I’ve recently written a new book based around the reality of getting paid to perform and the difference between performing for magicians and performing for real audiences.

A lot of it comes from things I had to learn the hard way over the years — handling spectators naturally, creating memorable moments, dealing with awkward gigs, repeat bookings, and understanding that technical skill alone usually isn’t what gets people hired again.

It’s more about the practical side of performing and the mindset shift that happens when you stop trying to fool people and start focusing on entertaining them.

Steve Gore kindly wrote the foreword for it.

Would genuinely be interested to hear what other performers here think was the biggest lesson they learned once they started performing for paying audiences.

Luke, good luck with it. It looks like a good read, and I see it’s available as a download from Penguin.

“Stop Thinking Like A Magician” is the title, and I think that to stop thinking outside the magic bubble is very hard for many. 

Maybe it’s because most performers are so focused on the "How" that they completely lose sight of the "Why." They see a sequence of moves, while the client sees a professional providing a specific result, whether that’s keeping a room full of kids engaged or making a corporate event memorable.

As far as the business side, I would think it's much easier to go from CEO to Magician than from Magician to CEO. The CEO already has the business mindset it takes to be successful.

Best of luck with it.

Tom

Thank you,

i agree about the CEO comment.