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foolsnobody Special user Buffalo, NY 843 Posts |
Not sure what forum to put this in so Steve can move it wherever he thinks it most fits...
The pressure I am referring to is financial pressure. Over the course of my life thus far I've persued three main interests: girls and women, magic, and music. Leaving the first and most important one out, I have been in and out of magic and music performance for many years. Never made a living at it. I had a day job, which MANY people told me to keep. (Joke) Well now I'm retired pretty early, with savings and investments. Haven't done that well that past few years so I contemplate the possibility that I may have to go back to work and I think, "Could I develop an act, either musical or magical, that I could make a living on," rather than taking some "normal" job I could get ("Welcome to Wal-Mart!") No room any more for philosophical analysis, theory, refined sentiments. Now (as I imagine this future unfolding of my life), now I have to get the money if I want to eat and have a roof over my head.) Now magic isn't fun. I have to do what *they* like not what *I* like and I have to be extraverted even though I am introverted. And I have to do this for long hours day after day. Can it be done? Can you perform and get the money when it is your only source of income? How do you psych yourself up under those conditions? |
rsummer27 Loyal user South Carolina 225 Posts |
Those are some questions that a lot of people struggle with. I would never recommend jumping in head over heels into a performence carrer. I think it's better to start out small, build yourself up to a point that you REALLY support yourself as a performer, then cut the day job loose. However, if you don't have any other means of supporting yourself, you will be surprise by how dedicated and resourcful that can make you.
If you really want to do it, DO IT! Don't spend too much time thinking about it, planning, waiting for the right moment. Start today. If you are already into magic I assume you have a show. Find a place to perform or and agent or a job. You have to go out and work in order to find more work. Don't frown on children's parties, balloon twisting gigs, face painting and stuff because it's not your style. There is money to be made in all of the above and the stage shows that everyone thinks is their true calling is really hard to break into and get consistent work. I would dare to say that most magicians, clowns, jugglers, mimes, musicians and other performers are truly introverts. We love to spend time alone, practicing, contemplating, planning, brainstorming and pulling it together. We are self motivated people that work best alone. Others don't understand and get in the way. When you really start to work you find that it's not the audience that motivates you, but an internal force. You become excited as you develop yourself further in front of people. You confidence begins to grow. Your performence becomes more polished and you connect to the crowd. You are still the outsider. Removed from the group. They love you, but they'll never really understand you. You can find solitude in performing that you wouldn't believe is possible while interacting with thousands of people. It's almost Zen like standing before the crowd.
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Giggles the Clown buys all of his supplies at www.madhattermagicshop.com Super Low Prices on Videos and DVDs! |
Kondini Inner circle 3609 Posts |
You have to be hungry to succeed, the more hungry you are, the harder you try, the harder you try, the more you get. Ken Brooke, 1967. Good luck.
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Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts |
Quote: Was that Ken Brooke who said this?
On 2004-09-02 16:18, Kondini wrote: Great!!! (I'm not surprised) I've never heared him saying this or read it, but my own filosofie has always been similar.. I always was sure about, that in order to become a real great performer and artist (and I'm NOT talking about me, because I never was that unfortunate to had to fight for a living)) one has start in the bizz by suffering, starting from being down very low and working ones way up from way down ...to become a successfull performer. I think a lot of the great artists, NOT only in magic, pushed their way up because of they learned their craft from the buttom..they HAD to find out, they had to discover, what ppl liked to hear and se..to make a living for themselves..they learned their craft by their own needs..maybe even needs for food or at least for surviving.. I can't give you any example, but maybe Albert Goshman is one...maybe Slydini is another one.. Any example of that kind of performers that became what they are or where now, is welcome.. Anybody? What about Cellini? Siegfried and Roy? What about other performers in any other branche of showbizz? Please fill in .. Re what I mentioned, I forgot to add one other name..Paul Potassy.. He did develop his great act, because of the need to survive too...and one more thing re that guy.. The BEST pickpocket I ever saw, wasn't a pickpocket..it actually was a magician/ an entertainer..Paul Potassy. Now to say so is dangerous, but I dare...,because I've seen a lot of the very good pickpockets, the real good ones..like Borra senior, Tommy Ivfersen/Gentlemen Jack and many more...none of then had the elegance and soft touch of paul Potassy..they all did confuse ppl..Paul did it entirely different..and charming and he stole as much as they did..in an entirely diff. manner.!!! Borra had one great thing..his placing of a stolen wallet on his neck and afterwards whilst straigteningn up a bit to let it drop down his back into his hand,that was *stardom*..that was outstandingly great..and his smokerings..pushing a handkerchief through a smokering...pure stardom! Great performers..but Paul Potassy? THE BEST! Just my opinion.. And he suffered during the war, aso. he did it for surviving..that is how great acts are developped!
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... ) |
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