I have often wondered how many magicians in the USA, Canada, England, all of Europe and in the whole world make a living at performing as a magician?

Does anyone know some statistics?

I would like to hear some numbers.

Or what would be your guess and why?

Think about it, if you add up all the trade shows and cruise ships that a magician could work with...then all the other outside shows magicians work, would the number of full-time magicians be growing or declining?

Steve Hart
Cape Canaveral, FL USA

Steve,
Perhaps Steve Brooks could set up a survey/vote here at the Café just to get a sample guide?
Phillip

A survey would be cool but it would have to be clearly defined what is a full time pro. Example, if you live at home with mommy but you don't have a real job does that make you full time? And so on.

I don't know how many we are, but count me in.

Mago Mai

Since I am a full time Psychic Entertainer and no longer a magician, I guess the qustion is moot in my regard although I am one of the few professionals in Canada.
PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat
Ab Stagecraft
Supplying unique magic and mentalism world-wide

If we were to do a survey, we would have to make it loose and not too defined. Otherwise you would end up with too many fine details to figure in.

I don't care if they live with their mom. But if they are grossing $18,000.00 a year, I would say that is a good start as a full-time magician.

I think we would have to include magicians who also do balloons, puppets, juggle, mentalism, clowning, and escapes.

Maybe we could just start with how many are full-time workers in your state or area?

I know here in Florida we have about 20-25.
They come and go in this state.

Anybody else going to take a guess?

Steve Hart
Cape Canaveral, FL USA

I would say in Atlanta there are 20 full time.
Ken

I don't know the answer but most magicians I know have another job aside from magic. The stats would be hard to find, or let alone come across and they would never be to the exact number. I don't know how anyone would ever find out, it would only be an estimate.
GOOD LUCK!

Steve, as a full time entertainer from Western Canada I personally know of 16 full time acts in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and B.C. combined.

It is a big world out there and I am curious to find out how many of us are out there working full-time. I think it will raise our perspective of our fine art. Show us how much work is available to those who are willing to promote themselves.

I know this is not a true count but if you could estimate how many full-time professional magicians are living in your state, country, or area that would help us with the count.

Come take a good guess.

Steve Hart
Cape Canaveral, FL USA

This is an interesting topic. I however think any stats need to be tied in with the population of the area you are in. That way we get a measure of how densely populated magicians are in different areas. Ken says there are about 20 in Atlanta but without knowing the population of Atlanta I can’t really compare that to where I am.

If I go by the criteria of how many people advertise that they perform magic in the Yellow Pages (magic clowns included) my city of Auckland has 18. The population of Auckland is just over 1.15 million. So we have roughly 16 magic performers for every 1 million people. A lot of these will be part time performers or specialise in other types of non-magic performing. For full time magicians I estimate we have about 3 for every million in population.

I would be interested in hearing how many magicians there are in other areas expressed as a ratio of magicians per million people.

Good point Mr. Walker. It would make for some interesting comparisons. However, I'm not so sure that knowing the population will carry much relevance.

I reside in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan; land mass...huge! Population...only one million in total.

I am presently aware of six full time magical arts performers based out of Saskatchewan. The ratio would be 6 in a million. Aside from Christmas and the occasional fund raising show, this wide spread base of one million people does not sustain these performers. A large amount of their shows come from travelling to other provinces and territories.