Being who you ARE

[magic_fella]

I have produced special events since 1984. In the early 90's I started performing magic. I did a number of family festivals (Edmonton's Klondike Days etc.) and then started doing trade shows.

I specialize in ONLY two things: family stage shows and close-up magic for adults. Since I am moving from "agency" to "performer," I am interested in any advice you folks have to give me.

I don't want to do adult stage shows...but I am energized at the idea of doing events for families...and especially kids.

I LOVE doing close-up for adults...and am making a good living doing so here in Alberta at trade shows and hospitality suites...since I really like working one to one with adults.

I have a website: www.theseriouslyfunnymagicguy.com and this has done well for me over the years.

IS there a festival market? How do I source the larger hospitality suite/trade show market?

Any thoughts on marketing you all may have would be greatly appreciated.

David

[gav]

I'll just make one suggestion about your website. You go on about how other magicians are trying so hard to be serious and mysterious and trying not to smile, and how you are all about the laughter and smiling, and yet the only photos on your site are of you being serious, not a single one that's funny, or where you yourself are smiling.
I think your sales pitch would work better if the images matched the text.

[heckler]

If you are truly funny, and want to do adult stage shows; then go start doing time at your local comedy club open mic night. They usually only give you three to five minutes at first and is a great way to develop an adult stage show.

From there you will get opportunities to do many types of corporate/convention/parties etc...they are all the same agencies in a lot of cases.

[Doctor Eric]

He said he DIDN'T want to do adult stage shows.

[heckler]

. Since I am moving from "agency" to "performer," I am interested in any advice you folks have to give me.

IS there a festival market? How do I source the larger hospitality suite/trade show market?

Any thoughts on marketing you all may have would be greatly appreciated.

David

It's still a good idea to try some comedy clubs. I recommend it to every act. Like I said the hospitality/trade/convention people use the same agents that also book comedy rooms.

[magic_fella]

Hi, heckler...

I have done adult shows...and yes...I know that's where the money is. But I don't like doing them. I've done comedy clubs...a lot of them...but frankly -- that's not where my performing heart is.

LOVE close up magic...the play performed for a small group of people...delights and energizes me. And I really enjoy the reactions of Little People to the magic and the open way they laugh at the comedy.

SO that's what I really want to do.

Having been an "agent" for many years, I really found that I sold what the clients requested. The most important thing was for a specific performer to come to mind. Agents are interested in performers that get stellar reviews and don't make any trouble. Trust me.

David

[martin ewen]

Interesting you are moving from being an agent to a performer. Surely that's not a financial decision? A reasonable agent will make far more than his 'talent' as a rule. Simple math. Xx?>Yx0 generally.
In my experience,working since 83, you are the first example I've ever come across of this reverse evolution.
As an agent surely you know about various markets for various performance types? Is that not an agents job?
Working producing events since mid 80s yet still ask "How do I source the larger hospitality suite/trade show market?"

Can't hurt to ask I suppose. Gav's right IMO. Step one, if you are branding yourself as seriously funny do so. You want to target a family market?-reposition yourself or you just want bigger corporate gigs after a 20+ career in corporate gigs? Find some.

Maybe you need a manager? The simplicity of your questions clashes with the extent of your prior experience.

Some performers who allow themselves to be double booked become defacto-'agents'

Maybe I'm not reading between the lines enough. Are you practicing 'slight of give me a gig'?
Either way you need to apply yourself internally towards branding yourself then externally towards those markets your brand is most profitable in.
You already know this, anyone with over 6 months in the game knows this.
And you're a vet.
Bizzaire. You magicians! Slippery confusing bastards.

[magic_fella]

Hello, Martin...

An interesting reply. Personally, I don't see it as 'reverse evolution.'

I've been producing events since 1984. Theme parties: things like murder mysteries and medieval feasts for corporations are most of what we do. This brings me into contact with third party performers like jugglers, magicians etc. I have never been a full-on "agent" per se...though over the years I have booked performers for bigger events like corporate family events, Christmas parties etc and some regional festivals.

I started getting interested in magic in 1984...and played around with it for a couple of years doing free shows while I learned. I've been a part-time pro since 1987 and have done a bunch of festivals, fairs and trade shows -- but mostly corporate events.

I don't feel that many performers really consider what goes into being an "agent." An "agent" talks to the client, decides what talent is the best option for the event. Then he books the talent, makes sure the performers know where to go and what to do and prays to God that one of them doesn't develop an "attitude" when they meet the client, that they don't have a secret drinking problem -- etc -- because it comes right back to the agent if they do.

As an agent, I kept 20% of the fees for a third party performer. This means that on a $500 booking (where I collected the money and was on the hook for payment if the client was late etc.) I did all the legwork, all the sales work, planned the production, made travel arrangements etc for a hundred bucks. While it was true that I didn't do the volume of bookings a regular agent did, it just wasn't worth my time.

And there were still A FEW performers who didn't deliver on a contracted show...or worse...simply didn't show -- even after having their references checked etc. There would always be an explanation: like some relative died, or they had a car breakdown...but the agent is the one who faces the client at the end of the day. True, you never use them again -- but you (okay...me) are on pins and needles until the event is done and you've called the client and gotten a good review.

It's true that these problems were few and far in between...but holy crap...when they do happen, something stinky and brown really hits the fan.

(It is a mystery to me, by the way, that so few performers actually work to cultivate a good working relationship with an agent who has proven themselves to be ethical..and a consistent source of work...I get a number of shows through other agencies...and, personally, I treat them like gold -- because I know how things look on their side of the fence...)

Sometimes the client is the problem: they weren't happy with the performer, or they feel they were charged too much for a show...and they want a refund or a reduction in fees. The performer insists everything went well and so someone is lying. Or maybe someone's not lying...but entertainment is a very subjective thing, right? **sigh**

The performers always get paid...so who takes the loss if there is one? The agent. For a hundred bucks?

I had a small number of people I went to most of the time: they were the ones that had great attitudes and consistently delivered happy clients. (Oddly enough the very best...most dependable ones...weren't the 'standard' performer. Most were buskers -- who were loyal, inventive -- really invested in doing a good show.)

As a performer, I only have to trust me. I don't have do the booking and then trust someone else.

I'd really like to move more into performing and less into production. But my attention has been split over all these years between the job (the company) and magic. Frankly, most of the stuff I have done has fallen into my lap...or come to me through referrals. I need to get serious about marketing myself.

I'm laying the groundwork for making the move. About 40% of my income last year came from performing...and I'd like to have it be significantly higher in the coming years.

Fewer headaches...a little less money. It's a good trade I think. Not reverse evolution at all...

David

[martin ewen]

reverse evolution in financial terms is agreed then?

I'd advise to have a peek at

http://www.getmorecorporategigs.com/blog/

Never used it myself, but suspect your central problem to be that of marketing.
This guys evangelical about marketing. and a very successful corp performer.

[magic_fella]

Okay. Agreed, Martin.

It's an awesome site. Thank you.

[Steven Ragatz]

The Get More Corporate Gigs site is quite excellent and I highly recommend it as a worthy resource. I've been participating for the past several months, and am very impressed with the content and growing community.

Steven Ragatz

[About Faces]

Interesting thread to me...I'm an agent first, performer second, because the niche my company inhabits is high volume, low profit gigs. I couldn't support my family on my performing income. But performing is so much more fun than being an agent, mostly for the reasons you describe. One day, when my kids are grown and graduated and I no longer have a mortgage, car payments, etc', I'd like to just be an artist. I can easily see not working in the office 9-5 every day, but it's hard to imagine not performing. Good luck to you, Magic Fella.

Your proclivities are going to make it difficult to earn a good living, tho, because you're eliminating most of the high dollar business, immediately, by excluding the adult shows to focus on family entertainment. Still, I kind of respect the fact that you want to do what you want to do, as opposed to what you think will bring in the most $$$. In your shoes, I'd join and become active and well known in the local associations like ISES, NACE, MPI, your local Chamber...there are others, specific to your region, I'm sure. Find out how to get registered with your local Parks and Rec departments: there are usually approved vendor lists and a lot of paperwork to go through to make that happen. I'd make myself well known to all the local entertainment agencies, and, since you sound like you really enjoy the performing, I'd keep my rates low, so you work more often. I'd hit all the listing websites, like Partypop, GigSalad, Gigmasters, and such, but I'd avoid paying top dollar, as ROI varies from site to site and year to year. I'd make a point to befriend other local magicians and be active in any magician associations. Stay as local as you can in your advertising - your goal is not to headline in Vegas, you just want to do a lot of family shows. Okay, I'm heading back to work. But that's my 2 cents.
Cheers!

[magic_fella]

Thanks, Mike...

I appreciate your thoughts.

I thought long and hard about the adult stage shows. Yup. That's where the money is. I've done them but the absolute honest truth is that I really don't like doing them. I love kids...and families. I love doing close-up for adults...but stage shows for adults really drain me.

I really thought about this.

I'd much rather do something I WANT to do.

If it was ONLY about the money...well...y'know.

I've worked a number of trade shows. Hard work...but I'm good at it and the clients are happy and I am thinking maybe this is where I need to be. That...and performing for kids.

David