Change your life, corporate dropout

[Peloja1912]

Hey,

Just a couple of thoughts I've had recently.

I'm a young lawyer who's lucky enough to work at one of the very best firms in the world. I went to one of the very best law schools in the world and I guess I'm reasonably successful.

However, I am also practicing magic, which I started doing when I was 9 years old. I was quite successful in competitions and stuff for a while but when I grew older decided I wanted to have a real job and focused on my studies.

I'm still very much into magic and recently started having more and more thoughts about quitting my job, selling my apartment, and suggesting to my fiancée to do the same and travel the world with me.

I have this totally romantic image of travelling the world as a street magician. Limitless freedom, sufficient money, I'm sure I could be quite sucessful, as I am a fairly good magician ... or so my magician friends and audiences tell me.

Am I having the wrong image here? Is anyone out there who's ever done the same? I just think there's so much to see and learn in this world and I only have one life.

Please ... share your thoughts!

P.

[gav]

Ask yourself and others if you are a good entertainer, becasue on the stree it won't really matter so much how good a magician you are.
I'd suggest you start practising doing street performing before selling up and traveling the world. That way you will have the chance to improve and increase your 'hat' earnings while still having the security of a place to live.
Most performers start out making very little on the street.You need to do at least 50-100 shows to get a feeling for it.
Otherwise I highly recommend the life style. Travel broadens the mind n all that.

[Stretch]

Talk to Bubblesmith Sterling Johnson. Being an attorny, I'm sure you know how to track him down. Hint, he is in CA.

[Eric Evans]

I'd listen to gav-- it's a completely different world when you leave the confines of friends, magic-associates and choose to venture into the world devoid of both. I'd been performing both professionally and for open-mike nights before I stepped outside on the street. That was in '85 and they chewed me up and spit me out. There's a reason there are so few magicians out there-- most suck. Not because of their technique or their tricks, but because they don't know how to sell their wares outside.
And yeah, I still suck.

[Magic Mickey]

I say go for it. This is obviously a dream of yours that you have had for a long time and you should do it. Just remember as others have said to sell your personality as a street performer. Be fun, energetic, and out going. I'm sure being a loyar you are good at performing for an audience. If doing this would make you happy in life then why not do it. I do agree that you should do it for a while before quiting or any thing just to see what you think.

Yours Truly,
Mickey

[Peloja1912]

Thanks for all your advice!

I guess I will do exactly what most of you suggested and just give it a try before quitting "the other life". Honestly, as a lawyer, I want everything planned out in detail anyway and tend to be very risk-averse. Should I be successful as a busker - or a total failure - I will let you know ...

P.

[gav]

Cevapi

One thing, it says in 'location' for you Vienna Austria amongst others.
Vienna has a good pitch on Stefansplatz which would probably work out well for someone with a good magic show.
So, if you're back there some time, give it a go.

[livingspace]

heres my advice ditch youre girlfreind youll loose her anyway when she gets board following you around the wold watching you get drunk and trying to be chummy with people you probably would refuse to defend on shopplifting charges, sell youre appt. and give the money to the free tibet liberation army and spend your last dollars s on good trolly . as long as youve got cash in youre pocket youll never get anywhere you might go places but ......chances are if youre a good law man youll make a good comic they usally do.just remmember one thing its not about the money and if it is STAY WHERE YOU ARE we dont need more of you..........anthony.....ps to those who are wondering yes i must be piss board to be writting on this site