| When you get to the stage that you think you | | | | |
| are good enough to perform for real people | | | | "AFFORDABLE CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINER", and |
| for real money, it is time to start thinking. | | | | then in smaller text, something like "Joe |
| Up until now, magic will have been fairly | | | | Bloggs is a young children's entertainer who |
| straightforward; you buy a book and cards, | | | | prides himself on his fun yet affordable |
| practice for months, and can do magic. It | | | | shows, leaving all the children with a smile |
| begins to get harder here - you need to | | | | on their face" or something like that. |
| market yourself accurately yet in the most | | | | Mention balloon models if you can, juggling |
| positive manner possible.This is by no means | | | | or whatever.Once that's done, you may strike |
| a definitive guide to how to market yourself | | | | gold, or you may get nothing. Either way, |
| for magic, but it is how I started my magic | | | | this is by no means the end. The next thing |
| career at the age of 15, as well as some | | | | to do is make up some flyers - half the size |
| other ideas from other people. My story isn't | | | | of A4 (or Letter, for you Americans!) is |
| a fascinating story - I'm not a stage | | | | perfect - there's enough space for your name |
| magician, I don't really do street magic, and | | | | (remember, you are selling yourself, so your |
| I haven't been on TV. However, this hasn't | | | | name needs to be reasonably dominant), what |
| been from failure, this is simply because I | | | | you do (i.e. Children's Entertainer - |
| made a decision early on that magic would not | | | | initially this should be bigger than your |
| be a full time career for me. The advice I | | | | name as your name won't mean anything), some |
| will give you could help you on your way, as | | | | catch phrases (i.e. balloon modelling, every |
| I was certainly on my way, to a magic career; | | | | child involved, fun for all, parties included |
| alternatively you can learn from my mistakes | | | | etc.), your contact details (I wouldn't |
| and know what not to do!If you are young and | | | | recommend your address for privacy issues) |
| have little money to spend on advertising, a | | | | and then a little bit about yourself so that |
| simple thing you can do is create a | | | | they know who to expect. There's absolutely |
| professional looking sign out of some paint | | | | no point in trying to come across as a 40yr |
| and wood, and place it in your house window, | | | | old magician if you are actually 15, because |
| in the garden or anywhere else you can think | | | | as soon as you open the door, your client may |
| of. My first sign was very simple, and most | | | | have huge second thoughts. Honest is the best |
| likely very tacky, but it did the trick, and | | | | policy, and being young never affected |
| cost nothing! I initially had about five | | | | me.These flyers can then be put up in your |
| words on it, "CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINER, YOUNG, | | | | local post office, youth groups, nurseries |
| CHEAP, FUN" or something like that, and my | | | | kindergartens, primary schools and so forth. |
| phone number. That is something, when looking | | | | However, something that I found reasonably |
| back, that I would have changed. "Cheap" is | | | | successful was door-to-door mailing, simply |
| not a word used much in marketting - when was | | | | stuffing the flyer through the door of every |
| the last time you watched an advert for a | | | | door in my neighbourhood (having said that, |
| supermarket and they described themselves as | | | | it did rule out a career of a post man for me |
| cheap? However, it got me my first show, so | | | | - lots of scraped hands going through the |
| who's complaining!What I would recommend | | | | letter-box, scary dogs, and even an imitation |
| would be to make your sign, ideally on your | | | | dog barked at me!)In this modern age, a |
| computer (just to make stencils to paint the | | | | website is a very good addition to your |
| wood, or laminate it, or whatever, but don't | | | | marketting repertoire. |
| make it look tacky), like this: | | | | |