Saturday, December 7, 2013

Stop, just stop alright!

Dear magicians, could you please, for the love of whatever is holy to you, stop posting every single magic show you did. Seriously!

I know that you are proud that you do so many shows. I know that you think that a social network is exactly for posting such shit. Well it is. But it also tells something about you. That you are so desperate to get praise for your work that your inferiority complex shines through. And that is a sign of a social loser.

So stop! Just stop!

13 comments:

Gary Jones Magic said...

Have to disagree with you on this Roland. I often post where I'm gigging and this often results in having a social drink after the gig with local magicians....It's all part of networking and it shows potential bookers you're a busy magician and you're prepared to travel. Just my opinion of course my friend!

Unknown said...

Nice post and nice blog Ronald.
There is something, some magicians do that pisses me off
I don't know if you meet these people .
Im talking about the ones who want to show how fair they are by mentioning magic methods or terms I mean like :
"Hey look no key cards no breaks ok no force free choice , no marked cards ... No diagonal palm shifts :p"!!! holly molly when this will stop.
do you have any thoughts on this I would love to hear them

cheers
Max Bahia.

robert sinclair said...

Could not agree more.
Magicians justify this behaviour by saying that it's good marketing. This logic is lost somewhat when most of their Facebook friends are other magicians. There are smarter ways to stay "front of mind" with clients- mailshots etc without making yourself look like a total and utter tool. Secondly, if you want to be memorable to your audience, why not try and do it through your magic and performance rather than through incessant bragging?
Again, if you think it's good marketing think about someone like Nick Einhorn who is potentially the most successful close-upper in the UK. He doesn't do this sort of thing - he's way too classy. Some magicians manage to get at least three status updates about every gig - "Just booked a gig for next week" - "on my way to a gig tonight" - "Great crowd last night, two standing ovations and they rebooked me for next year".
It's sad and stems from the insecure magician's desire to justify his existence. Truly successful and happy people don't feel the need to outwardly display their successes.

Samsul Hatmajaya Gendalikapura said...

But...we can learn something from their performances, right?

Gary Jones Magic said...

I like to post my gigs from time to time, often to show places/venues I would never have known about, some glorious hidden jewels and stately mansions which are open to the public. I also post gigs so other magicians can meet up with me in their home towns, and I also think potential bookers really like to book successful people. I also sometimes post my gigs to let people know what I'm up to, it's called social media, the clue is in the title. So basically Robert you're saying that someone like myself who sometimes posts where they're gigging are sad and insecure magicians, and that it's also a bad way of marketing......? Posting on Facebook is just another form of marketing, one of many ways to communicate and let people know you're out there, and it's also a very powerful form of marketing! I have to say, it works extremely well for me. Just a little bit I would like to add, putting everyone into boxes because they do certain things is IMHO wrong, what may work for some could be a complete disaster for others, and I would like to say I'm fairly successful as a magician, not in a bigheaded way I may add, but in the way where I've earned my living as a magician since 1991, not for financial reasons, but for the lifestyle both social (hence posting on Facebook) and business (another reason I sometimes post where I'm/I've gigging/gigged. Horses for courses I suppose :-)

robert sinclair said...

Hi Gary, I think that if someone constantly posts about all the gigs they are doing to an audience consisting primarily of their peers that it's a bit tragic. It suggests a desperation to be respected and praised (As Roland said in his post)
Lots of professionals agree with me and Roland and don't do it, realising that it makes them look insecure and boastful. I could list a few pros that I know who purposefully don't do it, but maintain their promotional efforts elsewhere, in places where they won't be perceived as a bragger, a boaster or an ego-maniac.

Gary Jones Magic said...

I would agree if someone constantly posts about their gigs Robert, I was under the impression that you and Roland were talking about magicians posting about gigs full stop. Facebook is a very powerful marketing tool used by many leading professionals to promote their gigs, books, DVDs etc, it's not boasting and it's not to do with being insecure. Yes if a performer is only posting where they're working for no other reason but to try and prove to their peers that they are always busy, the chances are they're not, there is a huge difference! I just wanted to make it clear that we all don't post to show how busy we are, and I didn't like the fact that people are put into boxes (yes there's a magician joke there lol!) well I think you know what I mean ;-)

Marplots said...

I am a sad and insecure magician, so I find all this insulting. And I don't have any gigs to post about either. But, I will be appearing at my family Christmas gathering, so, if you want to get together and have a beer afterward and talk magic, I'll be at mom's house until about 8:30 pm on the 22nd. See my facebook page for details.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Blogger Mark Bendell said...
For any serious working professional i cannot agree with you more Gary that social media is now one of the most important forms of networking do it right and you can see a increase in return gigs by about 60% other than doing nothing and getting a return of about 18% (from word of mouth). with my 20 years of experience I have increased the revenue of quite a number of working professionals creating engaging twitter & Facebook campaigns. By putting your gigs up on line it shows to your clients that your a busy working professional, its not about the other sad insecure magicians out there reading it its purely business. Oh and another thing check out Nick Einhorns last few posts on twitter. https://twitter.com/nickeinhorn

The Unknown

Roland said...

wow, there is something really weird about those numbers. I don't do any of the facebook shit. Yet I see a constant increase in bookings and returned bookings. Also 60% wow, if I had my current situtation raised by 60% I wouldn't even have time to sleep. So how low were the numbers to begin with?

Gary Jones Magic said...

Glad you're such a very busy professional Roland, isn't it fantastic to be getting paid doing what we love!! You know the saying, if it ain't broke then don't fix it, so social marketing isn't for you and you obviously have the right type of marketing which is working for you so you dont need it anyway, nice one!

Gary Jones Magic said...

Just one more thing regarding social media and missing a trick......it's free......but hey who really cares lol! Peace x