So You Want To Be A Stage Performer (Part I)

If you are a magician, you have probably heard of The Pendragons. If you’re not, you have probably heard of Penn & Teller.

Did you know that they got their start at Faire?

It’s true, Fair can be the starting point to performing as a career, or it can be a way to turn your talents into a second job.

Hopefully, I can give you a few hints on how to get started. I use personal experience for what I have written. It has worked very well.  Your Mileage may vary.

Tip One:
Patience.  It isn’t going to happen overnight. Make a long term goal of where you want to be in five years.

Tip Two:
Be Realistic. Know your limitations and your strengths.

Tip Three:
Drama Lessons.  If you don’t have a background in drama, get some.  A  juggler with a dramatic background will out perform a juggler who relies on technical skill alone. The same goes for magicians singers and all of the arts.

Tip Four:
The show is more important than your ego.

Tip Five:
The Faire is the show.

Tip Six:
If the Faires you have in mind have a butt load of Jugglers. You may want to try something else. Try to be Original.

Tip Seven:
Under promote and Over present.  If you contract for three stage shows a day.  Do your three shows plus a stint at meet and greet.

Getting started.

The great thing about Faires and festivals is that you have the ability to try new things out, without them being devastating to your career.

The Faire Circuit of today is a lot like the Vaudeville circuit of the past.  Use this to your advantage. Put your act together and do some smaller events for free, as stated before no more than three. Polish your act in front of the audience find out what works and what doesn’t.

Eventually someone will come up to you after a show and say the magic words, “How Much Do You Charge?”

Now you are ready.

You now can be confident that you are good enough to be paid for what you do, not because you think so, or your friends think so, but because a total stranger wants to.