Nate Marx's Magic Blog

Performance Killer: Dead Silence Music is one of the most important key elements in a magical performance especially if you are a stage performer. It

2010-09-03T10:43:00.000-07:00

Music is one of the most important key elements in a magical performance especially if you are a stage performer. It adds thrill to your performance and sometimes even put a story into the mix.

One instance where I realized this is during a corporate stage performance. A segment of my show requires music but all hell broke loose when the venue’s cd player won’t play my cd. The moment I realized this it was as if all my hair turned stiff. I panicked!

Good thing there’s a wifi connection in the venue and the organizer was kind enough to let me use her netbook to download substitute music from the net.

The question however is: ‘what if there wasn’t any wifi connection in the venue’ – my performance would really be killed.

In order to solve this, I made sure way plan with regards to securing music for a performance.

*** Before the show, make sure that you have a sound check.

Out #1: Bring 2 recorded discs

Out#2: Bring a netbook if not bring a USB

Out#3: Use my m3510 phone – its headset slot is similar to the ones used for speakers.

It always helps to have a back up plan because you’ll never know . . .

Phoning Potential Clients

2010-09-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

Most magicians nowadays rely on the different forms of media to market themselves. Magic is a tough business since you will be competing with fellow magicians for clients. Marketing plays a big role on a magician’s professional success. The more shows he has, the more earnings he will gain. These earnings will be allotted for his needs and for his wants (magic props etc.)

Marketing is by definition any means to make people interested in buying a product or services from you. Today, magicians are entering the online marketing arena. Conventionally, Filipino magicians rely on their business cards and the word of mouth from clients to potential clients and some rely on any referral from the local party shop.

While preparing for a mentalism feat with phonebooks, I stumbled upon an idea. I know this idea is being used by a lot of people and it also might work for magic.

Marketing is like creating a web. The wider you create your web, the better your chances are of having a potential client. Here’s my idea.

Open the phonebook and look through the yellow pages. If you are fond of doing shows for corporate events, you’ll love this. As you could see there are tons and tons of companies on the yellow pages. Perceive these companies as your potential clients. If you have your own landline phone then good for you.

You might want to try and call at least ten companies and tell them about your services. Its like doing a telemarketing job. You could start by asking about their company and then tell them that you are offering your services as a magician in case they have corporate events. Make it sound like you are making a deal rather than begging for them to book you. Give them your name, contact number and your website. A website would be a good use, so they would be able to check it out after your call.

You won't lose anything with this strategy unless you are calling through a payphone that is. You can make this a habit by calling 10 companies a day. Just imagine how wide your web can be. In one week, you will be able to contact 70 companies and in a month, 280 companies. It’s impossible that in 280 companies that you phoned, there wouldn't be at least one client that will book you for a show.

Take in mind, that sometimes these companies usually hire magicians from the local party shop which performs a low quality show.

Why?

It's because the employees from the company don't have time to look for top notch magicians unless they know one already.

Now don’t worry if a company is used to hiring a certain magician, chances are they are already fed up with him and his usual show. Sometimes it is easier to market to a company that is already used to hiring a magician for their events like anniversaries and Christmas parties since you are offering them something new - just make sure that you do.

Another good idea that you could use in adjunction to this is by sending them a letter with an attachment of your business card and once you know that they received the letter, you could call them up.

I hope this would be a big help.

New Derren Brown Special

2010-09-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of the Wizard's Specials and this one looks promising. Hope to watch it soon! Excited Much!

Magic Review: Remote Viewing by Luke Jermay

2010-09-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

Luke Jermay has always been known to be one of the most formidable minds in the business. He is respected and admired by many magicians in contemporary for his works and innovations in the field. The first time I got a glimpse of Luke’s works was on his DVD, Skullduggery. I loved it and give it 5 thumbs up!

Though I changed my repertoire from mentalism to creepy and bizarre magic, I still love his works and use them up to now. One thing that I love about his work is that they are direct and straight to the point.

Remote Viewing is one of those ‘packs small plays big’ kinds of mentalism feats that strike huge amount amazement upon your spectators. I recommend this to anyone who practices both mentalism and magic. It is easy to do, the idea is simple but the effect is tremendous. Your spectators will feel that you are seeing things through their eyes.

Rating: 8 stars out of 10.

Doing Shows For a Corporate Meeting

2010-09-02T12:00:00.000-07:00

It’s been quite a while since I lost blogged about magic. I’ve been blogging for more than a year on my WP blog (www.natemarx.wordpress.com) but I have to transfer to blogspot now for some reasons. Though wordpress is a good blogging platform, there are things from blogspot that I need.

I will be blogging about magic on this site from now on.
Yesterday, I did a show for a multinational company here in Gensan. It was not your usual ‘corporate event’ since there is no event at all. I was invited to do a dinner show after their meeting.

I was really sick when I got there with a temperature of 37.4 degrees Celsius but as the saying goes ‘the show must go on’. I pulled out my last drop of adrenaline and put on a dynamic and funny show. It was awesome! The audiences were all gathered behind their laptops and paper works. It was a great ambience which is very advantageous for me since I prepared patter based feats.

After the show, I was totally drained and took some time staring at my room’s ceiling and thought of some tips in doing corporate shows.

Tip#1: Know the background of the company
This would be very helpful in setting up your routine. For example you will be doing a show for a soft drink company; you might want to add some bottle tricks into your act. One good idea is to shrink their products into inches. That would create a big laugh and at the same time they would appreciate your effort of using their product into your routines.

Tip#2: Know the number of audience
Even if the organizer told you the number of expected guests, expect more! Some employees might bring their kids along. So you might want to prepare some routines that could easily be understood by kids.

Tip#3: Know the BIG MEN in the company.
During your performances, acknowledge the presence of the bosses, the managers especially the executives of the company.

Tip#4: Get the right volunteers
If I got some comedy routines where I will have to make one of the audiences look funny, I don’t really go for the executives or people in higher positions. Their egos would be smashed unless their willing to do so.

Tip#5: Prepare tons of business cards
One good idea is to give your business card to the organizer, so she could distribute it while you are doing your show.

Tip#6: End your show with a feisty or witty ending.
Whenever I do corporate shows, I don’t usually go for big and grand endings. I always end in a humorous one liner.

Tip#7: Don’t leave immediately after the show
You might be able to meet potential clients later on.

Tip#8: Prepare some close up stuffs to perform after the show
This would be a great way to also use your bcards.

Will be posting an article about being hired by a company to convince a potential investor soon. . .

I hope this helps...

Nate