The professional magicians business bookshelf

Post topics about the business side of magic.
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Timothy Hyde
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The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Timothy Hyde » January 14th, 2012, 11:59 pm

The assertion was made in a recent thread that "All the books/courses I've seen on marketing magic contain nothing one cannot get from a book on basic sales."

Perhaps the poster has not read many magic marketing texts or had the misfortune of just picking some of the shockers. Yes, there are a few of those. But there are plenty of great ones, from experienced performers sharing their knowledge that are well worth your attention. I'm going to post a few of my favourites with some quick comments, feel free to add your own.
The Secret Notebooks of Mr Hyde - Vol 1 & 2 - http://www.MagicCoach.com

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Timothy Hyde
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Timothy Hyde » January 15th, 2012, 12:02 am

Leave your ego at the door - Bill Herz.

An insiders view of corporate entertainment from one of the top performers in the field. Includes - Career advice, how to deal with event managers & meeting planners, what should be on your Rider, dealing with agents and bookers, case studies and Bill's backdoor approach. This book is real deal.

If you want a sample of his thinking and a couple of great tips, you can listen to an interview at Peter Wardell's terrific http://magicstateofmind.com/
The Secret Notebooks of Mr Hyde - Vol 1 & 2 - http://www.MagicCoach.com

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Timothy Hyde
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Timothy Hyde » January 15th, 2012, 12:30 am

Entertaining on a Cruise Ship - Paul Romhany

I've worked on plenty of cruise ships over the years, from some of the worst to some of the very best, but I hadn't done any for about 10 years and wanted to get back into the market again. Paul's book brought me up to speed very quickly. I believe it's available as both hard copy and as an ebook.

If you've never done any cruise work you will get a great feel for what is required of you and what life is like as a cruise ship guest entertainer. There is contact information and advice on each of the major cruise lines.

The other option is Fred Becker's - Cruise Magicians Handbook, which is highly regarded, but I have not read it myself. The cruise industry is in a constant state of rapid change and hopefully both books will also be updated regularly.
The Secret Notebooks of Mr Hyde - Vol 1 & 2 - http://www.MagicCoach.com

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Timothy Hyde
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Timothy Hyde » January 18th, 2012, 12:05 am

Hustle, Hustle - The Magic of Business - Joel Bauer

Love him or hate him, Joel Bauer is a marketing phenomenon and his approach absolutely polarises people. Cruise ship magician, turned Trade Show legend, turned Personal Development guru, Hustle Hustle published in 1983 gives some hard hitting advice on making it happen in the industry .

Jeff Busby reviewed it when it first came out and called it a dangerous book. Dangerous in as much as applying the strategies inside could get work for even the most mediocre act.

Times have moved on a lot since the book was published but it's still well worth your study and it contains excellent advice, motivation and insider tips. Joel has produced a couple of live seminars strictly for performers , spawning a series of "mini Joel's," easily identified by their power pose and pink ties, but I'm guessing is unlikely to now he's playing so successfully in a bigger pond.
The Secret Notebooks of Mr Hyde - Vol 1 & 2 - http://www.MagicCoach.com

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Tom Stone
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Tom Stone » January 18th, 2012, 12:50 am

Timothy Hyde wrote:Hustle, Hustle - The Magic of Business - Joel Bauer

Love him or hate him, Joel Bauer is a marketing phenomenon

Wasn't he the main role model for Bret Easton Ellis' book?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34O7hdSk0K4

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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Tom Stone » January 18th, 2012, 2:06 am

Timothy Hyde wrote:Joel has produced a couple of live seminars strictly for performers , spawning a series of "mini Joel's,"

...and here are a few of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDaNIeF-jo4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1gn0wW9vTk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtC257NJxIw

Following the "excellent advice, motivation and insider tips" might give anyone this kind of international attention:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XlaVkwEIFo

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Timothy Hyde
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Timothy Hyde » January 18th, 2012, 2:22 am

Tom Stone wrote:
Timothy Hyde wrote:Hustle, Hustle - The Magic of Business - Joel Bauer

Love him or hate him, Joel Bauer is a marketing phenomenon

Wasn't he the main role model for Bret Easton Ellis' book?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34O7hdSk0K4


lol , as I said,
half the population think he's psycho
the other half think he's a genius
The Secret Notebooks of Mr Hyde - Vol 1 & 2 - http://www.MagicCoach.com

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Tom Stone
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Tom Stone » January 18th, 2012, 7:35 am

Timothy Hyde wrote:
Tom Stone wrote:
Timothy Hyde wrote:Hustle, Hustle - The Magic of Business - Joel Bauer

Love him or hate him, Joel Bauer is a marketing phenomenon

Wasn't he the main role model for Bret Easton Ellis' book?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34O7hdSk0K4


lol , as I said,
half the population think he's psycho
the other half think he's a genius

Look at the kid's eyes...
Which half do you think she belongs to?

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Timothy Hyde
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Timothy Hyde » January 18th, 2012, 4:17 pm

Tom, I have no idea what the girl thinks.
I'm not even sure what I think about Bauer most of the time.
But this book on the Business of Magic is good.

You have read it?
The Secret Notebooks of Mr Hyde - Vol 1 & 2 - http://www.MagicCoach.com

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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Ivanovich » January 18th, 2012, 4:49 pm

I still have my original "Hustle, Hustle" by Bauer. I picked it up when I wanted to start going out and performing back in the early 80s (along with Paul Diamond's "It Takes Guts, Damnit"). Just walking into a trade show hospitality suite and starting to work was probably the most intimidating thing I'd read in my life... And, no, I never tried it.

Years later I saw him do a trade show. He believes what he preaches...

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Tom Stone
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Tom Stone » January 18th, 2012, 11:28 pm

Timothy Hyde wrote:But this book on the Business of Magic is good.

You have read it?

I've seen the video he put out.
The one where he put his own name on someone else's effect, and then boasted his deed and his ignorance, "I don't know who invented it, I don't care who invented it."
That alone was enough to realize that he desired to be known as a really despicable person. Not a person I would trust, no matter what the topic is. Least of all anything regarding work.

There is nothing by this person that belongs on the professional magician's bookshelf. From his video, his business approach is easily summed up as "Steal it, put your own name on it and boast about it."

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Timothy Hyde
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Timothy Hyde » January 19th, 2012, 2:54 am

Tom, I don't know anything about the tape you are refering to ?
The Secret Notebooks of Mr Hyde - Vol 1 & 2 - http://www.MagicCoach.com

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Tom Stone
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Re: The professional magicians business bookshelf

Postby Tom Stone » January 19th, 2012, 4:26 am

Timothy Hyde wrote:Tom, I don't know anything about the tape you are refering to ?

He made a video teaching Alex Elmsley's "The Visual Torn and Restored Newspaper" (with some of Alan Shaxon's and Ron Wilson's touches) and put his own name on it.


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