The Magic Industry Changed. Did You?

1. Juggling being a radio DJ, gym coach, MC/ Hosting gigs, and the odd magic show here and there?

2. Perform around the region more, get more magic gigs, perform my own shows.

3. I’m still on radio, i create social media content for companies, and i own the gym now. Magic gigs are hard to push in Brunei – I’d love more. I performed in Manila before COVID in a sold-out show alongside some of my fav magicians(who i can call my friends) and I performed my own stage show last year.

4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
I wish it could be a full time thing – but I’m being realistic haha. I’d love to design a few more shows and get more performance time under my belt. I wish I could break into the gig scene in Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore.

5. I just don’t know how to get there, or how to break into that scene. I have a son now as well so I’m juggling a million and one things – but i wouldn’t have it any other way.

6. I would love to read/ hear more “being a professional” content for lower “magic as a career” regions like South East Asia (or similar to it). And E, please bring out more stage routines or higher-end routines that professionals have tried and tested throughout their career! :)

I have been fortunate and lucky enough to be a full-time professional magician for over 38 years. So in 2019, it’s no different than right now. I was lucky to be able to make it through COVID by doing virtual shows. Thankfully, show business and gigs are back in business again. I think things are looking up for the most part. Look at the Vogue article on magicians being back. That’s great for us. My goal is the same as it always has been: to make a living doing what I love. Nothing’s really staying in my way right now except just the fact that there’s always room for one more gig.

Ellusionist has helped me quite a bit, especially with my card magic. The Unreal Card Magic, part one and part two by Ben Earl are unbelievably good trainings. If anything, all the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 really made me appreciate even more being able to make a living performing magic, doing what I love. What we need is really, really good magicians out there who are not only great at performing but are also smart marketers and businessmen. That’s how we elevate our industry. You can be the greatest magician in the world, but if no one knows about you or if you’re horrible at managing your business, you can be out of business very easily.

I hope this is where we answer your questions Mr. Remy Meermans. First of all, I have been doing mentalism for about 55 years and some magic also. I retired in 2018, because of a stroke made my left eye blind. I went to Physical therapy to help. My dream was to continue my mentalism and go on gigs that were Women’s Clubs, mobile homes venues, High School’s venues, and private parties. This is not a hobby (I hope) I just love performing. I got a lot of advice from Max Maven, Richard Osterland, Jim Sisti and others to perform, dress and how to stage a show. Mentalism has been since 1987 predominately. I am retired but still doing gigs when I can (I do not drive because of eyes). My goal has always mentalism since 1987.
I do have a hard time because of age and my left eye being blind (it looks good just like a regular eye, no surgery on it, it is just blind).
I would like to be considered because there are some effects at “Ellusions” I would like to have.
Thank you very much
Luigi

1)Before 2019 I already was a professional magician.
2)To always do better gigs.
3)Still strolling magician and opened my own theater…
4)Get spectators coming to my theater to see my shows… having time to work on a fism act…and selling my creations.
5)Many things but keep fighting.
6)In fews ways I guess.

1. Unemployed
2. Didn’t do magic at the time
3. Magic
4. Have Magic as my career
5. I’m not sure exactly how to
6. By providing advice on how to do it full time/ as a career