Magician

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Parties, Special Events, Celebrity Events, Trade Shows, Corporate "meet-and-greets", Seminars, Wrap Parties, Bar Mitzvahs, Weddings, and more!

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. My advice is that they should check me out and hire me!

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. That they should check all the sites they are interested in and they'll get a feel for what kind of performer they are hiring.

Q. What questions should a consumer ask to hire the right service professional?

A. What will you do for me? Are you also easy to work with? Do you have any referrals? What ages do you perform for? Is it a family safe show?

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. What they actually want. Also, will there be a band or DJ? How loud will they be and will a Magician be able to be heard?

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. It's a combination of who I am and what I do - I like to be different from other magicians and push the envelope magic wise as much as I can.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. Being able to entertain people! To be able to add wonder, amazement and laughter to the audiances life is gratifying beyond belief!

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. There are two types I get all the time. The first only cares about the price, and the other is more interested in getting the best performer who is right for their event. I know what my show is worth and do a great job. 90% of my business are repeat clients so I must be doing something right!

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. There are so many - getting hired for the Manilow on Broadway tour, all the celebrity events, the wrap parties and all, but my favorite was being hired by Amtrak to work as an on-board entertainer on three of their routes (mostly The Coast Starlight) which I did for 5 years, over 3000 contracted shows!

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. That magicians are all different. You should not hire a kid show specialist to work a dinner party, trade show or corporate event, and vice-versa. Always get the performer who is right for your event!

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I was painfully shy as a kid, but found that magic brought me out of my shell. I enjoyed entertaining people and I was getting hired more and more - so I decided to do this for a living - and I LOVE it!

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I was hired by mega-movie producer Robert Evans to work the bridal shower of Cassandra Huysentruyt who married Paramount Pictures head honcho Brad Grey.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. I'm always learning, experimenting, and "improv"ing. Anyone who thinks they know it all actually knows very little.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. Good solid entertainment pays off all the time. The excitment comes from having the right entertainer performing for the right event.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. My most recent project is the finale of my stage show. The cost was low, but the research and development was massive. It changed a pet routine I've used for 20+ years, but the new ending changed a "middle of the act" routine to the grand finale! It took about 2 years to get it just right.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. There are different prices depending on which show I am doing (strolling, table magic, stand-up, stage, emcee) and for the time involved. The time involved depends on how big an audiance there is (as it involves different effects, PA's, etc.)

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Practice as much as you can, watch everyone they can (but don't copy, strive for originality) and work as much as they can doing charitable shows and other low or no pay events and leave the paid shows to the professionals. Keep it up and you'll be a professional soon!

Q. What is your greatest strength?

A. The ability to improv given the situation or the people involved. If you are "stuck" in the show, and something else happens some magicians are lost. I've worked through eartquakes (and kept everyone calm and safe), the most bizarre inturuptions, etc. I've seen it, done it, can keep the show going no matter what!

Q. What are you currently working on improving?

A. Due to the economy, I'm currently working on widening my customer base, and making the best of every show to help.