There is so much noise out there and many thing you should be open to EVENTUALLY, but where you are at currently, education, knowledge and action is what you should be focusing on now. Again, the proper order is important, otherwise you will constantly be distracted by other shinny objects (that will be tempting and you are excited to get to) and will skip important elements in the process. Best of luck! Keep us posted on your progress. |
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
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On Jan 19, 2017, SilasJude wrote: This statement puzzles me, you think you only need 3 effects. Even the Professor Dai Vernon said you should have at least 6 effects that are perfected. Does this statement also mean, you are only considering "table hopping" close-up magic at wedding events? You do not intend to be on a stage with the bride and groom, or be able to provide any requests that come along. A previous statement of yours concerning cost, is also puzzling. Does that mean you think you do not have to make any investments in a "business venture"? Yes, performing magic for an income becomes a business, and all business require investment of your own cash. Looks like you should ask for your money back from that college education, as they did not provide an understanding of what it takes to live in a business country. If you care to share what is your image of performing at weddings, looks like to you, in your mind. |
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SilasJude New user Buffalo 97 Posts |
Bill,
I think you may be under the assumption that I believe I am ready to make this my profession. I am not. The reason why this thread is "the beginnings of a career" is because I don't want to start off on the wrong foot. I know very well that I have been doing things wrong, but I'm now seeking the advice of others to correct myself. Your post does well to inform me that you know better than I, but it is unnecessary to reduce the worth of my education because I am not as savvy as you, whom I assume are a seasoned performer. I am aware business requires investment, but when approaching a market entirely unknown to me, I am not ready to spend $400 for a booth at a bridal show. Not yet. The job that I am working does not allow me the luxury of sums of money which I my invest. 12.30 an hour isn't optimal. I would love to be able to take any request of my services, as I stated in my initial post, I am writing a full stage show. But currently to hone my skills, be it business, performance, or dexterity, table and close up work are most accessible. I have identified weddings as a market I would like to enter because I enjoy the environment and the money is good. I will not pretend to know much more otherwise. Like I said, I am aware I am lacking knowledge and experience, hence why I am asking questions on the Café. |
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Raum Loyal user 227 Posts |
Good luck with your script. I, too, at the beginning of my journey, and I found some of the interviews with the mentalists in podcast "Magicican podcast" - very inspiring.
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RobertSmith Veteran user 330 Posts |
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On Jan 18, 2017, SilasJude wrote: Oh lord. To be 22 again but with the knowledge I have now. First advice, spend the next 5 years working. Raise all of the money you can. Skip vacations. Skip buying luxuries. Save. Everything. You'll need the capital to really get your business going. As you start raising money and you've got a show, I'd leverage your dollars directly against buyers and event planners using Instagram and Facebook. You can also get directly in front of them at a variety of trade shows, depending on the market you're seeking such as NACA, APCA, IAFE, BizBash, IAAPA etc. Be prepared to spend money. If you want to grow your business you have to invest in it. -Robert |
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SilasJude New user Buffalo 97 Posts |
Thank you Robert!
What do you mean by leveraging my money against buyers and the like, I'm just not sure of the terminology |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
He means use the money you earn to pay for the expansion.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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SilasJude New user Buffalo 97 Posts |
Gotcha, thank you
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RobertSmith Veteran user 330 Posts |
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On Jan 20, 2017, SilasJude wrote: What I mean is this. The money you're going to spend to promote your business, be it $500/mo, $1,000/mo $10,000/mo, whatever that figure is, needs to be directed against buyers in the markets you want to work. You can use Facebook to specifically target your ads (content) against those people. The beauty of FB ads is the data Zucks has collected that all of us have given him over the years, can now be used like a rifle instead of a shotgun. So when you specifically want to target campus activities people, you can do that and they'll be the ones seeing your content instead of Granny Stella in Lake Charles. Make sure you have a good product and good content. Because all of my advice is with this one caveat. No amount of marketing can save a cr()p product. Good luck! Robert |
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