Written by Some of these tips may not apply to everyone but hopefully every magician can take some of these tips and put them to use when marketing their magic or their tricks.
1. Get a website. Make it look professional and make sure to optimise it for better search engine ranking.
2. Business cards. These should be with you at all times and handed out to everybody that shows an interest in your magic.
3. Online booking service. There are services such as partypop.com and gigmasters.com that can help you get that first job. There is a price but it is very reasonable for the services they offer.
4. Tell everyone. Let everyone know that you’re a magician and you’re for hire. Accept all offers that come your way.
5. Volunteer. Doing some free shows can go along way for helping to get your name out there.
6. Craigslist. Craigslist is a great site for advertising your services and is free to do so.
7. Make flyer’s. These don’t have to be fancy but place them everywhere you can think of.
8. Party planners. Find and compile a list of all the local party planners in your area and arrange a meeting. If your good they will get you work.
9. Newspapers. Do something newsworthy like performing at a charity event and you will be surprised at the results.
10. Email list. Keep an e-mail list of prior engagements and e-mail them annually around the time they booked you last time. They may have a recurring need for show for a birthday party, school event, or corporate function.
11. Community center. Offer to provide magic lessons to the children. These lessons will then get advertised and you’ll get paid.
12. Billboards. Put up a sign on local community billboards with full contact details.
13. Directories. Get listed in local online directories under entertainment.
14. Online. Fill out a free profile on http://everymagician.com
15. Classifieds. Try small classified ads in local newspapers or free local magazines.
16. Articles. Write a general interest article about magic for your local newspaper. Be sure to include your bio information.
17. Schools. Work with your local school, church group, PTA, or other organization to help them do a fund-raiser magic show.
18. Special offers. Make a special offer to book shows. For example, you could offer a monthly special of 10% off if they book you during that month. Offers should be time-bound and encourage signing-up now.
19. References. Get some references that can speak to prospective customers and testimonials to include in your marketing materials.
20. Make some phone calls. Call event organizers, parks & recreation personnel, school administrators, or other individuals who are responsible for booking entertainment. Ask them if they have any needs for you magic services and always follow-up with a letter with some marketing materials.
21. Referrals. Ask for referrals from friends and customers.
22. Car Signs. Get a vinyl or magnetic sign for your vehicle. Be sure to include your phone number (and web site if it’s easy to remember.)
23. Email List. For kid’s show performers, this could be a fan club membership where you e-mail them a trick they can print out and perform a few times each year. In these cases, keep track of their birthday and target an e-mail in advance of the date.
24. Put your name everywhere. Make sure you have professionally done signs for your trunks, cases, and magic tables so everyone knows who you are.
25. Visit your local chamber of commerce. Ask them about upcoming conventions and events in the area. Ask them who the major event planners are in the area and get to know them.
26. Branch out. Think about expanding on the types of shows you do. There are different types of customers for different types of shows.
27. Scouting for magic. Contact you local Boy Scout Council and get a better understanding of the various cub scout packs in your area. Many packs have websites and you can get contact information from there.
28. Perform as much as possible. While you don’t want to undercharge for your services, your goal should be to perform as many shows as possible, and keep busy. Since much work is received via referrals, word-of-mouth, and repeat business, the more work you do, the more work you will get.
29. Keep up the marketing efforts. When you are not performing, treat marketing as part of your job. Look through the preceding list and figure out what you can be doing more of.
30. Create a Facebook Fan Page. You can post information, pictures, videos and more. Fans can “like” your page and stay tuned to your information. Create a link from your web site to your fan page and from you fan back to your web site. Just another way people can keep in touch and find you.
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Thanks, glad you liked the post and don’t worry, many more posts to come so stick around :)