Recording Shows & Demo Videos

My client stared at me in confusion.

I held my ground and simply smiled back at her.

“What about pictures?” she asked.

“Sure,” I said. “And even a couple of quick clips, just not the whole show.’

She smiled and assured me she understood my position.

My client wanted to record my entire show…and then put it on YouTube.

Noooooo, we’re not doing that.

It amazes me when clients want to do that. They can’t seem to understand why this is such a bad idea. And harmful to my bottom line.

Libraries are the worst at this. They want content – any content – to get hits on their social media accounts. Since they booked the show, they feel it’s theirs to do what they want.

Not all libraries of course. But enough that I think it’s worth addressing. Schools do it too.

Libraries want the show for their patrons. Schools want the entire show for their fellow schools in their district.

Once, about ten years ago, a school told me they’d be videotaping my show…and sharing it with other schools in the district.

When I told them “No way,” they asked me why.

“Because this is how I make my living. If they want to see the show, they gotta book it.”

I was told that would never happen. The other schools didn’t have the budget. Not my problem.

Full-time pros already know why it’s best not to let a client tape and share your show. But I know I also have a lot of wonderful subscribers who are part-timers or just starting in the world of magic.

Setting aside the economic impact sharing your show on video has, there are other reasons this is a bad idea.

First, magic doesn’t carry the same impact on video as it does live. Sure there are exceptions.

I grew up watching David Copperfield's specials. And Penn & Teller’s Fool Us is a great show. But both examples have something none of us don’t.

They have incredible production crews with great lighting, sound, and (I’d argue most importantly) great camerawork with multiple angles. The variety and movement of the cameras give magic on video life it’s missing otherwise.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve recorded a great show. The audience laughed uproariously at all my jokes. They gasped loudly after every effect. And the volunteers were awesome.

Yet later, watching the show on camera, I’m always surprised to see that my masterpiece show reads merely as ‘good’ on camera.

And I think it’s because the show was shot using one single camera, with no editing. It just doesn’t come alive like it did when I was, you know, doing the show.

Then there are times I’m asked by potential clients for a copy of my entire show. They claim they need to review the entire show to be sure it will satisfy their requirements.

I admit I have sent entire shows to clients in the past. I think the last time was around 12 years ago. That was back when I was hungry for every gig I could get my hands on. I had certain numbers I wanted to exceed each year and would bend over backward to satisfy as many prospects as possible.

These days? If my demo video clips are not enough, I tell the clients that’s all they can have.

And it’s not because I’m worried that they’ll give my show to other potential clients. It’s mostly because magic just doesn’t play as well on video.

This applies to your demo videos. I feel many magicians’ demo videos I’ve seen are missing the mark.

They either don’t show enough or too much.

There’s a trend I’ve noticed in videos. The video has nice music, a few lines of text, and then rotating photos from the magician’s shows.

There’s no video at all.

Videos are supposed to show potential clients what you do. How you sound. And most importantly, audiences’ reactions to you.

Or magicians’ demo videos include long ten-minute routines with no editing.

Years ago on Gigmasters (now The Bash), I watched one mentalist’s demo video. He was performing Bob Cassidy’s 4th Dimensional Telepathy. It’s a brilliant routine that plays for around 12 minutes.

To perform it as Bod did, you’re in and out of the audience, handing out envelopes, pencils, gathering them back up, Etc.

This mentalist had his camera pointed at the stage. There were several minutes of the camera recording an empty stage. You could hear what was being said but couldn’t see anything.

I can’t imagine how that video helped this guy book any gigs.

So what do you do to get great demo video footage?

If you have the budget, hire a professional videographer. They’ll bring at least two cameras and make you look great.

The problem? If you don’t have a great audience, this could be a bust and you’ve wasted your money.

Years ago, I hired a crew to videotape one of my mentalism shows. I got special permission from the client, and we were set.

Honestly, the audience loved the show. But they were an older business group. Their reactions were muted at best. Was it because they knew they were on camera? I have no idea.

So my footage lacked real emotion. Still, I was able to chop up the footage and get decent clips out of it. And I pulled some stills for my website.

The other option is what I do most often.

I simply tape a lot of shows with my camera. I then take clips from three shows and use them in my demo video.

Taping multiple shows means I can pick the best audiences and reactions. And using footage from at least three shows communicates to potential clients that I work a lot.

And having one small camera in the back sidesteps any self-consciousness on the part of the audience.

You’ll want to get permission from your client, which can be problematic if you’re a children’s entertainer.

The other challenges are sound and lighting. Many times, the sound from my mic and PA system is echo-y in the school gym or library. And the lighting may not be great.

That’s where quick cutting comes in. I personally only show the climax of the routine. And I make sure the clip can be understood without the whole routine.

Look at silk to egg. If you just show the egg breaking, video viewers don’t know why that’s magical.

Instead, concentrate on climaxes easily understood. Levitations. Mouth coils. Vanishes. Audience reactions.

My demo videos are around 4-5 minutes each. That’s longer than what experts recommend for YouTube views. But I’m trying to show my clients how good I am. And by showing a little more, I prove myself to them.

Honestly, demo videos could involve an entire training.

But if you’re just getting started, these tips will help you avoid many of the mistakes I see magicians making today.

--Cris

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