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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
Where will you be when the world ends? (jk)
I figured I'd ask where the full time guy's to see their outlook on 2012 or some reflections on the last year. The reason I ask is because I decided to: 1. Stop watching the news so much, and 2. Stop caring so much about the negativity I hear about the economy. Like my dad says, "Sure, unemployment is 10%, but that also means employment is 90%" I realized caring so much about what the media claims I should care about has actually held me back from working harder. I've heard so many people say that being an entertainer is such an unstable thing to try to do, and then I watch many people show how wrong they are. So what are your thoughts on the upcoming year? Do you already have booking set in place? What are your thoughts on the current state of the biz? Dave |
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Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
First we wont be here next year. see what happens when I you don't watch the news! that moron Harald Camping made a mistake that the lord was returning back in May now he says TOMORROW is the big day! joking aside it is a sad thing this guy is doiing and how foolish for people to be following him and believe what this nut has to say.
ok as for your question at first I was not interested in answering but then thought about it in terms of what the media is saying verses what I am seeing. here is what I know. people still have birthdays, schools still have assemblies, churches still have out reach programs, VBS, and family nights, sure they may not be doing as many but they are all still booking entertainers. I myself see a very strong 2012 and I say that with confidence as to the people I have spokent to for next year already. many clients that could not book me this year are already booking or looking to book next year. they are planning ahead instead of things on a whim. not to mention I am working very hard to maintain my full time status things don't get done themselves. so I see it really as a great year and I think it also comes down to what you put into preparing for it of course this is all contingent that Harold is wrong about tomorrow - I have inside info and I can assure you that Harold camping is completely wrong and tomorrow is NOT the end of the world. sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Make a plan (to get more shows, and keep existing customers)... then work the plan.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
My thoughts are: Go out together or go alone, fact is, we will still be here until we're gone, and we should make the best of that time. But in order to do that, we must lean heavily on trust. Unless we trust that the sun will come up tomorrow, everything is turned upside down. So, so much depends on trust in our lives.
Sidney Madwed, author of "True Wealth: Reflections on What Matters Most in Life," said the following about trust. "Trust: Just as you would not want to do business with someone you can't trust, this law simply stated is: When you can completely trust the process of the universe and life, you will be supplied abundantly and you will be able to make your life work just the way you want it. And the trust you give and have must be 100% or it is zero. It cannot be given under one condition and not under another. There are many things we trust with our lives and have no concern about. Such as: the sun will come up every day; the law of gravity works all the time; the pilot who pilots the plane we fly on, is competent; our garbage is picked up on certain days. If we could not trust the things we take for granted will occur without any effort on our part, the fear for our well being would be so great we would not be able to enjoy our lives. Can you imagine what the world would be like, if we could not trust the food we buy, the water we drink or that the people we depend on would not manipulate or harm us? But the only way we can expect others to trust us is, we need to be trustworthy ourselves, and especially to ourselves. Unfortunately, many people don't trust themselves and the judgments and decisions they make. Therefore, they experience disharmony with their lives and their world." Ok, maybe that was a just little off topic, but I thought it was worth throwing in. I can personally vouch for the saying,'time flies.' Seems like only yesterday I was flipping through a Douglas Magicland catalog trying to figure out how to spend my three dollars. That was more than fifty years ago. So no matter how much longer you live, I promise you, you don't have much time to do things. A blink of an eye and a lifetime is gone. Whatever it is you wanting to do, you better do it now. Trust that you have time, but rush as if you didn't. Life is short, live it. Love is rare, grab it. Anger is bad, dump it. Fear is awful, face it. Memories are sweet...make them now so you can cherish them tomorrow. One of my favorite quotes that sort of sums up my personal feelings is: "When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, "I used everything you gave me." --Erma Bombeck Do It Now. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
I can see 2012 from my house. And there is light at the end of the tunnel!
Bob |
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Scott Burton Inner circle 1131 Posts |
It used to bug me (yes, I'm strange) at my former work places when everyone would always talk about the weather. To me, I can't change the weather so there is little point to talking about it. In fact, I noticed that people talked most about what they can't control (news, TV, gossip, etc).
This follows through with the rest of my way of thinking too: I concentrate on improving what I can control and adapt to those things I cannot. I love thinking and talking about ways to improve. This gets me excited. I get bored and impatient by complaining. I had a vision for myself 7 years ago when I started full time in this biz. While I've taken quite the zig-zag route, I'm getting closer and closer to my original vision everyday. I see this as exciting. I used to be impatient - wanting to get everything NOW NOW NOW (yesterday in fact). Now that I'm a little more mature (yes, at 32 I'm still younger than most here), I've learned to better enjoy the ride. The process in more fun now. 2012 I see as a direct result of my actions. I know that I'll do fine because I will adjust my approach if I'm not progressing as I like. You're a smart guy close.up.dave and you ask good questions. I know you're going to have an exciting career! |
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DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts |
I hope the Lord returns tomorrow, but JUST IN CASE He “tarries”, I plan to be busy. My wife and I had this discussion prior to enrolling in Bible school. She thought it was pointless, since Jesus was coming soon. My argument was that He might not come all THAT soon (He didn’t), and even if He did, wouldn’t you rather Him find you doing something of lasting value? (We enrolled together!)
While I don’t yet qualify as a “full time guy”, I’m steadily working in that direction, and have already passed the baton on a few other “activities” and arranged for a controlled step down of others. In the end, the only things that will remain are those related to the stage. I have found what I believe to be the ultimate niche for myself within this market area, and plan on farming it thoroughly. (It suits me perfectly, if you know what I mean. The shame is that I didn’t find it until I was 55 years old!) When the competition finally wakes up, I’ll still be senior man. (Plus I have a couple more ideas to be released on schedule.) If the world ends tomorrow, I’ll be working! Just in case it doesn’t, I’ll still need to eat. Good question and good responses.
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
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tacrowl Inner circle Maryland 1633 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-10-20 12:54, Close.Up.Dave wrote: The general public has no idea of what an entertainer does, which is why that perception exists. My business has done very well in the current economy and 2012 looks to be an incredible year. It's all what you make of it. Tom |
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-10-21 07:34, tacrowl wrote: Sadly a good friend of mine, who is a fairly well known magician and has many DVDs out, has encouraged me not to pursue a life of full time work. His logic was that if one has a full time job they have benefits and they don't need to worry about business. While this is true, he is also terrible with handling business (and he knows it). So I decided not to put too much stock into his statement and to take it merely as another person's perspective to learn from. |
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
According to business reports, and the magic business is probably not much different. The failure rate
for new businesses is around 70% to 80% in the first year and only about half of those who survive the first year will remain in business the next five years. Being the boss is not easy and it's not for everybody, but it all comes down to, “People don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan.” The following list is the top 10 leading management mistakes that lead to business failures. 1 Going into business for the wrong reasons 2 Advice from family and friends 3 Being in the wrong place at the wrong time 4 Entrepreneur gets worn-out and/or underestimated the time requirements 5 Family pressure on time and money commitments 6 Pride 7 Lack of market awareness 8 The entrepreneur falls in love with the product/business 9 Lack of financial responsibility and awareness 10 Lack of a clear focus Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
I expect 2012 to be a bigger and better year than this one. I have goals, both short term and long term, that I'm actively working towards with my manager and agent. I also have delusions and pipe dreams which keep me going in between achieving those goals. If nothing else, we get The Avengers and Iron Man 3, so the year can't be all bad.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Tom,
This list of ten reasons is more significant than most are willing to admit. I've been a professional entertainer since age 13. The part many others do not know that I have also been a graduate university professor (Marketing, Management and Finance) and entrepreneur. The real money made has been from starting and selling businesses. I have also been paying income tax from age 12! Wealth has not been inherited. (Reality is that I received $700 from my mother's estate and, later, $400 from my dad's estate.) The life of even successful businesses is only about 16 years. Coca-Cola is perhaps the greatest exception to this rule in the USA. (They may be leaving soon! Smart money has been leaving the USA with the speed of light since the election of the 2006 Congress. That was followed by the Presidential election of 2008. The rest is TOO obvious.) The need to reinvent a business is not optional! There are many ways to do that. Changing venues (markets) is an obvious one. Not all environments are conducive to business or stay that way. Smart money goes to where the earning opportunities are. The assets move to where they are productive. Otherwise they are lost. The four economic inputs are Land, Labor, Capital and Entrepreneurship. The returns on all are time linked. You can't "save" them for later. Time waits for no man. Therefore, when the opportunities change, smart money moves the economic input to more fertile ground. (Unlike Cuba, it can still leave the USA. And DOES!) The music and recording industry where I started is long gone. Shopping malls are long gone. High end country clubs are long gone. Even the days of sitting in a college class room with students prepared to be there is long gone. Production of TV commercials using professional magicians for talent are long gone. (Now they use computer animation!) My markets have constantly changed over the years. I have had to do so too. Tom, you and I have years of experience in the DayCare Industry. That has changed too. The growing market for that is with people over 55 rather than those under 12 years old. Public school has replaced the industry we were in and Home Schooling replaced childhood education that was once done in Public Schools, back in the days of Public Education. Look at the average age of the tourists at Branson and Disney. They have had a driver's license for decades! The kids are just "add-ons". Our tricks have hardly changed but our shows and patter have. (Example: Sunday I do a birthday show for a 90th birthday. I haven't done a child's birthday party in years. When I do magic to benefit children now it is to raise money or awareness for them and their causes. There may be no children in the audience.) The environment has changed in my 50 years of magic. Five years ago, "Gone like your 401-K!" would have been inappropriate patter for a vanish. Now it is the truth! (Sometimes the truth is very unwelcomed! I don't recommend stealing that line.) Side bet: I'll bet there aren't five professional magicians on this forum who have aggressively pursued The Red Hat Society for bookings. From your list of ten items, only items #4 and #5 are not reasons for this lost opportunity. Hitting the nail on the head for 8 out of 10 is great. Opportunities are being made everyday. You have to be willing to pursue them. There is no future in planning behind. Go for it! Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
I would have to say the downside of being fulltime is the lack benefits. No health insurance (private policy, very costly) and no paid holidays unless you pay yourself. I get asked a lot from guys wanting to go fulltime. I tell them have clear plan.
My summer was way up in this year. My schools shows are down a bit right now but starting to pick up. My weekend birthdays dropped as I think it was more a price thing. But your right the more you watch the news you more it can way on your mind. Remember the news love the shock and ahh. They want you to feel uneasy so you will keep watching them to see what is next. I love this quote, I printed and put it in my office. “If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door” ― Milton Berle best to you! Ken Scott |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
There is no need for me to worry because I have myself prepared. I built a 100 foot underground shelter in my back yard. If most of the world destructs, I will be safe. I will come out in three months to see how everything is on the damaged earth. Next I will invent magic to the rest of those that survived.
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DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-10-21 19:16, Dynamike wrote: A Man with a Plan!
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
Everywhere
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
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Close.Up.Dave Inner circle Behind you! 2956 Posts |
I'm not sure why this was moved to Not very magical... It was meant to be a business oriented post, not an apocalypse post.
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Dave,
I'll have to agree with you. Tom's list is certainly on topic for Tricky Business. Perhaps Tom will post it up there again and we can continue with business. Bob Sanders Magic by Sander |
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Octopus Sun Special user Wiggle Wiggle 586 Posts |
LMAO at New Agers and 2012
Only thing that's going to happen is the Milky Way is going to align with the horizon, the sun and venus converge on the horizon at day break within the gateway...nothing else except that we change from the Age of Pieces to the Age of Aquarius. Remember the song back in the day...Age of Aquarius... even the true long count Mayan White Hat Shamans tell us this is the wrong date, and that the so called Evil Shamans have peverted the long count and this date is incorrect. It true because June of this year 2011 there was supposed to be a planetary alignment that did not occur if the 2012 date was correct. So we sit and watch the BS and suicides. This is another Heavens Gate wanna be bs new age lie as usual. The only real magic and mysticism is what we as Magi create!!! nuff said... |
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
All I can say is, if you don't know this topic is about the magic business,
you probably not going to have a good year in 2012 anyway. How bout them there cowboys? I like the Saints. <-----Football. Tom PS. But seriously and to be fair, most likely someone only read the title 2012 and thought it was about the end of the world and moved it. Guess it should of been named 'Next Year is Approaching'...
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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