Are You Guilty of This Too?

I’m a workaholic. I admit it.

For years leading to the pandemic, I took pride in how much money I earned. A slew of people, including my parents and most of my friends, poo-pooed the idea of me becoming a full-time magician.

Even my father-in-law, after hearing of my career choice, once said to my wife, “You’ll have to work two jobs for the rest of your life to support him.”

So, I’m driven, more than most people I know.

When the pandemic struck, like most entertainers, I suddenly had a lot of free time on my hands. And I was completely at a loss about what to do next.

So, after a few weeks of panicking, I got back to work.

Cut to 2022. I’m on track to earn an income very close to my pre-pandemic years. I devoted myself to learning an entirely new business and re-building my performing career, which to my great surprise rose from the dead.

But the problem with all of this is burnout.

To say it’s been an exhausting two-plus years navigating this COVID landscape is an understatement.

But I can honestly say that as I get older, something more important has commanded my attention. And that’s mental health.

If you’re driven to turn your magic hobby or part-time gig into your full-time career, I am really excited for you. Building your own business is incredibly fulfilling. While there are certain things I would have done differently, I don’t regret my decision to go full-time back in 2003.

But I never had a work-life balance.

And that’s the main theme of this week’s newsletter.

Follow your dreams. Become a full-time magician. Or if you already are, level up your career in ways that fulfill you. But don’t ever forget your loved ones. Never forget to “turn off” from time to time.

I have changed my goals. Now I’m committed to taking time off every quarter of the year. I used to take just one vacation a year. Even that one was only because my wife forced me to. Years later, I finally realized just how smart she is.

My advice?

Find things other than magic to occupy your downtime. Burnout is very real, and without taking care of yourself, you could easily burn out as I almost did earlier this year.

I am reminded of a trip out west from 15 years ago. An agent booked me to perform several post-grad late-night gigs. During the day, I was off. So, I looked around and found a magic lecture nearby.

Honestly, I don’t remember the name of the guy. If I did, everyone reading this would probably recognize the name.

But what struck me was the fact that nearly every magician present sat in their seat before, during, and after the lecture clutching their deck of cards. To me, it seemed like their cards were their security blankets.

And no, it wasn’t to follow along with any of the lecture material. Most of the stuff taught in the lecture was not card magic.

I remember looking at the audience, thinking, “Sheesh, these guys gotta turn it off once in a while.”

Ironically, all these years later I find myself thinking the same thing about my own habits.

So, find something to occupy your downtime that isn’t magic-related. Give your brain a rest.

It’s one thing if magic is just a hobby. But when you go pro, it’s an entirely different…or at least it should be.

The human brain is a muscle. Like any muscle, it can grow fatigued. Giving yourself something else to do or think about doesn’t just give your brain a rest.

It also lets your subconscious mind do its thing in the background.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been trying to crack a specific scripting problem for a show. Maybe I’m trying to fill a slot. Or maybe I’m struggling with the sequencing. Or I can’t find the perfect trick to illustrate an educational concept.

Once I let myself ‘shut down,’ I often have the answer when I wake up a few days later.

So, take a break., Regular, scheduled, breaks.

That picture at the top of this week’s newsletter is the Millennium Force roller coaster at Cedar Point in Ohio.

It’s one of the top-rated coaters in the entire United States. Once you get to the top of the hill, it drops you an amazing 300 feet.

My wife and I went to Cedar Point together for vacation this past June. My wife hates roller coasters and I don’t enjoy going on rides by myself. So, we just walked through the park, rode other less terrifying rides, and had a great time.

But I love roller coasters. The taller the better.

Every day of our trip, we would walk by Millennium Force. I’d gaze lustfully (yes lustfully!) up at its structure, wondering what it would feel like.

Up to that point, the tallest coaster I had ever been on was a good 100 feet shorter than Millennium Force.

So, my wonderful wife arranged a second trip to Cedar Point, this time with my younger brother. He loves roller coasters as much as I do.

Over two wonderful days, we rose roller coasters an amazing 19 times. And we even hit the Millennium Force three times. The final trip? We even sat in the front row, making it all the more thrilling.

Cruising down that 300-foot drop at 93 miles per hour, the last thing on my mind was magic or copywriting.

It was everything I needed at that moment.

I came back from the trip exhausted and felt like I had been beaten up by six drunken gorillas. A day later, I was invigorated and ready to get back to work.

If you truly want magic to become (or remain) your primary source of income, do yourself a favor. Pace yourself. Yes, being your own boss is a lot of work. And it’s fulfilling. But your mental health will be in far better shape with a break now and then.

Until next time, 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 by clicking 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.

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.

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