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Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
Hi,
I am only 13 years old but I am very serious about magic. Does anyone know of a way for me to make money doing magic even though I'm only 13. |
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Jon Gallagher Veteran user Elmwood, Illinois 395 Posts |
I wish I'd had the guts to do a show at age 13. I was very interested, but wouldn't perform for anyone but friends and family.
Your church is a good place to start. Make sure you've got a good act, and present it to your minister. If you don't belong to a church, then maybe that's a good idea to start going to one. You school will be another place. Enter any talent shows that you can. If your town has a festival during the summer or fall, maybe set up a booth there to demonstrate what you can do and hand out brochures. I had a friend who began table hopping at his father's restaurant when he was 16. By the time he was 18, he was in constant demand for birthday parties, Christmas parties, and other bigger and better restaurants. Don't be afraid to dream (I still do), but be patient with yourself at the same time. Don't get discouraged because you don't have a lot of shows booked. Use that time to practice and hone your routines. You'll make it. |
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
How about working in a magic store demonstrating magic... one of the greatest places to learn.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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phonic69 Special user 560 Posts |
At your age (and I'm not much older) I found it hard to command that mystical element that many older performers aquire from a lifetime of performing...
It would also be difficult getting work in a bar at such an age due to licensing laws etc... Doing parties or table hopping at one off events is a good way into the art of live performance! |
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0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
Why is it you want to make money doing magic?
You are very young, and you will likely find it difficult to obtain paid performances. Do you do children's magic (birthday parties)? That might be a possibility. Pete Biro's suggestion is excellent for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the strong likelihood of finding yourself a mentor. At any rate, you should probably tell us what your goals are and what your experience has been in order to allow us to make more pertinent comments. 0pus |
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Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
Opus,
The reason I want to make money doing magic is because I need more money to buy more magic tricks, books, dvds etc. So far, most of my learning has been from library books, cheap books, and online magic sources such as Card Trick Central and Ultimate Magic. I feel that I know enough magic to get a job, but at my age i'm sure most people wouldn't take me seriously. |
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0pus Inner circle New Jersey 1739 Posts |
Where are you located?
Do you have a local magic shop? You should establish a relationship with your local magic shop, and seek their advice. They are likely to have unique insight into the available market. You will likely have to show them what you can do. It sounds like you will need more performance experience, however, and that is more likely to develop by your entertaining without pay for local service societies or churches. Good luck. 0pus |
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Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
Thanks for all the advice. Right now, I live in a small town and the only magic shop is a novelty shop that has a small magic section. However, me and my family are moving to Las Vegas this year. So I am excited to try to do some magic when I get there. In the meantime, I think I will try hospitals or retirement centers to see if I can entertain people there for free to practice. Right now, I am doing card tricks for people at counters and in line at shops and banks.
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SethL52 New user Arab, Alabama 56 Posts |
Well your set , vegas is the place for magic.
best of luck. but don't worry about money so much , mow some yards like I did , and eventually you will start collecting magic , then producing magic for audiences and the cycle continues. |
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Chris Boyd Regular user Mansfield, TX 155 Posts |
Babysitting, man! Parents everywhere want to get away from their kids for a little while, especially ones who live in places where there are things to do, like Vegas.
I just had a novel idea, though it probably would not work. After your parents get used to the idea of you living in Vegas, if they ever let you off of your leash and let you catch a cab downtown, you might be able to get a job babysitting kids at hotels. The parents want to get away to see a show and have a romantic dinner together, but they have to bring the kids (ages 5 and 8) because they can't be left alone in the hotel room. You could get business cards printed up touting yourself as a babysitter/magician and charge $15 an hour. Just hang out at the hotels after 4 pm on Fridays, when most people check-in, I imagine, look for families with kids (younger than you, obviously), and let them know what you do. Be sure to wear some nice clothes. Let them all know you will be waiting in the lobby until about 9 pm, and if they require your services, to contact you before you leave. If they will need you for another night, to give you a call at the number on the card. That way, you could come down on Satuday, or whenever you might get a call. I tell you, it is so wacky, it just might work. But then again, I've never been to Las Vegas, so it may have a million holes.
Chris Boyd
"Jaws dropping is the sweetest sound..." |
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Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
That's a great idea about babysitting in the hotels but I don't know if my mom would let me hang out in the hotels all day. SethL52, I had a lawn moving business a couple of years ago. Maybe I will have to do that again.
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Chris Boyd Regular user Mansfield, TX 155 Posts |
Well, not all day, but for a couple of hours, like between 5-7 pm.
Here's a better idea. Hang out from 5-7 pm on Friday, giving your card to people with kids. Let them know that you babysit on Saturdays only, in their hotel room, for a maximum of three hours (so as not to worry your parents). That way, the parents can get something to eat, see a show, and go for a nice walk or do some gambling together. A good way to make a little weekend money. But like I said, there are probably a million holes. I've never been to Vegas, and I don't have any kids, so I don't know: 1) if the hotels have a kid's center service, or something, to take them when the parents want some adult time, 2) if I would feel comfortable letting some strange 13 year old boy in Las Vegas take care of my precious babies while I was out having fun, 3) if the hotels would allow you to advertise your services in their lobby. But, if all the pieces fit, it would not be a bad idea.
Chris Boyd
"Jaws dropping is the sweetest sound..." |
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Justin Flom Veteran user 325 Posts |
Don't worry about your age. Do any show you can (and if it pays, great! If not, still great because your name is getting out there and you're learning.)
I was doing birthday parties by myself at 12 (besides my dad driving me there). I didn't stop with kids my own age though. I wanted to perform for adults too. Go for it! Do magic for your parent's friends and learn from it. Library magic is a great tool, especially in the summer. Most have programs and would love to book an "up and coming magician" for a cheap price. Don't worry about the cheap price though, because it will grow. This advice isn't for everybody, but it worked for me in my early years of performing. |
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Amadeus_Magi New user Jakarta, Indonesia 100 Posts |
Babysitting is a very cool idea and work in local magic shop is as cool as babysitting....
Good Luck Magic_Man_89... Never let the oldies underestimate you...
Magic Beyond Your Imagination
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Stef New user 60 Posts |
For experience, you could offer your services to non-profit organisations for their fund raisers. You'll be able to perform for head of companies and give out some business cards. They'll already have seen your "stuff".
Life is a throw of the die.
Mentally yours. |
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denny_Corby Loyal user PA 240 Posts |
Well I would first get some good magic books and read those and get some good stuff out of them. Then you go work at hospitals and other places for free, because the first thing you need is experience. That was some information given to me by some magic friends. That's what I would do. And am still doing.
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Email different magic shops asking if they have marketing books on magic.
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MacGyver Inner circle St. Louis, MO 1419 Posts |
On a similer note, I am 18 and looking to start resturant magic part-time, and was wondering how long did it take some of you to start getting jobs regularly? I am very afraid of bombing when I go to talk to the store owner / manager, and I am just wondering how long it took some other young magicians to get jobs regularly or for businesses to start taking them seriously.
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-03-26 18:21, jongallagher wrote: I think joining a church just to give you a venue for doing a magic show is not a terribly good idea. A couple of Sundays go by, everyones seen your show and then you've got to go join another church. Sooner or later your going to run out of all the good churches and before you know it you'll find yourself drinking grape Kool-Aid in Guyana. Best to stick to more traditional (and safer) venues. A lot of good advice has been given here so far so I will just add a couple of provisios. Libraries, at least around here, require you to be on their list of approved performers. Some have yearly auditions while others accept applications at the first of the year. Many Professional magicians make a good part of their living doing Libraries and School shows so I would first check it out to make sure you weren't stepping on anybodys toes. Day Care centers too seem to be a burgeonong field for the Professional these days as well so again carefully check it out before offering up free or reduced price performances to these venues. Street performing is a great venue to start honing those performing skill and get your face out to the public. Street Fair season is quickly approaching and these are marvelous venues to cut your teeth at. Also many communities are starting to hold Saturday markets and these often have areas for street acts to set up. Since you are still in school you should also sign up for as many Drama and Theatre classes that you can. Even if you never get a part on stage the lessons that you will learn here will last you a lifetime.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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phonic69 Special user 560 Posts |
At my school, I run a magic club which receives funding from the PTA committee - this gives me plenty of chances to perform to the parents, to teach some children magic (teaching is the best way to learn...) and I get my hands on new magic materials for free!
I perform at school events because they heard about me in the school magazine where the magic club is profiled. My advice is therefore this, set-up a magic club at your school, it will open many doors for you like it did for me! |
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