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Jeff Jenson Veteran user Denver, Colorado 319 Posts |
A couple of fellow magicians and I are planning to put together and stage show with live animals, comedy and some small illusions! But we have no idea where to start when it comes to trying to find a way to book a venue to put on the show. We perform for people when we get calls but we want to step it up alittle, how do we go about it?
Thank you, Jeff
Jeff Jenson
"Keep The Magic Alive" |
Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Jim Snack is the expert on marketing. He is a member here. Get his book and you will succeed by following his instructions.
Paddy |
SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Start with Google or your phone book…
look for theatres, schools, colleges, churches, civic spaces, fraternal organizations (like the Masons), museums, and banquet halls, all who may have auditorium, performance, or theatre spaces which they rent when they are not using them. You’ll find a huge variance in stage size, house size, rent, and availability, and amount of tech equipment like lighting and sound. When you narrow the spaces down to the ones that fit your needs and budget, make appointments to visit each one, explain what you are trying to do, and see if they will negotiate on the rent, perhaps exchange free tickets, or a ticket split, a percentage of the door, or a minimum guarantee. If they are not booked solid they may be willing to work with your budget, some spaces may even agree to co-produce with you rather than have an empty venue. This is a huge amount of work, but you’ll learn a great deal about being producers, lastly…. remember the old rule, location, location, location, you want to settle on a performance space where people can easily get to you, park, eat, and get home safely. Best of luck, Walt |
AttnPls Special user 554 Posts |
Excellent advice.
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sirbrad Inner circle PA 2096 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-06 11:19, Paddy wrote: Ditto on that! Jim will teach you how to market your magic, as well as build your magic business from the ground up so you have something to market.
The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method or procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers. -- Harry Houdini
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Thanks for the plug guys.
Many of us started out like Jeff, building a stage show and then looking for someplace to book it. My first year in the business, I did just that, putting together a show that had four illusions, two assistants, and two technicians. Then I did what Walt suggested, approached six civic organizations and sold them the show as a fundraiser, splitting the door 50/50. When all was said and done, everybody got paid except me! I lost $75 on the six shows, but gained some valuable experience. I quickly figured out that it was smarter to work on my one man club act and look for places to book that. Unless you market the heck out of it, you will work very hard to make any money doing one-nighters with a show like you are putting together. I'm not saying that it can't be done. Learn from those who have a track record. I suggest you get a copy of Big Daddy Cool's ebook on booking theaters - http://www.theatricalmagic.net/Books.html - and/or Eric Paul's course on booking theaters - http://www.moremoneywithmagic.com/theater.htm . Oh yes, how could I forget? I also have an audio CD about promoting a public show called "Fill the House. http://www.success-in-magic.com/resources.htm . These resources will help you get started. Good luck. Jim |
Jeff Jenson Veteran user Denver, Colorado 319 Posts |
Thank you to everyone for some valuble advice! I will be looking into getting Jim's book.
Jeff Jenson
"Keep The Magic Alive" |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Since you mentioned animals, I will recommend trying them early. Think about what animals you would want to use. Next, find out if you feel comfortable taking care of the animals as they are your pets.
If you perform parlor size shows, you can start off with certain small illusions in parlor shows getting more practice before you perform on stage. I got professional on stage by performing many volunteer "DARE" (drug abuse prevention) shows by traveling around with the county sheriff department for local schools. A deputy sheriff would set everything up in my county. He would just call me up to mention the schools to meet him at. |
Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2607 Posts |
Walt has GREAT comments and Jim's are right on the money.
Many magicians are driven by ego so they create an act they've always wanted to do... THEN they try and find a market for it. What if... just for fun... we looked at the market to tell us what it needs? Then you will get work. Research and find out what is missing... the thing that no one is doing in your area that there is a true NEED for, then develop an act for that to fill that need. That's if you want to work. If you've got a full time job and you're doing it for fun and don't mind losing a little money here and there just so you can play magic... then try a big show. lol... If you're really good at it and lucky you might even break even! Yes, there are success stories here and there but they might as well have a tag line like infomercials do that says "Results not typical". Harry Blackstone Jr. had a HUGE show that he did whenever he could, but the reality was that he made the money doing the double act with Gay. In other words... if it is your dream to do a big show and you have the capital to do it at a loss... then go for it. Is it rewarding financially? Seldom but if you can afford it... why not? Do the research above but remember that you're doing it because you love it... not to make money.
Ray Pierce
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
…oh, yeah…. I should have mentioned that you’ll no doubt lose rather than make money the first time out.
If it’s for “sake of the art” that’s ok, if it’s for visibility that’s ok, but budget how much you can realistically afford to go in the hole. And…. for my two-cents, it’s worth doing just to experience firsthand what a producer goes through and all the steps there are. Jim is right, if you want to make money, polish, promote, and book your solo-show. Ray is very right, market and produce what there is a demand for, not just what you believe is your “dream show”. It took me six-years to find the right location, assemble a show I knew the public would attend, and get the thing written and up, and it took a lifetime of my marketing, sales, producing, and theatrical experience to make it work in this economy. Gotta love show-biz! Walt |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Is it still working in spite of the current conditions Walt?
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sirbrad Inner circle PA 2096 Posts |
The economy has no effect on me whatsoever. I actually get more calls, probably because people need entertainment MORE in order to take the edge off. It also helps when a lot of your clients are rich people.
The great trouble with magicians is the fact that they believe when they have bought a certain trick or piece of apparatus, and know the method or procedure, that they are full-fledged mystifiers. -- Harry Houdini
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Jeff Jenson Veteran user Denver, Colorado 319 Posts |
I live in Denver Colorado and believe it or not as far as I know there is only 1 or 2 other magicians here that have a actual dove act, so I have a small advantage here. I have recently been in conact with a place that says we can perform on some kind of regular basis, they told me that they want to see the show before moving forward. But I'm going to set up a meeting to see what type of show we can do, for example can we use fire, are live animals ok and so on...
Jeff Jenson
"Keep The Magic Alive" |
googoodolls New user Colorado 71 Posts |
Good luck with the show. I am a magician in the Colorado also and I use too have doves too. There a lot of work.
sincerely Ryan |
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