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Hagerman Regular user 108 Posts |
Hello all. For the past 15 years I have worked with no promo video - yet amazingly I still got jobs. I finally made one and it's on youtube now.
The Vaudeville Magic Show I probably will not change anything until I get some new footage of a physical comedy piece I am working on, but your thoughts are welcome. |
Magic Rob New user Denver, CO 99 Posts |
Hagerman,
I really enjoyed this! The video seems like it gives sense of who you are, your syle and some of the effects you do. I'm sure it's going get you more bookings. I particularly liked the dove production, and I've never seen anyone use a hand puppet (that's not a spring animal) in a card routine for a child. Good stuff! |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Not bad at all and the Glenn Miller music was even better.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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mesmer Inner circle 1186 Posts |
But if I'm a potential clients....beside you being A Good Magician, I don't see any benefit of why I should book you...
people only care for "...What's in it for me?.." sorry I don't mean being harsh....just MHO...since I see many many peroformer keep repeating this same ol mistakes |
Hagerman Regular user 108 Posts |
Thanks for the compliments guys. I once performed that bear puppet routine for room of bikers. The entertainment director was worried and wasn't sure if I should perform that one. I performed it anyway and they ate it up and had a great time.
Mesmer, I do not think you are being harsh. You are absolutely right about people's intentions. What are the mistakes that need to be looked out for? I will be marketing this video and others with full routines to cruise lines and theme parks. What would you suggest? My selling points will mostly be in print form and the DVD will have additional features such has video testimonials and I don't know what else. |
Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
Nice video, great 1st effort.
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pbg739 Veteran user San Jose, Ca 340 Posts |
This was quite entertaining!
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magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
I enjoyed the video and thought it was a lot of fun. I liked you bear and (bare'and) billiard balls. I did start cringing a little when I realised you where building up to the hair/hare gag.
I'm not sure I agree with mesmer. I do know that looking at things from the clients perspective can be a great help (and I certainly tidied up my website a lot when I started actively doing that) but does this approach have to apply to all things? Can it not sometimes simply be; the people watch the entertaining video and want to hire the entertaining man. George |
Hagerman Regular user 108 Posts |
Thank you, Thank you and Thank you.
I know what you mean about the hair line. Luckily, I pretend to come from a time when that joke may have been fresher. That joke has branched into whole new routine I'm working on. I'm hoping it makes a decent callback and provide the MD for the final punch. |
magicgeorge Inner circle Belfast 4299 Posts |
I use the hairline, too. It's an old pun but people don't usually see it coming in that context. I don't do it during the show but use it when people ask the obvious. I usually do the very deep hat gag before the hair production (I use Jim Pace's version but would love to learn the Sylvester the Jester version, has he a gimmicked hat?). I never pick out an actual hair (even though there are a few in there) but an imaginary one and usually give it to someone as a souvenier/to look after.
Anyhow, I think if you had a clip of yourself doing it to a drunk enough crowd to give a good guffaw at it, it might be worth putting in but as it stands it's a little weaker than the rest of the promo. George |
Hagerman Regular user 108 Posts |
I agree. That clip made it in last minute. It was put in place of an original interchange between me and an assistant; but I got paranoid. Not everyone is ethical.
Maybe this a delusion of grandeur, but I always fear that some of my material will go the way of the clean hand joke. I was burned by a few local magicians when I was younger and this is the main reason why I have taken so long to make a video - that and I'm a bit lazy. I am not familiar with the deep hat gag - unless it is done with a table. Care to point me to the publication? BTW your Gag Tag topic rocks! There is some usable stuff posted there. |
NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
I really like the idea of performing as a 'vaudeville magic show'. So much classic magic is performed in a very old fashioned and dated style (top hats, bad hair gags etc.). By placing your act within a historical context, making a nostalgia show, you are able to breath new life into that style of act. You have a REASON to perform 'old fashioned' magic which I LOVE!
From a promotional point of view, it looks very tight and professional. You might like to consider the following suggestions 1) Remove about one minute of footage from the act. Make it even tighter. 2) Introduce more audience reaction shots and shots of people talking you up. 3) Include information about functions you work at, benefits for clients etc. |
inhumaninferno Elite user 452 Posts |
I'm going to sound harsh, however it is in an effort to help. This is my opinion, obviously.
Cut the studio silk prods and rushes in and out. Leave in the clips. Make it short and to the point. Hard hitting the first 30 seconds and then, perhaps longer clips for the remaining 3 minutes. Make sure you have audience reaction in there (video, audio or both). Include a call to action at the end if you are booking yourself-if shopping for agents (which it sounds like you are, then ignore the call to action) do not include your contact info, allow the agency to put their's in. Let prospects know that a full show, uncut video is available (45 or 60 minute--whatever you do dependent on the market). Hope this helps. John Johnson |
Hagerman Regular user 108 Posts |
Thank you both for your input. Good advise. Next time I'm in video edit mode, no telling when, I'm going to create a short teaser. Audience reactions would be good if I had them. I've got really lazy and do not video all that often.
I'm having good success at marketing electronically; in the three weeks the video has been up, I booked one and turned down two shows for New Years. Youtube is perfect for my marketing style and saves bandwidth on my website. Eventually I'll have individual clips of full routines available for private screenings. I've created guest youtube accounts for interested parties so I can select exactly which videos I want them to view. This should allow me to be flexible for different kinds of venues. I won't be able to put the whole show up because of youtube's 10 minute limit. I am searching for an agent but at the same time I don't know who to trust with full routines. This agent, (I've forgotten the name of), gave a tape to my buddy and asked him if he could duplicate this guy's routine. I have other friends who shared with me copies of full acts they received from agents. If this is the status quo, maybe I don't want an agent. |
inhumaninferno Elite user 452 Posts |
Hagerman,
Great reasons to use due diligence in selecting agents. I have never supplied an agent with full routines/show, however with a prospect that I'm dealing with myself that is another story or with a reputable cruise agency who may want a full show video so they can actually see that you have enough good material. Plus, remember that nobody can duplicate the way YOU do your thing. Sometimes agents are needed and can be beneficial when you find reputable ones to work with-remember though, the agents are working for their client who remains #1 in their book. You are an act on a list. |
yeahidomagic Regular user 134 Posts |
Nice video , I bet your be recieving a lot of calls after people wtach the video = ) .
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