Creating Demand

One of the biggest problems that we magicians face is trying to create demand for ourselves. How do you make those phones ring? How do you fill up your inbox? With a few simple changes to your attitude, you can create demand for yourself quickly and easily.


Be good


Seriously. Be good; be polished. Know what you're doing. If you're a horrible magician you're phones aren't going to ring...ever. You need to put practice into your magic and be constantly challenging yourself. Make sure you can do your routine blindfolded and in your sleep. Your hands should never hesitate; your sleights should be flawless.


Now that's a lot to demand huh? WRONG! It's the standard. You should get it into your mind that perfect is the average for magicians, even if it's not. Perfect is what you accept from yourself, and nothing less.


Get out there


No one knows how good you are better than, well, you. So start performing! Show a little something to people you meet. Go out! Carry cards with you. Be extroverted. 


Now I know that this one might be the hardest for a lot of you. It's not easy spontaneously introducing magic into everyday situations. But something as simple as intentionally dropping a coin or something and vanishing it when you pick it up does it just fine. Michael Ammar said he used to carry around rubber bands and would drop them at places he would be so that when someone asked him to do magic, it seemed spontaneous. That's what we're looking for: planned spontaneity. But it can't happen if you don't get out!


Get those business cards working


This goes along with the getting out there, because you can't hand out business cards at home! But try to get them to someone in a way that they're definitely going to look at it, remember you, and call you.


How? Try brushing up on effects and routines that use business cards. That's a pretty easy way to do things. Another option is to slip a business card on the person while you're performing. They reach into their pocket/purse/shoe/mouth later and pull out your card. They'll have no idea how it got there and they'll remember you.


Be professional


Finally, and this one should go without saying: be professional. When someone asks about Criss Angel or David Blaine or whomever, remember that what you say next reflects not on them, but on YOU! So when you bad mouth Criss Angel, all the potential client is seeing is unprofessionalism and anger. Instead say something like "He's an excellent entertainer" and move on to talking about something else.


Also, make sure your website doesn't look like you made it in the 90's. No bright blue background with red frames and yellow text (think the old TAOM site). No flashing banners, no animated gifs. Think professional and streamlined. This isn't to say that your site can't be unique or have a grunge feel or whatever. Just make it professional.


Another tip is to write out a phone script that you use every time a client calls. This way, you sound professional and you don't forget to ask anything.


Well, that about covers it for this go-round kiddies. So get out and go perform!