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JoelMacDonald New user 2 Posts |
Hi
So right now I know only one simple mentalism trick (stacking the deck, peeking, and then pure BS from there) but tonight I had a strange idea.... If, 12 months from now, I could make one or two hundred a month doing street mentalism or maybe a bar gig it would be worth learning as I do like entertaining people and need some extra cash. What I would love from the esteemed masters of the ********tic arts are reasons why I should drop this idea now, that it is too much work, too little gain and that if I had any sense I would walk away. Please give me every reason, every problem everything to say why this is a bad idea. For background: The city I am in has no culture, only two public spaces and for 100 000 people is very much a wasteland. In the whole city we only have two guys who play guitars on the sidewalks. Their names are Ozzy and Neil. I'm not kidding it really is that bad. There is only one small university hear of maybe 3 thousand students. Okay fellows, please, fire away with maximum power. |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
If you can't do magic for the sake of the magic, you won't ever do it well.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
Not clear why you are asking this question...?
The vast majority of people here have already reached their own conclusions. Magic rocks. You can make a living doing it. You will meet wonderful people both in and out of the "life." You have to be prepared to work hard, think hard and practice hard -- but that's the norm in any actual "profession." But if it's not something you love to do -- something that sends a little tingle through you, then you should get out now. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Couldn't agree more with Fr. Photius and David. "Money" shouldn't be your goal it should be the byproduct. If that's your motivation, to able to make a few hundred bucks a month, then as was said, it's a BAD idea--get out--.......on the other hand...a passion for the art can develop over time as you get into it more and are encouraged by audience reaction. As for me, I got bit by the magic bug and became enthusiastic regardless if I performed for anyone or made any money at all.....
.....I am appreciative and happy that I perform regularly every week and get paid.-go figure Many people have told me "You really like what you do, don't you!" and they're right. That's the key IMO.
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Flamel New user 42 Posts |
IF the goal is purely financial, there are infinitely easier ways to make a few hundred a month (according to your logic, it wouldn't be 'worth' it; considering a stated initial 12 month investment of practice/time/material/etc.)...perhaps your true motive is not what it seems considering your business logic is askew?
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Doing a few tricks is easy.
Being an etertaining and engaging magician is hard, dirty work!! In 12 months, you can easily master a few tricks. And _then_ maybe you realize you aren't entertaining at all. And that will be the day you start becoming a magician. That, my friend, can take years. You don't say where you're from, but I my "wasteland" is easily comparable to yours, and both of us are doing better than others who frequent here. That hasn't stopped us from performing - and it never will. If you don't see opportunities everywhere now, you won't see them later. There's far easier and less discouraging ways to make a few bucks. Ed |
JoelMacDonald New user 2 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-08-09 11:42, Flamel wrote: Hi everyone, thanks for your replies. I apologize I wasn't clear last night, I typed the post with 5% of my brain still awake. I have only some experience doing a really basic trick but it showed me something pretty awesome. Despite the fact I messed up a few times it was cool to kind of assume a character, BS my way through a simple trick and have people sincerely go "Wow dude, WTF?!?!". It seems like a really fun hobby to get into. Flamel is right when he says this really isn't about money to me, sorry for causing you guys to waste time on that point. This is the question I should have asked: Starting from scratch without so much as the ability to deal cards without them flying off the table, is twelve months a reasonable timeframe to practice mentalism (5 or 6 hours a week) and start doing the whole street magic thing and maybe doing charity hospital things and the like? I like thinking about it like this because the answers will give me an idea of just what is possible and what goals are achievable. That and I have always loved being a performer, I've done some local acting, working in museums, that sort of thing. I assume 5 or 6 hours a week for 12 months is too little, is this the case? What sort of issues did you guys have starting out? What do you guys wish you could say to a mid twentysomething poser but were too polite to say? |
Keith Brock New user 57 Posts |
Any amount of time that you feel adequate to dedicate to the art is enough. There are plenty of magic tricks that you can learn that are fairly easy that have an amazing response. Presentation is the key to everything. The picture is great by itself but can be made even better by the way you frame it. I wouldn't put a time table for a year on anything. If you are dedicating 5 to 6 hours a week to practice a week, I bet it will be for more than a year. I'm sure that hospitals aren't going to pass on a free magic act .
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55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Joel,
Glad you came back to clarify; I was not able to respond intelligently to your initial post. If I may summarize: you are starting from scratch with no magic skills and want to know if you dedicate 5-6 hours per week, will you be prepared to perform in a year's time? My answer to that is, "yes, if". If you do work efficiently and build a portfolio of skills and routines with the objective of putting together a show. It would be very easy to spend 250 hours (5x50) with nothing to show for it if you try out every 'latest trick' or try to do complicated effects. Start simple, with a few close up tricks. Start a journal and record your progress. Join a club and find a mentor or take lessons. If there are no magicians within an hour or so, you may need to try online classes - but starting out that might be difficult. Get some great, basic reference material. Books are cheap relative to the content - Mark Wilson, Tarbells, and many more. See the sticky at the top of this section. Don't just do cards - cups & ball, sponge balls , coins, and cards. And if you are really serious, commit to someone (a magician) that you will learn a specific routine by a specific date Include how many hours you will practice it every day. This is a path that will get you on the way to becoming a magician. Hudson |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
It is actually possible to have a very narrow focus and have some success, especially if the have a high degree of native talent. Mentalism at it's best is all about making a lot of very little as so much of what happens happens in the minds of those watching as opposed to the more visual magic forms.
For what you describe if you had a very well balanced routine/act of 6-8 presentations that you had down cold you could probably make it work and a year is an excellent starting point. I have had so MANY folks say, "You know I have 3 weeks to get ready to do a show and I really don't have anything....." Yaaaaaaaa.... Read a lot in ESP Research, etc. Best,
Brad Burt
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davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Hi Joel,
Lots of great advice above. The focus here, as you present it, is a time frame of practice time and longevity (1 year) Sure it's possible depending on how you expend your energies. I suppose everyone is different regarding learning abilities, showmanship, natural talent (as Brad mentions) motivation discipline etc. As for me it took quite a number of years (5) before I felt comfortable enough to land my first restaurant gig. Then there was a whole other learning experience when you are actually performing for people and experiencing a myriad of personalities. Interacting with those personalities "successfully" is a another learning experience that can take years. It's just not a matter of saying if I practice for so many hours a week for a certain number of months, "will I be ready"? There is so much more to it than that. But you got to start somewhere and nothing beats the experience you get when you perform for real people and real people can be brutal as well as very rewarding. You just have to be teachable always learning from your experiences. If you have the passion and true desire as well as "good" teaching tools, then follow your desire. You'll know soon enough if it becomes a part of your life and whether or not you stick with it. Enjoy the journey!
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Leland Inner circle St Louis 1180 Posts |
There’s many ways to make money.
But the only way to truly make money is the one that makes it rewarding for you. So what does that mean? It means that it has to satisfy you. For me performing Magic is very satisfying. I get to meet and interact with lots of different people and the best part I get paid to do it. A very rewarding means to make a living. The down side is that you do have to stay on top of your game. Practice. Lots of it. In front of mirrors and in front of people. But the payback is worth it.
Life of Magic!
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Flamel New user 42 Posts |
Joel, I'm glad you came back and are hopefully taking the comments and advice to heart; plenty of great advice here! IMO, practice and select few effects which will make up a short routine and perform for family and friends. Once you've had fun and gained comfort with that, look for local clubs and/or exposure to other working magicians; this will likely be the best way to judge your progress (they will be the toughest audience!)...using their feedback and your own comfort level as a gauge, you should be able to make an informed decision regarding potential entrepreneurial aspirations. Best of luck!
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Visit your local magic store (or PM Brad - I've bought from him off and on for several years) and talk to the person about what you're trying to do. Ask them for some recommendations for starter tricks. Invisible Deck and B'Wave come to mind. And probably some others that aren't cards.
Yah, they're all based on gimmicks, and you wind up with pockets full of one-trick stuff. But the self-working aspect allows you to get a trick down mechanically very quickly so you can then concentrate on getting it down as a performance piece. To echo previous comments, learning to interact with different personalities up close is the _real_ work! Having some self-workers allows you to get into that arena more quickly. The idea is you want to have the confidence of being a magician - of being able to perfrom the most outlandish lies and obvious trickery and get away with it!! Once you have that in you as a performer, then you're ready to work on something that requires greater sleight-of-hand skills; then having mastered those mechanical skills, you can couple that with your performing skills to gain confidence in performing that skills-based effect in front of someone. My opinion, anyway. Have fun!! Ed |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
Ed: One of the first things that popped to my mind was the Invisible Deck! Power material.
Best,
Brad Burt
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
I bought my giant B'Wave from your shop 20 years ago. Still using it in almost every show.
Ed |
ThinkThurston New user 66 Posts |
My two cents is that if haven't fallen in love with magic, if you aren't emotionally committed but rather are looking for logical advice on whether or not you should do it, then you should instead be looking for something else that grabs your heart and soul (music, painting, etc.) When you find this, you find the beauty of life.
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Ekuth Inner circle Floating above my 1538 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-08-08 23:41, Father Photius wrote: Here, here. The wonder of it should be first. Concentrate on that and everything else will flow.
"All you need is in Fitzkee."
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Magic Midnight New user 29 Posts |
In my humble opinion, get a job that pays the bills and do magic on the side while continuing to look for opportunities to make it fulltime. That being said, if you can find solid work doing magic, go for it!
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