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andrew_blob New user 2 Posts |
Hey guys
I've been doing card magic for 5 months now since I dropped out of college. I've taken the many 18th birthday parties of my friends as a chance to demonstrate magic on friends/barstaff, etc. and I seem to be getting loads of good responses. Well, at the latest party I did a two-card monte effect on the barstaff and it blew them away, so much so that they gave me drinks on the house and offered me a job for their summer fair. As I said I've only been doing magic for 5 months, but I feel fairly confident in performing. What are your views and how long did you wait before first getting paid for this wonderful art? Thanks in advance Andrew Clark |
Mago Mai Elite user Venezuela 485 Posts |
I started getting paid when somebody offered me to do a private job. He saw me performing some stuff at a friend's house. He liked it. I said are you serious?..and he said he wasn't kidding. So, I kew my practice had paid off.
I had been an outgoing person and that help me a lot. What do you think about yourself? As long as you stick to what you know well, I don't see any problem. Mago Mai
I invite all of you to share some of my magic on videos.Please, CLICK HERE
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Doug Byrd Veteran user VA 361 Posts |
About two years. Then I started out in the kidz biz doing the dreaded birthday party. It was only natural that I would go into the bizarre field afterwards. The children stole my soul and left me to wander aimlessly through this world.
Ooopppsss! Sorry I got off track. Doug
"Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc"
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Jason Wethington Special user Orlando, Fl 615 Posts |
Andrew,
Ali Bongo told me once. "Never say 'no'. Whatever it is they want do whatever you can to get the job done, but never tell them 'No'. Go for it. You have experience performing already, look at your paid performances as the same way. Things are going to go wrong, tricks will go awry. Don't worry about it, you'll be fine just be nice, be yourself and be amazing! Jason |
RandomEffects Veteran user Boston, MA 323 Posts |
Good point. Never say no!!!. As I look at it, restaurant gigs are basically a forum for me to do 5 minute vignettes of my act and hand out business cards. Not to mention, they are ideal locations to pop in the occasional new effect and see how it works for the lay audience.
Mat P.S. Doug, "dreaded" kids biz? That's where half my money is!!! |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Andrew,
Only you will know when you are ready. Some are ready in a couple of weeks; others are still not ready after a couple of years. As for never saying "no", I can't agree. (If something is clearly beyond your ability, why say "yes" you'll do it?) I lean toward the thinking in this month's Linking Ring magazine, in a quote about Gay Blackstone, widow of the late Harry Blackstone Jr.: "She never promises more than she can deliver and she always delivers more than she promises." |
kid iowa Loyal user Oklahoma 300 Posts |
Look at it this way, at the minimum you're getting paid to practice and get experience. I'd jump on it.
Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile...can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, "I served in the United States Navy." J.F.K.
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Kaliix Inner circle Connecticut 1984 Posts |
Andrew,
I think you ask a legitimate question, albeit a slightly incorrect one. Asking us whether we would take the job is irrelevant to whether you should or not. Only you can really determine, with any degree of accuracy, whether or not you are ready to perform for people as paid entertainment. What we can do though, is present you with questions that you might want to answer truthfully for yourself and use that as a guide to making your decision. So here's some questions off the top of my head... Do you do anything besides cards? There are only a few people who can do an all card act and not lose the audience part way through. Do you have an act or do you just string together random effects? If your being paid, people expect at least some level of professionalism. Do you want to be known as "that kid who knows a few card tricks" or do you want to be known as a entertaining magician? What kind of venue are you performing in? Adequate space is a concern if you are performing card tricks. Are all your tricks in the hands type routines or do you need a table? How are you planning on dressing? Wear something decent at the bare minimum. Perhaps a dress shirt and sports coat. Do the rest of the magic community a favor and don't dress like a slob. What about reset? Do you do tricks that require a set up? Having to leave to set up a trick doesn't look very good. Do you use any gaffed cards or gaffed decks? If so, how are you going to ring them in or out? Any kids going to be at this event? Kids love magicians but they don't really do card tricks. If you have to entertain children, what do you do then? You'd better be able to back out gracefully. Do you know what to do when you screw up a trick (and you will screw one up)? Do you have any outs planned if you miss a force, reveal the wrong card, etc... That is just off the top of my head. I am not trying to discourage you. These are questions you should have some idea how to answer, other wise you may not reflect well on yourself or the art of magic. All that being said, if you think you can pull it off, go for it. You have to start somewhere, right!?!
The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.
~Daniel J. Boorstin |
andrew_blob New user 2 Posts |
Hello, and thank you all very much for your kind and informative input. Thank you especially to kaliix, you've really got me thinking there, that helps a lot. From the general reaction I've decided I'm definitely gonna give it a go; "I do have to start somewhere"!! Thank you all again and write back soon and let you know how I got on.
Cheers Andrew |
WVMAGIC New user 55 Posts |
Andrew,
You sound like you have grasped one of the most basic concepts in Magic. You are able to entertain people. Congratulations, some people never do that. In my opinion, the first question you must answer is whether you have enough material to do an entire show. If you don't I hope that you choose to learn more magic instead of getting discouraged. Best Wishes |
M@gic Man Regular user Australia 121 Posts |
I say GO FOR IT. The more experience, the better. But make sure you are confident, have practiced a lot and know exactly what you are doing.
The Magic Café is a great way to help you out with a heap of stuff, I wish I had come across it earlier. Anyway, good luck if you decide to do the show, hope it goes well for you.
Its not what you do, but how you do it.
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blitzchampion Regular user Portugal 148 Posts |
Sure, go for it !
What tricks will you use ? |
ebyrne New user 50 Posts |
I hate to go against the grain (well, not really), but I do think there is certainly a time to say no. If you feel you are not ready, then you should seriously consider saying no. I am definitely not discouraging you, but it is my feeling that doing a paid show is not the time for practice. Certainly, it can give you the best practice possible (real experience), but if you do not feel confident that you can put on the show well, I don't think you should. While some people wouldn't mind screwing up a show and just writing it off to practice, I would feel I had cheated the customer if I did not put on a good show.
That is not to say that you shouldn't expect yo make mistakes. Most certainly, you will make a great deal of mistakes. It's not only a cliche to say that everyone does. If you waited until you felt you wouldn't, you'd either be either arrogant or deluded. But, you should know how to handle a mistake or two, or at least be confident that you won't make mistakes on almost all your material. That being said, it is natural to have a great deal of apprehension about performing anytime. You will probably be ready before you really know that you are. If you feel that you can handle the performance and are suited to the setting, then most definitely take it. If you feel that you are almost ready, I would say take it, practice hard, and go into it confident. However, if you know that there is a good chance you might disappoint the customer, be cautious. Again, please don't think I am trying to be discouraging. Far from it. When you feel can handle it, go for it. I just felt I should say something when most other members seem to say go for it no matter what. I'll stop now, but still want to say it one more time: Be confident in your abilities and don't hesitate to take it if you feel you can! -Gene |
ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
<Look at it this way, at the minimum you're getting paid to practice and get experience. I'd jump on it.>
I have to say I don't agree with that. It doesn't seem to me that you should be charging someone to let you practice. You should know it before you start asking someone to give you money for it.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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magicsoup Elite user 461 Posts |
I say go for it if you are confident. I personally never really learn a trick until I have performed it for people a LOT of times. I'm not talking about the ability to execute the method of the trick, but the ability to put your personality into it and make it entertaining.
As far as practicing in front of a customer is concerned, I think that's exactly what you do every time you try something new. Go out and get experience and learn how to interact with your audience. For now, you might not charge as much as a seasoned pro. |
Capt. Coins New user 27 Posts |
I'm just a hobbyist, but one time my insurance agent's secretary asked me to work her wedding reception. At first I wanted to say no, but a girlfriend I was seeing told me that if I didn't try it, I would always regret it and that my saying no would start a negative trend for me should others ask; so I did it. $100 for one hour of strolling magic, TT silk vanishes, pull cig vanishes, Crazy Man's Handcuffs, and a few card tricks. Easiest money I ever made
I had been doing magic for about 4 years prior to this, but I feel I would have been ready much earlier. |
NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
Performing magic is one of the easiest ways to make money!
Its all the other stuff you have to do so that you can do it regularly and pay the bills that makes it hard work! |
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