| When you get to the stage that you think you are | | | | look tacky), like this: |
| good enough to perform for real people for real | | | | "AFFORDABLE CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINER", and |
| money, it is time to start thinking. Up until now, magic | | | | then in smaller text, something like "Joe Bloggs is a |
| will have been fairly straightforward; you buy a book | | | | young children's entertainer who prides himself on his |
| and cards, practice for months, and can do magic. It | | | | fun yet affordable shows, leaving all the children with |
| begins to get harder here - you need to market | | | | a smile on their face" or something like that. Mention |
| yourself accurately yet in the most positive manner | | | | balloon models if you can, juggling or whatever.Once |
| possible.This is by no means a definitive guide to how | | | | that's done, you may strike gold, or you may get |
| to market yourself for magic, but it is how I started | | | | nothing. Either way, this is by no means the end. The |
| my magic career at the age of 15, as well as some | | | | next thing to do is make up some flyers - half the |
| other ideas from other people. My story isn't a | | | | size of A4 (or Letter, for you Americans!) is perfect |
| fascinating story - I'm not a stage magician, I don't | | | | - there's enough space for your name (remember, |
| really do street magic, and I haven't been on TV. | | | | you are selling yourself, so your name needs to be |
| However, this hasn't been from failure, this is simply | | | | reasonably dominant), what you do (i.e. Children's |
| because I made a decision early on that magic would | | | | Entertainer - initially this should be bigger than your |
| not be a full time career for me. The advice I will | | | | name as your name won't mean anything), some |
| give you could help you on your way, as I was | | | | catch phrases (i.e. balloon modelling, every child |
| certainly on my way, to a magic career; alternatively | | | | involved, fun for all, parties included etc.), your |
| you can learn from my mistakes and know what not | | | | contact details (I wouldn't recommend your address |
| to do!If you are young and have little money to | | | | for privacy issues) and then a little bit about yourself |
| spend on advertising, a simple thing you can do is | | | | so that they know who to expect. There's absolutely |
| create a professional looking sign out of some paint | | | | no point in trying to come across as a 40yr old |
| and wood, and place it in your house window, in the | | | | magician if you are actually 15, because as soon as |
| garden or anywhere else you can think of. My first | | | | you open the door, your client may have huge |
| sign was very simple, and most likely very tacky, but | | | | second thoughts. Honest is the best policy, and being |
| it did the trick, and cost nothing! I initially had about | | | | young never affected me.These flyers can then be |
| five words on it, "CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINER, | | | | put up in your local post office, youth groups, |
| YOUNG, CHEAP, FUN" or something like that, and my | | | | nurseries/kindergartens, primary schools and so forth. |
| phone number. That is something, when looking back, | | | | However, something that I found reasonably |
| that I would have changed. "Cheap" is not a word | | | | successful was door-to-door mailing, simply stuffing |
| used much in marketting - when was the last time | | | | the flyer through the door of every door in my |
| you watched an advert for a supermarket and they | | | | neighbourhood (having said that, it did rule out a |
| described themselves as cheap? However, it got me | | | | career of a post man for me - lots of scraped hands |
| my first show, so who's complaining!What I would | | | | going through the letter-box, scary dogs, and even |
| recommend would be to make your sign, ideally on | | | | an imitation dog barked at me!)In this modern age, a |
| your computer (just to make stencils to paint the | | | | website is a very good addition to your marketting |
| wood, or laminate it, or whatever, but don't make it | | | | repertoire. |