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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Dennis I was complimenting you my friend.....seriously!
Glad you took so much time to help people out. That list should be coppied by any interested and gone through, it is as complete as I have ever seen.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Danny, education is really a key in life what ever endevor one takes. The degree in theater at this late stage of life (59 yrs old) will not make a difference. The knowledge is still there.
The point of the post is simple. Write down what you want and refer to it often!
Dennis Michael
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dlcmagic Special user 887 Posts |
Great information Dennis! My vote goes to the Jim Snack course.
A great source of information on the business and Jim is a great guy. David Lawrence |
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drwilson Inner circle Bar Harbor, ME 2191 Posts |
I recently got the Jim Snack course and have completed my quick first pass through it. This morning I had my phone consultation with Jim. He promised a 30 minute conversation; we talked for 90 minutes. I have a bunch of good ideas that I am putting into action immediately. In specializing in motivational magic, Jim has really found his calling. I highly recommend this course, and will let everyone know the results of the first round of action.
Yours, Paul |
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Tod Todson Inner circle USA 1296 Posts |
Hi Paul,
Just a quick follow up on your results from Jim Snack's course? Tod
Mystifier, Youth Speaker
<BR><BR> |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Jim's course has made a world of difference for me personally. I can vouch for it as the ideas expressed in it and in his tele-seminars I have tuned in to had really changed the way I view my magic and my business and has allowe dmy wife and I to grow out business by leaps and bounds and explore markets we never thought we would be able to do.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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magic113 New user 30 Posts |
I have to say there is a lot of great info. here. I was also disappointed with Randy's book. I can tell you this much, a lot of his list (ie. Entertainment Agencies, Fair Contacts and such) are out-dated. I called several and they were the wrong numbers. They were probably accurate when he first published in 2001 but a lot of them have changed. I really didn't find a lot of new info. in his book.
All of the reccomendations above are good. I don't have Jim's yet but it sounds great and I'm considering it. I have a lot of Dave Dee's materials and Eric Paul's and both are really good starting points. Guerilla Marketing is an excellent book about marketing any kind of business you can think of. Dan Kennedy's books are really great and has a strong focus on copywritting. As was stated above, there is a vast amount of info. here. Just take it one step at a time and don't let it overwelm you, and before you know it you'll be on your way! Ted Peterson |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Here’s my secret, secret resources:
The “For Dummies” series of books from Wiley Publishing. Small Business FD Business Plan FD Marketing FD Public Relations FD and tons of other very accessible, smooth sailing, valuable titles. go to http://www.wiley.com and type “Dummies” into the search box. Shhhh don’t tell anyone I told you! Walt |
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
The first of the year is a great time to think about the foundation for one's magic business. In reflecting about the foundations of an effective magic business this morning, I come up with a few:
It starts with your show: 1) Be able to perform 30-60 minutes of solid entertainment, for any audience of 30-300 people, under any performing conditions, with minimal set-up and strike. If you can do that, you will have a commercial act that will be easy to book. Ideally, be able to do it as a solo performer. If you are going to work with one or more partners, recognize that eventually all partnerships will end and you will be back to square one with your solo act. Make sure you have one. Or marry your partner and be ready for a new set of challenges. Even if you goal is to be the next great illusionist, make sure you can work "in one" and hold an audience with a solo piece. If you don't know what it means to work "in one" you aren't ready to do illusions. Get some experience in the theater, either community theater or college. You'll need it. While you are at it, get some voice and movement training. I watched the remake of the movie "The Producers" last night. Nathan Lane and Mathew Broderick can really move on stage. How about you? 2) Polish your act in venues where you can make mistakes and it really doesn't matter. Michael Ammar once commented that everybody needs someplace to be bad; for him it was nursing homes in West Virginia. Broadway shows have out of town previews and are re-worked until they are ready for Broadway. Start locally, working every kind of venue and audience you can, polishing your material so that it sparkles in front of audiences. Discover what types of audiences are the best fit for your act - children, adults, college students, business people, etc. The road to the big time begins in church basements and VFW halls. 3) Invest in the best costumes you can afford, even if you are wearing street clothing. Once it is in your show, it's a costume. Wear the best and keep it for the show. Make sure it is clean and pressed for every show. Polish your shoes. Get a haircut. Look your best when you step up in front of people. 4) Invest in the best props you can afford. Don't cut corners buying cheap knock offs. It's not ethical and besides, they don't hold up under the rigors of professional performing conditions. If you can't afford Wellington's Origami Box, maybe you aren't ready for it. Work on your torn and restored newspaper instead. Your business: 1) Be honest, ethical and easy to do business with. Don't promise what you can't deliver. Don't over hype your accomplishments or act - do your best every time and let the audience decide how great you are. 2) Put your client's needs first. Make sure you understand exactly what your client wants and needs before you accept a booking. Then deliver that. 3) Build a successful part-time business before you take the plunge to full-time. Learn how to book and present 50-75 shows a year before you even begin to think about a full-time business. If you can't reach that level, how will you get to 150-200 dates a year? 4) Learn about the different markets for magic, as well as the career ladder. Understand who hires magicians and why, at every level. 5) Read everything you can find about running your own business, marketing and promotion. Learn to write good advertising copy (or hire someone to do it). 6) Get good publicity photographs. 7) Recognize that everybody in show business "goes up and then goes down." Always treat people well and don't burn bridges on the way up the career ladder, because eventually you will see those people on the way down. If I had to decide on a keystone for one's foundation, it would be a passion and love for the art of magic. Building a successful magic business can be a challenge and there will be difficult times. You will need that passion and love to see you through those difficult times. When Dustin Hoffman was asked if he would have stayed in the acting business if he hadn't hit it big with "The Graduate" when he was in his 20s, he answered that he would still be an actor, even if it was in a community theater production somewhere, because that's what he is - an actor. Are you passionate enough about performing magic to do it regardless where it leads you? Without that level of passion, building a successful business will be impossible. Certainly, someone may make a lot of money, but I for one, would not call them successful if their passion was elsewhere. That's the foundation for an effective magic business. Best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Jim |
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SpellbinderEntertainment Inner circle West Coast 3519 Posts |
Happy 2007 Jim,
You just almost wrote a book with your last post. Solid advice as new magicians walk into a new year. Thanks for setting them on the right track. It is a help to every magician, and the craft, when every magician plays the game by the rules! Magicallly, Walt |
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Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
Jim,
Thanks for the New Years kick start. I loved the Dustin Hoffman quote. I saw him on "Inside the Actor's Studio" where he said it. I am happy being a local performer who performs part time. Do I want to perform full time? Do I want to be nationally or internationally known? Maybe some day. I have been a full time performer before. Right now I am happy working on being the best performer I can be where ever and when ever that happens to be.
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Neale, that's where I saw Dustin Hoffman also. I love that show for the insights on theater, creativity and the artistic process.
Jim |
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Tod Todson Inner circle USA 1296 Posts |
Jim,
I read your post, which recommended "The Producer" remake. I've never really understood Broadway though. How could "over acting" help magicians? This is what I see in movies like "The Producer" - over acting, over smiling, over expression, etc. Maybe I am missing something though.
Mystifier, Youth Speaker
<BR><BR> |
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Agent86 Regular user 154 Posts |
Hey guys. Have a question for all of you. I have my own company up and running now. And I actually have an add on the main page under "Special Interests" . I was wondering if you guys wouldn't mind taking a look at the site. See if there is anything you like, anything you don't like. I know this is a risky thing to ask all the members of the Café. But I really wouldn't mind some constructive criticism.
Well the add is the "Agent 86 Magic" one. It's a small red square add. Here's the link if you don't click through the main page. Thanks guys, chris http://www.chrisboltermagic.com/MagicStore.html |
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