So recently Ive been seeing a lot of posts on the facebook magic groups on things like, how much to charge, how to get gigs, how to act at gigs At the end of the day as markets vary, locations vary, situations vary, which seem to escape a lot of people there has been so much bad advice. A lot of this advice seems to be very EGO fueled. Any true pro performer knows that a little bit of humility goes a long way with clients.
I wanted to share a bit of long time Geno wisdom which has worked very well for ME …
When I was young, my mentor the late great Keith Harris of Orville fame (a very famous English Ventriloquist) said these pearls of wisdom to me.
“be nice to every one on your way up, as you may need them on the way down”
This was his way of teaching a few things all at once. Keep my EGO in check, don’t cause trouble at gigs, be adaptable, keep my pricing workable, as in don’t try and rape every client for all I can get out of them, and more …
Each year over here in China we have a many magic and comedy festivals which I love take time away from my tour show Geno’s World to perform at, because I get the chance to hook up with old friends and meet one ones from back home.
I chose to live in China as I met my wife and I love it here, but it is not without its challenges sometimes. So to meet up with magic buddies is a treat for me.
Anyway here I am, almost 40 years as a pro (almost 20 of those here in China) and still going strong, I have just been confirmed for my 21st festival with the same theme park chain.
I truly believe that one reason for my rebooking so many times is All because I have tried to work on that ethos that my mentor tough me all those years ago.
“be nice to every one on your way up, as you may need them on the way down”
Now I won’t say I’m on my way down yet, and I hope to be smart enough to retire before I am, I still have a successful tour show and enough TV and media stuff that keeps my name selling tickets. BUT the ethos holds well at ANY GIG …
If you are selling out a hundred thousand seater stadium then yes, you can demand 1000 green MnM’s or your not going on …
But for the rest of us, bite your bottom lip and smile.
Take the money, pay your bills and you are a successful professional performer …
Any pro performer knows, we have chosen to work in the most awesome, incredible, horrible, awful profession there is. It beats you, it challenges you, It lifts you, it exhilarates you. I wouldn’t do anything else …
So take the good with the bad. keep smiling, and remember …
you could be doing a job you hate …
As an after thought something that took me years to understand, I started my pro career as a street performer during Covent Gardens 80s glory days, most of us had HUGE egos that regularly clashed, one performer who was JUST liked by everyone, never had issues with any one … Duncan Trillo owner of Magic Week. One of the nicest, most humble people you could ever meet …
hehehe the proof was in the pudding … I just hadn’t realized that yet …