Back in 2019, I had one goal: perform magic full-time.
No backup plan. No “safety net.” Just a deck of cards and a head full of delusion that passion alone could pay the bills.
Then the world shut down. Venues closed. Gigs vanished. And suddenly, “being a performer” felt more like a dream than a job description.
Five years later, I prefer the stability of a paycheck. The structure. The security. The comfort of knowing rent will get paid, even if I don’t pick up a deck for a month.
But I started wondering… am I alone in that?
Did the pandemic change how you see magic too?Did it make the dream smaller - or sharper?Did it turn your passion into a hobby again?
I want to know where the community stands now.Not just the pros, but everyone - from bedroom cardists to working mentalists.
So tell me:
1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?3. What do you do for work now?4. What’s your goal with magic these days?5. What’s standing in your way right now?6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
Respond below with your answers and we'll pick one comment at random to win a $100 Ellusionist Gift Card. (Yes, really. No catch. We just want to hear from you.)
158 comments
Dr. Anton Nova
ASWERS 2 THE Questions below…
So tell me:
1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
A flll time entertainer working A.L.F.S 4 seniors, free nonprofit fundraiser in between to keep activly name out ther and free newpaper and local publicity.
My goal was to stay working, get new clients, service existing clients, and expand my overall business to include teaching magic classes, private lessons. Was able to do it all. Hired 2 other part time magicians so help each other to continue ion magic.2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
3. What do you do for work now?
I am a retired medical professional and doctor still performing full time worldwide tour and working on my own private line of magic, books, videos, mentorship, and setting up affiliate’s.
4. What’s your goal with magic these days?.
Goal is to continue with my success and expand into new areas and new markets as in more trade shows and inventing my own routines.
5. What’s standing in your way right now?
Nothing got past Covid so nothing in my way except the economy. I target higher class clients that have meetings, office parties, Holiday events. Only thing would be great to hire another experienced profession to grow my staff.
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
Ellusionist can offer more private label exclusives that was made you unique until selling to Murphys and Penguin and other. BAD MOVE. Allow bigger discounts, free magic like many other stores, offer bonus points to future purchases. Have free teaching with special prices on the items in lecture helps the speaker and your client base to expand and increase sales.
Respond below with your answers and we’ll pick one comment at random to win a $100 Ellusionist Gift Card.
(Yes, really. No catch. We just want to hear from you.)
386 282 9568
Would love to help you in any areas of business as I am super qualified.
386 282 9568
Phil The Magic Man
1. What were you doing for work back in 2019? I was a financial adviser for a Fortune 500 company. I was performing as a full time magician & mentalist without my company knowing what I was doing on the side.
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time? My big goal with magic at that time was to do quit the day job and do magic full time.
3. What do you do for work now? I’m still a financial adviser and doing magic full time performing at approximately 140 shows per year. My company still doesn’t know how big the magic business is, lol. They think I’m performing once a month a kids birthday parties. Meanwhile, I’m traveling the country performing all over the place.
4. What’s your goal with magic these days? My goal with magic is to make over $500,000.00
5. What’s standing in your way right now? My full time job where I work 8am-5pm five days a week!
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there? Ellusionist is helping me get there by offering products and services that are making me a better performer.
Rafael Aryeh Smith
1. What were you doing for work back in 2019?
STUDENT abroad
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time?
HOBBY, I had put the “PROFESSIONAL” part away.
3. What do you do for work now?
Same
4. What’s your goal with magic these days?
Use it for making people smile…teaching them how to do it and PASS ON THAT GIFT.
5. What’s standing in your way right now?
Nothing.
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there?
Keep the video’s coming, as the SEEING is what helps sell! Before, the “STORE” had people perform on the counter, so WE WOULD BUY….now, the WORLD is your counter! (world wide web, that is)
Michael
1. What were you doing for work back in 2019? I worked my primary job and magic as a side hustle.
2. What was your big goal with magic at that time? To go full time pro.
3. What do you do for work now? I still have my primary job and I still do magic on the side.
4. What’s your goal with magic these days? I’d always love to have more gigs.
5. What’s standing in your way right now? Two things. I take care of my blind father so it’s hard for me to travel too far from home. The hometown I live in is very last minute. I’ll have set dates for shows months in advance and getting people to commit even a month in advance is tough.
6. How could Ellusionist help you get there? Send a couple of gigs my way is the standard answer but I feel a more appropriate answer is be the mentor you always wanted for someone else. In magic, I really never had anyone show me the ropes. I had magician friends who booked gigs but never shared the business side of show business. I learned a lot of that stuff on my own. Which is tough if your gonna go out on your own. I help the locals around my area with this. We host a get-together once a month and talk magic and some of the business side…if people show up of course.
David
1 Working in the oilfield
2 to perform in church’s and parties
3 Correctional Officer
4 practice and perform again
5 mainly time and my own attitude
6 keep producing like y’all do and keep making it fun.
Leave a comment
All comments are moderated before being published.
This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.