From Zero to Your First Paid Gig
So, what is this course thing all about?
Have you ever heard the phrase "Time is money?" When I first started out as a magician interested in working professionally, I waisted YEARS trying to figure out how to actually make it work. I started taking magic seriously as a "professional" in 2007, but it wasn't until 2010 that I landed my first paid gig. I kept telling myself, "I'll do it next year..." Next year came... Nothing. I made excuses for myself that it was "too hard" or "I cannot afford to pay for advertising to book gigs." I wish there was some sort of system in place for me in this situation all those years ago. Over the years I have been mentoring magicians in this EXACT position who want to start performing professionally. Many of them have mentioned that I should put some sort of actual course together to walk people through step by step on how to actually start booking paid gigs. I have been putting it off... I figured, "Who would want to even book this course?" I remembered, 2007 Michael would! So I finally decided, screw it! Let's give it a go! Let's put a course together and let's get magicians who are in this same position, feeling like no matter how hard they try, they cannot book their first gig, BOOKED! Whether you have performed for a live audience or not, have an act put together or not, been hired to perform magic for strangers before or not, THIS is the course you're looking for. So, I can expect to get rich off this then right?
This is NOT going to be one of those "get rich quick" cash grabs that I am sure you are used to seeing. I am not looking to be the next millionaire financial guru. The goal is to teach you how to go from ZERO to your FIRST PAID GIG. Once you have gotten that first gig booked, you will learn how to scale up from there and keep your business growing, booking more work and allowing you to make a part-time or full-time living performing magic. Again, I want to be completely transparent with you, this is NOT a, "go quit your 9-5 job and flip your boss the bird while you flash your new Lambo in your garage" type of course. The courses will be LIVE via ZOOM so you can actually ask me questions as we go along, not pre-recorded fake live streams. Each session will take place once a month for 6 months. Each step will allow you time to complete homework assignments at your pace so you can get things done correctly an ask questions long the way. So, what will I teach in this course? This course is broken up into 6 steps. Each step is designed to lay the foundation for the one that follows so you can properly set yourself up for success while spacing them out strategically to ensure you are not overwhelmed.
Step 1 - Getting your product together: You need to have something to sell before you start selling right? Learn how to build an act from the ground up that can get your foot in the game. Learn how to practice properly and to streamline and structure your act to be as impactful as possible! All you need are 3-5 pieces of solid magic to get started. Learn to do this properly and avoid getting stuck or wasting time endlessly looking for the "best trick" to add to your set. Step 2 - How to perform like a professional: Being able to perform for your friends vs. performing at a paid event are very different. In this section we will learn the ins-and-outs of how to actually perform. Learn how to approach people, what to do if something doesn't go as planned, handling interruptions, etc. Learn the art of Strolling Magic and how to maximize our time at each event that will guarantee clients raving about you and repeat bookings. Step 3 - Laying down your foundation: Let's get your website, social media, listing sites, review sites and all that stuff set up. Learn how to price your services properly and in a way that actually lands sales rather than just being "the cheapest option." Start building your brand and discover what makes you unique from other entertainers in your area! I wish I had someone teach me all this when I got started. I would be years ahead of where I am today. Step 4 - Marketing yourself: I am talking marketing funnels, having a good call to action, gathering social proof, and start getting referrals! This is all designed to start getting your name out there! We will focus on more conventional means of getting your name out there ranging from pay to play lead acquisition for those with the capital to get started all the way to FREE tried and true lead generators anyone can implement with little to no money to start. Step 5 - Sales strategy and how to start making $$$: This is probably the most important section in the whole course. This is all about how to take those leads you generated in the marketing section and convert them into paying clients. How to make sales calls and handle objections to close the sale. How nerve wracking is it trying to convince someone to hire you on the phone? Well, in this class we will roll play in such a way that gives you the practice and skills you need to calmly and effectively sell yourself and your service to your prospective clients. Lastly, how to draft an invoice & agreement and send them a payment link so you can actually earn $$$! Step 6 - Your first paid gig and beyond: So, you just got booked for your first paid gig.... NOW WHAT? Let's talk liability insurance, maximizing the impact you have while at each event, getting referrals, and turning each event into a lead generator of its own. The most important thing though? Scaling up your business. Resisting the urge to buy a new flat screen TV and instead reinvest that money into your business. Upgrade your equipment, use the money for lead acquisition by running paid ads, or upgrading to premium memberships using the listing sites we set up. As you can see, the foundations are there and this system works. It can be easily achieved by anyone willing to put in the work. This is not a brain fart that happened over night. I have been writing this course for years. The material covered is practical and common sense, but structured in an easy to digest way that will force you to get your business up and running in 6 Months! So, what is the commitment?
So, if you are still reading this far down, it means you are interested and would probably want more info on pricing and all that before you can decide if it is right for you. Some courses cost an arm or a leg and then never deliver on their promise. (Who has $2,500 for a 6 week online marketing course ammirite?) I want to charge a fair rate that everyone can afford while still giving you as much value as possible. I typically charge $100 per hour for my professional consultation. For a 6 session package at 90 minutes each that would be $900. I am willing to put this course together and charge $350 for the ENTIRE COURSE per person. I think that is fair assuming that I can book 10 students per session. On top of the course itself, I'll also give people free access to tutorials featuring my life's work and multiple lectures where you can learn some of my tried and true working material as part of the signup bonus. This is an extra $100+ dollars in value included at signup. I'll also offer discounts in my own online magic shop for anyone who wants to use any of my prepackaged effects in their act! I want to be realistic here though. Several people will tell me how excited they are about this course then when it comes time to sign up and pay, they won't. They will say they don't have the money. I will be launching these courses starting in January of 2025 (pre-registration starts in December, 2024.) You have time to put money away each month for the next couple of months. I can also offer financing options for people who need help making payments and breaking them up on a monthly basis. Are you ready to be serious about getting your magic business started? Are you tired of saying "Oh, I'll get to it next year...." and it never happens? Let me lite the fire under your a** you need to get started from someone who has been doing this for the last 15+ years. Are there any other discounts or sponsorship opportunities?
YES! Tell your friends and spread the word about this course and these offers. Do you know anyone you think that could benefit from this? I'll offer you a $50 OFF signup bonus for each student that joins the course that you referred. In turn, I will also offer anyone referred by you a $50 discount on the course as well! Now, keep in mind, space is LIMITED TO 10 STUDENTS PER CLASS and it WILL fill up quick. There will be a few classes set up between day, night, weekdays, and weekends so there is some scheduling opportunity for everyone, but I WILL cap the course at 50 students in total. Please take advantage of these opportunities while you can. I am not sure if I will open a second session or not after this one. Ok, I completed registration... Now what? Once you register, I will reach out personally to have a 10-15 minute phone call with you to prepare you for the class, set up your payment plan and schedule the first session. Again, sessions will begin in January and happen at the same time on the same day each month for 6 months. NOTE* Your spot in class will not be secured until payment has been verified* Why so long in between Sessions? Why not just spill the beans in 2-3 weeks instead? The reason I don't want to rush anyone is I want you to have time to do things correctly and actually practice/implement what we learned. Often times when hit with too much information at once we get overwhelmed and prevent ourselves from moving forward and taking action. By breaking each session down into digestible bites with clear goals and landmarks, your chances of success in actually implementing the material and archiving said accomplishments increase 10 fold! Are there any 1-on-1 coaching opportunities? YES! I still offer my individual coaching session for anyone who needs additional help on their specific business. I typically offer consultation for $100 per hour, but anyone enrolled in the course can schedule these consults for $50 per hour instead during the session period. So, what is the promise? Am I guaranteed to make any money off this? This is a question I get asked all the time. The answer is, "It depends on you." If you are expecting to join me live for each session, and make $$$ doing nothing, then no. You more than likely will not make any money from this. If you can commit to 10 hours a week spent implementing everything we learned in each of these 90 minute sessions, what I can promise is your chances of booking work will dramatically increase and you are more than likely going to book your first paid gig or more within months of completing the course. I have had students start booking gigs after a few sessions with me. I have had students as young as 16 years old book their first paid gig within about a year of coaching from me. It all depends on how much you want it. How hungry are you. How willing are you to learn, ask questions, challenge yourself, and make it happen? Again, this IS NOT A GET RICH QUICK online course.... The advice here is practical and designed to set anyone with the desire to achieve up for success. So, what are you waiting for? Join me for the next 6 months and go from ZERO to your FIRST PAID GIG! |
**REGISTRATION FOR THE FALL SESSION IS NOW OPEN!**
To register, please fill out the contact form below. Michael will contact you directly to set up payment and schedule your sessions! FALL SESSIONS WILL BEGIN IN AUGUST OF 2025 Payment options include the following:
NOTE* Your spot in class will not be secured until payment has been verified* **TESTIMONIALS**
“I worked with Michael on various phone consultations. He provided me with tips and tricks (pun intended) to help move my own professional magician business forward. He was helpful, kind, knowledgable, personable, and professional. His own credentials as a magician are impressive including appearances on AGT, Penn & Teller, and the esteemed Magic Castle.” -Bryan Kujawa "Despite having been mentored by Michael for a very limited time I can say that the advice given was quite profound in nature and really provided me a lot of introspection into my performances. Michael is not only a great mentor but a friend who grabs you by the hand and takes you along a journey to help you find ways that you can improve yourself. Do not expect Michael to do all the work for you as this will not help you grow as a performer. Follow his guidance and see how much you grow!" -Tabraze "Trevo" Sheikh "Michael's teaching is thorough and concise. His work has helped give me the knowledge and confidence to turn my magic from a hobby to a (part-time) source of income, thank you Michael! -Seth Ian Howard "When I started taking real gigs there were things that I didn’t know. I ran into multiple situations where I booked a type of gig that I’ve never done before and had questions. Luckily, I was able to lean on Michael O’Brien’s years of experience and extensive knowledge to guide me through. Without his help, I would have struggled a lot more in my journey to become a full time pro." -Arieze Kanji From the bottom of my heart, thank you to all who continue to show love and support. I hope to see you all in my next class!
-Michael O'Brien |