Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Dream like you'll live forever, live like you'll die today. — James Dean
Joe tells us about a specific "hell gig" story that he had to endure where he was getting paid too little for too much, and was generally just a horrible experience.
Solving the world's largest corn field maze blindfolded!
• Talks about his first venture into getting publicity.
• Tips where he got his idea for the blindfold corn maze walk. Hint: It's Corinda's!
• Putting different spins or angles on otherwise "classic stunts."
• If you fail a stunt, the only people that will know are you and the reporter. And you can always find another reporter!
• Getting the word out about your stunt.
• Getting the photos and videos of your stunt.
• Be safe! Do your due diligence. You don't have to do something dangerous. Joe has never done anything dangerous in his stunts.
• Always being ready. "What would I do if I had to do it tomorrow night?"
• Touch on Joe's venture into a "Pay What You Want" pricing structure.
Joe offers consulting on publicity and publicity stunts. Shoot him an email for more info.
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Resources
Use your camera phone to get video of your show and video testimonials.
"Do you mind if we record this next trick?"
"Would you mind if I get a quick 10–20 second review of my magic?"
Business Books
Buzzmarketing by Mark Hughes
Little Red Book of Selling by Jeffrey Gitomer
Thinker Toys by Michael Michalko
Magic Books
Magic by Design by John Carney (Out of Print)
The Shiels Effect by Tony Shiels (Out of Print)
The Jinx by Theodore Annemann
Listed in: Arts
Click Convert Profit — This episode is brought to you by Josh London's Click Convert Profit and his book Flying Solo, the Smart Solopreneur’s Guide to Making Money Online. Click here to get $10 off and for my listeners only, the free ebook "4 Ways to Find Your Most Profitable Keywords”.
Big slumps come before big jumps. — Mac's wife
• He really makes an effort to keep things fresh in his show.
• Keeps a dialogue open with the audience.
• Doesn't just use audience members "as a prop."
• Has a script for structure yet tries to find "little detours" to stray from the script and add variance to his shows.
• Talks a little about burnout and how it's affected him.
• Doesn't really add material, but he finds ways to tighten it.
• Things evolve and change over time.
• How he uses his show to test fly things he'll perform elsewhere, for example the suspension he performed at the Academy of Magical Arts Awards.
• Likes to "feel rushed" right before going on stage. It helps him to think on his feet and discover new things.
Tells who he ended up vomiting up a goldfish on stage and how the audience seemed none-the-wiser. And the lessons he learned.
• How your brain still works while you sleep and helps you work out problems.
• Tells his journey in magic which included a lot of hard work in comedy clubs.
• Working as a magician and sharing the stage with comedians.
• Laughs-per-minute.
• Recording and listening to your shows to make improvements.
• Emulating what you see other successful performers do.
• Having a beginning, middle, and end to your show.
• Finding his niche in Vegas.
• Tells some of the pitfalls he had to overcome before starting his current residence at Harrah's.
Do as many shows as you can and be a good listener.
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Resources:
Keeping a count of all the props you have in your pockets before you go up on stage. Be sure to set up a retirement account.
Books:
McComb's Magic by Billy McComb
Mac Performs at Harrah's Casino in Las Vegas every Tuesday thru Saturday at 1 & 3 PM.
Twitter @MacKingShow | Facebook
-->
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
This week, I'm going to be traveling up north to visit some friends and take part in Phil Ackerly's Night of Comedy and Magic to support our troops. I'll be performing strolling magic before the stage show (That features Phil Ackerly, Christian Cagigal, and Ryan Kane). Come out to support our troops and to say hi! I'd love to meet you if you're up in that area!
Click here for more info.
You’re only as good as your next show.
"Yes, and…"
• Tells how he got in with Disney, auditioning, and a "lucky break."
• Tells how he created a specific show, a silent act, for his Disney audition.
• How he doesn’t like auditions and about his inside perspective into them.
• Performed at The Boardwalk at Walt Disney World in a sort of busking atmosphere (without passing the hat).
• Learning from other performers and from the different kinds of audiences.
• Gearing up to work on Disney Cruise Lines.
• Changes he’s making as he’s getting ready to get into a completely different venue.
• Being aware of your posture and every movement and facial expressions.
• Your actions need to be genuine.
• How to view your helpers up on stage.
• Playing off of your partners on stage.
• Playing bigger and smaller.
• Listening to your audience.
• At the end of a sketch, the character is forever changed.
• How does this sketch change me and the audience?
• The audience is your partner.
• When and how you can tactfully “razz" or "jab at" your helper.
• Impostor Syndrome
• Networking with people and being kind.
• Cutting your teeth in restaurants.
How Nick tried to get into the Blue Man Group and then ultimately realized it wasn’t for him. Even after two of his friends landed gigs with them.
Landing a contract with Disney.
Differentiating himself from other magicians.
Be kind and try to be unique with your act.
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Resources:
Books:
Born Standing Up by Steve Martin
Malcolm Gladwell Books - Outliers, Blink, The Tipping Point, David & Goliath
Seducing Strangers by Josh Weltman
Impossible Feats of Fake Magic (Full Show)
-->Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Click Convert Profit — This episode is brought to you by Josh London's Click Convert Profit and his book Flying Solo, the Smart Solopreneur’s Guide to Making Money Online. Click here to get $10 off and for my listeners only, the free ebook "4 Ways to Find Your Most Profitable Keywords”.
If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right. — Henry Ford
• Tells how he came up with topics to create shows around.
• Finding out what the teachers need, finding a pain point and building a show around that.
• Tells how he researches topics.
• You can look up school curriculums online at the Department of Education Website.
• Go online and see what other assembly shows are doing.
• Talks about his website and the elements he uses: benefit-driven headline, benefit-driven content, and market-specific testimonials. It's basically a sales letter website.
• Pricing on assembly shows: what he charges ($900 for two assemblies) and what someone breaking in should charge ($700 for two assemblies). Mentions other possible pricing structures.
• How he uses Yelp to get testimonials.
• Differences between assembly shows and library shows. They want different results!
Hear about a physically intense sales letter that he sent out to schools that he'll never send out again!
A very successful library showcase he did while wearing a space suit and booked 60 shows from it!
Letting the cooperate market go. He discovered that he didn't want to travel and perform on weekends and nights. It was tough for him to walk away from the market and potential money.
Note: These scripts are tailored to John's performance style and character. Please use these as guidelines to write your own pitches for your shows.
Pitch for the jumbo dollar bills you give away: "Kids, if you enjoyed yourselves and had a great time, not only are there five magic tricks on the back of this dollar bill, but there's a handsome and good-looking guy on the front here, as well as my phone number and website in case you want to invite me to your party."
At the end of an assembly show after summarizing the teaching: "If you enjoyed the show, here's what you've gotta do. I know you're going to be excited and talking in your loud voices, but I want you to go back to class and talk in your quiet voices for your teachers, because, if you talk in your quiet voices, maybe, they'll invite me back . If you think that's a good idea, everybody shout yay!"
Pitching books at libraries during his animal show: "Who liked the dove? Who liked the snake? Who liked the chinchilla? Who liked the tarantula? If you liked any of these animals, right over there are all kinds of books on snakes, and doves, and chinchillas, and spiders. Do you see that shelf over there? Let's make sure that shelf becomes completely empty before you go home!"
Pitching magic books at libraries: "Do you want to know how I did all this magic? In this library there are books that teach you magic tricks. All you have to do is check them out for free with your library card, open them up and practice them with your mom and dad, and one day you can do a magic show just like I did! Doesn't that sound cool?"
• The importance of marketing.
• Anything you give away needs to be of value, but you also need to pitch it so they know what to do with it!
• Talks about his menagerie of animals and how he handles, cares for, and travels with them.
• Laminate the flyers you give out. If you do that, nobody will ever throw them away!
• Shaping your career around what you want your lifestyle to be.
You already have enough to shows and sell them. Just do it!
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Resource:
Podcasts! Specifically School of Greatness and the TED Radio Hour
Classic Success Books:
Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
The Strangest Secret by Earl Nightingale
Success Principles by Jack Canfield
GOALS by Brian Tracy
Newer Books:
The Actor's Handbook by Constantin Stanislavski
The Ultimate Sales Letter by Dan Kennedy
Chasing Cool by Noah Kerner
If enough people email John and request him to write a book on assembly shows, he'll do it! Email him now! john@amazingschoolassemblies.com
California Character Assemblies
Twitter @johnabrams1
-->Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Nobody knows anything. — William Goldman
James tells us about the most dismal failure that anyone could have on stage. Literally. Everything went wrong! James describes it in excruciating detail.
Whatever he's working on right now.
• Talks about his musical about a magician.
• Pitching his ideas.
• How he started the Band of Magicians and his vision for it.
• How he promoted the Band of Magicians to get butts in seats.
• How he raised money for the show.
• How they're different from The Illusionists.
Trusting his instinct and knowing what's right to do. That and telling people no.
• Being a life-long learner.
• How he spends every day having the best day ever and how he discovered that philosophy for himself.
• His first experiences on cruise ships.
• How he marketed himself early on.
• Learned by doing and observing.
• What his parents thought about his "professional pursuits."
Be careful who you listen to and take advice from.
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Resource:
Show Cues - iOS App
Books:
Find the Stuff That's You by Chris Carey
War of Art by Steven Pressfield
Twitter @jamesgalea | Facebook | Instagram
-->Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Follow your bliss. — Joseph Campbell
Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” — Hunter S Thompson
This isn't a failure per se, but Suzanne talks about her struggle with cancer and what she took away from that. She learned how to stand up for herself and how to separate work and personal life. She also tells how magic, her bliss, helper her through this challenging time.
Being so accepted at the hollywood Magic Castle.
Suzanne had the opportunity to study under Al Schneider. A couple things she learned from him are in magic, all your movements need to look natural, whether you're putting a coin in your hand or faking it. Also, when you create a moment of magic, give your audience the time they need to fully process what they just experienced. Don't just plow through it. It's very personal to them.
Believe it or not, there's a lot to be learned about your audience from a horse!
• Magicians can be likened to a predator and the audience, prey.
• Communicating subconsciously.
• Reading body language and adjusting your performance accordingly.
• Putting your audience at ease.
• Be aware of your own body language.
The magic is not about her, it's about how she makes her audience feel.
Word of mouth.
Breaking the preconception of the magician and teaching the lay audience about magic.
She wouldn't have tried to do everything. She would have hired people do do things like marketing and other tasks she's not good at.
Suzanne tells about her first interaction with The Professor, Dai Vernon.
Always do what you love.
• The importance of having support from your spouse when pursuing your dream.
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Resources
Books
Finding Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
Suzanne's Black Rabbit Magic DVD
Jonathan Levit's Black Rabbit Magic DVD
Upcoming Restaurant Magic DVD
-->Listed in: Arts
It just doesn't matter. — Katrine Spang-Hanssen
Opening for Barbara Mandrell for a sold out audience.
Performing at the same venue as she did opening for Barbara Mandrell, but for an audience of six. What a contrast!
• Incorporating client's message into the act.
• Memorizing custom scripts. - mnemonic connections. - recording and listening to the script over and over again.
• How to cover when you forget part of your script.
• Brainstorming jokes for the act.
Customization for clients. Scripts, tricks, etc.
Being a person that other people want to be around.
Fear of failure. FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real - Zig Ziglar
Find out why if anything must go on, it's NOT THE SHOW! Katrine tells about how she got appendicitis before a gig, performed anyway, and ended up taking an ambulance to the hospital after her gig. This is the other half of a story that Scotty Meltzer mentioned in his interview.
Don't get hung up on a dream. Appreciate the journey.
• Fear of failure.
• Working with what you've got.
• Most people aren't "out to get you."
Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!
Resources
Books
Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original by Robin Kelley
Feel the World by Noerretranders
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts
Listed in: Arts