Magician

3 Reasons to charge more for your services

2007-06-08T05:48:00.000-07:00

Apart from the obvious reason that mpost of us want to earn as much as we reasonably can from each of our shows, there are also many other reasons to charge a highter fee. I want to share a couple of thoughts with you;

Have you ever arrived at a venue and been told that the only place for you to change and prepare are the toilets? I certainly have had that happen many times during my career, and to be honest it always bugged me. What I learned was that the higher my fee went the less this happened until I reached a point where it would never happen. This is of course just one indicator that you have changed status in the clients mind. It is little things, once the client sees you as more than a commodity then you will have course be offered a complimentary tab for your refreshments and dinner, parking and logistics are arranged for you and so on. Basically you are treated as an important professional rather than one of the commodity staff.

Having spent more on your show - the client will also set you up for success (both in their minds and with the rest of the audience). It is of course true that people generally do not want you to fail, but if they have paid a high fee then they really want to enjoy what you do. In fact they make it even easier for you to do the job, because they put themselves in the right frame of mind.

So not only do you start to become more financially wealthy - but the job becomes easier! Why would you not try and make yourself the most expensive magician in your area rather than under cutting to and trying to be the cheapest?

The Magicians Secret

2007-06-07T03:42:00.000-07:00

'Magicians never tell people how to do tricks' must be the oldest phrase in magic and is infact the basis that the whole world of magic. So how does a person first get into magic? Apparently it is alright to SELL magic secrets but not to GIVE them away! This is clearly bollocks as an argument - but hey its the world of magic so you wouldn't expect anything else would you?

It is ludicrous to say NEVER gives a secret away, because obviously magic would then die out within a generation. Of course SELLING a secret is no real improvement on the situation - it merely brings the whole issue in line with prostitution.

So what might be a better solution? The objective seems to be to keep secrets within the farternity and the challenge is how do you admit new people to the fraternity? Simple, magic is ONLY sold face to face within the fraternity and access is via an initiation process. This means that if you have money you still cant get in unless you have a real desire. This stops casual day trippers getting in and makes the whole world of magic shrink!

Bad news if you are a magic dealer like http://www.UnearthlyMagic.com or any of the other professional magic retailers that make a living from the active world of hobby magic, as the market is so very small and personal now that maybe only a couple of original creators will continue. In fact only creators will survive, as in a smaller market there is no need for a classic retail distribution system. So people lose jobs.

However on the up side less magicians means that if you are a performer there will be much less compitition and that would drive higher fees - being a magician would become a much more exclusive profession.

Will this happen - of course not ! To do this would mean that the world of magic would have to put its money where its mouth is - and that my friends is a test to far! So they will bleat on and moan (situation normal in the world of magic) and pretent to be outraged by people giving away magic secrets! Simple solution, but much easer for them to just continue with their muddled thinking and double standards!!

This recent video on YouTube touches on this point brilliantly....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKtBaDsCgn4

Becoming the Best

2007-05-25T15:11:00.000-07:00

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician" Any one can learn
and do a magic "trick", but to take a trick and turn it into an amazing
performance is one of the keys to performing great magic. May I suggest
that most people DO NOT like to feel as though they have been "tricked"
or "fooled", instead they like to know that they have taken part in good
entertainment. Have you asked yourself why you want to do "magic Tricks"?
Is it for the fame and fortune orbecause you have a passion to entertain?

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

As Simon Lovell states "Magicians worry about 'How do I do it?' Instead of
'Why' do I do it? There in lies one of the biggest problems -- there has
to be a reason. Magic intrinsically is an illogical thing, but you can
do it at least in a logical way. You ask, what's more important to me --
an audience remembering me or the tricks I perform? I would rather them
remember me than the tricks I perform. It's essential to create uniqueness
about yourself - separate yourself from the masses"-Simon Lovell -
Master sleight of hand artist & lecturer.

While at a cookout this past summer I was talking with the host and he
wished for me to entertain the guests, excluding himself; as he told me
"I am not fond of 'magic', I do not enjoy it". Like this gentleman, there
are those who honestly do not enjoy watching magic, but not liking magic
is not a bad thing. In a case like this DO NOT SAY "BUT, YOU HAVE NEVER
SEEN ME PERFORM" (Unless of course in that same sentence you have the
ability to make a 2 ton elephant appear in his swimming pool and cause
a parade of camels to march through the picnic area. If you do possess
this power, I will caution, that he may call upon a local minister to
perform an exorcism).

In this scenario for instance I asked VERY un-aggressively "Have you
ever seen a live close-up magician?" To this he said, "Yes" (In a
sarcastic, oh my --magic is for kids type of tone). His comment did not
offend me as I have heard this before, I responded to him with "So you
have not seen an impressive sleight of hand artist?" To this he said
"No, they seemed OK for the kid's."

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

After some time walking around performing for his colleagues, I approached
him and asked if he would consider giving me his honest opinion of
something I have been working on and if he would think that it would be
up to par to perform for his friends? He said, "Sure, go ahead." Fast
forward a few hours: by the evening's end he was requesting that I
perform for "this individual and that one over there, oh and they would
love the one you just did with me." Like this individual, most people
have seen the "pick any card trick" and "make six piles", etc. Remember,
become an entertainer, not just a magician.

KID'S PARTIES

At my kid shows I entertain the adults as much as the children, part of
my guarantee! is that ALL THEIR GUESTS WILL BE TRULY ENTERTAINED OR THEY
PAY ME NOTHING! I have NEVER had any one take me up on this offer...EVER
(Humbly Stated).

Usually as the guests are arriving (at a kid's party) I will do 15-20
minutes of walk around magic (FREE, the client loves this as there is NO
dead space and you have even more opportunity to connect with the adults
and children before "show" time. The parents in attendance like to know
who is entertaining their children. When I perform close-up magic for the
parents, they receive a better glimpse into who I am and they are not
just at a "child's party" anymore).

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

Some times while doing this type of walk around I will have maybe one or
two of the laid back, cool, brew drinking guys and their buddies saying
(as I approach) "No, go show the tricks to the kids, I do not want to
see any of that stuff it is for children." I may come back with "Oh, you
know I have been working on a few things for this show, for the kid's and
all," (I will usually look around as if I am sharing an intimate secret
with them) and suggest, "would you mind/ be so kind to allow me to show
you something that I may want to perform for the children, you be the
judge. Let me know if you think the children will enjoy this or not."

At this point I present "Hunters Monte`" (Rudy T. Hunter-Canada),Blizzard
Deck (Dean Dill-California) or maybe some mentalism/ card sleights of
Dai Vernon (The Professor). The response to these is ALWAYS phenomenal!!!
Why? I first think as an entertainer, then as a magician". These guys will
always ask to see more and then to show more of this amazing magic to
their friends. I also find that they and get better involved when it
comes to the "kid's" part of the show!

WHY PERFORM MAGIC TRICKS

You may go into a magic shop and purchase the newest, neatest, trick on
the market. After you get it home, the package ripped open, you can hardly
contain the excitement, you read the directions, go through the routine a
couple of times and then run out of your room showing your parents,
husband, wife and/ or children. Showing off your "skills" you now possess
with your T.T., Professors Nightmare, and a stripper deck.

Your friends encourage you and say ..."wow"... that is neat, your parents
tell you that "You are the best magician they have ever seen"and because
you have a few weeks of "practice" and have bought 15 of the "coolest"
tricks sold today you believe you are "ready" to perform as a professional.
You make up business cards with your name stating that you do birthday parties,
etc. Now you are going to be making money.

PLEASE! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP ! STOP !

First, have you taken the time to consider why you want to do "magic
Tricks"? Is it for the fame and fortune? If I asked if you know who David
Blaine and David Cooperfield are, more than likely you would not hesitate
to say "they are famous and wealthy magicians." Right you would be. But if
I were to ask you if you knew the name of Puck, Scott Alexander or Dennis
Haney to name a few?

Your reply may be "who is Puck, Scott Alexander or Dennis Haney? Why
haven't I heard of them?" I say to you "They are amazing magicians." You
reply,"if they are so amazing, I would have at least seen them on TV." The
answer to your last statement is simple -- they have been working, and
practicing, taking advice, practicing, learning, creating and practicing.

Scott Alexander has been a top pro for many years and one of the busiest
professionals in the world. His credits include Denny & Lee, Malone's Bar
in Boca, cruise ships all over the world, Caesar Magical Empire, and now
he's starring in his own show at Fitzgerald's in Las Vegas. His style is
simple -- comedy that goes right to the center of the audiences brain.

Puck headlines in the new "Magic and Mischief" theatre in Orlando, FL
http://www.magicandmischieftheatre.com/ one of the most sought after
entertainers in the nation.

Dennis Haney is one of the most famous of all three named here. He owns
two magic shops/ studios "Where the pros shop" (Baltimore, MD & Las
Vegas, NV); Mr. Hanney is among the who's who in the world of magic
(worldwide). www.dennymagic.com

If you try and follow fame and fortune more than likely you will be as
Clint Eastwood so calmly said in one of his movies "You are a legend in
your own mind." Don't pursue fame and fortune, let it find you. Keep on
practicing, reading and listening to those in the trenches, learn from
their mistakes and their victories. Did David Copperfield "just appear"
on the scene? (bad play on words, I know but hey...it is a free article
what do you expect), no, he was practicing over and over again. Practice
does not make perfect, as one individual told me some time ago, "perfect
practice, makes perfect."

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

Practice, practice and then practice some more. Once you have practiced
several times, multiplied by 10 then go into your nearest magic shop, or
to a local full time magician and show them what you have been working
on, you have two ears and one mouth, use the first two and not the last
one, listen to what they have to say. Go back and practice, oh, by the
way have I stated to you that you must practice? (I say this with a
curious grin).

"First think as an entertainer, then as a magician"

A Fellow entertainer,

David Breth

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Breth

Cameron Diaz Dating Magician Criss Angel?

2007-05-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

Actress Cameron Diaz enjoyed a night out in Las Vegas with magician Criss Angel Monday; prompting speculation the pair are dating.

Diaz, who announced her split with her longterm boyfriend Justin Timberlake in January, and Angel had dinner together before watching The Beatles tribute show Love at the Cirque Du Soleil.

An onlooker tells website People.com, "They were snuggling with each other and he was making her laugh. They seemed really happy."

Earlier this year Angel was reported to have been dating actress/singer Minnie Driver.

Pamela Anderson replaces sexy Carmen Electra in magic show

2007-04-28T03:37:00.000-07:00

Carmen Electra will no longer be the be the special guest star in magician Hans Klok's new show at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. Instead Hans Klok will team up with celebrity guest star Pamela Anderson for the show at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino Theater for the Performing Arts. "The Beauty of Magic" will open for previews in late May with a gala premiere scheduled for June 2nd. After performing his first magic trick at the age of ten, Hans Klok went on to win a number of awards, including the European Youth Magician Champion Trophy, and first prize at the Grand Prix of The Netherlands. He soon began to appear on television specials in both Europe and the United States, including "The World's Greatest Magic" on NBC and "The Masters of Magic" on ABC. "The Dutch Copperfield," Klok's live stage shows have been selling out large arenas throughout Europe and Asia for the past decade. "The Beauty of Magic" is produced by Stage Entertainment in conjunction with Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino

TV Magician Paul Daniels in Health Scare

2007-04-28T03:30:00.000-07:00

Magician Paul Daniels has revealed how he was rushed to hospital fearing he had suffered a stroke. The 69-year-old TV star was given a scan after he woke in the middle of the night with no feeling in his left leg..." Read the full story by Melanie Swan in The People at:
http://www.people.co.uk/news/tm_headline=tv-paul-in-scare--&method=full&objectid=18943479&siteid=93463-name_page.html

Customer Satisfaction and the Corporate Magician

2007-04-19T01:33:00.000-07:00

Hectic doesn't begin to describe the past few days. As an independent businessman (that is what EVERY full time pro magician SHOULD be), you get to wear many hats. Marketing manager. Administrator. Bookkeeper. When you're being pulled in a million directions by a million different priorities, it's pretty easy to lose sight of something important...

Like many (or most) of you, I had a day job while doing my magic part time. Weekends. Evenings. Bank Holidays. But the majority of my workweek was spent just like everyone else making the daily commute to the office, trying to avoid office politics, and doing my best to make a few pennies. In my fantasies about working for myself, I imagined that my days would begin with a leisurely breakfast, maybe a brisk morning walk with my dog, hit the computer around 10AM, knock off early for lunch, do a couple of close-up gigs during the course of the week and then maybe an easy wedding reception on Saturday,

Was I dreaming or what!

As anyone who's run their own business realises, it can seem like a continuous mad dash from one project deadline to the next. There's always another confirmation contract to send, a thank you note to write, a bill to pay, marketing materials to create... And I'm not even going to go into the time you need to spend developing commercial routines and bespoke performances. (You do think about marketability BEFORE you develop a show, or purchase a trick don't you? Of course you do...)

The one thing that's easy to forget about, or to put off in all of this -- is your customer. You have to always think about them. You have to make sure, even amidst all the chaos of daily business operations, that you're continually striving to develop products and services that offer great benefits in their eyes. Even the little things count. Here's an example. Yesterday, I spent about an hour and a half writing thank you cards for the previous couple weeks worth of bookings. Now, normally I do this right after the fact. But I got busy and ... admittedly ... a bit lazy. I let them slide and pile up. Hey, it's a pain to write a thank you card, even if you have a system for what you say in it.

Nevertheless, it's really, really important.Not only for the results it produces, but also for the attitude that it demonstrates.
One of the keys to my system is to include three business cards and let them know that I really appreciate their business and their referrals. In addition, I also include a pre-paid envelope with a short satisfaction survey card that asks some questions on what they thought of my show. Nearly everyone returns the card. And by and large, the feedback is almost 100% positive. And I've used many of the comments as testimonials in my marketing materials.

Do I enjoy writing out the thank you notes? Of course not, like I said, it's a pain. But is it worth the effort? Absolutely.
It's a small thing, but sending a thank you note to EVERY customer positions yourself just a notch higher than the guy who just took the money and ran. It's a class thing. And class always pays off. Maybe not immediately, but over time you create a reputation that people will respect and appreciate.

Yesterday I booked a gig from a lady who said she had seen me at a little corporate event I did a few years ago. I didn't have to do any selling at all. 'Are you available?' and that was that.
Now, I do a pretty good job in front of an audience. But that alone would not create any where near the income that I want. To make the different I am meticulous about following up with a thank you and satisfaction survey. Did a thank you card get me my last referral? I don't know. But I do know the type of professionalism that causes you to write out thank you cards is the key to letting customers know how much you care about them and the way to out perform your competition.

And that is the bottom line: the professionalism that you show BEFORE and AFTER the event is what will really differentiate you from the other magicians in the book.

"storm" worm

2007-04-13T04:40:00.000-07:00

The 'Storm' worm that affected many Internet users in January has
reappeared in a new variant through a widespread spam campaign on starting
on Thursday 12th April; the Internet Storm Center reported detecting at
least 20,000 infections today.

In the Spam email, the Worm pretends to be a "Patch for the 'New worm' that
is going around....". The subjects of the email are shown in the references
shown below.

The malware is hidden in an encrypted zip file which means that it's much
more difficult for antivirus software to detect the malicious code. If a
user activates the file, the machine is then infected with the malware and
it tries to connect to a peer-to-peer network where it can upload data,
including personal information from the infected computer. It also can
download additional malware onto the infected system. As a result, the
infected computer may then become a 'zombie' machine on a botnet, which can
be used to send spam and launch other attacks. The malware also searches
the computer's hard drive for e-mail addresses and replicates itself by
sending e-mails to them.

A Firewall that monitors outgoing traffic may detect abnormal activity if
your machine is compromised (the Windows built-in Firewall only detects and
manages incoming traffic, but packages like Zone Alarm detect malicious
traffic in both directions) and some anti-virus systems may be able to
detect the signature of the attack before it can be activated.
Be vigilant and avoid activating any incoming email containing an
attachment you are not expecting or which offers to 'fix' a Worm problem on
your computer.

Have you got the goods?

2007-04-13T02:21:00.000-07:00

When you go to see a band, a singer, a magician, or any performance, the bigger the name, the more resources they have to apply to the show.

Now, any one can dazzle you with lights and flash and special effects. And boy, some of the big names certainly do that. I've seen many a performance brilliantly choreographed and synchronized with giant monitors, fog effects, and strobe lights. (And FYI, I've seen a lot of bands and other live performers!) But I have to say; the level of stagecraft that I see now days ever from smaller acts is quite outstanding.

I know I am not the only person that walks away totally impressed. You just have to listen to people in the interval.

So how does this apply to us?

I talk a lot about the power of great marketing. In the "90 Day Market for Business System For Magicians" I cover a huge variety of strategies to help you clarify and effectively deliver our own unique marketing messages. Without a doubt, the skill most often overlooked by magicians is becoming a strong marketer and proficient businessperson.

Without those skills, you are wasting your time completely. The hours that you have spent perfecting your technical skills will be completely irrelevant as nobody but you and your family will ever see them.

But as you grow in your skills as a marketer, also strive to continuously grow in your skills as a professional performer and not just a technician. Make sure that you truly do make good on the promises you make in your sales letters and telephone calls. If you promise to make the kids laugh during little Johnny's birthday party, you'd better go the extra mile necessary to keep those kids falling over and convulsing with laughter! If you have said, “people will talk about your performance” make sure that every guest at the wedding comments on your brilliance to the bride and groom.

Over-promise and then OVER-DELIVER!

When you've got ALL the goods -- the ability to deliver an outstanding marketing message, the business skills to run your affairs along with the ability to blow away your audience with a great act and amazing magic – then you've laid the foundation for unstoppable success.

Anything less is just preparing to accept defeat!

The masked magician is back

2007-03-31T23:44:00.000-07:00

Nash Entertainment is resurrecting the Masked Magician, the star of Nash's five Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed specials, which scored big ratings for Fox in the late 1990s.

The specials caused a fuss with somel magicians, who were upset that some of the industries best tricks and illusions were being dissected on primetime TV. In the fourth special, the magician removed his mask; turns out it was Val Valentino, a figure well-known on the illusion circuit.

More experienced professional magicians however realised that TV exposure amounts to nothing. If you are a competent performer then your audience will have enjoyed the experience so much that they really would not want to know how it was done. Also, the method and the trick are so "buried" in the overall entertainment that the audience would not generally know if they had seen the method exposed an hour ago - let alone a day or a week.

Exposure is not great for magic. It reinforces the idea that magic is a puzzle to be worked out. However unless you are a rather new magician or an incompetent club hobbyist, both of whom have an irritating habit of demonstrating tricks rather than performing magic, exposure is not likely to be a big issue for you. In fact the incompetent club hobbyist will always do more damage to magic through rubbish performances than the odd exposure show will ever do.

Marketing your magic business - part 3

2007-03-25T03:54:00.000-07:00

So this is the third and final post about the absolute basics of making more money as a magician - part 3. There are of course a myriad of other ideas that you can use to make more money and I will be exploring those on this blog of the next few weeks and months.

If you have read part 1 and part 2, then buy now you should have a pretty good idea that the key question you need to answer (and believe the answer you give ) is : "What are you selling?"
If your answer still is 'I sell a magic show' then you are missing the point. As a magician you are not in the business of selling magic shows.

If you answer, 'Myself' then you're a bit closer. Yes, you are selling yourself. You already know that during your performance, if your audience doesn't connect with you as a person, as someone they respect, like, and admire, then you're going to have a much more difficult time entertaining them and making the act appear to be a success. The same is true before they book you, if you fail to sell yourself as the kind of person that they would like to have at their event you have made it very hard for yourself to get the booking. It doesn't matter what your fee is or how many competitions you have won - if they don't like you then you are not going to get booked..

But the real answer is not "a memory" or "a solution" these concepts are far too abstract to be helpful to you in selling the act. The real answer is you are selling security. Think about this for a moment and put yourself in the buyers shoes (always a good plan!): they may well have never booked a magician before, they may not have seem a magician before, they are organising an event for their friends, family or clients (all groups of people that they care about). The magician is just one element of the MANY things that need to be organised for the event. What does the buyer want? (a) the guests will be really entertained by the magician and it will add to the guests over all enjoyment of the evening (b) booking you will be a low stress process.

You are probably thinking that you have this covered - you tell them, at length, about your credentials your professionalism and show them a bunch of testimonials. Well, that is a start, but how do you present this to the prospect? My guess is that you think like a magician so you speak like a magician and use words that magicians use. If you really rip apart your sales materials (brochure. website and so on) does it help the buyer identify with you or have you put yourself up on a pedestal? Do you present your case for (a) and (b) above in a way that someone that has never seen a magician would grasp?

If your marketing materials claim that you will rock the world and change the guests lives and create indelible memories you are deluding yourself and in my experience that is not what buyers are looking to buy. The bride at a wedding would quite like to be the centre of attention and it would be nice for the guests to remember the wedding - do you really think you are going to shine brighter than that? At a corporate dinner in the 7 minutes 30 seconds you spend at a table do really believe that your ring flight is going to be a bigger hit than the complimentary drinks running freely all night? Of course not! If you believe that you are the main attraction you are not selling the service that the buyer is looking for and you are just being a muppet with your marketing!

So don't get sucked into believing you are selling "lasting memories" - your job as a magician is to ADD to the event in a professional way that will HELP with the guests having a great time, when COMBINED with all of the other things that are happening at the event.
You are part of a supply chain and understanding that one fact will enable you to be 100% more effective in your sales and marketing.

However don't think for a minute that I am trying to suggest that you should devalue or dumb down what you offer. Far from it! I am just suggesting to you that you need to focus on the right messages and those need to be what is important to the buyer rather than what is important to you.

Now - go and take this idea and see how it applies to your specific magic business and then take action. No action = No improvement, in which case you have just wasted 5 minutes reading this article. Well Done

(Comments and feedback always welcome)

How unfair can you get!!

2007-03-22T02:45:00.000-07:00

Today I am taking a short (one day) break from writing about my normal topics of the business of magic and how magicians make more profit from improved sales and business process.

Browsing a few postings on ecademy (I must be bored), amongst the usual dire and uninteresting rubbish that most ecademists usually post I found one item that was interesting....

The article pointed to a short news piece about life coaches and a very valuable use for them (at last) : the Americans are planning to parachute them into Iraq. Here is a brief snippet from the original article:

"President Bush yesterday unveiled his government’s bold new strategy to alleviate the plight of ordinary Iraqis; deploying thousands of American life-coaches. ‘With Iraqi people feeling more pessimistic now than they did a year ago, the obvious solution is to turn them into get-up-and-go optimists from within’ said Mike Finkelman of the Chicago Institute for Neuro Linguistic Programming. ‘Change is GOOD, get used to it Iraq!’

Now don't misunderstand me - I ridicule and dislike life coaches as much as the next sane human being. And of course dropping them into a war zone on the face of it sounds like a great plan. After all the few that aren't shot in the air will surely be captured on hitting the ground and taken to a torture camp somewhere?

But just for once I don't want to think about myself first. After all the people of Iraq have suffered enough haven't they? It seems inhumane to now send the life coaches in - the Americans need to show some compassion here.

Imagine you are employed as a torturer. You are just off to work minding your own business, hardly a care in the world as you ponder how much electricity you might use today.... when you are confronted by your next victim. But this time the tables are turned - it's a life coach! Your day, week.... no month is shattered. Every day this person continues to ask you questions and smiles in the vacant way that only a life coach can. No matter what you do to them, they still smile back, nod their head in a wise and condescending fashion and say "I can really see where you are coming from, but it is important for you to look within and see the hope. Why did you just put 240 volts into my left nipple?" It would be enough to make even the most experienced professional torturer kill themselves.

So have a heart. Yes, of course I agree the problem of life coaches needs to be dealt with, but lets find a better solution than just making our problem into someone else problem.

Your website may be killing your business

2007-03-19T11:19:00.000-07:00

You have just "taken delivery" of your shiny new website. It is not only an icon of modern graphic design but also a technical wonder that is set to be on the front page of EVERY search engine. Of course this level of sophistication has cost you dearly, but never mind you will soon get your money back because of additional gigs that the site will generate.

In fact you are so proud of your website you drive everyone to it. No - you heard them, every last one of them. Any time someone even thinks of hiring you ( you do a mind reading act don't you?) then you immediately force them across to the trusty money machine - the website.

But just stop and think for a minute.

Do they need to go and see the site? Are you just creating an unnecessary obstacle in the sales process?

If they emailed you then sending them a reply that says "yes I'm free go see the website it will tell you everything you need to know" is not going to be helpful.

If they phoned you then telling them to go and see the website it has your show reel on it is not going to be helpful.

Think about your sales process and if you are unclear about it, get a piece of paper and draw it all out.

I will write a blog later in the week telling you how to map and optimise your sales process if you need some input on this.

In the mean time if you want to make more money from your magic then book mark this site, subscribe or pick up the RSS feed.

Marketing your magic business pt 2

2007-03-17T05:21:00.000-07:00

Most magicians seem to believe that they are the "same" as the other magicians in their genre of magic - ie close-up or kids shows ect. The good news for you is that you can not possibly be the same as any other magician! Because in the world of magic YOU are the product NOT the tricks or the SHOW.

Now this is a double edged sword because it means that from a business growth perspective we have some real issues (but I will address these in a future blog). But from a marketing perspective this uniqueness is fabulous news.

Marketing is all about positioning and your confidence in your message. So step one is stop believing that you are the same as everyone else - even if your material is identical (lets face it we all do largely the same tricks).

Step two you need to position yourself as a busy and in demand performer. A real success. There is a common expression in business which is that "you should dress for the job you want to have not the one that you currently have". It's strange psychology, but people want what they can't have. The harder it is to get something, the more people want it.

You must make people believe that your diary is so full and so many people want to book you that they'll be lucky if you can squeeze them in. (Of course, it should go without saying that you need to do this without sounding like a plumber or used car sales man - you must sound authentic and professional, like you really do want to help to fit them in somehow.)

What do most magicians do when someone calls to inquire about booking them? They practically fall all over themselves to try and get the booking. Putting the customer first is one thing but sounding desperate is not appealing to the customer. Remember professional, polite - but BUSY!

When someone calls you, you need to put the basis of the discussion into terms that work for you. Turn the whole focus of the call from 'I'm calling to decide whether I want to hire him or her' to 'I hope this person is available to entertain at my event.'

Here is an example of what I mean:

'Mrs. Smith, I'm not quite sure that I'm the right entertainer for you. I may not be the magician that you need to book but let me ask you some questions and see if I can help you.'

Do you see how this works? Every other magician that she calls is going to be telling her how great their act is and will either be desperate to send her a promo DVD (you do have one don't you?) or else will be trying to close the gig. You do just the opposite, you put yourself into the position of deciding if this gig is for you NOT the prospect.

Then a later in the conversation, you can say; 'Before we go any further, let me check to see if that date is even still available.' Again, this implies that you are a busy, in demand professional.

When people perceive that you are very busy, they will also assume that you must be good and starts to condition them for the big fee you will be quoting. This may or may not be true but perception is reality in the world of sales and marketing. Ries and Trout point out that, 'Marketing is not a battle of products or services. Marketing is a battle of perceptions.'

Start developing the clients perception of you by developing the positioning that you are amongst the busiest and highest paid entertainers in the country. If you follow the advice of some others and try and be THE highest paid and busiest - you will fail. Why? You will not sound authentic!

So the second part to marketing your magic business is all about creating the illusion of success and that starts with understanding and believing that you are the product and you are UNIQUE!

The Prestige and marketing your magic business

2007-03-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

Have you watched: 'The Prestige'

In case you haven't seen it, it's set in Victorian England about two competing magicians, both of whom seem willing to do just about anything to one up the other. It's a great film. Not only does it treat the art of magic with respect, it weaves an extremely complex and gripping tale
that blends the classic magical themes of life, death, and resurrection with obsession and revenge.And what a kick of an ending! I can't wait to watch it again. (In case you haven't seen the movie, I won't reveal its secrets. That would betray the code... and we magicians have to keep our promises. ;-)

The title, 'The Prestige,' comes from the three-act drama inherent in every magical effect, labeled thusly:

The Pledge: Where the ordinary object is unveiled.
The Turn: The object vanishes, levitates, transforms, etc.
The Prestige: The object reappears, becomes new, whatever.

I'm going to tie in all three parts to some core marketing principles we can all use. Today's topic:

THE PLEDGE
When we position ourselves in the minds of our potential customers, we are -- in effect -- making a promise of the benefits we can deliver.

Our pledge -- our promise -- is the guarantee that we can make to our customers, should they decide to employ our services.

If you haven't guessed, the Pledge is roughly equivalent to our USP (Unique Selling Proposition). I go through the concept of the U.S.P. in great detail in the '90 Day Market Mastery System for Magicians,' however, in short form it's simply a clearly stated promise of benefits that you can GUARANTEE to deliver your customers.

Your 'Pledge' or USP should be specific and -- just like a great magical effect -- unforgettable. The classic example of a USP comes from Dominos Pizza, 'Hot, Fresh, Pizza Delivered to Your Door in 30 Minutes or Less - Guaranteed!'

It's clear from just this example, that a great PLEDGE or USP can form the basis of an entire business strategy. When you start off any marketing piece with a clear promise of benefits you will deliver -- guaranteed -- you immediately set yourself above the competition that stumbles
along with the boring and trite, 'magic for all occasions.'

So... What kind of Pledge can you make to your customers?

Booking a Wedding Magician

2007-03-14T01:28:00.000-07:00

"Subject: Wedding Magician

Dear Mr Magic,

My wife and I are greatly looking forward to your providing magic at our daughter's wedding.My wife and I are huge magic enthusiasts and have got together to work out a list of the tricks we would like you to perform. Obviously don't worry if you can't do all of them. Firstly any David Blaine items would be great but I especially want you to throw a card through the Bride and Groom's Limousine window when they arrive at reception, I think this would get the entertainment off to a fine start..... " Now read the full article (it is brilliant) at MagicWeek.

Overcoming Performance fear for new magicians

2007-03-12T11:53:00.000-07:00

It is perfectly normal to be nervous about performing in front of an audience. But remember your brain only does what it is told to do. If you "think" that you're nervous or if you tell yourself you might make a technical mistake, forget your patter, or if you allow your conscience mind to worry that the audience might not appreciate your magic, guess what is going to happen?

You will be even more nervous, you will forget your patter and start to stammer and then you will make a clumsy mistake with that one really important move! So banish those thoughts right now! Don't let your "inner voice" convince you that you are going to have a bad time!

As you approach the last five minutes before you perform, repeat your this over and over in your mind so that it becomes your dominating thought:

I am well prepared for this show!
The audience are going to smile and love my show, the magic will be just amazing for them!
I am going to enjoy this too, the applause will be fantastic!

Say it slowly at first, then build to an energetic chant in your head. You can do it! Focusing on the positive, will help you drown out any doubts or concerns as you approach the audience.

This really does work and has helped me overcome stage freight many times! However, make sure that you ARE well prepared and that your magic is well rehearsed and the best magic that you could possibly perform for this group.

Magic can be such a drag!

2007-03-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Some magicians have particularly scary pictures on their websites. You wouldn't even want them in the same street as your children let alone entertaining them in your house. I was just considering the absolute lack of half decent looking female magicians (I think the UK has three - email me for the list!) when I came across a very frightening picture of a female magician.

Well I thought I had until I read the whole article!

"Though illusion is a mainstay in drag performance, there are few who have so mastered its principles that they leave their audiences boggled by their visual hoodwinks. A drag magician, on the other hand – the hand that you thought was holding the card -, can go bust sizes beyond her cohorts when it comes to veils of illusion......" read the rest of this story

Max Maven in the UK

2007-03-12T00:08:00.000-07:00

I notice on this weeks MagicWeek (excellent site by Duncan Trillo for the UK magic community) that Max Maven will be lecturing at this years South Tyneside magic convention. I travelled over to Ireland to listen Max lecture a few years ago and it was well worth the trip. If you can possibly make it then don't hesitate to get there!

The convention is running for 3 days March 16th - 18th 2007.

Getting Started in Magic

2007-03-08T02:01:00.000-08:00

Have been reflecting on whether I had been a bit harsh about the guy trying to show three card Monte (VERY BADLY) on YouTube in a previous post. My thought being that everyone has to start somewhere and magic is a pretty hard thing to get started with...

I decided that I was not being too hard on him - because basically he has screwed up in every possible way and that can't be an accident can it?

First magic is about something that you present to people to entertain them. In my view the nerds that sit in their horrible little bedrooms playing with their newest magic trick are completely missing the point. If all they want to do is collect secrets and unravel the mechanics of magic they have no need to call themselves magicians. Nerd is a perfectly adequate name for them :-)

Of course PRIOR to performing for ANYBODY you do need to spend the requisite amount of time locked in your bedroom learning the mechanics. But this is not the end game just the first step. You then need to formulate natural, entertaining and relevant patter.

Having done that go out and start performing it! Its the only way that you are going to become competent and skilled in the ART of magic. The more you perform a specific trick the more competent you will become and the more your patter will improve. Mainly because you will be getting direct feedback from the audience.

So in my view matey boy on YouTube did not spend enough time learning and honing the moves - his sleight of hand was atrocious. Then he failed to develop any appropriate patter - his words were exactly what the stereo typical naff hobbyist magician would say. Finally he didn't take the BIG step of actually looking real people in the eye and performing, instead he stayed hidden and performed for his web cam.

Hardly magical, and certainly not a magician

So on balance I was not too harsh about his video. All it did was re-enforced the negative perceptions that some audiences have about magic.

Need a trick to start leaning with? Or a book to tell you all you need to know?

Turning one trick into a 100 tricks

2007-03-04T02:25:00.000-08:00

Magicians sometimes say that if you know 100 ways of getting a card picked and 1 way of telling the audience what that card was then you know just one card trick. BUT if you know 1 way of getting a card picked but 100 ways of telling them what it was then you know 100 tricks.

So the search is always on for new and better ways of revealing the identity of the selected card.

Just read on a the mindtrick blog that Copperfield is using an ultrasound on a pregnant woman to reveal the chosen card (!)

I guess magic must really be in his sperm... But is the baby his or is he using a random fetus?

The mind boggles at what can be done when you have unlimited cash

Tek Claim

2007-03-04T02:19:00.001-08:00

Technorati Profile

What is a corporate magician ?

2007-03-03T11:19:00.000-08:00

I am often asked this question - so thought that I would answer it here

Whilst growing up, few if any children ever say they want to be a “corporate magician” when they are adults! Some might want to be wizards, conjurors or straight magicians - but that is a different line of work. In the UK there are VERY few corporate magicians in fact I would say less than 20 - so this is still a very specialised and small niche. However in the US there are many more and really that is where the idea of a corporate magician stems from.

In brief terms a corporate magician - uses magic as a communication tool for organisations. It is a blend of the skills of a magician (20%) and the skills of a coach / marketer or other business professional (80%). Therefore it is impossible to become a corporate magician without having developed business acumen in a corporate or public body. As the emphasis is on communication, those that become successful at corporate magic are generally from a marketing / sales or similar discipline. It would be virtually impossible for someone that has grown up in magic and entertainment to make the transition to being a corporate magician. The vital element is the ability to develop communication strategies that are viable for clients. To be honest pretty much anyone can learn the magic skills required. Obviously performing quality magic is important (otherwise you are not really a corporate magician you are a communications consultant!), but the magic can be learned far more easily than the requisite marketing skills. The use of magic is a visual and emotional hook.

Having defined the nature of the skills required to be a corporate magician, where typically will a “corporate magician” be found? Many place; speaking at conferences; presenting at internal company meetings; helping to sell at trade shows or presenting training workshops (usually on communication or presenting skills). There appears to be a huge myth in the world of magic that if you perform close-up magic at a corporate dinner, or you do some clever magic tricks (occasionally mentioning your clients name) at a trade show then you have suddenly “arrived” as a corporate magician. Let me be very clear this is not the case. If you do close-up magic at a corporate diner then you are a close-up magician. If you do magic tricks at a trade show then you are probably still a close-up magician but you have been hired as a “stand attraction”. You might be VERY GOOD at building a crowd, but then a troop of strippers in the middle of the NEC or perhaps a rattle snake in a box would have the exact same effect. The strippers would not call themselves “corporate strippers” and the snake would not (I imagine) consider itself to be actively working with the client on their marketing strategy. So why do magicians believe that simply being employed to build a crowd makes them a “corporate magician” - I don’t really know but I imagine that it is to do with fees.

There are many magicians, there are very few true “corporate magicians” - so if you wanted to hire the genuine article how can you sort the wheat from the chaff? Simple, here is the one ‘golden bullet’ question. Ask them what they did before they learnt about magic and started using it professionally. Even easier, if in their marketing literature (and they will have lots of it) they make a feature of telling you that they have been in magic since the age of two years old, you will know that you have found a fantastic wizard, conjuror or straight magician. Won’t you?

Stand Out from the Pack with a Trade Show Magician

2007-03-03T11:18:00.001-08:00

And another similar article - but this time not written by a magician!! (so it might be less biased)

Stand Out from the Pack with a Trade Show Magician

Tips on Booking a Trade Show Magician in the UK

2007-03-03T11:16:00.001-08:00

This article was fairly interesting, they have missed the point about why a corporate magician is different and they are largely talking about a magician as a stand attraction. The main point however is that at least they are promoting the idea of using a magic at trade shows!

Tips on Booking a Trade Show Magician in the UK

Tips on Booking a Trade Show Magician in the UK

2007-03-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

Drawings come to life

2007-03-03T11:15:00.000-08:00

Despite having shows pretty much every day this month ( I know I am such an in-demand entertainer lol), I managed to meet with the team that will be building the balloon. This was the first time that they had seen the detail of what needs to be constructed and it got a great reaction!! Not that they can’t build it… but their first question was “and you are seriously planning to fly this?” After we chatted more, drank more coffee and scribbled a LOT more they eventually agreed that it would be a feasible idea.
So we have scheduled a planning meeting in the new year soon after the next major sponsor meeting. If all goes well then the balloon should go into production in February and be test flown in April.

Today’s cabaret show was great!! A lovely audience, I had the pleasure of entertaining the MK Women in Enterprise group. They seemed to enjoy my act and I enjoyed entertaining them. Such a stark but welcome contrast to the “Christmas Cabaret from Hell” that I am involved with most other days this month. Will have to update the Corporate Magic site to let the world know about my new after dinner / lunch shows - just in case anyone else might like to book it!

The Magic of Harry Potter

2007-03-02T10:33:00.000-08:00

Harry Potter creator J.K. Rowling has never authorized the publication of her books in electronic format. However on eBays Indian site, exactly these books have been selling in auctions.

A bit cross about this, J.K as not reached for her wand but rather the phone number of her lawyer. An unprecedented court order could force eBay to police itself and delete these books from its site. EBay has always claimed it is not responsible for the auctions people conduct, but the court disagreed.

A lawyer for Rowling in India told the Times Online that the injunction, which lasts until a new hearing on the 23rd May, could set the stage for many similar cases to follow.
Tiffany and Christian Dior in separate cases also want eBay to actively watch for auctions of counterfeit items bearing their brands too. Could this be the tip of the iceberg? It will be interesting to see how the online giant responds. Till now ebay have largely depended upon the self policing nature of its site.

How would such a ruling ever be policed? Maybe ebay will start to recruit online content checkers?? That will of course have a massive effect on the financial viability of the business. Could it be put out of business, or is that more fanciful than Hogwarts?

Your customers privacy

2007-02-27T22:59:00.000-08:00

You are a business! Self employed or limited (and sometimes we are!)... you are a business. That means you collect and hold data about customers. I know that you are not exactly doing this on the same scale as Tesco's but you still do it. You know when someone fills the form out on your website.

Did you know there are laws about what you do with that data? Did you know that if you don't comply you could be fined?

I have been discussing this on another blog - you should take a look. It applies to you both as a business and an individual.

Advice on building your website..

2007-02-25T22:17:00.000-08:00

I recently received the following as part of an email trying to sell me a course on learning about marketing your magic business!! I would not normally bother with such things, but their advice was so wrong that I just had to comment:

-- All of the same direct response marketing rules apply. Don't try for fancy graphics or image-advertising
nonsense: no one cares!

The web is ALL about user experience. Creating captivating and compelling sites is EXACTLY what it is all about. So firstly everyone cares and you have to understand the rules of marketing as they apply to new media.

-- You need a headline, you need compelling copy, you need testimonials, you need multiple calls to action,
and you need to offer free reports that require folks to opt-in to your email address book.

Almost right you do need compelling copy. But a magicians website is a transaction generating environment so having free reports to download is a waste of time. They are clearly applying a mixture of print based direct mail principles and the cheese that is normally associated with Internet marketing scams.. but then that is what they know.

-- Your goal is to capture the name and e-mail address of everyone who visits your website. You can email
folks your online newsletter once they've opted in.

No it isn't - your goal on a magicians website is for them to make a direct enquiry about a gig. If you are just list building then you are probably wasting your time!!

-- Once someone opts-out, get them OFF your list immediately! You NEVER NEVER NEVER want to SPAM
anyone!

Well you can make your own mind up about this. Personally I don't care about spamming people! It has a place in the mix. However I do care about having a grip on reality and by keeping people on your list that don't want to be there you are deluding yourself about just how big your pipeline is!

-- Remember that the ultimate outcome of your web site should be to get people to call or email you.

At last something that I agree with totally - well at least in the context of a magicians website. However, I would fee a bit nervous investing more that 20 dollars with "marketing" guru's if this is the most insightful bit of advice they can come up with!!

YouTube magic video with maybe the worst magician in the world?

2007-02-22T02:35:00.000-08:00

I just stumbled across a video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tScm-eZInBE

Basically some UK guy doing a version of the 3 card Monte - really badly! The impression is that he is going to teach you how to do it. I don't know if he does or not because I thought that his sleight of hand technique was so bad that I stopped watching!!

Please - if you are going to learn to do some magic then at least find a knowledgeable source.

For instance if you want a really cool trick to show people in the pub and you want to use playing cards to do it then why not check out: http://www.unearthlymagic.com/product_detail_snowblind.html

At least this is credible magic that will fool and entertain - unlike our faceless amateur on YouTube.

Video of Ursula Martinez

2007-02-20T13:21:00.000-08:00

Yesterdays post about Carmen Electra reminded my of the most popular magic show that I have heard of in a long time. Unless you live under a rock then you probably have already seen the Ursula Martinez video which has been flying around the web.

This video has done more for the girl than the best marketing strategy in the world would ever have achieved. In fact it redefined Viral.

In case you have been living under a stone then here is the link

She does a number of edgy magic shows :-) After this first came out I noticed some comments in the world of magic - as ever they completely missed the point - bless them....

Emma - so annoying

2007-02-19T23:06:00.001-08:00

I decided to take a look around in the bloggosphere to see who else writes about magic and corporate entertainment. Naturally and very uncreatively my search started at Technorati - the new Google!

Got really excited when I discovered the "secret blog of Emma" apparently a well linked to and active blog all about Corporate Entertainment.

I clicked...

NOTHING

I was met with a stupid text sign saying that they were moving servers and that sites would be unavailable for a period of time over the course of a week..

OMG!! Its not like moving office or house. There is no excuse for your site to be down. It was bad enough in the slow old days of websites but now days in the exciting instant world of blogs and web 2.0 - you must always be online and available.

Sorry Emma guess I will just have to click else where....

Emma - so annoying

2007-02-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

Carmen Electra Brings Magical Sex Appeal to New Vegas Show

2007-02-19T02:31:00.000-08:00

At last a magic show that will be worth going to see. Not much catches my attention in the rather dull world of magic these days. Same dusty old magicians doing the same dusty old tricks for audiences with a glazed over look on their faces.

About time someone realised that in the “old days” people liked watching magic because of the attractive assistants more than the toupee wearing fool in a dodgy outfit waving his “wand” around.

Hans Klok is set for stardom, or at least material wealth, has he launches his new Las Vegas show staring the ever so demure young lady Carmen Electra.

You can read all about it here

The new blog!

2006-12-22T08:59:00.000-08:00

After only a short stay here on Blogger I have decided to move across to a new weblog hosted on my own server - using wordpress. It just offers so much more functionality that I am sure it will be worth the effort

The new blog is available to you at Ed' s Blog or if you can not see the hyperlink just type www.blog.edstivala.co.uk into your browser.

In addition to the latest info about the stunt - I have created a number of new sections to post thoughts on marketing and business generally. There is also a new section for general magic info.

See you on the new site - and do make sure that you signup when you get there! Its one of the new features!!

Drawings come to life

2006-12-13T11:13:00.000-08:00

Despite having shows pretty much every day this month ( I know I am such an in-demand entertainer lol), I managed to meet with the team that will be building the balloon. This was the first time that they had seen the detail of what needs to be constructed and it got a great reaction!! Not that they can't build it... but their first question was "and you are seriously planning to fly this?" After we chatted more, drank more coffee and scribbled a LOT more they eventually agreed that it would be a feasible idea.

So we have scheduled a planning meeting in the new year soon after the next major sponsor meeting. If all goes well then the balloon should go into production in February and be test flown in April.

Today's cabaret show was great!! A lovely audience, I had the pleasure of entertaining the MK Women in Enterprise group. They seemed to enjoy my act and I enjoyed entertaining them. Such a stark but welcome contrast to the "Christmas Cabaret from Hell" that I am involved with most other days this month. Will have to update the Corporate Magic site to let the world know about my new after dinner / lunch shows - just in case anyone else might like to book it!

"The Vanishing Hot Air Balloon" - An incredible magic trick!

2006-12-12T04:56:00.000-08:00

Corporate Magician Ed Stivala plans to take the world by storm when he vanishes a hot air balloon in mid flight, along with himself and a member of the public. Currently still searching for the person to take along. Normally Ed works for corporates at trade shows and exhibitions so this is something quite different! A world first and in the UK!!!

Not sure if you have discovered DIGG yet? Apparently someone has DUG my story about the balloon vanish... Or is that someone DIGGED it? Its a whole new vocabulary :-)

read more | digg story

Balloon Stunt in second place

2006-12-10T03:06:00.000-08:00

Well we are into December with anger now!! Never mind trying to get the Christmas presents wrapped (or even buying them!). Life is more about trying to remember which gig I am supposed to be at next.

My first "Christmas Cabaret" this year was at the end of November. There is something decidedly odd about wishing people a happy Christmas when you are not even into December yet...

So the next week will see shows in Birmingham on Tuesday and then Milton Keynes (centre of the Universe) on Wednesday for Women in Enterprise before returning back down to Kent for the Christmas cabarets Thursday through to Sunday.

So if you have ever wondered about the glamorous life of a Corporate Magician - it basically involves hours of driving your car from one part of the country to another. Oh, and many stops at MacD's on the way :-)

So best put plans for the balloon stunt on hold this week and get a comfortable seat in my car....

Pilot onboard - now that is handy....

2006-12-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Good news on the balloon vanish stunt! Pilot & friend David Fish has agreed to fly the balloon for me. I first met David many years ago at a flying club when I was flying aeroplanes and he was obsessed with flying balloons. He needed some "self loading ballast" for a morning flight and decided that my "mass" would be about right... With that, the very next morning I took my first balloon flight with David and a few other folk. We left Bedfordshire and flew into Cambridgeshire, before eventually crashing in a field. I later came to learn that what I had experienced was not actually a crash but a "standard" balloon landing for a hot air balloon in moderate wind conditions.

But I was hooked!

I took my self off to Italy (better weather conditions for learning) and with David's help and tutorage set about learning to fly balloons myself. So in a way David is probably responsible for me wanting to do this stunt and so it seems quite fitting that he has agreed to fly the balloon!

To find about the stunt or apply to come along for the ride just visit the Balloon Stunt Site

2006-11-26T10:29:00.000-08:00

Slow progress in the last few days on what might well turn out to be the best magic trick ever ;-)

Media coverage has included the local paper and local BBC radio - so hardly wonderful or impressive for the potential sponsor!! Still I guess these things have to start small and then grow. About to announce the pilot in the next few days so please do check back to discover which mad fool has agreed to fly the balloon!!

On a more positive - the team have invented yet another way to make the balloon vanish. That gives us three possible methods of doing it now. The advantage of the new method is that it will cost far less than the other ideas, but will be more weather critical. Still we shall no doubt thrash it out over tea and biscuits soon.

On the other side of the pond I see that Mr Blaine has been pushing the boundaries of magic by standing (?) in a giant gyroscope for two days or so.... gosh!!

What did everyone else think to the David Blaine magic stunt?

Back here I have just started my Christmas Cabaret season - you could not imagine a job that is less suited to a corporate magician! When I signed the contract I must have been suffering from a temporary brain shutdown. Still - it all helps to form your character :-) So long as no harm comes to my car, I guess I can suffer a few more nights of trying to fit in with and entertain lower life forms.....

NO!!! Don't do it

2006-11-21T10:24:00.000-08:00

The last thing that I need after we have taken off is a hysterical passenger. They thought they wanted to do it. But as the houses get smaller and you can no longer hear any familiar noises from the ground (apart from dogs barking) - they suddenly realize that this is for real and if it goes wrong then.... We will talk about that another day.

So with all that in mind I am delighted to announce that handwriting expert Joyce Parkinson has agreed to join the team and analyze applicants handwriting for me. It will be one of a battery of tests that we are using to make sure that we really do pick the right person.

You can find out more about Joyce and her skills as a Graphologist at her website :
www.jpanalysis.co.uk

Getting into your mind

2006-11-19T10:35:00.000-08:00

A few people have asked why they need to hand write their application to take part in the "make me vanish" stunt.

Well quite simply I want to use every possible method of ensuring that I select the best person for the job and one concern is will they panic at the last minute! After all, unless they have some flying experience, finding themselves at 2,500 feet in a basket might be a little unnerving. But then we will be making the balloon vanish so it will be a little more exciting than the average balloon ride!

We have a whole series of tests and filters set up for the assessment day. But the first tool we will be using is a graphologist to analyze hand writing.

Make Me Vanish

2006-11-13T11:31:00.000-08:00

At last I have publicly announced my plans for a world first in magic. "Make Me Vanish" is the name that I have given to this once in a life time stunt, to make a hot air balloon vanish, in mid flight!
Lots of magicians have made BIG objects appear or disappear (cars, boats, Great Wall of China, Statue of Liberty). But as far as I can establish nobody has EVER made an aircraft vanish whilst it is flying. The inspiration for this trick was really simple - I want to do something bigger and better than anyone else has ever achieved! Why would you bother with anything less?
Before magic, I used to fly hot air balloons. So I am not embarking on this mad stunt without a good knowledge of what is possible from an aviation point of view not just a magic perspective. During the "cross over" from flying hot air balloons to magic as a hobby many people would jest about how I "should make my hot air balloon vanish"... Well I guess that their rather repetitive and humourless quip stuck with me. As I turned professional in magic I decided that I needed a landmark trick and of course the obvious thing to do was make a balloon vanish!
I shall post more soon about the background to the stunt and will of course also add details of our progress as we lead up to the big day! If you have a question please feel free to ask through this blog. If you have a media enquiry please contact Haypresto Media Management who represent me exclusively with the media.

Welcome

2006-11-04T03:44:00.000-08:00

Well I guess every story has to start somewhere and explaining what this blog is all about seems like a pretty good place to start!

I decided to create the Life & Times of a Corporate Magician as so many people seem to be interested in what being a "magician" is all about. What do you do with your day? What do you think about various TV shows and TV magicians? What is the difference between a Corporate Magician and any other sort?

Over the next few weeks and months I will try and answer these questions as well as answering anything that YOU might like to ask me online (either as a comment or by email). So if you like the idea of this topic then get involved, its always more fun than just watching :-)

The main thing that you need to know is that a professional magician will spend most of his time selling and working on the business. I do, and that is the part that I love the most! So another important aspect to this blog will be about how to market and sell within a small business.

Which takes precedence, the magic or the business, we will have to discover as we go along.

Comments?