Rick,
I'll chime in on that one. The wife wants to have kids and the one major reason why we've not done that yet is because I'm at a very transitional point right now in my personal life. I travel a lot, at least 4 months out of the year, often in a row, and you're absolutely right. Kids, and family is a deal changer at the least, and sometimes even a deal breaker.
I knew kids who, when growing up with them, had dads who were truck drivers and were gone most of the time. I'm not going to be "that guy", so I've decided to hold off starting the family until I feel more confident that I've got things settled down a bit in my career.
Delusional what you have to understand is what people like Benji do, and for that matter people like Benji are rare. They are usually the exceptions to the rules. Benji is a shark. He's a business savvy entrepreneur who will do anything to get the job done, and more importantly paid. People like Benji are money motivated, and very confident in their abilities. The character Alec Baldwin played in Glen Garry Glenn Ross (just youtube Glenn Gary Glenn Ross speech to see what I mean) is a good Hollywood illustration of the kind of mentality sharks like Benji have. Sometimes their confidence can infringe upon the boundaries of hubris vanity, but that's the nature of their game. If their ethics are out of place, people like this can be quite dangerous in the corporate world, as the backs they climb to the top over remain sore for sometime afterwords. Don't get me wrong Benji, I have nothing but respect for what you do, provided you're on the level about it. I'm just saying you're a special case.
[video=youtube;y-AXTx4PcKI]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-AXTx4PcKI&feature=related[/video]
Being your own boss, making thousands of dollars each week, traveling to exotic locations, all that corporate America polished pipe dream stuff is very hard world, as I'm sure Benji will tell you. That playing the game on that level isn't for everyone, and unless you know for a fact that you're cut out for that kind of commitment, that world and the sharks that run it will eat you alive.
Let's get real about this... CAN you make a living like Benji does? Yes. You can do anything so long as you have the knowledge, the dedication, and the right people in your corner to help you succeed. Is it a nice goal to have? Sure. But the reality is that kind of life style isn't going to apply to most people. I'm sure even Benji is working his rear off trying to establish himself as a motivational corporate America "big dog" in the field of magic. Something of the next Joel Bauer I imagine judging from his push to advertise his free marketing blogs, all his marketing oriented advice, sales advise, and the constant effort to cultivate that motivational coach image. If he's not faking it until he makes it, then I'd say he's off to a good start. There's a hell of a lot of cash in the motivational movement, but as I said, that isn't a reality that will work for most of us. Most of us have 9-5 jobs they use, or loved ones they depend upon for supplemental income. Why do you think artists sell so much stuff? It's because the residual monthly checks help along side the lecture fees, and performance gigs, etc. I would consider myself a part time magician. I work a 9 to 5 as an actor at a movie studio in Hollywood (which might I say I have the best job in the world!), and if I'm not here at work, then I'm usually out doing shows or marketing myself. However if it weren't for my wife who has the real job... None of what I do could be possible. I have no college education, nor do I have a degree to fall back on. Hence my advice to 'stay in school.'
It wouldn't kill you to take some business management classes, or business law as suggested. A few marketing classes wouldn't be bad either. A theater major will help you understand how to produce quality stage shows which you could utilize in your magic endevors, and it gives you a fall back should things in magic not go your way.
Not everyone is going to be famous like Criss Angel. There are a lot of workers out there today who make $300,000 dollars a year, and you've never heard of them! As my dear friend Paul Draper has said You can either be rich, or you can be famous. What do YOU want out of magic?
Let me answer your questions from my experience.
-What are my options to make money as a magician?
Your options are either book out to private parties/ events, sell your act to a cruise line, work through an event planner, street performance, or four wall a venue and recoup the losses out of ticket sales. That's a very down and dirty over view, and yes I've left some things out, but that's the bulk of the work force right there.
-What is the average yearly salary of a magician?
I can't answer this question, most magicians I know don't really talk about their personal statistics. Even Benji above didn't quote numbers, only giving a vague reply leaving you to fill in the blanks.
-Will I be able to provide for my family by doing magic?
There's an old joke I'll use here... What can a large pizza do that a magician can't? Feed a family of four! Again I'm talking about reality here, no pipe dreams. CAN you support a family? Sure... but you'll need to work up to it. Pay your dues, not in time but in blood, sweat, and tears. Minimal time investment is about 5 years before people start to have a clue who you are. During that time you'll be building your network of clients, book of business, etc.
-Will I need to have another job outside of magic, to help provide for my family?
More than likely yes. And especially during the period of time it takes you to get established. If you have a clear cut idea of what it is you want out of magic, what kind of venues you want to work, and how you're going to get there, that time may be reduced. But almost everyone I know (unless they had a rich family) has a second job.
