The Importance of Versatility
The Importance of Versatility
Whether you are a Full-time Pro or a Weekend Warrior being a versatile Magician means more gigs and more opportunity for you to showcase your Magic Skills. There was a time that most Magicians did a little bit of everything. Some might say the old expression “Jack of All Trades – Master of None” but this does not have to be true. As a Full-time pro for over three decades I have come to learn the importance of versatility. I personally perform all the following types of Magic gigs and offer the following services -
1. Strolling Close-up Magic
2. Trade Show Presentations
3. Stage Shows for Adults
4. Stage Shows for Kids
5. A fast-paced 10 minute Cabaret Show
6. Customized Corporate Events (scripting and the Magical Appearance of provided products into my presentation)
7. Themed-Costume Attire when requested
Like many Magicians I started very young and the only type of Magic that a 10 year old can do is Kid Shows. So in doing Kid Shows that is where I got my start in performing. Later I developed a 20 minute silent Manipulation Act that also included Doves and Parakeets which I performed mainly on Cruise Ships and at a small Theme Park. It was one day that a Cruise Director took me aside and said that they loved the act but they needed me to provide more time on stage. From there I started doing talking Comedy Magic to provide the extra needed time. Back then Close-up Magic was around but it was not as popular (at least not by TODAY’S standards). Michael Ammar, Paul Gertner, Ricky Jay, and a few others would make the occasional television appearance but other that Stage Magic was the thing. Eventually Close-up Magic did call out and I started performing many nights at Restaurants. From there Corporate Events and Trade Shows would follow.
The reason I mention all this is that I believe in the importance of being a well-rounded Performer and to be able to provide many different styles of Magic Entertainment has been a huge plus for me. This is especially true of whatever the current economic conditions would be. If the economy is slow then you can fall back on doing more Kid Shows for an example. And if the economy is robust then Corporate Events and Trade Shows was where the opportunity would be.
Even if you are not a full-time Performer it is great to always find a challenge and perform outside of your “comfort zone”. So if you are a Kid Show Magician take up Close-up. If you are a Close-up Magician take some new Magic to the Stage instead. If you are an Adult Comedy Magician add a few Kid Show Tricks to your repertoire and so on.
Become a “throw-back” Variety Entertainer like the ones that could sing, dance, tell jokes, do impersonations, and so on. Leave a comment below of a Magician like that who can expertly switch from one Magic genre to the next. Then figure out what you need to work on and challenge yourself.
1 Comments To "The Importance of Versatility"
Write a comment
Enter the code in the box below:
Note: HTML is not translated!