In my final interview here in this chapter of Successful Performercast, I have Joe Monti who gives us some valuable advice when it comes to show business and shares some stores from his career that will have you at the edge of your seat.

Joe Monti has done it all. He’s traveled the world with his magic, both performing and lecturing. He’s worked with Viacom, starting with the Cosby Show. He’s consulted for television on a number of shows & projects, including Criss Angel’s Mind Freak for three seasons, a lot of ghost and paranormal shows as well as other secret television projects. He was also the $50,000 winner on Simon Cowell’s successful prime time ABC hit American Inventor, which was seen by 14 million people.

He’s a frequent featured performer at the world famous Hollywood Magic Castle, home of the Academy of Magical Arts, and has released two commercial products straight from his act on the market for working magicians. Joe has done so much to elevate the art of magic, it’s impossible to list it all here.  

 

Success Mantra

Survive. You’ve got to kiss the canvas before you can dance with the angels.  

 

Great Advice on Show Business

• Talks about his early days in show business.

• Talks about how he discovered Tannen’s and started hanging out there.

• Tells how he “jumped ship” over at Viacom.

• “Do for others, and they will do for you."

• Tells about a how he was filming a TV show after quitting Viacom, where he was dressed all slummy and running into all the people he used to work with.

• Keeping you ear to the ground to figure out what people want and doing it.

• Talks about his physical comedy.

• Why you should do things exactly as you’re taught before adding your own influence into an act you’re working on.

• Finding what’s funny.

• An effective, yet controversial, tip for getting tips in a strolling situation, and why Joe stopped doing it.

• An interesting story involving Dave Chapelle.

• Magic minds help in business.

• Deliver a product that they can't get from anybody but you. 

 

Help Out Joe

As many of you may know, Joe was involved in a pretty serious accident. This interview was recorded before that accident, and Joe wanted to come back on before we officially released this interview to give us a quick update.

If you'd like to help him out, there's a Go Fund Me campaign open to help him with his medical bills and recovery expenses. Every little bit helps. Ad mention that Successful Performercast sent you. 

 

Parting Advice

Don’t show the people around the magic you’re working on. They’ll only tell you good things. Instead, film it, and let someone watch the video, walk away and then watch their reaction from afar.  

 

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

Lighting and sound. There's nothing like being seen and heard.   Happie Amp for sound   Security lights attached to batteries.   A step stool to stand up on to be seen better.  

Books:

Triggers by Joseph Sugarman

Bobo’s Coin Magic

Trick Brain by Dariel Fitzkee

Our Magic by Masculine & DeVant

 

Where can we find Joe Monti?

joemonti.com

thumbtie.com  

In this interview, Thought Reader Bill Gladwell who talks about the ins and outs of having his own stationary one-man, mentalism show and how he’s been able to make it a success.

Bill is a performer who combines his unique skills of hypnosis, NLP, suggestion, psychology, directed awareness, and showmanship to create a fun interactive show that leaves an indelible impression on each of his audiences and has performed for a diverse list of clients from Honda to country music artist Rodney Atkins. He’s also a speaker and trainer teaching people how to develop and master strong social skills helping them win at life.

For the last five years, Bill has pretty much stopped traveling in order to produce and perform in his own 75-minute mentalism show, Two Thought Minimum first in Gatlinburg Tenessee and then in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Finally, I wouldn’t be true to myself if I didn’t mention his own podcast, “Hey! Look at Me!” where he interviews other entertainers that he comes in contact with during his adventures.  

 

Success Mantra

Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will. – Susie Castle

If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it, if you don’t ask, the answer is always no, and if you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. - Norah Roberts  

 

Having a Stationary Show

• Tells how he got his first theater show as a mentalist.

• How he was able to tweak his show and improve it from a very rough start.

• Not listening to other magicians and mentalists.

• How Trip Advisor has helped his career.

• How/why he left Gatlinburg for Hilton Head Island.

• Tells how he got feedback from his audiences.

• Listening to his wife. Starting with the end on mind and working back from that.

• How he negotiated with a theater owner to get his dark nights.

• Promoting his show and getting tourists into see show.

• The importance of having a good product.

• How to work with the venue making it a win win for the performer and the venue.

• Back of room sales.

• Using social media avenues to his advantage.

• Building email list.

• His USP.

• How he keeps in contact via email.

• How he sells tickets.

• Challenges of working in a theater.

• Rebuilding his show and following in Hilton Head Island.

• Don’t be afraid to give tickets away to get things done.

• Interacting with press and getting coverage.

• Working with other companies and businesses to cross promote.  

 

Other Topics Covered

• The power in asking.

• Lessons from Girl Scout cookie sales.

• Asking for the close.

• How a Tony Robbins event changed his life.

• Talks about how he did an impromptu stage hypnosis show that started him out in performing.

• Finding material that fits you.

• Don’t do things like everyone else. Make it entertaining.

• Recording your show.

• It’s not about you, it’s about giving your audience a good time.

• How pricing yourself too low can cost your gigs.  

 

Failure Moment

Tells why he now collects his fee up front.  

 

Favorite Success

His Trip Advisor reviews.

Getting his wife to marry him. 😃 ❤️❤️❤️  

 

Parting Advice

Be bold. Not only on stage, but off stage.

Three foot rule: If anyone gets within three feet of you, you have to tell them what you do and give them a card.  

 

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

Evernote

Just Press Record iOS app

 

Books:

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

The Sales Bible Jeffrey Gitomer

Also mentioned WellAttended 

 

Where can we find Bill Gladwell?

billgladwelllive.com

Hey Look at Me! Podcast

In this interview, Al The Only talks about how he's found success in being a "general practitioner" of magic. He also talks about how he came up with his brand of Al The Only.

For over 35 years Al has traveled the country with his magic, performing for corporate clients doing their trade shows, conventions, business meetings, hospitality suites and holiday parties. This includes companies like Apple, General Motors, Coca Cola, AT&T, and McDonald’s. You may also remember him from “Ask The Only,” which was his column in the Magic Menu where he fielded questions about the business side of magic. Today he’s here to share his thoughts on show business with us.  

 

Success Mantra

Perception is everything.

Don’t sweat the big stuff.

You never know when you’re making a memory.  

 

Being a General Practitioner of Magic

• Defining general practitioner as it applies to being a full-time magician.

• Accomplishing the needs of his clients’ magical needs whatever they may be.

• If the client asked him if he could do something, he always said yes.

• Talks about “niching down."

• Weren’t really any gigs he wouldn’t take, but there are some that he wishes he had been able to do.

• Talks about how he’s now in the school show market and how he couples them with corporate gigs he’s doing.

• Talks about some of his selling techniques and strategy.

• How he travels with two shows.

• He has two of everything he does.

• Talks about the most unusual show he did which was being hired to steal from a department store.

• Talks about hiring a colleague sometimes to help serve the client in which he becomes the producer of a show.  

 

Other Topics Covered

• Being “present” with the people you’re performing for.

• Talks about some of the things he did to get gigs initially after getting laid off from his day job.

• You can get anything you want in life if you help enough people get what they want in life. — Zig Ziglar

• How his full-time restaurant job was the foundation of his business.

• Talks about his branding of Al The Only.

• How his name is instantly recognizable.

• Does the name make the individual, or does the individual make the name?

• His take on successes and failures.

• Dealing with multiple time zones.

• It’s not about the magic, it’s about the people you’re working with.  

 

Failure Moment

Tells about how he’s lost all his money three different times within his career.  

 

Favorite Success

The relationships with his clients.  

 

Parting Advice

1. Don’t do free shows.

2. If you think a show is out of your league, pass it up to another pro.

3. Never say you can’t do something for a client.

4. Don’t believe your own PR.

5. Marry a spouse with a job that has benefits. #tongueInCheek  

 

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

We all have smart devices, but the smartest device we have is our brain! Listen to people. Listen to your friends.

 

Books:

The Business of Restaurant Magic by Al The Only (Out of Print)

Confidential Booking Reports by Dick Ryan (Out of Print)

Doug Scheer’s book Entertaining Education (Also listen to Doug Scheer’s Interview)

Danny Orleans The Art of Presenting Magic for Children

 

Where can we find Al The Only?

Tricky1.com

The Magic Graveyard

Facebook | Twitter @theROARshow

This week, I bring you an interview with Steve Chezaday who shares some advice and insights from his years performing full-time. Topics include dealing with clients, pricing, managing your money, and customizing and maintaining your props. There’s a lot insight to be gained from this chat.

Chezaday is a magician who’s pretty much done it all from close up magic to grand illusion. His energetic show has taken him all over the country. He’s toured with Abbott’s Magic Festival and is also quite handy when it comes to building props and stage illusions. And he can do it all while rockin’ an air guitar!  

 

Success Mantra

Always be prepared.

Always have your money work for you.  

 

Personalizing & Maintaining Show Props

• Personalizing props.

• Custom painting goes a long way.

• Putting your own twist or spin on routines.

• Constantly capturing your own ideas on paper so you don’t lose them.

• Importance of quick reset.

• Preparing and maintaining larger props.

• Having protective cases for everything in a stage show.    

 

Other Topics Covered

• Talks about how he gets shows.

• Stacking shows. Knowing your setup & teardown time and being efficient.

• The importance of saving and investing your money.

• Talked about how he had a part time job for a long time which helped him to build his magic career.

• How his correspondences with clients are mainly online through email now.

• Making your clients feel like they’re getting a bargain.

• The psychology of charging $295 instead of $300.

• Don’t sell your magic, sell you. You want them to want you, not just “a magician."

• Don’t let people wait, because someone else will get back to a potential client if you don’t.

• Talks about working with the best and the worst in the industry while doing the Abbott’s show.

• Don’t be a prima donna. Try to make everything as simple as you can and treat everyone well. Be reasonable.  

 

Failure Moment

Talks about a last-minute hell gig that came about because of miscommunication.  

 

Favorite Success

Some of the charities that he’s able to work with.  

 

Parting Advice

Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.  

 

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

Pages on Mac

Rising Card App by Chris Kenner

 

Books:

Me Inc. by Gene Simmons

Beating a Dead Horse by Sandy Marshall

The Magical Life of Marshall Brodien

 

Where can we find Steve Chezaday?

Chezaday.com

Steve on Facebook

This week I have singer/songwriter Angela Parrish who shares with us about the importance of having multiple streams of income and how she runs her business. She also talks about how she saved for and completely self-funded $20,000 to record her latest album, Faithful and Tall.

Based out of Los Angeles, Angela creates her own brand of music, drawing inspiration from the likes of Carole King, Ray Charles, Eva Cassidy, Gregg Allman, and Alison Krauss. Her music has brought her great acclaim including second place for her song “The Couple Down the Hall” at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Song Competition, and having her song “Higher” selected as a finalist in the 2013 John Lennon Songwriting Contest. You may have heard her song “Different Tomorrow” which earned a primetime placement on CBS TV last summer. Thats not even mentioning her collaborating with top producers and musicians in the industry.  

 

Success Mantra

I realized early on that success was tied to not giving up. Most people in this business gave up and went on to other things. If you simply didn’t give up, you would outlast the people who came in on the bus with you. - Harrison Ford  

 

Multiple Streams of Income

• Talks about the different streams of income she has which include performing, album sales, and teaching piano.

• Teaching people one on one.

• Limiting how much she teaches so she can focus on the other aspects on her business that she has more passion for.

• Talks about the different percentages each of her streams of income are bringing in and where she’s focusing.

• Music industry in general and where she thinks it’s headed with music being sold online and subscription services like Spotify.

• How people will support the artists they love.

• How Periscope can help to build an audience.  

 

Managing Business

• Tells how she wasn’t good at managing her business and how she got better.

• Read All You’re Worth by Elizabeth Warren teaches how to manage your finances.

• 50% of your income is survival/basic needs, 30% is discretionary, 20% is savings.

• Talks about how she self-funded her album, hiring all of the help she needed in musicians, studio work, designers, etc.

• Tells how much it took to create her album. Spoiler alert: It was roughly 20,000 completely self-funded.  

 

Other Topics Covered

• Having tenacity.

• Not giving up, yet knowing when to quit.

• Fear of rejection.

• Finding yourself.

• How all your experiences make up who you are.

• Taking risks to be true to yourself and your art.

• Talks about her early performing days.

• Immersing yourself in the community that you want to be a part of.

• Balancing business and art.

• The importance of building a following which makes you more attractive to labels and other people to work with.

• Collecting emails. Opt-in magnet.  

 

Failure Moment

Putting out her record without any business knowledge. She feels it isn’t doing as good as it can be and now she’s changing that.  

 

Favorite Success

The songwriter’s hall of fame competition and being recognized by her peers.    

 

Parting Advice

Don’t sell yourself short. Set out to accomplish your dreams. Dance with fear.

  Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

Paper and physical books.  

 

Books:

All Your Worth by Elizabeth Warren

Writing Better Lyrics by Pat Pattison  

 

Also Recommended

The Dip by Seth Godin

Michael Hyatt’s This is Your Life Podcast

Platform by Michael Hyatt 

 

Album Faithful & Tall

Faithful and Tall by Angela Parrish  

 

Where can we find Angela Parrish?

AngelaParrish.com

Facebook | YouTube | Twitter | Instagram

In this episode, Fantastick Patrick talks about his juggling career which includes performing on TV, dealing with fear & failure, and having a mindset of giving.

Fantastick Patrick is a juggler/comedian/unicycle wrangler/musician/curator of all things fun & awesome! He comes to us from Los Angeles yet travels around the country performing at fairs, festivals, and corporate shindigs. He’s also had multiple TV appearances on shows like The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, Hell’s Kitchen, and the MTV Movie Awards.  

 

Success Mantra

He who tries to shine dims his own light.  

 

Performing on TV

• Talks about what he did to get on TV to perform.

• Tells the story on how he got on the Tonight Show.

• How unpredictable things can be on set.

• How different it is performing on TV rather than performing in a live show.

• There’s multiple takes, so if you mess up, you can do it again.

• There are decades where nothing happens and then there are weeks where decades happen.

• How he uses his TV appearances to benefit his performance career.  

 

Other Topics Covered

• Just letting things flow. Don’t try too hard or you’ll overthink it.

• Dealing with nerves before performing.

• Talks about some of his earlier juggling ventures.

• Moving to Los Angeles.

• Talks about how he markets himself.

• Talks about social media.

• People want to hire their friends.

• Focusing on strengths.

• Personal Facebook Pages vs Fan Pages.

• His view on failure.

• Dealing with fear.

• The danger of comparing yourself with others.

• Don’t be afraid to fail.

• Outsourcing aspects of your business.

• Top of mind awareness.

• Wanting what you have.

• Using your gift to inspire and bless other people.

• Decide that you’re going to serve and to give. "The Gift Shift."    

 

Failure Moment

Tells how he let someone else run his career and put them in the driver seat.  

 

Favorite Success

Finding success in his chosen market.  

 

Biggest Professional Challenge

Sticking with it through the tough times.  

 

Anything Done Differently?

Moved out to LA sooner and focused more on business.  

 

Parting Advice

Love what you do, the money will follow.  

  Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

Get the best sound equipment that you can. Make sure everything is battery powered, you don’t want to have to rely on an outlet.

Sennheiser body packs and make sure you get one of the “legal" ones.

Show Cues for iPhone

OneTrack

Go Button

Shawn Popp’s Interview  

 

Books:

The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

The Untethered Soul by Michael Singer

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle 

 

Where can we find Fantastick Patrick?

fantastickpatrick.com

Facebook | Instagram | Youtube

In this episode, Tom Ameen talks about how he's built a successful career as a classical pianist. Topics include restaurant gigs, getting private parties, and selling albums. He also talks about his new solo piano Star Wars album, which is awesome!

Tom has played piano since he was 12 years old and studied under acclaimed pianist James Tannenbaum at the Cleveland Institute of Music.

He’s gathered a wonderful following around Los Angeles which has afforded him many opportunities to collaborate with some top names like Grammy nominated artist Jim Brickman, performing on many of his albums. Tom even found himself performing as J.J. Abrams’ personal pianist.

He’s recorded many albums with Canadian-based label Somerset Entertainment, some of which are Wal-Mart exclusives, others to be found at theme parks around the country. My favorites are his albums that he’s put out which contain music from the Disney theme parks, and these have charted on the Billboard Top 10! Probably the most exciting of all, Tom has just released his latest album, Journey to the Stars which features renditions of his favorite themes from the Star Wars movies!

 

Show Sponsors:

ManageGigs: ManageGigs helps you keep track of all of your gigs online, without having to resort to spreadsheets. Click here to check them out and sign up for your free seven day trial!

Audible: For Performercast Listeners, Audible is offering a free audiobook download and a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. Click here to check it out!  

 

Interview with Tom Ameen: Success Mantra

Dream big. If you can dream it, you can do it. — Walt Disney  

 

Making it as a Musician

• Why he decided to move from Cleveland to Los Angeles and why he chose LA over New York.

• Dreaming big.

• Working with acclaimed pianist Jim Brickman.

• Talks about how he happened upon and landed a gig at Vitello's the restaurant he’s been at for three years playing four times per week.

• Selling his albums at his restaurant gig.

• Talks about private gigs.

• The power of asking.

• You miss 100% of the shots you never take. — Wayne Gretzky

• How he gets private parties.

• Contacting companies that do weddings and events.

• Tells about how he got a gig performing for JJ Abrams.

• Launching and promoting his albums.

• Getting approval and rights for his covers.

• How CD Baby manages all the details for selling your album on all platforms.

• Getting the word out about his albums.

• Doing interviews on podcasts to promote his music.

• Two of his Disney albums made it into the Top Ten on Billboard’s New Age list.

• Shout out to Randy Crane and Stories of the Magic Podcast for introducing me to Tom.

• Putting his own spin on songs that he covers while still keeping his integrity of the song and not sounding cheesy. He nails it!  

 

Journey to the Stars and Contest

\Journey to the Stars is Tom's solo piano album of him covering his favorite themes from the Star Wars franchise. Tom did a wonderful job with these arrangements and you can check out the album on iTunes or CD Baby.

We’re also giving away a free copy of his album to one lucky listener and here’s how to enter the contest: Go all the way down to the bottom of this page and leave a comment answering this question: If you had a droid that could do anything in the world, what would it do, and what would you call it? Tom and I will pick our favorite and the winner will be announced in the episode breaking February 12.    

 

Failure Moment

Not being true to his calling in music. He wasn’t being true to himself and actually gave up on music for a while and getting a day job. It was one of the most miserable periods in his life.  

 

Favorite Success

Getting on the Billboard Top Ten and putting out his albums like his new Star Wars album.  

 

Parting Advice

Use your fear as fuel to go do what you want to do.  

 

Exclusive Content for Patreon Supporters

The uncut version of this interview is available to Patreon Supporters and includes about 8 minutes of additional content. Please consider supporting me on Patreon.  

In the Patreon-exclusive content you'll find:

• Some fun banter as we talk about our musically inclined families.

• The importance of validation of what you’re doing from people who love your art.  

 

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

His RSS Reader to keep up with all the news sources and blogs he follows.

The Disney Parks Blog—To keep up on Disney news  

 

Books:

The Art of Racing in the Rain: A Novel by Garth Stein

Homer's Odyssey: A Fearless Feline Tale, or How I Learned about Love and Life with a Blind Wonder Cat by Gwen Cooper 

 

Where can we find Tom Ameen?

tomameenmusic.com

iTunes | Google Play | Amazon | CD Baby

Twitter @tomameen | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Vitello’s Restaurant

I've invited back onto my show Jay Alexander and Christian Cagigal because they have been putting together a four-day festival of magic up in San Francisco called the Fog City Magic Fest and I wanted to get them on to talk to them about how they’re putting it together. They take us behind the scenes and talk about the nuts and bolts of how they're going about putting together this four-day festival of magic.  

 

Show Sponsors:

ManageGigs: ManageGigs helps you keep track of all of your gigs online, without having to resort to spreadsheets. Click here to check them out and sign up for your free seven day trial!

Audible: For Performercast Listeners, Audible is offering a free audiobook download and a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. Click here to check it out!  

 

Fog City Magic Fest

Here are some of the topics Jay and Christian touch upon during this interview.

• They talk about the genesis of this project.

• How they're marketing and promoting it.

• How they've decided on the performers.

• They talk about some of the challenges they've faced.

• How they've decided on their venue?  

 

Jay Alexander's Free Business/Marketing Videos

  Jay has been creating some great business/marketing videos that you can have access to for free. Click here for more details.  

 

Where can we find out more about Fog City Magic Fest?

Feb 10-13 at Exit Theater

fogcitymagicfest.com

Facebook | Twitter @FogCityMagic | Instagram  

Last week I interviewed Mario the Magician. Katie is his wife and other half. She works with Mario as a team and handles all the business and marketing aspects of their business. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s essential for your spouse to be onboard and supportive of your entrepreneurial efforts, and this week, we’re diving into that very perspective!  

 

Show Sponsors:

ManageGigs: ManageGigs helps you keep track of all of your gigs online, without having to resort to spreadsheets. Click here to check them out and sign up for your free seven day trial!

Audible: For Performercast Listeners, Audible is offering a free audiobook download and a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. Click here to check it out!  

 

Interview with Katie Marchese: Success Mantra

Define your normal.  

 

Katie’s Take on Their Business

• How children change the dynamics of things, even in business.

• Gives her take on how they built their business and took it full time.

• Going for things 100%.

• Talks about initial marketing efforts, how they’ve changed and how they look now.

• Dealing with rejection.

• Letting go of things that don’t work in favor of giving new things a chance.

• Being diverse vs niche-ing down.

• Knowing what you’re strong at and not trying to be “everything to everyone."

• The stigma of children’s performers.

• Connecting with both kids and adults.  

 

Katie’s Business Responsibilities

• Takes care of booking inquiries.

• Running social media, scheduling posts.

• Reaching out to various outlets and possible venues.

• She does all she can so he can focus on his performing.  

 

Thoughts on Social Media

• Talks about how things have changed with social media and how now they’re trying to engage people in their story. Business and personal life are now connected.

• People want to know “your story."

• People do business with their friends and social media helps proper to know their business connections better.

• People also want to feel like they’re supporting something. If they feel like they’re connecting with you on a personal level, when they do business with you they have a stronger feeling of supporting you.  

 

Challenges & Blessings of Working with Spouse in Business

• Hard to turn things off when the work day is “done."

• Not having specific business hours.

• Scheduling “work" conversations.

• It brings them closer together because they’re working as a team.

• Possibility of including their kids in the business in the future.

• They try to expose the kids with the family business as much as possible while still being sensitive of their needs and desires.

• Disconnecting from business at the end of the day.

• Having a schedule that helps them to have routine and then unwind.

• Not taking things personally.

• Celebrating together.

• Getting to work with someone you love.  

 

Failure Moment

Talks about a tour they planned that flopped spectacularly! Learned not to force things but to let things happen smartly and organically. Katie shares how they might go about that today.  

 

Favorite Success

Their Kickstarter campaign that got funded and raised $36,000 allowing them to do a featured length documentary telling Mario’s story which is now playing at film festivals. Talks about how they approached their Kickstarter campaign.

• Reached out to local supporters.

• Outreaching to people in the different communities they’re a part of.

• Talks about some of the rewards they did for backers.  

 

Biggest Professional Challenge

Letting go and delegating.  

 

Is there anything they would have done differently?

Getting to the point they’re at right now faster.  

 

Parting Advice

Don’t make decisions based on what others think you should do but based on your own research and convictions.    

 

Exclusive Content for Patreon Supporters

This weeks episode is the full interview, but often times I go longer than an hour and therefore have to cut the interviews down to be an hour or less. Patron supporters get access to the full uncut versions of these interviews and often times, a few days before the official episode is released. If this interests you, please consider supporting me on Patreon.  

 

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

Her iPhone in general. She’s able to do business from her phone.  

 

Books:

The Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne 

 

Where can we find Katie and Mario?

MarioTheMagician.com Building Magic Kickstarter BuildingMagicDoc.com Facebook | Twitter @mariomagician | Instagram | Youtube

In this episode, Mario the Magician talks about how he makes all of his own props. He also talks about generosity and gratefulness and how those play a part in his business. Mario is a magician who performs primarily on the East Coast entertaining children and their families. The thing that really makes him stand out is that he’s a creator and inventor, making all of his own props for his show including fun, educational robotics. He’s an advocate for the Maker Movement, STEAM/STEM educational initiatives, and can be seen on a recent episode of Sesame Street. He’s Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin for the modern age.  

Show Sponsors:

ManageGigs: ManageGigs helps you keep track of all of your gigs online, without having to resort to spreadsheets. Click here to check them out and sign up for your free seven day trial! Audible: For Performercast Listeners, Audible is offering a free audiobook download and a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. Click here to check it out!  

 

Interview with Mario the Magician: Success Mantra

Casting your bread upon the waters and not being afraid of what that bread is.  

 

Generosity

• The reason we’re here is to help someone else.

• People remember forgiveness and generosity.

• Generosity is more valuable than money.

• If you help enough other people get hat they want in life, you’ll get everything you want in life. — an offshoot of Zig Ziglar’s quote.

• When you give, it makes you aware of what you have.

• Keep giving back to the world.  

 

Making His Own Props

• Everything today is built to break, where as old vintage stuff, you can open up and take apart. There is no more art in things that we buy anymore.

• 3D prints a lot of things.

• Talks about how things don’t always work out with what he’s working on.

• Understanding when to stop.

• Talks about programming a robotic monkey to do things at different points in his show.    

 

Other Topics Covered

• Being aware of what the world is telling you.

• Talks about his journey to where he is now.

• The stigma of kids performers.

• How he works together with his wife in business.

• Being grateful.

• Life in Nyack

• Being a good example for his kids.

• Finding a balance between working on his projects and family time.

• Understanding who your shows are really for.

• Bring fully present in your performances.

• Adults are really just four and five year olds and love going back in time.

• Playing for the adults as well as the kids. Like a Disney or Pixar movie.

• Talks about his experience on Sesame Street.

• Talks about how his wife believes in him and fully supports what he’s doing.  

 

Parting Advice

Be generous. Help others and make a difference in people’s lives. Find your art.

 

 

Videos Mentioned

Building Magic (Short)

Mario on Sesame Street 

 

Exclusive Content for Patreon Supporters

This weeks episode is the full interview, but often times I go longer than an hour and therefore have to cut the interviews down to be an hour or less. Patron supporters get access to the full uncut versions of these interviews and often times, a few days before the official episode is released. If this interests you, please consider supporting me on Patreon.     

 

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!

 

Resources:

People. Get around the right people.

HackADay.com

Make Magazine  

 

Books:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Mark Wilson’s Course in Magic 

 

Where can we find Mario the Magician?

MarioTheMagician.com

Facebook | Twitter @mariomagician | Instagram | Youtube  

In this episode, voice actor and musician Laura Dickinson brings us insight into how she’s made it as a voice actor for Disney Animation and how good old fashioned hustle can really take you the distance.

Laura makes her living as a full-time musician, contracting for Disney providing singing voices for animated characters on Phineas & Ferb, Jake & the Neverland Pirates, and Sofia the First. Essentially, “your nine-year old daughter’s favorite singer.” You’ve also heard her voice on Pitch Perfect, Modern Family, and Supernatural.

When she’s not bringing her character acting talent, she’s also a frequent live performer fronting her own 17 piece big band and opening for names like Tony Bennett and Lyle Lovett.

She’s also recently released her debut album, One for My Baby – To Frank Sinatra With Love, which is a beautifully done and wonderfully arranged homage to Ol’ Blue Eyes.  

Show Sponsors:

ManageGigs: ManageGigs helps you keep track of all of your gigs online, without having to resort to spreadsheets. 

Click here to check them out and sign up for your free seven day trial!

 

Audible: For Performercast Listeners, Audible is offering a free audiobook download and a free 30-day trial to give you the opportunity to check out their service. 

Click here to check it out!  

 

Interview with Laura Dickinson: Success Mantra

Happy to be here, easy to work with.  

 

Voice Acting

• Talks about how she got involved working with Disney animation and voice acting.

• What it’s like collaborating with musicians and producers and being able to anticipate needs, etc.

• If you can find someone you can count on and work easy with, you’ll work with them forever.

• Challenges of singing in the voice of a fictional, cartoon character.

• Always tries to ask a lot of smart questions.

• Adaptability and flexibility are her biggest takeaways from working with Disney.

• Working on people’s “babies.” Creative pieces that their creators care about.  

 

Failure Moment

Talks about how early in her career, not being as socially adept as she is now, she started talking trash about the show director and the casting director just as they walked in.  

 

Favorite Success

Being a part of Phinneas & Ferb which opened up a lot of doors for her.  

 

Other Topics Covered

• Working with other musicians who have different schedules

• Filling in for other musicians (it’s kind of like an understudy kind of thing)

• How she got her real education performing for Disney in their theme parks.

• Talks about how she “moved up the ranks” for Disney and started performing.

• Find what you really love doing and find a way to make a living at it.

• Always being the best representation if yourself.  

 

Exclusive Content for Patreon Supporters

The uncut version of this interview is available to Patreon Supporters and includes about 10 minutes of additional content. 

Please consider supporting me on Patreon.   

 

In the Patreon-exclusive content you'll find:

• Talks about first band she had a part in and how she decided she wanted to become a professional performer.

• Talks about some of the things she did to start drumming up business in performing full time.

• You have to be ready to be told “no” all the time. Rejection is a big part of show business.

• Talks about why and how she formed her current band.

• Talks about some of the many factors that goes into booking a performance with her band.    

 

Recommended books and resources:

Note: Many of the links in this section are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small portion of any sales. If you're enjoying our podcast and decide to purchase one of the recommended resources or books, please consider using our affiliate links to help support the work we're doing here at the Successful Performercast. Thanks!  

 

Resources:

The Internet. It's amazing how helpful the internet can be for your business. Plus, make sure you have all your media in order on the internet so it’s easy for people to find and hire you.

The Voiceover Resource Guide  

 

Books:

The Real Books for Musicians 

 

Laura's New Album!

Check out Laura's new album, One for My Baby, to Frank Sinatra with Love!

If you're a Sinatra fan, you're absolutely going to love Laura's take on some of his most famous songs. I know covering Sinatra is gutsy undertaking, but Laura absolutely nails it!  

 

Where can we find Laura Dickinson?

lauradickinson.com

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