It’s no secret that the entertainment industry is quite competitive, and performers of all kinds must work tirelessly to become and remain the best as a result. Not only does this mean that I have to continue to perfect the tricks that I already have, but also that staying at the top requires constant improvements to my arsenal of tricks and illusions. Still, this doesn’t mean that I don’t love every second of my job and that striving to improve my craft is not rewarding; in fact, I believe that observing oneself become better over time is one of the most satisfying aspects of being a performer. Here are the two largest pointers I have learned for staying current and relevant within the magic industry that may be helpful in boosting your own career!
One of the most important things that an aspiring illusionist must do maintain an awareness of the competitive environment; this means knowing what other performers are bringing to the table and being knowledgeable about new developments within the industry. Attending magic conventions is a fantastic way to achieve this, as they are full of talented individuals who are keen on the newest and most impressive tricks to hit the market. Even within the state of Ohio, there are two significant conventions at which magicians can gather: Magi-fest in Columbus and Battle of Magicians in Canton. A little further out of the way is Magic Live, which is a massive gathering of the world’s greatest illusionists in Las Vegas, Nevada. While this weeklong convention definitely requires a larger time and money commitment than more local alternatives, anyone who has the opportunity to attend will be able to witness the likes of David Copperfield, Chris Kenner, Chris Ramsay, and many more famous magicians in person. I would go as far as to say that any professional magician with a significant following is bound to be at Magic Live, which means that the potential for learning and networking at the event is truly limitless. I have personally attended the convention twice, and some of the greatest magic tricks I know and some of the best friendships I have made in the industry have come out from Magic Live. Regardless of where you are on the map, try to find a magic convention nearby where you can network with peers and expand your playbook of tricks!
One of the other key ways I work to remain relevant in the magic industry is by using the internet to my advantage; not only have I been trying to expand the reach of my own YouTube channel in the past few years, but I have also learned quite a bit while researching and browsing the vast array of magic-based resources available online. One of the teams with which I have recently begun collaborating is Murphy’s Magic, a YouTube channel and magic shop that has been amazing in helping me further my career. While working towards building a larger online presence, I have been learning some new effects, performing them to audiences (normally of a relatively small size), and putting these shots on YouTube where viewers can travel to my website and purchase the trick from my store. This is beneficial to my practice in a number of ways: first of all, it helps to get the word out about a new trick or effect while testing whether or not it would be good to include in an act. Second, it helps me to add another revenue stream to my business that would not be possible without the unlimited reach of the internet. Because of this “two birds, one stone” strategy, I have been able to continue growing my business outwards while still learning more about what does and doesn’t work with audiences. This means that I can stay on the cusp of new innovations in magic by actually testing out the tricks myself!
If any magicians reading this blog are interested in learning more about the new magic tricks I have been working on or would like some input regarding their own creations, please feel free to contact us! We can help direct you towards new tricks that might be useful in your own performance or even provide some guidance that will allow you to innovate on your own.
With this new information regarding how you can stay relevant in the entertainment industry, you are ready to start meeting the people and discovering the tricks that will keep you on the cutting edge of the magic business. Be sure to give us a call or contact us via email if you want a little extra help in getting started and would be interested in taking some lessons!