S8E12: Al The Only - General Practice Magician
In this interview, Al The Only talks about how he's found success in being a "general practitioner" of magic. He also talks about how he came up with his brand of Al The Only.
\nFor over 35 years Al has traveled the country with his magic, performing for corporate clients doing their trade shows, conventions, business meetings, hospitality suites and holiday parties. This includes companies like Apple, General Motors, Coca Cola, AT&T, and McDonald\u2019s. You may also remember him from \u201cAsk The Only,\u201d which was his column in the Magic Menu where he fielded questions about the business side of magic. Today he\u2019s here to share his thoughts on show business with us. \xa0
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\nSuccess\xa0Mantra\nPerception is everything.
\nDon\u2019t sweat the big stuff.
\nYou never know when you\u2019re making a memory. \xa0
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\nBeing a General Practitioner of Magic\n\u2022 Defining general practitioner as it applies to being a full-time magician.
\n\u2022 Accomplishing the needs of his clients\u2019 magical needs whatever they may be.
\n\u2022 If the client asked him if he could do something, he always said yes.
\n\u2022 Talks about \u201cniching down."
\n\u2022 Weren\u2019t really any gigs he wouldn\u2019t take, but there are some that he wishes he had been able to do.
\n\u2022 Talks about how he\u2019s now in the school show market and how he couples them with corporate gigs he\u2019s doing.
\n\u2022 Talks about some of his selling techniques and strategy.
\n\u2022 How he travels with two shows.
\n\u2022 He has two of everything he does.
\n\u2022 Talks about the most unusual show he did which was being hired to steal from a department store.
\n\u2022 Talks about hiring a colleague sometimes to help serve the client in which he becomes the producer of a show. \xa0
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\nOther Topics Covered\n\u2022 Being \u201cpresent\u201d with the people you\u2019re performing for.
\n\u2022 Talks about some of the things he did to get gigs initially after getting laid off from his day job.
\n\u2022 You can get anything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want in life. \u2014 Zig Ziglar
\n\u2022 How his full-time restaurant job was the foundation of his business.
\n\u2022 Talks about his branding of Al The Only.
\n\u2022 How his name is instantly recognizable.
\n\u2022 Does the name make the individual, or does the individual make the name?
\n\u2022 His take on successes and failures.
\n\u2022 Dealing with multiple time zones.
\n\u2022 It\u2019s not about the magic, it\u2019s about the people you\u2019re working with. \xa0
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\nFailure Moment\nTells about how he\u2019s lost all his money three different times within his career. \xa0
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\nFavorite Success\nThe relationships with his clients. \xa0
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\nParting Advice\n1.\xa0Don\u2019t do free shows.
\n2.\xa0If you think a show is out of your league, pass it up\xa0to another pro.
\n3.\xa0Never say you can\u2019t do something for a client.
\n4.\xa0Don\u2019t believe your own PR.
\n5.\xa0Marry a spouse with a job that has benefits. #tongueInCheek \xa0
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\nRecommended books and resources:\nNote: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we\xa0earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our\xa0podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our\xa0affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks! \xa0
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\nResources:
\nWe all have smart devices, but the smartest device we have is our brain! Listen to people. Listen to your friends.
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\nBooks:
\nThe Business of Restaurant Magic by Al The Only\xa0(Out of Print)
\nConfidential Booking Reports by Dick Ryan (Out of Print)
\nDoug Scheer\u2019s book Entertaining Education (Also listen to\xa0Doug Scheer\u2019s Interview)
\nDanny Orleans The Art of Presenting Magic for Children
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\nWhere can we find Al The Only?\n\n\n