The Magic Industry Changed. Did You?

1. I hadn’t even discovered magic yet. In fact during the pandemic I had all the time in the world dedicated to learning the craft and homing my skills.

2. I was performing stand up comedy at the time and I knew there had to be a way I can fuse my magic into my act. I thought it would be the next big thing and propel my work forward.

3. In 2024 it finally started to click. My magic was good, my jokes were great, and the audience was loving it. I hosted monthly public shows that made a little bit of money and I entered comedy festivals where I stood out as a unique act. This lead to our current year where I’ve performed magic as a profitable side hustle consistently all year. I’m not making bank but it’s definitely been helpful supplemental income. Not only do I earn as a performer, I also work at a magic shop, and I work in hospitality (which I’ve managed to sneak magic into)

4.I’m contemplating a career change to move into full time magic! The timing of this article is very foreboding

5. Financially I’d need to make at least $50k with magic alone for it to even begin to be viable. It’s scary leaving stability to pursue a dream but I’ve been seeing the path through working as a side hustle and I hope that’s not rose tinting my lenses.

6. I would love to see more content aimed at turning the semi pro to a full time worker. Alot of ellusionist product seems to aim to hobbiest which is the main audience for all magic but if we want to keep the dream alive we should aim to guide people towards being able to sustain themselves doing what they love.

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019? Performing magic shows.
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time? Growing the business to create and even steadier stream of gigs.
3. What do you do for work now? Performing magic shows.
4. What’s your goal with magic these days? Continue to scale the business and to further opportunities.
5. What’s standing in your way right now? My own mind-set probably.
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there? Producing unique, reliable, professional level material that makes a huge impact. Not settling for cheap to manufacture magic (not that Ellusionist does), focusing on developing the best of the best! Magic with a unique plot and surprising finish.

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019 I worked for the NYC public school system
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
None
3. What do you do for work now?
Retired

4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
To get better and rediscover long lost simple moves that are still astounding
5. What’s standing in your way right now?Not a damn thing
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
Keep the innovation coming

Respond below with your answers and we’ll pic

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
I was a full-time uni student doing magic gigs on the side, when I could fit them in. I was also building up a YouTube channel, which I still am.

2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do magic as my job, to be honest. I loved it, but never felt like I could make it work

3. What do you do for work now?
In one week’s time, I will be part-time at my (currently full-time) job, taking a step towards magic being my main job, which answers #4: I want to do magic full-time.

5. What’s standing in your way right now?
Building up the business skills of magic and acquiring a steady flow of gigs. And fear. Lots of fear.

6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
Hire me! Kidding. I guess Ellusionist have already helped add a few tricks to my professional repertoire, and will continue to do so in the future, I imagine.

1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
I was actually working as a magician because I hadn’t graduated yet. This was my most successful year financially of being a magician. I was getting paid to do festivals, weddings, college shows, youth groups, and Halloween parties.

2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
My goal at the time was to just pay the rent with money made with magic. I had dreams of doing my own stage illusion touring show though.

3. What do you do for work now?
I finished my degree and work now as a Manufacturing Engineer. I also am working on my own side business of providing manufacturing tech solutions to legacy manufacturers.

4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
To be honest it’s been a year or two since I picked up a magic gig. I actually turn down most gigs that come my way due to lack of time or energy to do them. I do want to get back into magic in some capacity though. I have a few magic inventions I want to build for myself and I would like to do one last big stage illusion show as a magnum opus to my magic career.

5. What’s standing in your way right now?
Mainly just time and energy. Some of the goals I have can be costly as well although finances aren’t nearly as big of a problem as they were before I graduated!

6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
This is an interesting question and I’m not sure I have a good answer for that at this time. Perhaps feedback on magic ideas and a stage production would be useful. I’m always looking for feedback and advice.