How to Start out as a Magician and Get Experience

Samuel didn't know how to start out as a magician

I received this email from a young magician:

'I emailed you about how to go about getting a first gig, and you told me that as I was 14, I should consider doing some charity events. I spoke to members of our towns committee about it, and they seemed more than happy to take me on. I am now getting lots of gigs, so I thought I should say thank you, as you gave me the original advice that started it all off. So thank you very much for your great advice.' – Samuel Prior

This got me thinking about the advice I game Samuel when he was 14. It applies to young magicians that are just starting out and are having trouble being taken seriously when they approach venues or companies to pitch their magic. However, I think the advice is solid for magicians of any age, when they have the catch 22 situation of needing experience, but struggling to get gigs because of that reason:

If you want to do magic as a paid performer, you HAVE to get out and start performing for the public. Nobody will come to you and beg to hire you, so you need to put yourself in public situations where you can perform professionally. The easiest way to do this is to HELP YOUR COMMUNITY by offering your services at local charity and community events. That first step will give you the confidence to market yourself, get your name out, and push forward to get future paid work as a magician. If you have been thinking about doing this for a while, now is the time to act. Contact your local community centre TODAY, and ask them about events coming up that could use some free entertainment. It's just a phone call, but it's that first step that you have to make sooner or later..

Do you know a keen magician that has been thinking about doing paid work, but has yet to take that first step? If so, email or text them a link to this page. A little push from someone that cares about them is all it might take..

Are you already a working magician and have some advice for magicians just starting out? How did you get your feet off the ground performing? Maybe you are in the same position Samuel was in, and have a question? Leave a comment in the section at the bottom of this page.

Magicians Business Cards in Party Bags

by Dominic Reyes Leave a Comment

Is it OK to put your magicians business cards in event party bags?

We received this email from a magician worried about the best way to hand out his magicians business cards:

Scott writes:

'I have a gig on Wednesday, and have been emailed by the organizer who has said to me if I drop some business cards to her, she will include them in goodie bags that are being handed out. She has asked me to let her know by Monday, so I have some time to consider it. However, I have a couple of tricks I like to do that involve handing my business cards out as part of a reveal. Should I take her up on the offer? It sounds like a great idea, but at the same time takes away a part of my act'

Dominic Reyes recorded this advice for Scott:

We highly recommend that you DO include your magicians business cards in the party/goodie bags. The more people that find your card the better. Don't worry about using your business cards in a few tricks at the same time. It's unlikely that you will do that magic trick to EVERY guest, and the cards in the bags will probably remain in there until the guests get home.

Magicians Agents – Why They are Needed and How to Get One

by Dominic Reyes Leave a Comment

Are Magicians Agents Essential for Success?

By James Nathan

With the internet taking over the world, it has been said that there is really no need for magicians agents these days. If anything, I think that the opposite is true. Read most magician's websites and it is easy to think that they are all world champions. Yes, magicians have to be positive about their own skills, and everyone is going to rave about themselves – but for clients looking to book an entertainer, they feel re-assured by working with an agent. It’s a quality control issue.

Big companies invariably will only work through agents, so if you want the most lucrative jobs, you really need to be on their books. Not only do they have top clients, they also know what to charge.

Agents have working relationships with companies for years – they know what the price structure is – and they can get the best price for the performer – even after their commission has been deducted. Also they advise the client on what is the best act for them – this is all part of the service they provide.

Professionalism is paramount and if you are working through an agent, you are already considered to be of a certain standard.

If you perform a stand-up magic act, then you basically have to work through agents. Cruise ship companies, large hotel groups, holiday centres and large corporates all work closely with agents to book their entertainers.

Finding the best magicians agents can be tricky, and knowling how to approach them is a skill in and of itself. Many magicians use the Special Agents Directory which compiles hundreds of the best UK agents who work with many of the best clients in the UK and beyond. The ebook also includes many international agents who book acts cabaret & speciality acts from the UK.

You can learn several tips for finding a magicians agent and the best way to approach them for work in this post: How to find and use magicians agents

If you are a close-up magician, or perform any type of speciality act, it's worth searching Google and making a list of agents to approach. If you prefer to have the leg work done for you, and identify the best agents that are most responsive to magic acts, then the Secret Agents Directory is a very good source for magicians agents who could use your services.