Balancing Performing & Health

The picture above is something for our cat, Cali.

She’s old. Like realllllly old. She’s at least 15 and moves like she’s 86. The package pictured above is her pill pockets.

In case you didn’t know, pill pockets are made of this weird gummy brown material that is supposed to taste like chicken, tuna, beef, or whatever the bag’s ad copy claims.

Pill pockets make giving medication to pets easier. You put the pill into the pocket, mash it up, and voila! Your pet gobbles it down.

We keep a bag of pill pockets next to my medication on my dresser. We get up, Cali gets her morning meds, and I take my thyroid medication. It’s supposed to help[ with my energy level.

Since I’ve been so busy the last four months, I’m not sure how well the medication is working. Because I feel tired all the time and pretty much want to go back to sleep as soon as I wake up.

Between a very busy summer of shows and my copywriting clients, I’m blessed with a full workload.

And that leads me to this morning.

I groggily shake one of my pills out of the bottle. And without missing a beat, I grabbed a cat pill pocket. M
Fortunately, my brain kicked in and said to me, “Wait. That’s not for you.”

Medication or not, I am in desperate need of a vacation. Next week, no work for me. I’ll be lecturing for the first time at Kidabra. I’m really looking forward to some R&R.

With a schedule of around eight shows a week for the last few months, I’m pretty beat.

But that doesn’t hold a candle to one of my clients. He sent me a thank you note recently, along with a screenshot of his earnings for the last school year. $253,000.

He thanked me for helping him reach that milestone. (I have a wide variety of services to help him and others like him hit those marks.)

His schedule is wayyyyy more intense than mine. Maybe years ago I could have handled a schedule like that, but not now.

It seems like many magicians like bragging about how many shows they do. 400, 500, or even more shows a year is not impossible in this field.

If that’s what you’re striving for, that’s great. If you have the energy and your family is supportive, go for it.

But if you’re like me and that fast pace doesn’t fit your lifestyle or goals, don’t worry. Don’t compare yourself to other magicians.

To me, success is measured by happiness. Years ago, I certainly wanted to hit goals like that. I could do 400 shows a year. But after 20 years of intense performing and an insane travel schedule, I crave a slower-paced life.

My advice for magicians looking to ramp up their performing is simple.

Balance your performing and financial goals with what your body tells you. Traveling is great but it can catch up to you.

I’ve never tried comparing myself to other magicians’ financial or bookings benchmarks.

And if you are young and want to blast through 35 shows a month, take care of yourself. Get rest between shows. And monitor your travel schedule carefully.

On more than one occasion, I’ve goofed up and wound up traveling all night to make dates.

Once, I had to wake up, drive two miles to a school, perform, pack up, then drive to daycare and perform that afternoon.

Here’s where it gets nuts.

From the daycare, I had to drive seven hours to New Jersey. Performed there around 11:00 pm. Then I had to pack up and drive back another seven hours, just in time to cross the border and perform a one-hour breakout session for a Canadian corporate group.

The topic for the corporate group was memory. And I used a lot of memory techniques in that show despite being awake for 36 hours straight at that point.

Then I went home and slept for 12 hours.

This bone-headed schedule happened all because I didn’t look at my calendar closely while scheduling these shows. I simply saw open slots on my calendar and happily filled them.

When you’re scheduling shows, before you say “yes,” do a little research. How far away is the show? How long do you have to drive?

If the drive is longer than you are normally accustomed to driving, be realistic with yourself. Is it safe for you to drive that long on your own? What kind of family obligations do you have?

How will lengthy traveling affect these obligations?

Long-time pros know this. Some part-timers do too. But if you’re just starting out and want to avoid the mistakes that I (and many others) have made, I can help you.

Click HERE for all the details.

If you’re going to be at Kidabra next week, be sure to say “Hi.” I’m looking forward to meeting many of you!

See you soon.

--Cris

P.S. By the way…whenever you’re ready, here are 5 ways I can help you grow your magic business to book more shows at higher fees:

 
1. Grab my FREE report for professional working magicians.

It’s called “The 2-Word Secret to Eliminate Your Competition & Become Your Area’s Busiest Magician.” This report reveals a strategy that almost NO magicians are using (and the ones who are don’t use it correctly). Get your free copy HERE.

2. Get my website video training for under $10:

 
In this 2-hour video training, I’ll reveal exactly what your website needs if you want to succeed as a professional entertainer in the 21st century. Get all the details HERE.

 
3. Get a complete business-building plan handed to you on a silver platter.

 
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.

To find out more how I can help you book more shows at higher fees, click the button below to see my list of services.

© Copyright Cris Johnson, Inc.