The Genii Forum

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/0 ... -90-seats/

90 seats, very expensive, with Dynamo as the first performer.

Magic in Europe is valued much higher than the US. Obviously there are exceptions but generally the magic theatres in Europe are high end offerings selling a luxurious premium product to a select audience; not a family entertainment product. Magic theatres are in the special party & corporate hospitality sector over here. Likewise 99% of close up magicians working here are at high end events and banquets NOT the local family restaurant hustling for tips.
I recently designed a new theatre for one European magic theatre; they were able to commission some spectacular custom props from me because their last venue had been running for 10 years and was currently sold out months ahead with no discounting. Whilst magic theatres in the uk are relatively new across Europe as a whole it’s a very well established sector.

Tom Moore wrote:Magic in Europe is valued much higher than the US.

Are any European magicians making as much money as Copperfield? Penn & Teller?

There are plenty of megastar magicians in Europe equally as famous as those guys in their respective territories. There are plenty of magicians in Europe selling similar ticket numbers as those guys do.

Again though focusing on the outliers is to miss the bigger picture; in the middle there are literally hundreds of magicians making very good livings and working in much classier venues than Americans (or frankly magicians from almost any other part of the world) simply because in Europe we have a well established industry of premium entertainment that America has never quite managed to crack.

Bill Mullins wrote:
Are any European magicians making as much money as Copperfield? Penn & Teller?

The question of the earning power of magicians will always favour the US magician where English is spoken or understood by practically 100% of the population as opposed to Europe where there are many languages besides English such as French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Polish all spoken in approximately similar numbers. It is against this backdrop a European magician would have to compete for fame and fortune.
I don't believe either Derren Brown or Dynamo tour across Europe (I could be wrong) yet both are probably better known in the US than Europe.
This is just my opinion and relates to one aspect of the differences between Europe and the USA, relating to earning power, I'm sure there are probably many more that I am unaware of.

John Bowden wrote: ... to compete for fame and fortune.

Fame & Fortune!

When it comes to fortune, I believe no magician will ever surpass the accomplishment of David Copperfield.
His record in that department will stand until the end of time.

When it comes to fame however, Houdini has a lock on that.

A hundred years from now the names Copperfield, Blaine, and Dynamo will be as unfamiliar to the average person as the name Howard Thurston is today.

People will still however know the name Harry Houdini.

Bill Murray wrote:I always want to say to people who want to be rich and famous: 'try being rich first'. See if that doesn't cover most of it. There's not much downside to being rich, other than paying taxes and having your relatives ask you for money. But when you become famous, you end up with a 24-hour job.