Friday’s NewsInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

There is a great article about Harry Houdini in the Lansing State Journal. As many of you know, Houdini died in Detroit’s Grace Hospital after a valiant battle against an infection from a ruptured appendix. The article goes through the many myths about his life, career and death. Check it out but make sure to check out my new favorite site, Houdiniana for the most complete source for all things Houdini.

Peter O’Malley appears to be one very busy guy. I was taking the slow route through the web on my way to looking for a map of Boston and was lucky enough to find his website. I have added it to the ever growing web log of fame. So after I got my map of Boston, I was surfing back to work through the web; and taking my time again; and found that Peter will be performing on November 2, 2002 at 10:00 am in Watertown, Mass. I know from my newly found map of the area, that Watertown is not far from Boston. I put a link to Peter’s show on the Big Old Calendar of Magic along with all of the contact information.

Peter does work for corporations, kids, charity events, with work as a close-up and stage magician. He also takes on many different personae to fill the roles clients may have. One of the recommendations on his site comes from a radio station that speaks volumes about how a client values this versatility, “We were thinking of hiring a number of performers. Then we got lucky we found you to do it all.”

So how is this relevant, after all, you don’t live in Boston; or maybe you do but pretend you don’t for the sake of this argument; and you won’t likely hire a magician from Boston or be a magician who would commute to Boston to compete against Peter.

Yes, but you will want to get as many paying dates as possible. You want clients to know that while you may do kid’s shows, you are really a corporate trade show magician. At the same time, you want moms and dads to think that while you are good enough to be hired by the Fortune 500, you are primarily a kid’s show entertainer. I think Peter has done a great job of marketing himself as different magicians or entertainers so that no matter what the client’s needs, he can find a way to fulfill those needs. It is not as if he just slaps on some grease paint and becomes a clown or wipes off grease paint and becomes a close-up lounge worker. He advertises (and has recommendations to support his claims) that he is primarily the type of magician the client wants; no matter what the client wants.

Good luck to Peter and his many facets. I hope one day to see him perform whether I’m on a cruise, at a kid’s party or at a trade show. It sounds like any one of those venues will give him the opportunity to present a great show.

Tell insidemagic.com about your upcoming shows or how you have found a marketing niche. We’ll include you in the Big Old Calendar of Magic and include a note here.

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Tell insidemagic.com about your upcoming shows or how you have found a marketing niche. We’ll include you in the Big Old Calendar of Magic and include a note here.

The Magic Hands of Harry Allen of Daytona Magic

There is a very nice write up about the upcoming Daytona Magic Weekend in the Daytona Beach News Journal. This looks like it will soon become a regular stop on the convention circuit. Check out the article. We’re looking for a reporter to give us the scoop and review the convention. If you or someone is interested in being the reporter on the scene, let us know. Your name could appear in the broadcasted world of a web page seen by magicians everywhere.

Well, he’s here but there is no column. Look later in the day for Paw Paw Lawton’s thoughts on the magic world. He’s been around and used to advance for my dad’s show, Lil Tom Hardy: America’s Foremost Psychic Entertainer. He has promised an introductory column by noon (I think eastern time). Don’t hold your breath — except maybe if you’re around Paw Paw, his breath smells like a nice mixture of mothballs and gin — but check back.