Comments for PeterWardell.com

Comment on Make Yourself Feel Better by jeremias

jeremias — Fri, 07 May 2010 11:21:29 +0000

Soy español, no hablo inglés. Lo siento. Le vi actuar en Cáceres, con mi hermana Pilar, le hizo un truco con 20 euros y un limón. Le pedimos foto y firma, y fue muy amable.
Es usted mágico. Gracias.

Comment on Minimal Magic by John Lenahan

John Lenahan — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 04:14:32 +0000

That set of your is defiantly in my list of top 10 favourite Monday Night Magic performances. I smile just thinking about it.

John L

Comment on Minimal Magic by Robert Bone

Robert Bone — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:16:59 +0000

I too have hundred of books, piles of DVDs and boxes full of tricks. However, if I had to take from this hoard all items from which I have taken tricks that I use in my regular repertoire I’m sure it was barely fill a shoe-box.

The arguement on the other side is that all these other resources may not have given me a trick, but possibly an idea or inspiration to apply elsewhere, or will do in the future.

But, to flip that idea on it’s head, surely I as a performer I should be responsible for creating my own unique interpretations and performances. This should be born out of experience and my imagination, not from a dusty book written 50 years ago, or from some “worker” on an L&L DVD.

However, after all is said an done, it all boils down to the simple fact that rows of hard-backed books with interesting titles makes you feel more intelligent when friends visit.

Comment on The Busker & the Street Performer by admin

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:12:30 +0000

Thanks for the comments on this post.
Glen – if it helps to call yourself a Street Performer then great, however only do it if it helps! It’s pretty arbitrary really.
Michelle – This was never really meant to be a post about street performers or buskers – hard to believe I know. It was more about the intentions and meaning that anyone attributes to the work they do. The divide was made purely as a mechanism to help get the point across.
What you call buskers are, from your description are by my definition Street Performers. (A rose by any other name…)
You’re right though most “pitch buskers” do it for the money, I would imagine the ambient buskers are as well. The ones who move away from the set routines, improvise and give more than expected are risking that income and looking for art in what they do. Money is NEVER a good reason to do anything of any real value. How many performers or buskers would still do what they do if we took the hat away?
For the record some of the greatest Street Performers I know would be happy to call themselves buskers.

Comment on The Busker & the Street Performer by Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 23:42:07 +0000

In NYC we call it ‘pitch buskers’ and ‘ambient buskers’. (same thing as ‘pitch street performers’ and ‘ambient street performers’). The majority of the buskers in NYC are ambient. And boy, they are totally NOT invisible they don’t push out, they are NOT isolated nor stagnate, and they are probably the best artists in the world. Many of them also perform on the most prestigious stages and have great careers as musicians off the streets. But they choose to also play on the street. ‘Pitch buskers’ only perform for one reason – they want money. ‘Ambient buskers’ are the real artists – they perform for the love of sharing their art with people.

Comment on The Busker & the Street Performer by Glen Stone

Glen Stone — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:30:29 +0000

I have always called myself a Busker, but now I will refer to myself as a Street Performer!
I hate the term Street Magican as everyone all ways thinks of you as someone like David Blain Grrrrrrh.

Comment on What Are You Worth? (Part 2) by admin

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:16:12 +0000

Thanks to everyone who has commented on this topic.
Just for the record I have stuck to my guns on the whole and this December I have raised my fee (slightly), for new clients and so far it has been accepted. I am still working for existing clients at the same fee as usual but ironically this amounts to only 25% of the work.
Interestingly I was (in error), sent an internal email from a client who stated that my “higher fee” must be a “good thing”. Food for thought.

Comment on What Are You Worth? (Part 2) by Joel Dickinson

Joel Dickinson — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 12:32:38 +0000

I’m a fulltime magician, with regards to fees I have carried on as usual.
It’s been a rough old year.

If you are still struggling my advice would be, don’t put your prices up.
Remember, we are not the only industry and individuals struggling. Therefore other individuals can’t afford to ‘pay more’. This is a global, persistant, financial problem.

Thousands of companies both big and small have closed due to their financial difficulty, many of these companies where the reason for this financial downfall. I feel sad for many individuals loosing their work. However, lets say good riddance to the companies whom helped create this mess..

It’s a crisis of authority.

These are hard times will make us. Not only entertainers but your local traders.

Joel.

Comment on What Are You Worth? (Part 2) by David Willmott

David Willmott — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:41:25 +0000

Hi Peter
Enjoying the blog keep up the good work, Would like your thoughts regarding contracts deposits etc, Do you get any cancelations and do you press for the money and get paid if you do?

Comment on What Are You Worth? (Part 2) by admin

admin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:31:08 +0000

Thanks for the comments, it’s good to know some of what I write is being read.
I think one of the problems with the corporate close-up market is that client loyalty is not always there. To be honest even though I’m a pretty good magician I don’t know if a room of 300 would know the difference between me and the next professional close-up worker doing mix and mingle. The booker however (unless they have used me before) will, in the current climate, look at cost. If they can save £200-£300 to put behind the bar why wouldn’t they?
The advice Phil Jay gave Richard was great, and it would be coming form one of the highest paid workers in the UK. It made me think. Maybe now is the time to put fees up. Dramatically. You will certainly be differentiating yourself from your competitors and I’d rather be a £750.00 magician sitting at home than a £250.00 one.