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Step 3

You have created individual magic trick files for all of the effects in your performing repertoire. A customer calls you on the phone and books you to perform at their next event. When you are ready to design a show for a customer here’s what to do:

• Create a folder called “Customers.”
• Within the “Customers folder create a subfolder using the customer’s name. I don’t use a date with the folder because I expect to have several shows over many years in this folder. For example Barb Jones calls me up and books me to perform at her son’s birthday party. I create a subfolder called “Barb Jones” in my “Customers” folder.
• Create a word processing file (called a “show file”) using the following naming format:

Customer-Month-Day-Year In the above example, I might create a file called Barb Jones-01-15-2005.doc. This file would contain the show I performed for Barb Jones on January 11, 2005. This record is great to have when she rebooks you for a show. You have a permanent record of all of your shows.

The show file has the following format:

I. Details of the show including time and place.

II. Opening - including any music or other setups

III. Trick 1 - Trick Name

• Items Needed to Perform Trick
• Setup Notes

IV. Trick 2 - Trick Name

• Items Needed to Perform Trick

• Setup Notes

V. Trick 3 - Trick Name

• Items Needed to Perform Trick

• Setup Notes

VI. Trick 4 - Trick Name

• Items Needed to Perform Trick

• Setup Notes

VII. Closing - including any music or other setups

I create the show file by going back to my magic trick files and cutting and pasting the first three sections into the show file. Using the order suggested in Step 2 makes this faster. All of your hard work in the prior step makes this step really quick. What you end up with is a detailed checklist customized for each show.

The next article shows the most important and final step in setting up your magic show.

Copyright © 2005 J.L. Siefers, All rights reserved.

J.L. Siefers has been performing great magic for years. He has written extensively on many topics in magic. He has shown hundreds of people how to successfully learn to do great magic tricks.

Want to learn to do magic? Click now to get your FREE magic tricks! http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com

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Tags: magic shows, Magic Tricks, magiciansmagic shows, Magic Tricks, magicians

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Imagine that you have walked out on stage and just finished your opener to rave applause. Your show continues like a well tuned sports car until you get to the fourth magic effect. You introduce the magic trick and the audience quiets in eager anticipation. You begin to patter and suddenly realize that the trick was not set up correctly. You can’t finish the trick. You are standing in the middle of the stage alone with no out and nowhere to go. The crowd’s silence shifts from anticipation to nervousness. What do you do?

I have been there and it’s no fun. A witty retort like “you didn’t want to see this trick anyway” or “bad magic” is a disservice to both the performer and the audience. I want to share with you my simple method of setting up magic shows so this does not happen to you. This method will improve the professionalism of your show, free you to concentrate on your performance, and improve the quality of your show as viewed by your customers. In short, it will improve your magic shows and make your current customers beg to hire you again and again. Why? You look and act more professional and your customers will reward your increased professionalism with more bookings. Happy customers mean happy magicians!

I assume you have a computer. This process can be done manually but it is much easier with a computer. You will need an office suite (word processor, spread sheet, presentation software, etc.). Most computers come with the software already loaded on it. If you need a good FREE office suite download Open Office at: http://www.openoffice.org

Step 1

You need to create a word processing file for each trick you intend to perform at future magic shows. As soon as I get a new magic trick, I create a file for it in my word processor. The file name uses the following format:

Trick-Month-Day-Year.doc

For example, my Substitution Trunk Illusion file is Sub Trunk-08-12-2004.doc. This file name translates to Substitution Trunk Illusion file created on August 12, 2004. The file naming system allows me to easily keep track of my most current file version and have a backup of prior versions if I ever choose to go back to them. I keep all of my magic trick files in a folder called “Magic Tricks” on my computer.

Next time we will find out exactly what to put in this file.

Copyright © 2005 J.L. Siefers, All rights reserved.

J.L. Siefers has been performing great magic for years. He has written extensively on many topics in magic. He has shown hundreds of people how to successfully learn to do great magic tricks.

Want to learn to do magic? Click now to get your FREE magic tricks! http://www.Learn-Great-Magic-Tricks.com

Sign up for The Magic Way newsletter! It’s FREE: http://www.learn-great-magic-tricks.com/magic-newsletter.html

Tags: magic shows, Magic Tricks, magiciansmagic shows, Magic Tricks, magicians

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