I finally printed out issue #3 of my customer newsletter. It goes in the mail tomorrow and I can finally take it off my to do list.

“Magical Times” is a physical newsletter I make just for my clients. It has cool non-magic related articles (that take me ages to write) along with my current schedule and Magic Castle info. Due to printing expenses and postage, only clients who have hired me to entertain at their events are eligible to get a copy.

Newsletters are a terrific tool for small businesses. They generate business, while at the same time helping to keep you in touch with your clients. Sure… they can be time consuming, but it’s worth it!

Sorry for not writing much lately, but December is the busiest month of the year for professional magicians!

On Sunday I had a show in Calabasas. Tuesday I had a company holiday party in Pasadena. Yesterday I had a strolling magic gig in Brentwood, and tomorrow I’m in the valley somewhere…

I have a lot of fun doing what I do, but make no mistake about it… it’s hard work! Every party I go to requires me to be in TOP FORM, and that can create a lot of stress.

I’m off to Long Beach right now. I’ll write more when I find the time!

My phone rang off the hook last week! I talked to lots of prospective clients, and I booked 6 shows. One of the shows was for October 2010, but the rest were for November and December.

December is easily my busiest month of the year. A lot of companies have holiday parties for their employees, and magic is a crowd-pleaser.

I know people keep talking about how bad the economy is right now… but I’m definitely seeing a huge uptick in calls for shows over the last month. I don’t know if this is a permanent change, or just temporary, but I’m confident that my December will be booked solid.

But who knows? I’ve been wrong before… ;-)

Whoo Hoo!

After many long hours of editing, I’ve finally uploaded my new demo video for my magic shows. Most of the footage was filmed at various private events and company parties. I’ve also included footage from the Magic Castle and a few of my TV appearances as well!

I hope you like it!

I was hired to perform some magic at a partner retreat for a law firm tonight. They wanted some strolling magic during the cocktail hour, followed by a show.

I’m no stranger to performing at partner retreats… but this show was different: The employees were bringing their kids.

Situations where the magician has to entertain BOTH kids and adults are tricky (pardon the pun), because the type of magic that adults like isn’t always the type of magic that kids like. While the adults at this event outnumbered the kids 4 to 1… I knew I was going to have to customize my scripting to maximize the entertainment value for everyone there.

I immediately removed all gambling routines (kids don’t know what a royal flush is). I also added a simple teach-a-trick segment where I taught a the kids a magic trick they could do for their friends at school.

The important thing is to keep it accessible for all ages without “dumbing it down” to the point where you loose the interest from the adults.

All in all, I’m very happy with how the show went. All of the employees were a complete joy to perform for. While I got a lot of wonderful compliments at the end, the REAL proof was in how the children were running around afterward, trying to duplicate the magic they had seen on stage.

I’m currently designing my brand-new Customer Newsletter! A newsletter can be lots of work, but its a great way to keep in touch with my best customers and say “thanks” for their business.

There are a lot of magicians in Los Angeles, and I’m really lucky to be the small success that I am. So I definitely want my customers to know that I appreciate them. Whether they’ve had me entertain at a large company event or a small private party in their home… ALL of my customers are now going to get my newsletter.

I’m going to include a cool motivational article, an update on me, and maybe a crossword or something interactive. The MAIN point is that it will be fun, informative, and interactive.

My goal is to get these printed and in the mail by Friday. Fingers are crossed!

My Independance Day Party went great! I was hired to perform at a country club in the hills, and the audience there was absolutely wonderful. Great people, great staff, and a great atmosphere.

I was especially impressed by the live music. The band was provided by Ace Of Hearts Entertainment. I had met the owner at a networking event before (they’re big in the wedding scene), but this was the first time I’d heard his group live. They sounded great, looked great, and were true professionals.

(By the way… I’m not getting paid to say this! :-)

Seriously though… If you’ve ever tried to hire live entertainment before, you know that there are hundreds of choices out there. It can be hard to hire an band, DJ, or magician you can trust with your important event. I’ve performed at corporate events and private parties all over Los Angeles and Southern California, and I’ve seen my share of mediocre entertainment. That’s why I’m excited about finding this band.

Check ‘em out if you can!

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Being a Los Angeles Magician means that you’ll occasionally be asked to perform on boats. From grad parties and bar mitzvahs to anniversary parties and wedding receptions, yachts are a popular party option. But finding the right entertainment for parties at sea can be a problem.

Why Magic is a Great Entertainment Option for Yacht Parties:
Party hosts are looking for entertainment that won’t take up precious space on the boat, and that will keep all of their guests, regardless of age, entertained during the event. Magicians are a terrific yacht entertainment option for three major reasons:

1. Space is a premium on any yacht, and strolling magic won’t take up any additional space.

2. Strolling magic won’t interfere with your other entertainment. Your DJ can play as loudly as you’d like.

3. A formal close-up show can add variety to the trip, and create incredible memories and festive atmosphere that lasts all evening.

One Problem with Hiring Yacht Entertainment
If your trip takes 4 hours, many magicians will ask that you pay them for the full 4 hours… regardless of how long you’d like them to perform. Frankly, this makes sense. Think about it: the magician is out at sea and can’t book another show that night, costing him revenue.

Still, I suggest that you ask for a discount during the hours they are not performing. A discount is fair to you (you’re not paying top dollar for downtime), and fair to them (they deserve to be compensated for their time). It’s a win-win!

See you at sea!

I have a magician friend who doesn’t like performing table-side magic in restaurants. He says that restaurants don’t pay well, and that it isn’t worth his time. I disagree.

Here’s why I choose to perform at weekly restaurant venues:

1. Performing in restaurants brings in business. I get phone calls from people who’ve seen me at a restaurant and who want to hire me for a party or event. Best of all, since they’ve already seen me… I don’t need to convince them that I’m good!

2. Having a weekly engagement also allows potential clients to see me perform before they hire me. Nobody wants to hire bad entertainment for their important event. With a short visit to my restaurant, they they can be sure they’re hiring the right entertainer for their event.

3. Lastly, restaurants are great for working on new material. The best way to polish a newly created magic trick is to perform it… A LOT! “Does my new trick have a good ending?” “Is that new line funny?” The only way to know is to get flight time. And the more you perform… the better you get. Experience is extremely valuable for ANY artist.

FYI: Having a magician is also great for the restaurant! They get an entertainer whose main focus is customer service and keeping the guests happy. Having a magician also helps the restaurant stand out from the crowd in a competitive market like Los Angeles.

Sure… restaurants aren’t going to pay $1,500 per day like a trade show. But the experience and new business contacts you make will pay off BIG TIME down the road.

By popular demand… I’ve returned to The Warehouse Restaurant in Marina del Rey! My table-side performances are from 11am – 2pm, every Sunday Brunch.

I’m really happy to be back. This will be my third summer there, and I’ve made a lot of friends with both the regular customers and the staff. The Warehouse is a Marina del Rey institution, serving the famous and famished since 1969.

Stop on by any Sunday for a fantastic waterfront view, a HUGE buffet, and magic from yours truly.