How hard is it to go Full- Time? Can you really make a Good Living at it without being David Copperfield?

While growing up my father always told me "get a good job with a good company,work hard,put in your time & retire with a nice pension & health insurance"
Well, I took his advice and guess what?I've been with a "good company" for 19 yrs. and they just sold the business to someone else!My pension is gone,the new company offers no insurance after retirement and I'am left in a dead - end job working for a weekly paycheck doing a job I don't like,for people I like even less BUT the money is good.My "dream" is to go into magic full-time (i've done it part-time for @30yrs)but I don't know if I could generate enough income week after week...year after year to stay afloat.Any success stories out there?

Can you make a living full time from magic. The answer is both yes & no. It depends on many factors. How good you are at both the performance and the business end of magic. Are you living or working in an area that can support you? If you go full time, I strongly encourage you to take marketing & a sales course prior to going full time. I also encourage you to have a cash cushion of at least 6 months of income. Before you go fulltime, try & build up a following & a filled calender at least 3 months in advance. It is hard work & yet it can be done.

Prior to going full time, I did the above. I also worked at my fulltime job while I built up my magic business. In truth, I worked 7 days a week between both jobs for about 5 years. I worked my *** off to make this work.

Also, you don't mention about a family. Are you married? do you have kids that still need to go to college? have you taken into consideration health insurance etc. If you have a wife that can provide that through her job, you are lucky. If not, check out the prices for health insurance, it can choke you.

I suggest that you think this over very carefully. It can be done but it is not easy. Especially in this economy.

I was one of the lucky ones. I built up my magic business prior to going fulltime. I never looked back & had no trouble making the transition. I know of many others that have not done so well at making the change.

I wish you well, but make sure all your ducks are lined up prior to changing. While you hate your job, you still have one with and a steady income.

Best wishes,

Allan

Daryl,

Can you make a good living without being David Copperfield?

First off, WHO WOULD WANT THAT? The guy manages tens of millions of dollars in assets...think of the stress that goes with that kind of dough. Ugh!

So to answer your question...YES! OH YES! I'm doing it. There are many others that do it as well! (to meet some of them visit http://www.thedean.net/forum )

Sorry to hear about your company being sold off. There is still life though.

Becomming a 'full-time' magician means running your own business.
And PLEASE take this advice...

Run it like a business. (not a magic show)

You said you've been part time for 30 years now. Well then it shouldn't be too difficult to do the other half and be full time.

I'm not going to keep typin' though. I could write a bible on becomming a pro and owning your own business, but it would be wasted bandwidth unless you take action.

Ultimately, it's up to you to take action and believe you can live your life the way you always hoped and dreamed!

Robert Bloor

One way to make it as a magician is to work for someone else as a magician and ALSO do your own gigs on the side with the bosses blessing.
That's the course I am once again pursuing.