The Professional Magician

#064 - The other day, my wife listened to me on the phone with a client. Afterward, she said, "You know, you really build rapport with people quickly.' That's no surprise with all the hypnosis and NLP training I've had. In this very special episode, I'm going to reveal several rapport-building strategies to help you better connect with clients and book more shows. Why? Peo...

#063 - Wow, what a fun interview! I've been a big fan of Mark's work for years. Interviewing him was so much fun. He shares an entire philosophy of building a business. Unlike many magicians (myself included!) Mark took a very calculated approach to building his business. He reveals solid business strategies, performing tips, and much more. Along the way, I even torture Mark with several...

#062 - Have you ever considered creating theme shows? Regardless of the market, theme shows are a wonderful way to set yourself apart from the competition. Theme shows are also perceived as more valuable than standard shows, too. Theme shows give your magic structure, a 'hook,' and a reason for existing! After 20+ years as a professional magician, I consider myself an expert at creating...

#061 - David Regal has released a massive collection of effects and props over the years that are each tailored for professional workers. His methods and routines are innovative, practical, and rock-solid. In this interview, David and I discussed his approach to magic, behind-the-scenes stories as a producer on "The Carbonaro Effect," and much more. You're going to enjoy David'...

#060 - How 'current' is your magic? Your marketing materials? Your script? Your jokes? In this episode of the podcast, I reveal how my lack of knowledge in theatre culture led me to making assumptions about how one magician was conducting himself backstage. From there we move into areas where you ca examine the entirety of your magic business to see what you can update and improve. And i...

#059 - Are you asking your clients all the right questions? Unless you ask your clients the questions you need, you may be risking unneeded problems at your show. In this episode, I'll reveal key questions you need to ask your clients. Gather the right information ahead of time and your shows will run much smoother! And in this week's Trick Talk, I review Hathaway Cards by Martin Lewis!...

#058 - If you're a family or kid show magician, you've likely heard of Ken Scott! Ken's been performing for decades. He's performed at the White House multiple times, served as past President of the IBM, and still has time to perform hundreds of birthday, school, and library shows a year. And he even has his line of stellar magic props. Ken knows what he's doing! Listen, l...

#057: Want to find out about an underserved market? Middle schools are a GREAT opportunity too many magicians ignore. If you go into a middle school with the right material, they can be the most fun you'll ever perform. I've done my fair share of middle schools and even had an entire episode of the podcast devoted to it. But my guest for this episode is an expert and has performed thousa...

#056 - For the first episode of the new year, I take you through the 'bare-bones version of a course I used to sell for $200 that detailed how I quit my job and became a full-time professional magician in six months. Yes, a lot of the techniques in this episode are outdated, but it;'s a great introduction to the concept of "massive action." Want to succeed in this business? You...

#055 – Do you know SEO? Short for Search Engine Optimization, it’s all about Google ranking your website in search results. Over the years, I’ve found it’s one of the most misunderstood aspects of modern marketing among magicians. Those who downplay it and say SEO “doesn’t work” or doesn’t matter anymore have no idea what they’re talking about. I’m certified in SEO and have used ethical current te...

#054 - In this fascinating interview with long-time performer Michael Ross, we cover an eclectic array of topics. Michael is someone who cares deeply about magic and thinks about it in many ways that most do not. This was a fascinating interview with an intelligent, deep thinker of magic. I learned a lot, laughed at some of Michael's incredible stories, and came away thinking about my craft o...

#053 - In this solo episode, I reveal simple tips to make your demo videos shine! I'm not a special effects director, graphic designer, or Hollywood director. But after performing professionally full-time for 20 years, I've found what works well for effective demo videos. Even if you've been crafting your demo videos, you'll find worthy tidbits in this episode that will help yo...

#052 - I celebrate the ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY of The Professional Magician Podcast with an AMAZING interview with my friend David Moreland. David is an accomplished magician and actor. He's acted in TV's "Will & Grace," "Seinfeld," and many others. He also was in the movie Legally Blonde. David brings his acting talents to magic shows in ways I really admire. The te...

#051 - I'm THRILLED to have Paul Romhany on the podcast! I've known Paul for years and brings an overabundance of knowledge to every subject in magic you can think of. Plus he's really funny! This episode focuses on BOR and theme shows. As the publisher of VANISH magazine, Paul gets to rub shoulders with the who's who in magic plus many world-famous celebrities. He's got a...

#050 - I don't think I've ever met someone as passionate as my guest on this week's episode! Claude Haggerty has been making a ton of money in the fundraising market for decades and he's going to reveal some amazing secrets to this lucrative market in this week's episode. But for Claude, it's much MUCH more than just about the money. For Claude, it's about making...

#049 - How do you feel about your competition? How do you deal with your competition? What do you say when a potential client asks you about your competition? I have some rather unique views on how to handle these questions. In this day of social media where "everyone has a voice," I think you have to answer these questions very carefully. Check out this solo episode and see what my answ...

#048 - Have you heard of how powerful branding is but are not quite sure WHAT branding is? My guest Billy Diamond "de-mystifies" branding and reveals how and why you should consider branding for your entertainment business! This is one of those "next level" concepts that can help you reach even greater heights with your business to (say it with me) book more shows at higher fee...

#047 - Want to succeed as a family entertainer? Listen to this guy! In this week's episode, I interview Robert Baxt, World Traveler, Magic Creator, and Awesome Family Magician! Robert shares some of his philosophies for performing in this engaging episode. Robert has strong opinions on how to run a show business, with an emphasis on the word BUSINESS. He's been a massive success in this...

#046 - Are you getting the most you can out of the markets in your work? In this solo episode, I break down some of the ways you can work on different markets deeply. This simple philosophy is one of the reasons I was able to hit a six0figure income and maintain it for so many years (including 2022!) The basic idea is to give your clients more reasons to book you. If you can help them solve proble...

#045 - How do you foster creativity? That's the heart of my interview with Steve Petra. Steve is an incredible performer who mixes magic with puppetry and true storytelling to create incredible journeys for his audiences. I've been wanting to interview Steve ever since I launched the podcast and he truly over delivered. Get ready to sit under Steve's learning tree. With his guidance...

#044 - Should you turn gigs down? That's the heart of this week's episode. Many of us (myself included) go through phases when we feel like we have to take every gig that comes our way. But there are certain situations where I feel it's a good idea to turn away a show, both for your mental health as well as your reputation. You may not agree with me in some of my choices about when...

#043 - Do you enjoy performing illusions? Even if you aren't an "illusionist," many of you still use one or two large pieces in your shows. There is an art and elegance to performing illusions that other branches of magic don't have. Unlike sleight of hand, illusions often use the entire body. My guest for this week's episode is Peter Loughran. He's been building illu...

#042 - Are you offering your clients different packages? If you're not, you're missing out on a powerful way to increase your income. In this solo episode, I outline powerful secrets in package selling. It's a way to increase your income by having upsell options available. And it's a simple way to increase your closing ratio. Instead of your clients asking themselves, "Do...

#041 - Wouldn't it be nice to hop in your Delorean and go back in time? Are there things you wish you could tell your younger self? Running a magic business is just that - a business. Many of us (myself included) have made a ton of mistakes over the years running our business.  If you're just starting out, this episode will help you aviud the mistakes many of us veterans have made. My sp...

#040 - In this solo episode, I tackle Internet scams for entertainers. I reveal what scam recently tried to trap me along with my analysis of the big 4 warning signs a scammer is trying to take advantage of you. If you have never encountered this before, this episode could prevent you from losing a LOT of money! Also, in this week's Trick Talk, I review Brain Food by David Parr! By the way…wh...