Discourse in Magic

We sit down with Toronto’s own James Alan to discuss some of the finer details of crafting a show. This episode was particularly exciting because James has been a fan of the show. Not only did he come prepared, but he was also able to blast misconceptions that we had spoken about in previous episodes. The most out of the box idea that we spoke about was creating your own intros. While that seemed to come naturally out of the situation, and would seem standard for any magician, it often goes both not written or worse, not thought out. Since he’s produced a ton of shows he can recognize those little tiny things that add up over time which makes the difference. That’s exactly what this episode was about. We tend to often talk in big ideas in Discourse in Magic, and James really helped us slow down to understand that it’s the little things that count the most. The subtleties. Another idea that came up is standing your ground. Especially when you’ve defined your character, you need to be able to see that some things might fit into your show but other things might not, and you need to be aware of that. We also touch on standing your ground when it comes to less than pleasant Gigs. Like many things it all depends on where you are in your magic career, what stage you’re at. The stage you’re at in your magic helps dictate a lot of things. It dictates the business that you do, but also dictates the process of implementing magic in your show when you don’t have a lot of expirience. Putting together a show might mean doing more tricks than you have rehearsed. While late in a career, you know exactly what tricks take exactly how long, and have exactly what reaction. It gets’s harder and harder to swap things out. I would love to know what you think of the episode in the comments below! Thanks Ps. You should Follow James On Twitter, he shares some funny stuff! Contact Facebook Twitter Website

You know him from Comedy Network! You’ve watched his Viral Videos! You know him Cupcake Wars (okay maybe not) the one and only Justin Willman joins us on the podcast! If you’ve never heard of Justin pause the episode and go watch this! Willman has a great approach to Magic on TV and on Youtube. One of the unique approaches that we haven’t heard is a real fight for quality over quantity online. Most advice is “start producing amazing content regularly”. Now it’s a given that quality is important. But to put it first over quantity is unique advice. The other thing which is an important distinction is that Justin is not producing online content to make money online. He doesn’t sell magic tricks. He wants people to book him for more stage time and fill more seats. People often forget that producing content on youtube does not make you a YOUTUBER. That’s a good thing. You don’t need to vlog. You can just make 1 or 2 or 5 GREAT VIDEOS. While we think he’s the expert on TV. Some of the videos that he’s produced on the internet have been amazing. Specifically the ones that have to do with his recent wedding. We spoke about them in the episode but they’re worth watching: More than anything Justin is a the king at making sure his magic has purpose. If you just watch his Comedy Network special you’ll understand how great of a job he does at being current. Tricks about Social media, Pot (since it’s pretty IN right now), technology advances and other very topical subjects. His magic magic makes sense! Check out his recent video about social change that we were talking about in the episode!   So! If this is the first time that you’ve heard of Justin (doubt it!) then you should Subscribe on youtube and check out his other social medias Contact Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube

In this perfectly timed episodes days after David Blaine’s special we have the very bright Daniel Garcia telling us about the ups and downs for consulting. Garcia consults for many of the major TV magicians including Cyril, Dynamo and of course David Blaine. With projects under his belt like The Ultragaff Deck, Garcia projects, Bent Touch Slink, Torn, Torn Too an countless videos projects and lectures all over the world. There is no surprise that this guy is one of the most highly recommended magic consultants around. In this episode we walk through some ways to be creative in the morning if you can handle it. It has to do with using the creativity that your brain has in the morning, and then creating magi from your first hand creative thoughts later. I recommend listening to the episode to hear the way that Garcia walks through it If you haven’t caught Garcia’s last major appearance, on the project he was working on: the new David Blaine special. If you haven’t checked it out, here it is:   UPDATE: JK the link is broken. Rights and stuff. Bummer I guess Garcia gives us prime advice for how to get creativity and inspiration from things like a book cover. I don’t want to give away too much, cause it was an awesome episode, but here’s episode 33 with Daniel Garcia Contact Facebook Twitter

If you’re reading this it means you care about modern media and social media. For that you are already a winner. Of course it’s not as easy as signing up for social media accounts to get fans, you need to make quality content. If there’s anything to take out of the episode overall is that you need to start producing content today. While sometimes people are smart enough to come up with a ‘formulaic’ way to make a viral video, or viral content, the way to learn how to do that is by doing it. If you want to videos? Start recording. Podcast? Do it up. Amazing Instagram photos? do your best. You need to be a content creator. The most important thing that we learned from Flom in this is that he came into magic with the approach of TV first. I think that’s a great approach especially in todays age. The way that you look in footage and online is almost as important as your show. More and more that’s the place where potential clients book you first. That might even be the place where the bulk of your fans live. Making sure that you content is TV ready, or more TV quality.  you can share it. While I couldn’t do a justice to the details that we went in in the episodes here are some tips about each social media platform (and our links to go follow us) How to Master Each Platform Facebook As Justin explains on Facebook since they’re scrolling through the content, you need to catch their attention, and can be watched on silent. A ton of people watch videos on silent, and you need to have something that’s going to get their attention immediately! Twitter This platform is hopeless for growth. Here’s my advice, ask good questions to semi-famous people and tag them. You’ll be blown away that they respond, and that other people like it, retweet it and follow it! Instagram Also tough. Although we don’t give great advice in the episode here is my advice. Since it’s curated content, people care about their Instagrams. In niches specifically, there are communities that form on Instagram. Make sure to engage in others, like often follow others and comment on others. Make sure you produce regularly Snapchat/Instagram Stories It’s tough now, but the lesson we got from Justin in the episode was to get in early. Justin was in on snapchat very early, and with that was able to build a massive community of people who follow him. The other thing is that snapchat is good if you have an exciting life. It’s hard to provide exciting daily content if you have a desk job. Most importantly you have to upload daily Vine Vine is dead. (The links goes to Instagram) There are a TON more details in the episode about how to master social media as well as some other forms of media. If you want our social media guide head over to: discourseinmagic.com/social-media-guide-magicians  Contact Justin Facebook Twitter Instagram Snapchat

In this episode we get to sit down with the Magic Podcast king himself Julian Mather. Julian has basically done everything under the sun in terms of magic. He’s performed, taught, created 2 podcasts, and created tons of products that are meant to help magicians with the commercial side of magic (often the most difficult part). Julian walks us through some straight up tips as to how to do it, and he’s very clear about the benefits of the online world and exactly how to do it. Here are some of the highlights from the episode: Don’t open a restaurant unless you have a starving crowd The number one piece of advice is to make sure that there is a market for you to do what you want to do before you do it. Marketability trumps creativity every time. If you want to be able to sell what you do without struggling you need to create something that you already know people want Don’t take a NO To heart You have no way to know why someone might say no to what you offer them. Maybe they’re really busy, maybe they had a bad day, maybe it just isn’t the right time. Don’t take a NO to heart! Keep being in front of their face The reason why Email marketing campaigns tend to be the best is because you can make sure that you show up in front of someones face a certain number of times a year. If you can be the go to magician for someone, then you’re the person that they’re going to call. Keep showing up in front of them, and they will remember you! Email Marketing With all of the new social medias, and methods of interaction, email marketing is still one of the most successful. Why? Because most business is still conducted over email! If you can show up in peoples inboxes regularly providing content for them specifically they’re going to remember you, and book you when the time comes! This is the service we use called Convertkit. It’s software for email to automate everything. We chat all about it in the episode.  Try it here! Originality Being original is not as important as being commercial. Make sure that you can provide a product that people are going to buy. That might be difficult if you’re trying to create all of your own content. Create content online When you create material for the online world it’s there forever. By committing to an online project people  an see that you are committed, since you created a certain number of episodes, blogs or whatever pieces of content you’re creating. Contact www.kidsentertainerhub.com www.kidsentertaineracademy.com www.tailormadecareer.com www.magicianbusiness.com  

If you want to know what type of procedure to use to get booked, you’re in the right place! The one and only Wes Barker brings the heat on episode 29 by chatting all about how to get booked. Since he’s made big waves in a short time, he’s tells us exactly what to look for in branding and why cold calling colleges is so fun and easy! If you don’t know anything about Wes, let me give you a rundown. Canadian boy, very original magician. He’s performed on: Americas Got Talent, Penn and Teller Fool Us, Wizard Wars, Just For Laughs, and even throws his own theatre shows! The one thing that’s obvious is that he’s creative and clever. He has original effects for the stage, and he knows what he’s creating for. Wes is a go getter because he calls all of the right people and knows how to talk. If you want to learn exactly who to call and what to say this is the episode for you! He explains why it’s easy, and it was honestly a blast to listen to him talk about some of the conversations he has on the phone. If you want to have a good laugh while learning exactly how to take action for your magic, and getting booked. I would tune in to the episode As he and Lou explains in the previous episode: by doing magic full time, you’ve free’d up some 40 hours a week to do marketing. You should be spending those hours reaching out. In this episode he explains that he uses cold calls to target clients. It’s especially easy when he’s chatting with students. Since it’s their job to book talent, when he calls as talent to get booked it helps a ton. If you aren’t interested in college market, try col calling another industry. He mentions old age homes, but feel free to get creative! In the episode we chat about the importance of branding. Wes knows that you need to be able to sell exactly what you do in a few words or a tagline. While you give up the potential to have a wide number of gigs, as we mentioned before you will get more and better higher paying gigs. One of the thing that Wes explains is that while it’s totally okay to do special shows that are unique for clients “You want to do as much of the magic that you want to do as possible”. Find the niche or the group where you can do your show over and over again. That’s what’s going to be your money maker. I’ve found that to be totally true, and I would recommend it to anybody! We also chatted with him about TV specials. If you are interested in learning how to pitch your magic. Contact Facebook Twitter Youtube Vimeo  

In episode 28 we had the wonderful Lou Serrano chat with us about exactly how to book gigs. As he says, there isn’t one way to get gigs, but there are 50 ways. Lou basically walks us through 5 or 6 of them in this episode. We decided to chat with him about getting booked as a magician mostly for closeup magicians in the beginning stages. The more advice that we try to get that’s applicable to us, the better chance we’re going to be able to apply what we learn, and actually test it out. As Lou explains it by the end of the podcast, the only thing that we really need to do is take action. There are enough steps and tips in this episode that as long as you take action you will see rewards. Just do it! We chat about the benefits and pitfalls of cold calling, cold emailing and snail mail. Sending a standard newsletter in the mail. Since no performers are using regular mail, you’ll have the upper hand. He tells us exactly how he gets restaurants gigs. Since some gigs could last years and years, its worth playing the numbers game and reaching out to dozens of restaurants to find the best one. You can tell by the way Lou speaks and the volume of content that he shares that he knows his stuff. As a matter of fact he has a website called www.sixfiguremagic.com , Enter the coupon code: “discourse” you can get 20% of his product. If you’re a magician looking to get better at the business and marketing of magic, this is a product for you! If you’re interested but you aren’t 100% sure about his Six Figure Magic. I urge you to google it, and read some reviews. It seems like everyone has only amazing things to say about the program, and it you’re looking to invest in yourself. This is the way to do it! Contact Website (lou Serrano), sixfiguremagic.com, LouSerranoMarketing.com Facebook Twitter Youtube

If you are into creative methods for magic, then I recommend listening to this episode. Mathieu Bich turns the standard notions of creativity on their head by chatting about the process he goes through to create magic, More importantly he chat’s about the purpose of his magic creation: himself. That seems to be the key to creating awesome magic. Finding the solutions you want to be found is easier to find by looking inside for the solutions instead of outside to resources. He walks us through his journey of becoming a creator and exactly how and why he creates, and even walks us through what he was thinking and feeling in his Penn and Teller Fool Us performance. You can check this out here, and watch what he does to Penn and Teller: Since his first appearance on Theory11 to his FISMm and Penn ant Teller debut, he’s made his mark on the modern magic community.  His approaches are unique, so is his insight, and most importantly he has his own theory, ideas, and structures that he uses to invent, and make his magic awesome. Bich is one of this generations best creators. He’s not looking for a 400th way to do the same trick. He’s innovating, and he’s innovating for the one magician he needs to create for: himself The best past was that it was such a refreshing take on being creative in the art of magic. Most people subscribe to the thought of endlessly sharing and endlessly learning. He is a true artist in the sense that he is so much more focused on creation for his own purpose instead of that of others.   Since often his purpose for creating new magic methods is so that it can make him happy, and please his needs, he ends up creating mountains more magic, for his own benefit. Which of course he likes because he created it for himself. I would love to know what you all think of this interview Check out some of his awesome magic:   Contact Website Twitter Let us know in the comments below what you thought about the episode!

In this episode we sit down with the amazing Youtube star Daniel Fernandez. When I say amazing youtube star, I’m both referring to his 720,000+ subscribers, and his amazing videos that have me smiling, and watching to the end. If you haven’t seen it yet, here is the video where he mentions flying out one of his subscribers: But if you haven’t seen his youtube channel yet, I would totally recommend checking it out. He creates awesome videos all about magic. And he’s someone making massive waves in the youtube world spreading the same awesome magic that we’re a part of. Check this out too!   **If you are looking for the contest that we mentioned in the episode feel free to click here and try to win! Otherwise, I really recommend checking out Daniel Fernandez’s videos, channel and everything else. He’s a great voice for youtube, magic, being flirtatious with ladies, and tons of other areas he was a real blast to chat with.   Follow da tings! Contact Twitter Youtube Instagram   PS. If you like amazing magic tips and resources for becoming a better magicians in performance and business. Sign up for our newsletter –> We’ll send you our Theory Resource Guide for FREE <3 See you there! Awesome! Welcome to the newsletter family <3. Go check your email we sent you a free Gift! There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. Email Address I'd like to receive the free email course. Subscribe

In this episode we sit down with the one and only Chris Wiehl to chat about being original and creative with magic effects. If you aren’t familiar with Chris’ magic, check out any of the following tricks he’s created. And All Will Be Consumed Rip Senses Arthur – PS. If you want to win ARTHUR you can try out our September Contest If you just watch any one of those you’ll get an opportunity to see how creative he is. In the episode he explains that he doesn’t just sit down and create a new effect. Ideas, premises, and methods all come from jamming, learning, compromising and being open. Interestingly enough we speak about some of his favourite performers, who surprisingly enough aren’t big method creators. There’s some inspiration for you if you aren’t a big method creator (THATS US TOO), there are so many different ways to be creative. We once again want to thank Chris for donating ARTHUR for the winner of Septembers contest. If you haven’t entered the contest yet, click here to go see how you can win an arthur Contact Website Twitter Facebook Instagram   PS. If you like amazing magic tips and resources for becoming a better magicians in performance and business. Sign up for our newsletter –> We’ll send you our Theory Resource Guide for FREE <3 See you there! Awesome! Welcome to the newsletter family <3. Go check your email we sent you a free Gift! There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again. Email Address I'd like to receive the free email course. Subscribe