When is Enough...Enough?

I deleted my Gmail account with satisfaction.


I had just sent a message to the head of the digital marketing agency I’d been working for the last few months.

A combination of questionable business practices on their end plus an overwhelming mountain of work on my end sealed the deal for me.

I had made the decision to quit while my wife and I were on a brief vacation.

Everyone only has 24 hours a day at their disposal. Yes, we can farm things out, but we each still only have a finite amount of time for any given project or idea.

In my case, 2024 has seen a dramatic climb in the number of shows I booked. I wasn’t ready for it and found myself balancing the shows with my digital marketing clients to be a challenge.

I was doing fine until I made the mistake of accepting an offer from the digital marketing company I mentioned.

I was soon swamped by them – not with real work but endless emails and texts I had to respond to. It was driving me crazy.

I couldn’t concentrate on more important tasks, and finally decided enough was enough.

Truthfully, it’s a great position to be in.

Marketing experts tell us we should chop the bottom 10%-20% off our income each year, depending on who you listen to.

They tell us we should get rid of the low-paying gigs and keep climbing the ladder.

Let’s set aside the fact that for performers, every market has its limits. This is great advice.

If you do a great job performing and marketing your magic, there will come a time when it no longer makes sense for you to say “yes” to everything that comes your way.

I’m not talking about saying “yes” to a gig when you have one already booked on the same day at the same time.

I’m talking about graduating from low paying gigs you no longer enjoy making room for higher paying gigs you love.

Please note I’m not saying you have to abandon a market you enjoy working in.

For me, schools are a blast.

Coming from a background where the most I made working for someone else was $8.50 an hour, the $1200 I’m getting for tomorrow’s gig (as I write this) is something I could have never dreamed about as a child.

So, I’m not abandoning schools anytime soon.

Even though I know corporate performers who are making $5000-$6000 per show.

Still, as a kid’s show guy, I could dramatically increase my bookings if I took birthday shows. Since most are on the weekend, I could fit them into my schedule if I wanted.

But that would leave me too exhausted.

So, I no longer market birthdays.

For every person reading this, your point of no return will be different.

Maybe you love kids shows but have gotten so busy you can’t travel more than 90 minutes from your house.

Maybe you’ve gotten so busy you can afford to say ‘no’ to those gigs you know you won’t enjoy.

Do you dislike outside shows? When your income can handle it, start turning those gigs down.

Maybe you love outside gigs but don’t like childcare centers. Maybe you find the prospect of entertaining four-year-olds not to your liking. When your income can handle it, turn those gigs down.

Maybe you’re a corporate performer making good money. But you’re getting tired of taking flights everywhere for gigs. When your income level allows it, turn those gigs down.

Notice how after every one of those examples, I said, “When your income allows…”

I know and understand that when many of us get into the business, we need to take every gig we can get our hands on to make our income goals.

Some of us have done that for years. I know I did.

But once you’ve hit a certain income level you don’t need to hustle for every gig.

It gradually becomes too exhausting. Continue down that road and eventually you’ll come to resent working as a performer full-time.

I know because it happened to me.

Pre-COVID, I was so busy I barely saw my poor wife for more than a night or two a week. For ten months a year, while schools were in session.

Then I started filling my summers with libraries.

I was never home, and I was miserable.

COVID forced me to slow down and reevaluate my life goals.

Learn from my life experiences.

Look at your income. Are you making enough money for your monthly income needs?

Do you have money left over for your savings and/or investments?

If so, do yourself a favor. Dial back your gig schedule. Start saying “no” to the gigs you don’t enjoy.

In the end, you’ll love magic more.

Have a great week!

--Cris


P.S. By the way…whenever you’re ready, here are 4 ways I can help you grow your magic business to book more shows at higher fees:

 
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Not sure how to move your magic business forward? I’ll analyze your complete magic business (website, market, competition, and more) and give you a complete game plan for getting your performing business to the next level. Find out how HERE.

 
4. Work with me privately.

 
Need help in multiple areas? I can help you with your website, direct mail, email, or other marketing strategies. I also offer consulting services for crafting magic routines or even entire shows. Want to find out more? Shoot me an email at cris@theprofessionalmagicianclubpro.com.


5. Check out my extensive line of magic routines and marketing products

I have several professional routines, marketing courses, books, and other resources to boost your shows and make booking shows easier and more profitable. Check out my line of products HERE.

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