First actual paid gig.

[Rneogy]

Hey guys, I've been invited to do a paid gig this weekend. Now I have done many performances before, just not paid.

So I was wondering if I should accept. I was actually invited by a magician in my local IBM ring. Basically, he was supposed to perform at this Christmas church thing. But he's performed many things before for the people there, so he wants me to do 20-30 min, and he'll do 20-30 min.

It's pretty last minute, but I am getting paid. I have performed for this type of crowd before. Mixed children and adults.

I know I don't have everything planned out, but I can still do it.

So what do you guys think? Should I accept?

Thanks,
Rupayan


EDIT: just a little FYI, the other magician is very experienced, so he will help me. So I won't be totally stranded there, if I fail.

 

[Chris W]

Well I'm not experienced in being a paid magician, but I'd say for sure go for it. You have to start somewhere. Either you do awesome or you do pretty good and have a few mess ups. Either way, you will learn a great deal from it.

 

[mr_magic]

Just do it is now or never Rneogy . my best advice just do it.

 

[RickEverhart]

You definitely take it if you feel confident in your abilities. Every time you perform for an audience or crowd you will come away with more knowledge then what you went in with. Everyone of us who does paid gigs started somewhere so now is your time my man.

Make sure you do not perform anything too similar to the magician following you. You'd think that is a no brainer, but I've actually gone to magic shows in theaters and two magicians do an effect that is way too similar or the exact same one mind you and everyone in the crowd is thinking, "Don't you think they would have at least told each other what the other was performing?"

For 20-30 minutes you may want about 4-5 effects. With great patter and audience participation that should be plenty.

 

[Justin.Morris]

Agreed. When people see you perform, and then offer to pay you to do another performance, that is a pretty good indicator that you're ready to put together a show.

 

[RikAllen]

Make sure you do not perform anything too similar to the magician following you. You'd think that is a no brainer, but I've actually gone to magic shows in theaters and two magicians do an effect that is way too similar or the exact same one mind you and everyone in the crowd is thinking, "Don't you think they would have at least told each other what the other was performing?"

I've been to a show like that.

It's like a comedian having an opening act that does the exact same jokes as them, it's going to ruin the punchlines for their part of the show.

I say go for it. If you didn't have plans that night and are capable of performing I don't see why not.

 

[shinichikudo992000]

I know I don't have everything planned out, but I can still do it.

Just make you u know what ur doing.

 

[Rneogy]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I can do it, as I have done things like this before. Thanks for all the advice. Here's my plan for the routine so far.

D'Lites (Maybe, I'm not sure)
Turncoat Prediction (A Jumbo Card Routine)
Cut and Restored Rope
What's Next?
Linking Rings (I have a nice long act for this)
Dresscode - Have my shirt changed to say Merry Christmas.

I know it's kinda short and I will need some more things. Can you guys tell me what else should I add? I've been thinking maybe Zombie ball, but I just got that recently, and I think I need a little more practice.

Thanks,
Rupayan

 

[shinichikudo992000]

everything's good, but I would take D'lites out; I would replace with something more catchy like torn and restore newspaper, or put the linking rings act to the begining.

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I can do it, as I have done things like this before. Thanks for all the advice. Here's my plan for the routine so far.

D'Lites (Maybe, I'm not sure)
Turncoat Prediction (A Jumbo Card Routine)
Cut and Restored Rope
What's Next?
Linking Rings (I have a nice long act for this)
Dresscode - Have my shirt changed to say Merry Christmas.

I know it's kinda short and I will need some more things. Can you guys tell me what else should I add? I've been thinking maybe Zombie ball, but I just got that recently, and I think I need a little more practice.

Thanks,
Rupayan

For 20-30 minutes?!?! Are you planning on going up and just shooting off effects while not talking at all?

 

[Justin.Morris]

For 20-30 minutes?!?! Are you planning on going up and just shooting off effects while not talking at all?

My entire show is 9 routines. That will do me a full hour. But assuming that your patter is not fully scripted, even if each of your tricks averaged 5 minutes, that would be 30 minutes total. It is best to record your practice and see how long each effect is now. Watch it back, write it all down, and try to decide which tricks are too short, why they are too short, and what can be done to make them more full.

If you do this, you will be leagues ahead of many.

 

[Rneogy]

My entire show is 9 routines. That will do me a full hour. But assuming that your patter is not fully scripted, even if each of your tricks averaged 5 minutes, that would be 30 minutes total. It is best to record your practice and see how long each effect is now. Watch it back, write it all down, and try to decide which tricks are too short, why they are too short, and what can be done to make them more full.

If you do this, you will be leagues ahead of many.

Yeah I'm gonna do a little test run for my family, and time it.


And Robert, yes I do talk to the audience, but I've done shows before, and this usually works for me.