S8E12: Al The Only - General Practice Magician
03/04/16 • 69 min
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 MantraPerception 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 MomentTells about how he’s lost all his money three different times within his career.
Favorite SuccessThe relationships with his clients.
Parting Advice1. 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)
Where can we find Al The Only?
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 MantraPerception 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 MomentTells about how he’s lost all his money three different times within his career.
Favorite SuccessThe relationships with his clients.
Parting Advice1. 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)
Where can we find Al The Only?
Previous Episode
S8E11: Steve Chezaday - Tips & Tricks from a Rockstar Magician
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 MantraAlways 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 MomentTalks about a last-minute hell gig that came about because of miscommunication.
Favorite SuccessSome of the charities that he’s able to work with.
Parting AdviceLove 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:
Rising Card App by Chris Kenner
Books:
Beating a Dead Horse by Sandy Marshall
Where can we find Steve Chezaday?Next Episode
S8E13: Bill Gladwell - Stationary One Man Show
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 MantraDoubt 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 MomentTells why he now collects his fee up front.
Favorite SuccessHis Trip Advisor reviews.
Getting his wife to marry him. 😃 ❤️❤️❤️
Parting AdviceBe 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:
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?If you like this episode you’ll love
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