Ideas? Maybe, possibly, hopefully? (Job related frustrations)

[YRAMagicMan]

First of all, I'm thankful that I have a job! Second, I got a job helping a magician sell a few tricks, I'll list these later, but my issue is this, only 2 of the tricks are any good, at least in my opinion. The tricks my boss focuses on are, in this order, the d'lites and hummer floating card, the sponge balls and the invisible deck. I think from this list it's rather obvious which tricks I like (sponges, invisible deck) and which ones are ehhh. My boss has presentations planned out for me for most of these tricks. My question for you guys is this, do you have any ideas for making my performance of these tricks fun?

I'll hopefully help you guys answer that question by giving some background info. I've never done anything with IT before now, and to be honest, though I get decent reactions, it's not my thing! I've worked d'lights before, but again, I'd rather do the sponge balls. I'm a big fan of self working, or nearly self working, tricks, but there's something about the floating card and the d'lites that just isn't appealing. Any help?

I am planning to talk to my boss about this, but I just started, so now's not the time. He has me on a tight leash as far as material. Right now, it looks like I'm only allowed to perform the tricks that we sell, and only when they're in stock. (UUUUGGGGGHHHH! MUST... DO... SPONGE BALLS! want. to. do. card tricks!) Hopefully you guys, especially those of you who've been around for a while, can give me some advise.

 

[Luis Vega]

First of all, I'm thankful that I have a job! Second, I got a job helping a magician sell a few tricks, I'll list these later, but my issue is this, only 2 of the tricks are any good, at least in my opinion. The tricks my boss focuses on are, in this order, the d'lites and hummer floating card, the sponge balls and the invisible deck. I think from this list it's rather obvious which tricks I like (sponges, invisible deck) and which ones are ehhh. My boss has presentations planned out for me for most of these tricks. My question for you guys is this, do you have any ideas for making my performance of these tricks fun?

I'll hopefully help you guys answer that question by giving some background info. I've never done anything with IT before now, and to be honest, though I get decent reactions, it's not my thing! I've worked d'lights before, but again, I'd rather do the sponge balls. I'm a big fan of self working, or nearly self working, tricks, but there's something about the floating card and the d'lites that just isn't appealing. Any help?

I am planning to talk to my boss about this, but I just started, so now's not the time. He has me on a tight leash as far as material. Right now, it looks like I'm only allowed to perform the tricks that we sell, and only when they're in stock. (UUUUGGGGGHHHH! MUST... DO... SPONGE BALLS! want. to. do. card tricks!) Hopefully you guys, especially those of you who've been around for a while, can give me some advise.

Hello...

I believe you are looking at the tricks with magician eyes...the hummer card has gotten a lot of people into magic...because...c`mon...it`s looks awesome!! and the idea of just buy it and then perform it amost out of the box..it`s more awesome...it`s the same with the D`lites...buy them...read the instructional for a couple of min...and BAM!! you produce light from everywhere!!

Sponge Balls and Invisible deck are good...but they both require some practice, misdirection and some patter....

Edit; truth is..it`s not your choice to make...if he is selling those..it`s because they work fro the bussines..and I am afraid he has the last word...he is not going to change the tricks just because you are not comfortable perfoming them...although you could suggest new tricks..

 

[shinichikudo992000]

my friend, sounds like you are a beginner-ish teenage magician, but that's beside the point. Come on man, you are working now. Working isn't always fun. Learn to love what you have to do or you will hate your life.

 

[RickEverhart]

Most magicians who own brick and mortar shops LIKE and NEED to sell tricks that most laymen can do right out of the box as Luis mentioned. If a mom and her two children walk into the shop and they want to buy a few items, you better believe the owner is going to show basically self working miracles so they can get the instant gratification.

The bosses decision is probably to get them hooked first and they will become repeat customers. Purely smart business.
Don't take it as he doesn't think you can do other material, it is just that he knows what sells well and brings them back.
A DVD or card trick that may require some sleight isn't going to do the job.

 

[YRAMagicMan]

my friend, sounds like you are a beginner-ish teenage magician, but that's beside the point. Come on man, you are working now. Working isn't always fun. Learn to love what you have to do or you will hate your life.

Good advise!

I'm 19, and I've been doing magic for 5ish years, so you're kinda right with your guess of my "status in life."

@rick and @luis Thanks for your perspective, both of you always have helpful things to say, and I usually learn something new from you guys. I'll try to look at things differently now.

A little more background on my position. I'm working at a theme park. I had a job at the same park last year, but it was much different. Last year I could perform whatever I wanted. I was essentially a busker who got paid by the park. I did some advertising and selling, but my method was different, and the props/books were mostly not as good as the ones I'm selling now. (I'm certainly thankful for the improvement there.) So right now I'm in what I'll call, "mindset shock." I can't perform the same stuff, but I'm in the same environment, and because I'm in the same environment I've got a similar mindset to last year. Last year I had to think about how to draw a crowd and keep them entertained. This year I've gotta think about selling, which is a totally different mindset. I don't think this info will change any advise that's already been given, but if anyone can add to what's been said now that there's some new info that, would be cool.

 

[AndrewJ]

I believe you are looking at the tricks with magician eyes...the hummer card has gotten a lot of people into magic...because...c`mon...it`s looks awesome!! and the idea of just buy it and then perform it amost out of the box..it`s more awesome...it`s the same with the D`lites...buy them...read the instructional for a couple of min...and BAM!! you produce light from everywhere!!

Alright. I agree and then some.

These are the notorious "packs small, plays big" that has become such a horrible catchphrase in the industry. Fortunately, these effects can actually live up to that silliness. Your hands are moving, the props are moving, and everyone gets to see. If you're performing these effects to ten people then you're performing it to all ten of them.

A card trick will have you performing to one person. Nine other people will try to remember why they care what the card was.

Likewise, these effects have something that regular card tricks don't: a profit margin. Your boss needs an incoming source of money. Without that, he can not pay money back out to his employees.

Likewise, it sounds like your customers will decide in the spur of the moment that they want to do a magic trick. People in that position most certainly do not need to be taught the things you are hoping to sell them. They probably don't want to take that time to learn how it's done. You will have frustrated them and exposed things needlessly.

 

[TheatreHead]

I sell magic in a market in my city, and basically, the market mentality (at least at this market) is:
"I'm not particularly looking to spend any money today, but if there's something that catches my eye, I will buy it". Basically, you have to get them to impulse buy. You have to make them want to buy your product, by whatever means.
Generally, with selling magic, the thought pattern of the customer is: "Boy, I wish I could do that trick. Oh? I can learn how to do that in 10 minutes? That's great. That'd also be a great present for the kids. I'm going to buy this."

That being said, you have to be a sales person. It doesn't matter if you're the worst performer in the world, if you're making sales, then it's good enough. At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the sales. So basically, you have to give each trick a selling point.

e.g.:
"This trick is extremely easy to do, anyone over the age of 8 years old can learn how to do this trick in less than 20 minutes."
"This trick fits in your pocket, so you can be ready to perform magic, anytime, anywhere."
etc. etc. etc., I'm sure that you can think of your own.

(Stuff like sponge balls don't really have the selling point of "this is really really easy to do". When I sell them, I word it differently. "To do this trick, you only need to learn how to do one thing, and that one thing will let you do everything you saw me do just then, and only takes half an hour to learn.")

On the d'lites, in my experience, d'lites sell like crazy. I freaking hate the things as well, but they sell, so I push them. I love doing my 7 minute pseudo NLP routine based around the invisible deck, but if I can get just as much, or even more profit, from doing the d'lites with a demo that takes 60 seconds during which I'm pitching the product at them the whole time, I'm going to do the damn d'lites. (I make a far cry more sales on d'lites than on invisible decks).

Same with products like the pen thru bill. I detest the trick to the core of my being, but I push it. Why? Because it makes sales. Because it puts money into my pocket. Because it puts bread on the table. I wouldn't dream of stopping them, even though I hate the damn things with a passion that burns, because I'm not in a stall to do magic, I'm in a stall to make money.

The first priority is sales. Once the quota is met, then I start mucking around and doing ACRs and triumphs for customers who I can tell aren't going to buy, but first and foremost, you are there to make money, not to do magic.


This is how selling magic to lay customers works. If you haven't had any experience as a salesperson before, post here again, I'll try and help you out.

 

[William Draven]

Bottom line: You're a demonstrator, not a magician in this capacity. Your job is to perform tricks that are instock, visual, easy to do, and get the audience excited about the notion that they too can perform these miracles for a minor investment.

You're looking at this all wrong. You're thinking that you're a performer doing magic... You're not. Your a living advertisement system.

If you want to do card tricks, or your own material then get a job hopping tables at your local pizza place. However, if you're working for your boss, then you need to demonstrate the magic that he wants to sell. I'm sure he knows his market, and I'm sure he knows what effects will earn him a good pay. I would just suck it up, learn what he wants you to do, and do it. This isn't the time or place to be your own act.