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London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
I have a question on the business side of things.
I have been rehearsing practicing writing scripts and putting a show together for a long time. However I have not been actively performing for real audiences in a very long time. I did a 30 minute set as a favor for a friend last december. Nothing since then and nothing for a very long time before then. Point being I am ready to get serious and be in front of people again performing as much as possible. The direction I want to go is public shows. Performing art centers, black box theaters etc. gaining experience and polishing my material then eventually moving on to larger theaters. Having been out of the game for so long it feels like I am starting all over again. I am asking those of you regularly working how to get started in the public area. I can honestly say this part of it I have no idea what I am doing and looking to learn. I have material and a new batch of motivation to get out there but what next? Where can one break in material and try things out before putting on a full stage show. Should I go to open mic nights and things of that sort? My goal in the end is to make money doing private work in order to pay my bills but my real passion is to do theater work. Theater work is obviously going to be down the road a bit. In the mean time I need to learn about booking smaller gigs and also where to break in bits and pieces between gigs. That is why I was thinking open mic nights and things like that. Your tips or input is highly appreciated and thank you in advance. I hope this post doesn't come across as "all over the place" I really do have specific goals in mind just maybe having trouble making it clear. Just have a million thoughts about all this and a little over whelmed at the moment trying to figure out my next move. Also any suggestions for books and what not on the subject of booking and that side of the business.
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I will say this.
Often what drives you from doing it the first time will resurface. The road you are speaking of is quote long. Wanting to finance eventual stage shows with the money made from other gigs is not easy. It is possible but it is going to be a ton of hard work. Do you have a job already? Because that is good and bad. It is good income is there, it is bad the time it takes. Do you have a show that can be booked for money? Obviously this is your first goal. This is the key if you are serious. Don't have one larger goal, but break it into smaller pieces that you regularly attain. This way when you reach a specific income a week regularly you can leave your job and spend that time doing other things. You can only eat the elephant one bite at a time. Keep your larger goal in mind and set smaller ones to keep you motivated and on your path. As for specific suggestions about how to book I don't know the level you are on with anything so help is hard to offer.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 22, 2014, Dannydoyle wrote: Danny, I do currently have a job. However I work for myself from home. I have plenty of time everyday to put into my entertainment work. My house is completely paid off and other bills are low. I really am lucky in the fact that I don't really need to make as much as most of my friends to live a decent day to day. Point is I have the time and can get by for a good amount of time before the money really starts coming in. I would like to start by finding private party work including clubs and organizations (Elks club, Kiwanis etc.)as well as home base parties. I would like to be doing this on a regular basis by this time next year. I would be happy working 1 to 3 shows a week by this time next year. I do have a show together. It is not just a series of effects but a well thought out show with a beginning a middle and a end with all the appropriate build up etc. It of course needs polish which will come when done in front of audiences. But I would say if I got a call today I would be ready to load the car and go do the show. I am ready to start spending the time learning how to start getting the shows. I am ready to learn about how to put together a great website and put the necessary time into what ever needs to be done. This is really something I was born to do. I would be really far ahead in my career if I would have made some better choices in my earlier years. I was performing regularly by the time I was in my late teens then I found I could get into clubs with my older friends and drink without an i.d. So I went from performing regularly to partying regularly. Those years are behind me and I am ready to start spending every waking moment submerged in my performing again. But starting over now in my early/mid 30s is a new experience. So I need to learn as much as possible about getting started business wise.
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
How old are you?
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
34 Danny . Why do you ask?
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Because it makes a huge difference. There are many kids from 17-25 that regularly ask the same questions, but the direction and advice one gives a kid with pie in the sky dreams is different that you would offer to someone older, more experienced and mature.
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London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
That makes sense. I was just curious since I mentioned my age in the last reply post.
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
You are going to be competing against shows that have been on the road since you decided to do other things. It could very well take years before you get to the 1-3 shows a week stage. I mean 1-3 private parties and such. Building this type of business is not easy. Good luck. You seem ready to take the time to do it so that is the most important part.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
There is no question in putting the time into it. I am definitely ready for that. And I know you are right. I am way behind where I could have been making better choices early on but that is done and moving forward I am not in a rush to get to any certain point. I may have an unrealistic timeline on how long certain things take but that is do to my lack of knowledge in that area of things. I am here to listen and learn and put in the necessary work and go through the process and pay dues etc. If I don't start now ,then when? I am ready to get things going. Thank you for your help and input. Greatly appreciated .
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
latentimage Elite user No More Room In Hell.. 440 Posts |
Hey London,
I am in a very similar situation to you. I was out of performing publically for a long time, and am now 30 years old. I started working on my show again at age 28, and after two years of working on it every single day, I think I am almost to the point of being able to get back out there with a quality product. I used to (and sometimes still do) get a bit discouraged because of the age thing (I feel like I wasted many years, and that it's going to be even harder for me to succeed now since I am older), but in a lot of ways I think I am where I need to be. Reading the stuff Danny and Mindpro have written on here has helped a lot, so try searching for their posts. Also a very helpful book I came across is How to Become a Professional Magician by Sean Mitchell. It will also help guide you to places to work on your stuff, and how to optimize these performances to help you out on your website, promotions etc. The spell checking could be better in some spots, but it's affordable and a great resource. It's certainly helped me. At any rate, good luck and I wish you success. Best, Allen
"Come to the edge," he said, They Said "We Are Afraid," "Come to the edge," he said, They Came, He Pushed Them...And They Flew. -Apollinaire
"If there be a skeptical star, I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment." -W. MacNeile Dixon |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I think age should be the LAST thing you let discourage you. 30s is nowhere near too late to be starting again. Nowhere near!In many ways the wisdom and patience that comes with age will be a tremendous asset.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Haha, I must say I agree. The twenties are to me the worse decade for performers to try to find their stride (besides teens). They are in a hurry, with less commitment due to maturity, often less open-minded which is most certainly required, they work from a position of want, not what is best for them or in their best interests, they are too focused on social and personal interests than professional, they talk more than they listen, the often think they know more than they actually do and they haven't had time to immerse themselves enough to understanding being humble, professional, dedicated and committed to the level of those in their 30's.
Many of the performers I work with are in their twenties and I spend just as much time introducing them to the proper mindset for success and to make their interests become their reality, as we do in the actual execution of it. If I had to pick the age that we are most primed for success it begins in your thirties...for many reasons including professional perception among others. It's great to hear you are back, into a two year commitment and seemingly on your way. Thanks for the kind words. |
latentimage Elite user No More Room In Hell.. 440 Posts |
For me at least, I believe you are both correct about the age issue now that I think about it. I don't believe I knew enough or had a good enough idea of what I actually wanted when I was 20 years old to have been successful. Its occurring to me that to be successful in this business, you really need to have a clearly defined goal, and know where you want to go. In some other fields of work (such as my day job), it's much more likely than a person can "succeed" and make money without knowing exactly which direction they want to go than it is with performing magic. A performer doesn't really have the luxury of those days of going into work, spacing out and deciding they will just try to slip under the radar. Some people make entire livings doing that, actually. In this business, the paychecks would stop coming.
I am certainly much more committed now that I would have been when I was younger. There is still a ton of stuff to learn, but since I am now more receptive to the idea of learning from others, I will hopefully avoid making a lot of the mistakes that I would have otherwise.
"Come to the edge," he said, They Said "We Are Afraid," "Come to the edge," he said, They Came, He Pushed Them...And They Flew. -Apollinaire
"If there be a skeptical star, I was born under it. Yet I have lived all my days in complete astonishment." -W. MacNeile Dixon |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On Jun 27, 2014, Allen Michael wrote: This is what being in your 30's brings you. It is a valuable tool to have.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
London Special user U.S.A. 769 Posts |
Thank you dannydoyle and mindpro. You made some very good points. Very helpful insights.
THOUGHTfully,
LONDON |
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