That's ridiculously expensive. At that rate, you're charging about $133 an hour - and unless you're some godlike performer, that's much, much more than you should be charging.
Amateur magicians should start off at about $20/$25 an hour, maybe a little more. Intermediate-skilled performers to professional hobbyists can charge a resonable price of anywhere from $40-$80 an hour. (For restaurant/small party settings)
If you are relying on magic as your main source of income (as an adult):
- Develop a stage show.
- Move to Las Vegas.
- Get an act.
- Consider the Magic Castle.
- Develop an immensely strong base of clientel.
Don't charge more than you're worth.
Ben
The hell are you talking about? 25$ an hour? For a magic act is
ridiculously expensive? Are you high!? I know hack acts that do children shows that charge 200$ for 50 minutes. Balloon animals included, and they have work every other weekend.
Your amature cheesy costume characters that do magic acts for 30 minutes hired through a entertainment agency get paid (take home) between 40 to 60 dollars an hour depending on experience. Here's a hint newbie that isn't what the agency is charging the client. That's what the entertainer is bringing home! That means the client is paying probably close to 250 to 300 an hour.
Now I know talking about our rates as magicians are a bit of a taboo subject. The last thing we need is some one undercutting us blah blah blah. But 25$ an hour is a joke. You must not do a lot of real magic shows for real people.
That or you are in need of a serious reality check.
Also consider the psychology of prices. Take a Toyota and a Mercedes Benz. Both are cars. They both drive. They both get you from point A to point B. Really the only diffrence between the two is about 80,000$. Why? Bells and whistles removed, it's the name you're buying. If you are loyal to Mercedes Benz then you wouldn't buy a new one for 20,000$. You'd probably wonder what was wrong with it.
Same thing applies to us as magicians. Low prices make a statement about the quality of the act. IF you book a 25 dollar magician you're going to get just that.... 25$ worth of magic. Also I guess it really also depends too on what kind of material you do in your act. If I am doing my fire eating, or sword swallowing I obviously will charge more than if I was booked to do card tricks behind a bar since I'm pretty much risking my own life each time I do those stunts.
Lets do a reality check. Your so called "god-like" performers are getting paid around 10K a show. Sigfried and Roy would get around 100K for a single appearance. (so I've heard) Lance Burton I believe has a contract for 10 mil in 10 years.
Your AVERAGE birthday party kids magician usually charges around 100-200$ for an hour.
Your Trade Show magicians 5 to 10K for the event. Or like 1 to 2K a day.
Now You're about right on resteraunts. Most resteraunt jobs will only pay 60-80$ a night for your efforts. The real money there are made in tips. But line up three or four resteraunt gigs in a week and you've got a good paycheck.
You don't have to move to Vegas to be a pro. I think you're being a bit extreme with that. The Magic Castle or Vegas certainly help, and they are nice things to have on your resume but they aren't the be all end all of working professionals.
If you want to be a working professional then you just need to build a book of business, filled with clients. When you can suplement your income by doing magic shows then you'll know you're on the right track. When you can pay your bills and rent by doing magic then you know you've made it. You may not be the next Criss Angel... but you'll know you are a working pro.
