The Professional Magician

#089 - Have you ever felt like your client was trying to run you over? Take advantage of you? Or just be difficult for no reason? In this episode, I tell several stories from my performing career where I felt like a doormat for the client's foot. This led to me changing and enhancing my communication strategies with the client. Learn from my mistakes! And in this week's episode of Trick...

#088 - This episode was inspired by my wife. She introduced me to the phrase used as the episode's title. It's a discussion about fees, why you shouldn't set your fees based on your own perspective, and some simple advice to raising your fees I got from my copywriting mentor. This week's Trick Talk features Anthony Lindan's Extreme Telephone Game! Get Extreme Telephone Gam...

#087 - I LOVE David McCreary's style of performing! He's so character-driven and a shining example of how to perform in a way that suits you and your personality. I laughed out loud several times the interview. David is funny, humble, and very knowledgeable about performing magic in the real world. Come learn from my wife's favorite magician! Get David's Penguin Live lecture HE...

#086 - Did you attend Kidabra? If not, you really missed out! In this week's episode, I walk you through my experiences at Kidabra, along with my thoughts on some of the brilliant performers there. If you have any interest in kids show performing, you'll want to attend next year. I know I do! Plus, this week's Trick Talk features Bill in Ice by Wolf's Magic! Get Bill in Ice HER...

#085 - Get ready to laugh! Canada's premier comedy magician David Merry is my guest on this week's episode. I personally love David and feel he is one of the greats. But despite his rapid-fire, devil-may-care attitude, it's clear he thinks deeply about his craft and spends copious amounts of time perfecting and refining his material. I loved my time with David and you will too! This...

#084 - Are you ready for your next 'season?' Many of us have seasonal bookings. Libraries book summer reading shows. Companies book holiday entertainment. And the list goes on. As you enter these seasons in your performing calendar, are you ready for them? In this episode, I outline some simple things to do to make sure you're ready when those shows come in! And this week's Tri...

#083 - Want to up your game and make your show business run smoothly and successfully? You need SOPs. Not just for your shows but for your business, too. SOPs are the lifeblood of any successful business, no matter how big or small. Find out what SOPs are and how you can implement them into YOUR business by listening to this episode! This week's Trick Talk features a review of PredicTABLE by...

#082 - Want to sell more shows? Listen to this guy! My interview this week is with Brian Richards, a long-time full;-time professional magician. I loved his first interview and am thrilled he agreed to join me again. If you're looking for effective ways to market your shows, listen to this episode multiple times. So much gold from Brian! This week's Trick Talk is on Healed & Sealed,...

#081 - In this week's episode, discover why a teacher at a recent gig told me I was NEVER coming back to their school...and why this was a good thing! How's that for a teaser? And this week's episode of Trick Talk features a review of Chairs from Bill Abbott Magic! Chairs info HERE By the way…whenever you’re ready, here are 5 ways I can help you grow your magic business to book more...

#080 - I wanted to tackle a lighter topic for this week's episode, so this is an all-review episode. Do you like Rubik's Cube magic? If so, you're going to love this episode! I review a whopping SIX cube effects! Each has embedded links to tyake you right to the product pages, too. - The Solution - The Cube - Cube in a Bottle Project - Easy Cube - RD360 - RD Insta By the way…wheneve...

#079 - How are your magic presentations? Are they up to date? Magic presentations tend to have incredible staying power. When magicians find something that works, it may be used for decades...or longer. But like any art form, what was once acceptable may not be now. Or it shouldn't be. In this episode I cover my thoughts on updating magic. plus I reveal an entire presentation I use to update...

#078 - Are you a 'magic for all occasions' performer? There's nothing wring with that. Many magicians enjoy performing in multiple markets. I do that myself. But from a marketing perspective, 'magic for all occasions' is a detriment to higher paying gigs. Join me for a fascinating discussion that's sure to upset some performers! And in this week's Trick Talk, I r...

#077 - Have you ever considered working with agents? I have, both good and bad. But the right agent can be a goldmine if you handle yourself properly. My guest, Jay Mattioli, really knows how to work with agents. He shares a lot of great tactics to remember when working with agents. Plus Jay is an all-around great guy and he produces some of the best props and routines in magic! This week's T...

#076 - What do you want out of your magic performing? If you said, "I want more shows," that's not enough. Planning and executing your magic performance goals requires specific actions and goals. This may not be the sexiest topic, but it is a fundamental one if you want to become a successful professional magician. In this week's Trick Talk, I review the Incognito Pet Carrier!...

#075: How are your promo pictures? Taking pics of yourself with your cell phone is not the way to publicize your magic. The right photos can make or break your career! My guests this week are experts at getting the perfect headshot or action shot that captures attention and represents you in the best light. Plus they work a ton with entertainers! Want to ramp up your magic business? Listen to thes...

#074 - How do you know if you're making a good decision? Show feedback is one way. Another is finding yourself a mentor. I can't even begin to calculate the value of the good mentors I've had over the years. In magic, many of us make all of our own decisions. But sometimes, it's great to have someone to help you. And this week's episode of Trick Talk features an oldie but...

#073 - Performing is about big stuff and little stuff. Many of us get wrapped up in the big stuff. What tricks to buy? How to market. But the little stuff matters, too. What to cut out from your script. A better place to put your prop so your show is smoother. Kidabra czar Mark Daniel joins me for this episode to talk about the small stuff that elevates good shows to great ones. And we talk Kidabr...

#072 - How many tricks should you do in a show? Recently, a listener of the podcast asked me about this. It seems like a simple question. But if you're just starting out, it's a perfectly valid question. And the answer depends on several factors, including your market, your performing style, the length of the show, and more. It's a fascinating topic and I had a great time exploring...

#071 - Cody Fisher is a real-world worker in every sense. He's done it all: corporate, trade shows, children's birthdays, school shows, and now he's on cruise ships performing in multiple countries around the world. He's also released several wildly successful and critically acclaimed product releases to magicians. I've been friends with Cody for at least 15 years and am t...

#070 - Have you ever been 'in the zone' during a gig? Or maybe the opposite, you just didn't 'feel it' for a gig? Athletes talk about accessing the perfect state of mind for maximum performance. Here's the good news: magicians can use the same mental tools as world class athletes! This simple, easy-to-use technique will allow you to access your personal perfect state...

#069 - Whenever I have the opportunity to talk to Louie Foxx, I always feel depressed after. Weird intro, right? But Louie is a MACHINE! He's always creating, polishing, improving, and striving to be the best he can be. I'm not nearly as ambitious as Louie, but I want to be! This audio will inspire you to be better. You'll appreciate everything Louie has to say because he's liv...

#068 - Ever lose your props on your way to a gig? This episode is for you! Many performers have released their set list of routines they can put together on the road if they lose their luggage. This is my rendition, super-sized! In this episode, I provide my set list for a 40-45 minute family magic show I could put together on the road. I also reveal my 'doomsday scenario' mentalism show...

#067 - Dean Hankey has built his entire magic philosophy on the concept of giving. He approaches the world of performing with the attitude of "How can I help you?" It's a wonderful mindset that can help you by helping others. Dean shares what I feel are several million dollars ideas in this amazing interview! In this week's Trick Talk, I review an oldie but a greatie: Airhead R...

#066 - Are you doing all the little things that matter? There are big global things our business needs to do for success. But there are hundreds of little things you need for long-term success too. That's what this episode is about. Think of this as a 'potpourri' episode where I cover several smaller topics. This is a fun episode! Great ready to take notes! And in this week's T...

#065 - I am thrilled to bring you this amazing interview with mentalist Christopher Carter! If you've seen either of his Penguin Live lectures, you know he's a force to be reckoned with. Christopher shared incredible thinking, business strategies, and more. You will learn a LOT in this incredible, thought-provoking interview! In this week's Trick Talk, I review Chicken Sword by Wolf...