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Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
Hiya, Magi:
I enjoy creepy Magic, which I perform professionally and infrequently. A buddy of mine and I have been pitching this stuff for three years now, with limited (albeit satisfying and high-margin) commercial success. Gotta wonder if I'm buttin' my head against a brick wall on this one (won't be the first time...) or if there's really potential here. So, for my fellow soothsayers and necromancers, what impact does Bizarre Magic have on your income? I'm not asking for salary figures -- rather, something along the lines of a ratio. How many Bizarre shows do you do versus Traditional Magic performances? Does Bizarre Magic form a significant portion of your take, or does it simply provide a bonus to your 'regular' work? Extra points for this one: If you do Bizarre work full-time, how long did it take to build up that income base? Thanks in advance, Leland Stone |
atucci Veteran user Middleburg, Florida 381 Posts |
Leland,
I don't perform professionally (or unprofessionally?) so I don't have data to share with you on ratios but am wondering if you have examined how you're marketing your bizarre entertainment services? Are you limited to your geographic area or are you available to travel to gigs? Just thought that would put a little additional scope around your inquiry. Good Luck!
Tony Tuccillo
Middleburg, Florida |
Rob Johnston Inner circle Utah 2060 Posts |
I love bizarre magic...but nonetheless, I mostly perform it for myself and a few close associates. It isn't as popular in my area as I wish it to be...maybe that will change as I get better...who knows.
"Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable." - Margot Fonteyn
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Phil Thomas Inner circle Newark, Ohio 1117 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-11-04 13:50, Rob Johnston wrote: Maybe it's time for you to make it popular in your area. But then again, Utah has a highly religious population. You don't want people thinking you are in cahoots with the devil or anything, but hey, it's fun to live on the wild side! Phil
"If we lose the sense of the mysterious, life is no more than a snuffed out candle."
Albert Einstein |
chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
A seance venue is thriving in Idaho (also Mormon territory.) How about an Oren Porter Rockwell seance?????
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
Laughing Otter Loyal user Behind you! 205 Posts |
We have found that bizarre is a much easier sell in a "college town" than anywhere else, though not always to a college audience. Maybe, after you've seen so much facial jewelry and black hair dye day after day, bizarre magic isn't so intimidating. <grin>
While magic is not our sole source of income, at least 85% of our magic income is from bizarre. (I'm not counting the fortune telling, just magic.) |
Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
Thanks for the posts, Magi.
Bizarre Magic is appealing to me BECAUSE it touches (or can touch) on profound themes such as mortality, the meaning of life, whether there is continuance beyond this life --and if so, what the nature of that continuance might be. My concern is whether a majority of others (read: Potential clients) finds this type of entertainment undesirable for EXACTLY the same reasons! As does Laughing Otter, I live in a metropolitan area with a large college population and an immense mix of belief systems and world views. So far, not a lot of demand for "the spooky, the mysterious...the bizarre!" Not that there's anything wrong with Lota Bowls and Chinese Rings, but in my case less than 10% of my Magic income is derived from the creepy stuff. Okay, maybe it's me -- I've been told I do creepy a little TOO well. But perhaps there's another reason? Leland |
Mark Rough Inner circle Ivy, Virginia 2110 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-11-06 11:57, Leland Stone wrote: Me too. It's the beard. Mark
What would Wavy do?
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The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
Well, I sometimes mix bizarre magic and Classical magic.
And it pays very well. (Between 1500 and 2000 € for an evening). A little more in $... And I'm far more well respected than most of the magicians in my own country. Little expositions of strange artifacts (with the presence of the storyteller /magician) have been paid up to 10 000 $. For one evening again. |
enriqueenriquez Inner circle New York 1287 Posts |
I just came back from the public library. 70% of the fiction books there are mistery or horror novels.
Almost everybody is up to hear a supernatural story. The problem for bizarrists seems to be the venue. |
BrainMagos Special user 554 Posts |
Wow maybe you guys should all move to Belgium then...seems like they pay bizzarists way more than what they are paid here...
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Bill Palmer Eternal Order Only Jonathan Townsend has more than 24312 Posts |
I don't think that would work. It's kind of like the old gag that Michael Finney uses -- "Sometimes people ask me, why did you become a magician?" And I tell them that it was because of my sister. She told me she got $100 a trick. I never made that much, myself.
I guess you have to be good. ;)
"The Swatter"
Founder of CODBAMMC My Chickasaw name is "Throws Money at Cups." www.cupsandballsmuseum.com |
BrainMagos Special user 554 Posts |
I was saying that in tongue in cheek Bill but you're right, one has to be good to earn and deserve the big bucks.
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The Curator V.I.P. Beware Vampire, I have 3909 Posts |
They usually don't pay that price for the mundane magician doing the sponge balls, and you may become selective. Dr Jaks in his own time was paid 1000$ an evening.
On the other side, it was an real investment in objects and artifacts, and the hell of a work to create my genre of magic. Plus, I have no competitor. On the other side, the price for a small orchestra during an evening is higher than that. |
scolman Elite user Cape Town, South Africa 456 Posts |
I just recently spent some time listening to one of Richard Webster's (New Zealand) lectures on Cold Reading and he states quite clearly that he can command far higher prices if he incorporates a bit of tarot, palmistry etc. in his performances. There is a much wider paying audience for that sort of service than for general magic shows (and I think bizarre performances). Also if one puts on a true bit of theatre, the set up costs could be quite substantial which in turn could mean unattractive ticket prices. I quite like the idea of doing some readings tied in with a bizarre performance - makes the whole thing more realistic as well - I think.
The entertainment industry here doesn't pay well generally so magicians are really at the bottom of the heap. However we don't have any bizarre psychic entertainers yet..... Simon |
Phil Thomas Inner circle Newark, Ohio 1117 Posts |
[quote]On 2004-11-09 20:32, Bill Palmer wrote:
I don't think that would work. It's kind of like the old gag that Michael Finney uses -- "Sometimes people ask me, why did you become a magician?" And I tell them that it was because of my sister. She told me she got $100 a trick. I never made that much, myself. That's pretty funny stuff Bill. I'll have to remember that one. Phil
"If we lose the sense of the mysterious, life is no more than a snuffed out candle."
Albert Einstein |
robb_randall New user surprise, arizona 23 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-11-12 20:08, scolman wrote: What scares me are the "dolts" who will hear/read this and say to themselves, "Hmmm...More money?! I know...I'll do a bit of Tarot reading between the Hippity Hop Rabbits and the Cups and Balls...And maybe I can work in my 'Curse of Cthulu' routine in little Jimmy Jones' birthday party next Saturday..." It is absolutely true that an entertaining "reader" (emphasis on entertaining!) can invest a minimal amount of money for props (Tarot cards, Runes, etc.) and about ten-to-twenty times that amount for wardrobe and appropriate accoutrements and make a very handsome (and more-or-less regular) income as a "Master of Divination" or whatever you want to call yourself. However it's most certainly not for everyone! And, it's important to recognize that venue, audience, and appropriateness are vital components to one's success as a "reader." I have a hard time imagining that one would find much success with "Pick a Tarot card...Any Tarot card..." or with the ever-so-creative "Tarot card/Rune Matrix" routine. Can magic and Magick mix? Certainly! But there are very few "Christian Chelman's" in the world! Robb Randall |
The Reverend New user Scotland 66 Posts |
Robb,
I agree that there are very few Christian Chelman's out there, however, I just can't see the "dolts" as you call them, performing hippity hoppity rabbits, followed by a bit of Tarot/Cold/Palm/Rune/Aura reading, concluding with vampire rabbit out of the hat. Mind you, on second thoughts, you never know!......(lol!) best regards, Stephen. |
Doriangray New user 50 Posts |
Quote:
Can magic and Magick mix? Certainly! But there are very few "Christian Chelman's" in the world! That for shure but evry Close-Up man are not Slydini or The Professor! There'r some, a few again maybe, who follow their spirits and do great things. I hope to do my best to be a good Magician on The Curator's way. |
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