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johnobryant Regular user Texas 195 Posts |
To make a long story short...
I am 18yrs old and have been doing magic since I was 5-7yrs old. I did a ton of close up in between the ages of 5-15 and I still do today. I actually studied a lot of books and put together a kid show, stage show, stand up, and close up/ walk around when I was 16years old. I started promoting these shows after I got advice from some people and I was 17 years old. I have been doing shows now and they are paying for all my bills and more. I have gotten to travel a lot through out central Texas doing what I do and I love it. My specialty has turned into stage/stand up comedy magic shows when I turned 17, and that is what I mostly get gigs for. I have booked, at one point, 4 school stage shows in one week. And have even performed on a tour boat, and the city/government people and made their news line... I even quit my job because I was making good enough money and getting really busy with something that I am good at and that I love to do (magic). I am not complaing at all or braging about anything, because there are probably plenty of you who get more gigs and bigger clients than that even. I am averaging about 1.5 shows a week right now...and I want more. As you can tell, I have a lot of drive to do this stuff, because I did all of the above on my own. Also, there are about 3 months within a year where I average those 3-4 shows a week constantly..But I wish that would double and I would have 6-10 months like that. And not only kid shows, but adult/ corporate events and maybe even travel outside of the state. Most of my shows come from previous viewers for my shows (so that has to tell you I am doing something right and these people enjoy me), or they come from a yellow page ad that I invested in. People always compliment me that I am so young and driven and a good business man and awesome magician...but even Copperfield asks a question every now and then... haha.. Why fix it if it ain't broken?? I like the position I am at but I always think I can do better... What I am trying to ask is, Although, in my area the kid shows is where all the money is at..and in most areas it is..and I personally love performing for them and they enjoy it too, and I would take a kid show gig any day. But, to me it seems that the older audience (14 and up) is the audience I like most performing for, because the comedy and what you do is more flexible with them... Do I need a agency to get what I want? If so, who? And as far as mail outs go..who else do I send them to besides old clients? How do I know what company or school may need entertainment? And what companies do I target? By the way, I had a promo package made since last year. I would appreciate if I got advice to help me expand my horizon Thank you, John |
Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Contact Jim Snack at http://www.successinmagic.com He has a course that will gaurantee you success if you follow it. I got it almost 2 years ago and IT WORKS!!
Good Luck Peter |
johnobryant Regular user Texas 195 Posts |
Thanks Paddy
-john |
Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Thanks for the plug Paddy, (although you forgot the dashes in the URL: http://www.success-in-magic.com ).
At 18 years old, Peter, you have built a nice part-time business performing, doing 75 shows per year. If you could double that, you will have a viable full-time business. Although you did not specify numbers, I'm willing to bet that you are earning between $100 - $300 per show. Even if you book 150 dates per year, at that level you will plateau at about $45,000 gross income. Subtract your expenses, and it's still a part-time business. Not that that is bad, you can do that in the evenings and on the weekends and still hold another job. If you want a full-time business, you need to move up a level and start booking shows in the $300 to $1000 range. That includes schools, colleges, fairs, festivals and local corporate and association work. I suggest that you focus on one primary market in that range. It might be schools or colleges, depending upon which audience you would like to work for. Don't worry about agents at this point, they won't be interested until you get your fees even higher and there is a demand for your services. You have to create that demand first. Plus, you will need first rate promotional materials to do that and to help agents sell you. You need to do it first. Develop a laser beam focus, target one primary market and go after it. Good luck. Jim |
johnobryant Regular user Texas 195 Posts |
You are right, I could make that much on one weekend of work, and that is when most of my shows are held, even if I worked a resturaunt (EX: $75-100 an hour times 3 hours, 2 times a week) that would double what I am making. The most I have ever gotten for a regular 45 minute stand up show is $350, that was for a pretty large company. But for birthday parties or smaller events I usually start at around $170 for 30-45 minute show. The 1.5 shows per week I mentioned is just a average, sometime I won't even get a show one week but the next week I might have 2 shows.
I could survive on that right now, if I had the resturuant gig...But I would rather be known for my stage/stand up work and doing not only shows on the weekend but shows during the weekdays. Latley during the weekdays I have just been Boosting my shows up and making them better, which in return I can raise my price. Jim, I signed up on your site, You got it right on the nose when you said I have to concentrate on those markets, and that is what I want to do. Because if I can charge a company a stage show/stand up, I then can use the stair step sales strategy that I learned in a business class I took a while back..and offer walk around/ close up for an hour or two after the show..Which in return will bring to more money, and more satisfied customers because they get the entertainment they need. I am going to do some research and follow your program, and hopefully find a lot of information about targeting those markets. -John O'Bryant |
Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
John,
I tell beginners that during their first four years in business they should try to double their gross each year. Try to book more shows at the next level ($300- $1000 per date), raising your average fee per date each year. It is good business to drop the bottom 15% of your business and add 15% at the top end each year, growing your business gradually and steadily, while your skills improve and your act gets better. Constantly work on your act. There is no better marketing tool than a great show. You should be getting several spin off bookings from every show. For shows during the week, look at schools first, since you already have a track record there. Colleges are also a good possiblilty. Start with the colleges within driving distance. For example, you can do a lunch time show at community colleges. Break a thread.. Jim |
LeeDillingham Loyal user Las Vegas 263 Posts |
John,
You are well on your way to very sucessful career in perfroming magic. When I was your age, my goal was to use magic to pay for college. It did. At the time, I never dreamed that I could support a family with it. Because of your age, you will be able to relate to a kid show audience better than many older performers. Take advantage of this. Go to your local parks and recreation department and offer to teach a class in magic to kids. You will learn from it and it will help promote you to your target market. The down side is that your age will make it difficult (not impossible) to get corporate work. By the time you get to your early twenties, this will change. Remember, this is a business. Try to learn as much about business management as you can. Jim Snack's course is great. I have it. Take college classes in business. You will learn and possibly meet future clients while in school. |
Chad C. Inner circle 1522 Posts |
I'll second, or third, Jim's course. I'll give you a brief rundown of the last several years for me moving from beginner to almost full-time.
I started doing magic the last few months of 2002 and made a grand total of $130 from 4 shows. In 2003, I performed a little more and made $1655 all by word of mouth and just the occasional show on the weekend really. In 2004 I made $4425 and added a restaurant gig to the mix. In 2005, I made $11,570 from magic-most of which went back in to marketing, promotional things, etc. This year I will make at least $30,000 in magic, but I could make more than that...we'll see. So, if all goes well and continues in the pattern-next year I'm looking at around double that much. That entire goal of at least doubling my profit was put into my head by Jim's course-and he gives you lots of ways to do it. I have been blessed with a job that allowed me to take my time in growing this business (I was a school teacher the first 3 years) and now I am a bivocational Pastor, and magic is my main source of income, and it works out great and now I treat it like a full-time job. Anyway, those are real life examples-those of you who make 10 times more than that don't be too harsh-you gotta start somewhere! Like it was mentioned in an above post-I could easily live off of what I made this year from magic if I needed to-that's way more than my teaching job paid me! It's all about managing the money and the lifestyle choices one makes-thankfully both my wife and I are extremely thrifty-and happy! Ok, enough about me, anyone else want to share the general parts of their early years? The best thing you are doing is getting out there and DOING IT! Congrats! Chad PS. Thanks again Jim! |
johnobryant Regular user Texas 195 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-09-26 13:17, LeeDillingham wrote: Lee, great advice. And it is totally true. And I had one person tell me that before, but I will still strive to get it as soon as possible. Soon, may even be my early 20's...but atleast it will happen. I feel as if I am running out of time, and that I want to show people magic every chance I get, because I like leaving people amazed.. One of my best reactions was during my stage show, I gotg a stand Ovation after my first effect. And I think that is what my drive is. Oh yes, in July 2006 I signed a contract with my cities parks and recreation, so that is already taken care of about 2 months ago. And perform for events that they do. And they have events going on all the time. I thought that funny that you mentioned that...what a coinsidence.haha And yes, it is paying for college, bills, etc! and I love it. So I am on my way, I know that, and thanks for everyones advice, I will take it and use it. If anyone has anymore advice or personal experiences, please let me know! Thanks John |
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