Price$45.00
Media TypeBook
CategoryStage, Business, Philosophy
Date AddedNov 17, 2011
The Event Magician
Sum, JC
(Based on 1 review)
The Event Magician is an updated & expanded new release of J C Sum's critically acclaimed "The Event Illusionist" that was first published in 2004 and revised in 2008.
The all-new The Event Magician has been released as two volumes and has been re-written to cater to all types of magicians who perform for special events. The event industry is likely the first industry that a budding magician will find work in. For 80% of the professional and semi-professional magicians in the world, all of their work is from special events of all kinds.
The Event Magician Vol. 1 focuses on building a stage magic show for the international event industry. In the first book of its kind on this subject matter, J C covers all aspects of performing magic at events including understanding the nature of events, choosing material, planning the show, formatting the show, designing the staging, ensuring technical support, packing & transporting the show.
J C also discusses onstage and backstage management at events including taking an exhaustive look at magician's tables available on the market. Also released for the first time ever are J C's updated professional Show Calling Cue Sheet and Technical Rider, refined over his 18 years of experience in the event industry. This information alone is worth the price of the book!
The book includes a special bonus chapter that comprehensively covers performing an illusion show in an event setting.
"J C has not only opened his book of knowledge to anyone wanting to earn a good living performing at events. He has also left no stone unturned with just about every conceivable angle on the subject of 'event performing' meticulously covered. I can only but applaud him on his valuable efforts."
- Mark Parker, Illusion Designer
The Event Magician Volume 1: Designing A Stage Show For Special Events features 85 pages of practical information on building an event magic stage show.
Contents include:
UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF EVENTS
- Performing Conditions of The Event Magician
- The Event Audience
- The Event Client
- The Show Formula
- The Show Format
- Different Show Formats & Different Material
- Music
- Attire
- Stage Management
- Backstage Management
- On-Stage Cueing Systems
- Staging
- Audio
- Video
- Lighting
- Special Effects
- Technical Rider
- Show Cue Sheet
- Types of Cases
- Self-carrying the Show
- Freight forwarding the Show
BONUS CHAPTER: PERFORMING AN EVENT ILLUSION SHOW
- Illusion Selection
- Show Format
- The Event Illusion Crew
ANNEX B: SAMPLE SHOW CUE SHEET
Reviews
(Top ▲)
The event Magician Volume one (designing a stage show) and Volume two (The business of magic for special events) are a two book set. I will review them as such even though you could purchase them individually. I say this because in my opinion. If you think you should purchase one of these, most likely you should get both.
The books are very well laid out. They have very readable print, high gloss paper, and are well structured. The information is logical, ordered, and easy to understand.
The first book concentrates on putting your show together. J. C. explains the consideration that you should think about when putting a show together. He goes beyond the usual explanations I have heard. I liked the section on “Advancing your brand” in your show. Very Clever! He not only explains how a show should be put together, but why certain pieces should go in certain spots in your show. This was a nice read.
Next he covers music. Although he does not go in depth he does give share some nice ideas. He then talks about show management such as tables and blocking. He covers technical support and riders. He even talks about packing the show, a very important step that gets overlooked by many novices getting ready for their first tour.
The second book gets into the marketing of a show. He first tackles some questions that many performers new to booking overlook: Why are we worth anything at all to the market?
After that he talks about the marketing campaign/mindset of positioning yourself in the market. The first half of the book takes the reader on a journey much like a business plan. J. C. hammers away at having you think about how you will enter the market. He wants you to have a plan well before you begin spending money on marketing yourself.
The second half of the book begins with looking at the tools of marketing:
Websites: Structure, pages, Video and Video content.
Referral marketing
Direct marketing
Agents
Newsletters
Postcards
Etc.
The ending question here is: Are these books worth the money?
Yes! With a caveat . . . .
Don’t expect to purchase these books and get hired tomorrow. J. C. Sum as laid out the information. You will have to do the work and it’s not easy. But I think he has given you a very good blue print to start from.
The books are very well laid out. They have very readable print, high gloss paper, and are well structured. The information is logical, ordered, and easy to understand.
The first book concentrates on putting your show together. J. C. explains the consideration that you should think about when putting a show together. He goes beyond the usual explanations I have heard. I liked the section on “Advancing your brand” in your show. Very Clever! He not only explains how a show should be put together, but why certain pieces should go in certain spots in your show. This was a nice read.
Next he covers music. Although he does not go in depth he does give share some nice ideas. He then talks about show management such as tables and blocking. He covers technical support and riders. He even talks about packing the show, a very important step that gets overlooked by many novices getting ready for their first tour.
The second book gets into the marketing of a show. He first tackles some questions that many performers new to booking overlook: Why are we worth anything at all to the market?
After that he talks about the marketing campaign/mindset of positioning yourself in the market. The first half of the book takes the reader on a journey much like a business plan. J. C. hammers away at having you think about how you will enter the market. He wants you to have a plan well before you begin spending money on marketing yourself.
The second half of the book begins with looking at the tools of marketing:
Websites: Structure, pages, Video and Video content.
Referral marketing
Direct marketing
Agents
Newsletters
Postcards
Etc.
The ending question here is: Are these books worth the money?
Yes! With a caveat . . . .
Don’t expect to purchase these books and get hired tomorrow. J. C. Sum as laid out the information. You will have to do the work and it’s not easy. But I think he has given you a very good blue print to start from.