My blog of things and thoughts
Inspiration for the art of magic in marketing
24 March 2011
I am currently reading a book on marketing, and although not finished (to be honest, I'm barely a quarter of the way through it) I've found it to be more inspirational than the bookshelf over-flowing with magic books.
I (and I assume other professional magicians) find it tricky to walk the balance between being artistic and being a corporate whore.
Ok, that's the extremes, but really having a routine that is new, fresh, touches emotions, takes risks but may occasionally fall flat, not work or not engage everyone fully, versus a solid routine that will even entertain those that have been at the free bar since 3 in the afternoon. These latter routines are normally the solid workers, tried and tested a million times by every working magician since the first caveman said "pick a card".
No doubt those that have seen me perform will hopefully agree that I manage to fall into both criteria, depending on the booking. Perhaps that's not enough?
How (or perhaps even if) this book effects my act will have to be the subject of a later blog as I think it's best to finish the book first. The point of this post is really to say to other magicians that to be inspired they should look beyond the magic books and DVDs, see a bigger picture and not just focus on adding another trick to the repertoire for the sake of it.
Even if action isn't taken it's something I am now aware of, and the matter looked into. Better to be aware than to be naive and offer a sub-standard product.
I also have no doubt that nothing I have said he is original and unique, but every now and again I come over all judgemental but would prefer to voice my opinion on my blog rather than get in an arguement with some teenager on Magic Bunny who has learnt to do a Faro shuffle and now thinks he knows best. (He doesn't know best, and neither do I, but at I am aware of that!)
I (and I assume other professional magicians) find it tricky to walk the balance between being artistic and being a corporate whore.
Ok, that's the extremes, but really having a routine that is new, fresh, touches emotions, takes risks but may occasionally fall flat, not work or not engage everyone fully, versus a solid routine that will even entertain those that have been at the free bar since 3 in the afternoon. These latter routines are normally the solid workers, tried and tested a million times by every working magician since the first caveman said "pick a card".
No doubt those that have seen me perform will hopefully agree that I manage to fall into both criteria, depending on the booking. Perhaps that's not enough?
How (or perhaps even if) this book effects my act will have to be the subject of a later blog as I think it's best to finish the book first. The point of this post is really to say to other magicians that to be inspired they should look beyond the magic books and DVDs, see a bigger picture and not just focus on adding another trick to the repertoire for the sake of it.
Even if action isn't taken it's something I am now aware of, and the matter looked into. Better to be aware than to be naive and offer a sub-standard product.
I also have no doubt that nothing I have said he is original and unique, but every now and again I come over all judgemental but would prefer to voice my opinion on my blog rather than get in an arguement with some teenager on Magic Bunny who has learnt to do a Faro shuffle and now thinks he knows best. (He doesn't know best, and neither do I, but at I am aware of that!)
