Is magic your passion. Entertaining the crowd and making them smile makes you feel good. And you want to turn this magic thing into your career and earn money from it. But the question “Is a magician a good career or not” stopping you . Fear not in this article you are going to get all of Your answers.
Being a magician is a lucrative career option. One can earn a decent living by performing at corporate functions, schools, and birthday parties. But if making money is your reason consider other options.
So, if you are passionate about performing magic and don’t mind earning just enough then read further.
What does a magician do?
The job of magician is to entertain the audience through magic tricks and techniques. They use well practiced sleight of hand and tricks to amaze viewers. Magicians uses props, illusion box, cards, coins or day to day object.
A magician should be able to do unusual things with ease and he/she should be a good communicator. Engaging audience is what a magician must do.
Types of Magicians
There are many branches of magicians based on many factors like tricks they do, their persona etc. Below I have mentioned few of the genre of magicians.
- Sleight of Hand Magician – When you think of magic this is the first type of magicians that come in mind. They uses everyday object and do unbelievable sleights. It is the hardest form of magic because it requires lot of practice and patient.
- Illusionist – The illusionist usually perform in large stages and in front of big audiences. They use tricks that involves boxes, pretty girls and animals.
- Dramatic Magician – When magician uses story structure and plot to show case magic it is called dramatic magic. A magician should have good acting skills along with other.
- Comedy Magician – As the name suggest you have to make people laugh with your gesture and magic performances. Penn and teller are the magicians who are great example of comedy magician. This kind of magic are very commercial. I find this genre of magic to be the hardest because its hard to make people laugh. If something goes wrong while performing then it can backfire.
- Escapologist – Aah have you seen the magicians locked in a box and drooped in ocean. Then they get free without key or any help. This kind of mind blowing tricks are performed by escapologist. Dean Gunnarson is the most famous escapologist.
- Mentalist – A mentalist performs tricks like mind reading, telekinesis, prediction etc. This is my favorite genre of magic. A good mentalist make people think “Is magic real?” Derren Brown is the most notable mentalist present today.
So, choose any one genre you feel you like then get started in that journey. Choose a trick>Practice, practice> Show to your friends and family> Then perform. And if you want to become professional magician and wonder how to get started as magician? look no further below I have that as well.
How does one become a magician?
You don’t need any degree to become magician. You need brute practice and desire to learn magic tricks for hours.
Steps to becoming a professional magician
- Find out more about becoming magician – This is the first step in your journey to becoming a professional magician. and if you are reading this blog post you are in the right route.
- Create Your style – There are many types of magicians. Some are funny and others are dead serious. Some use cards and other uses big props and need huge sets.
- Join magic groups – It can be lonely when practicing magic and thinking about it day and night. So a companion can be the best thing you can do. This will help you in your journey to becoming professional magician.
- Network with other magicians – Networking is crucial for both improving your magic and business side as well. You can get high paying clients with the help of networking with other fellow magicians. It is said that ” Network is net worth”
- Practice performing in front of people – This is next important step that you need to follow. You as a magician your main job is to entertain your people. No matter how well you know trick if you don’t interact and involve audience in it they won’t enjoy. So practicing in front of people is often the best thing a magician can do. It is said that “sweat more in training, bleed less in war”
- Build Your presentation skills – I have a theory that Good magicians have excellent presentation skills. Just like any other skill it will come with repeated trying and failing.
- Learn business skill – Because you are no longer gonna be just magician who performs. As a magic artist you need clients to make money. Getting clients, charging your fee, accounting, marketing all of this you have to do in the beginning. So you have to wear multiple hats while starting. Later when you have excess revenue and your business is profitable you can hire.
Marketing Yourself as a professional magician
You might be thinking “Marketing, I am a magician not a business owner” Doesn’t matter how you perceive marketing. But this is the key difference between starving artists and thriving artists.
Don’t forget you are running a magic business. You provide service to your audience by entertaining them. So, don’t feel ashamed to market yourself and your magic business. There is nothing wrong in it. And trust me it is not rocket science.
The secret of getting ahead is getting started.
Mark Twain
So, let see how you can get started on your journey to market yourself as professional magician.
3 Ways to Market Your Magic Business Online
Nowadays having online presence is not a option but necessity even for small businesses. This can give you more eyeballs to your magic business and can get potential clients contacting you.
Start a website
First step to your online marketing journey is creating your portfolio business website. Don’t get overwhelmed its pretty easy to do you can search on YouTube “How to start website for magicians?” Follow any one video and get started and running your website.
Your website will be your home base where Potential client will come and judge you and eventually hire you.
Build Social Media presence
Next step is creating social profiles on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. A tip for you choose any one platform create content there and refurbish that content to other platform.
Trust me sharing good quality content will build your brand. This is the free way you can do branding of your business.
Paid Ads
This is the last and ultimate step of online marketing. I don’t recommend beginners to start doing it. For beginners start with 1st two steps. Once your magic business is profitable you can try and test paid ads as well.
How long does it take to become a skilled magician?
It completely depends on your personality and what skilled magicians means to you. But you can be sure that it will take time to be skilled magician.
No two person will need same amount of time to become skilled magician. If you do focused practice and find a good mentor you can be skilled magician within 1-2 years of deliberate practice.
Another thing is mindset and perseverance. If you fail to learn a trick perform a routine. Then what you do also matters. Some magicians give up to early. You need to persevere.
A great example of quick learner is Shin Lin he became skilled magician in few years. While he was dedicated and focused others may even take decades to be skilled magicians.
5 Ways magicians can make money
You can earn decent income by performing magic. If magic is your passion and wanna turn it into career.know how you can make money from it.
1. Perform Gigs
This is the first way most magicians start making money by performing gigs. What happens is you get hired by event, birthday parties or group of people, restaurant etc. You perform for people make them laugh for 30 – 40 mins on average, find more about How long should a magic show last?.
After performing, Get your money and enjoy. Rinse and repeat to make more money. This is perfect for most beginners and even intermediate level magicians.
2. Create your own Show
When you create your own magic show people come to see you, rather than going to their place. In such situation people appreciate your magic more compared to gigs. But it is not an easy task to create your own show.
You can go and promote your show locally and charge for ticket fee. But developing a show and performing on stage is what I’ll considered when I am experienced enough. Its very hard to create good show.
Start small first ask your family and friends to come and give feedback. Later as you gain more experience you can go all in.
3. Create and sell magic tricks
Magic industry is divided into 2 groups one performing and other creating magic tricks. If you know lot about magic gimmick and magic secrets and love to construct tricks. Then you can start creating and selling your own magic tricks. there are many market places where you can record your trick and sell online.
But its better said then done, most of the trick ideas you will come with might have been created already by other magicians.
4. Consulting
After creating magic and having experience for years you can do consulting. The famous magicians like Dynamo, David Blaine have supportive team. You can help other magicians to help build and craft magic for them. And once you make a name of yours as someone who creates great magic you can make great money.
5. Teaching
Once you get years of experience creating and performing magic. You can pass down your knowledge to next generation. If you think you know enough and can teach some consider it.
You too once where beginner, and can help new magicians and guide them through video lecture and even physical classroom courses.
F.A.Q
Can anyone become a magician?
Yes, magic is an art that anyone one can learn. But like any other skills, magic also requires practice. Mastering the basics of sleight is easy anyone can do. But after that it is hard even for serious practitioner. That’s why professional magicians are loved so much.
When is a magician considered a professional?
You are considered professional magicians based on 2 factors. First if you are earning full time then and 2nd based on skills. How skillfully you perform your magic tricks. This are the factors after which you can be considered professional magician.
How difficult is it to become a magician?
Yes, It is difficult to become a magician. Becoming a Good magician takes handwork, patience and passion. An excellent magician performs outstanding magic trick, but make it look very easy. Its the ability of a magician who does incredible technique very smoothly.
How much money do professional magicians make a year?
The money professional magicians makes varies depending on many factors. According to bureau of Labour statistics on an average a magicians make $49000 per Year in the USA.