Or is it all about ego?

Not dissing anyone. I am just honestly curious as tyo whether it makes a difference to the bottom line?

Mostly ego.

However, when a prospective client is quickly scanning your credentials and sees ‘contest winner’, I do believe it registers. It means nothing alone, but within a whole package of reasons to hire you its one more feather in your cap.

Neale,

I go out on a limb here. It can lead so "some" work, but to be perfectly honest, unless it's FISM, it doesn't seem to contribute much to bookings. (I speak from experience)

I'll have to chime in with the fact most of my bookings over the past decade are all a result of contest winnings .. and a few losings too. It is the exposure one gets at the contest that helps to get more work. The awards also helps one get better pay too. I was the highest paid cruise magician in my agents roster for years as a direct result of my contest winnings. No ego ... if you want to feed an ego ... be a singer or band member ... nobody is impressed that your a magician ...except another magician...awards or not.

Perception is reality. Having awards on your promo make you stand out from the competition. If they didn;t we wouldn't have people buying the IMS awards...

Cheers,

Shawn

I had at least one customer this summer hire me as a direct result of seeing me win the trophy at my local club show this past May.

They said something along the lines of, "We saw you at that magic show, and saw you win the trophy. You were great. We'd like to hire you for this event." (Incidently, it was a variety show with many magicians.)

I've also had others mention my trophy, when calling, after seeing the info on my win.

- Donald

Twenty-five years ago when it would get your photo in the newspaper, I think it helped if you were local to the contest. Newspapers seldom carry news anymore.

It has been nearly ten years since I competed in a magic competition of any sort and I will admit that my ONLY purpose since the late 80s for competing was to document what I was doing in my show and to put a date on effects used if questions ever arose. People will feel more than free to steal your act. The advantage of a competition act is that there are usually documents or video to back that you were performing it on a given date. It may be as close as you ever get to getting credit for your original work.

Otherwise, it is also the only venue many magicians have. The rest of the year they perform in someone's yard or house. It allows them to perform for other magicians. For publicity purposes that too may have some value.

If you have no need for either of the above, my real suggestion is to use your time at a magic convention enjoying the convention.

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

Winning a competition doesn’t get you any regular client shows, but it can help 'sell' yourself to other magic clubs for lectures. My main purpose for entering the competitions is to showcase the routines that I created and have released on DVD and give them some credential backing by saying that the routines have won a competition.
So far, they have won at my local club, but not one of the major IBM competitions - yet. I am not releasing my DVDs to the main dealers until I have that credential to help sell them.

It’s also an ego thing. To know that your the best in the country and beat the other competitors. It makes you feel good.

Finally, it gives your life goals. If you don't have any plans or goals in life, it becomes boring. So setting yourself a goal to win a competition take time, practice and a lot of work. It fills in the hours and sets a timeframe in your life to work towards competition. It’s good for the brain to have a problem to work on and a timeframe to work with.

Steve

It does help improve your credentials which may or may not lead to increased bookings.

I've only won local Contests. Several in Sacramento for Close-Up, one for Stand-Up and once for Close-Up (years ago) at the Oakland Magic Circle.
At first I chose my act to win,(which does work) then I started choosing my material for its usefulness in the real world (which is more helpful later and sometimes wins).
I think it can help to show your trophies on the website, I can't tell how much but occasionally a client will mention them and go on to book a show.
I do know that win or lose, a competition improves you skills, nerve and confidence.
If you work on new and innovative material it does give you an edge and contests force you to do that.
-Mary Mowder

People in any form of performing arts believe that to be considered good, or the best you must win at contests and awards. Some people consider, to be a successful performer, you must win awards. It depends on your own definition of success.
I think it goes back to the basic human interest in power and position/authority. If you have awards behind you, your are well versed in what you do giving you more authority.

I do believe placing in contests may lead to more shows and more money. It gives the client that you may just be worth their money and time.

Yes, the awards does help increase the credibility of the performer from the market's point of view.

Hey Shawn,

What are IMS awards?

Problem for me is that there are no vent competitions. I have won awards in the past for it and maybe I should play that up more on my website.

Neale, it helps if you bring them up to the market's awareness.

Hi Neale,

The IMS is the International Magician Society. Google it to see it's claim as the world largest magic club. It hands out awards for just about any category. Many fine names have been awarded it's trophy and some less than well known or good magicians too ... http://www.magicims.com/merlin_award_recipients.php

cheers,

shawn

I was working with a magician on a gig who had got the gig cos he was "XXXX champion of magic" and had told the client that to secure the booking. On the gig I could see that he was very competent and deserved to win a club comp, but in reality he couldn't deal with a real audience.

At the end of the night the client said, they would have me back (i wasnt booked as a magician) but they wouldnt have magic again cos they have clearly found out that it didn't work for them.

So I think that competition win, has actually lost me work!

This isn't always the case, but it often is, where contest acts are only contest acts. It doesn't mean the performer can entertain in the real world.

Shawn and I were talking backstage one time and he asked me a question I never forgot. He asked me where the majority of FISM winners were today. Ironically, many of them aren't even full-time performers (again, there are exceptions).

It takes a lot more than a competition act to make it in the real world.

I agree with Peter on this. There is really a BIG difference between a competition act and a real world entertaining act that the market is willing to continually pay for.

The most notable exception is Lance Burton, who used his award winning act to propel him to fortune and fame.

No. Lance Burton got his fortune and fame through his illusion act. His Dove act, while winning at FISM was not introduced into his stage show until years later. The Booker's wanted to see the big illusions, which is what he offered at that time as it was more marketable than manipulation with doves.
It worked out well for him, and later his press-agent capitalized on his FISM success (At least that's what I believe).

But your very right. Competition magic is very different to real world magic. For Instance, the cups and balls is a standard competition winner in a close-up competition. But in the real world it is highly impractical and can hardly ever be performed due to table requirements, bad angles and pocket management. In the real world, you would do different tricks like CMH as its far easier to perform in those situations.

Steve

It actually depends on what the buyers want and whether the seller can fulfill those requirements.