Episode 3: Websites and Bcards

[Shawn Mullins]

This journey going to start with how to look professional. Going into a job interview you should have some certain things to help you look a bit more “put-together.” So what are those things?

They Include:
Website
Business Cards
Press Kit

The first place to start and the easiest would be the website.
Your website can be easily made with one of those free hosting sites online, webs is my personal favorite because of their stock layouts for websites. Make sure it’s eye appealing and not too dark, here are the top three magician websites (not stores) that I have personally seen: Justin Kredible, Aaron Fischer and Wayne Houchin. Those three all have a good amount of info, video clips, pictures and some other goodies sprinkled in. But it can also be simple and extremely effective, AJ (Arvindj227, a moderator on the Ellusionist forums) has a simple site that’s great. It’s simple to navigate and says exactly what it needs to.

Your home page should have a quick news section for updates, contact info, a highlight reel (if you have one) and links to your other page; basically it sums up all your other pages. Your other pages should be: about me, testimonials, upcoming events, media (pictures and video) and contact/ booking. Now what are they?

The about me page is just a bio on yourself letting people who you are and where and why you got into magic. You can make this funny, serious or whatever suits YOUR PERFOMANCE STYLE. The testimonials page can just be quotes you’ve received in your reactions until you have some news clippings or articles from websites posted about you. Keep in mind that when you quote someone for a testimonial you don’t say “my friend” you say there name and where they are from, you also have to get it approved by them so something like “his ability to make me believe in magic again is what’s unbelievable” Shawn Mullins, Bridgewater State College is a bit better.

Next is the media. Try to put together a short highlight reel. Something cool that you can do is go to a local college with a film department and ask the teachers if any student is looking for some freelance work. They get a portfolio and you get a nice highlight reel made from someone who knows what they are doing. Try to get the video to express your performance style, the best highlight reel I’ve seen is Justin Kredible’s, sure he has famous people in it BUT it expresses who he is. Do walk around magic and film it trying to get peoples expression and compile a video from expressions. Then the contact is just how they can reach you and how to book you. My advice from being in band is to NOT put the prices on the site… have them contact you first.

One other thing you should think about doing is explain what types of magic you perform. On AJ’s site he lays it all out and says what each style is like close up, stage etc. You want to make sure they know EXACTLY what to expect from you and how involved they want you to be.

Lastly create an e-mail specific to your magic… mine is mullinsmagic@live.com... It’s simple and if put on a business card they can easily tell I’m a magician. Don’t have something like sweetbottomjeans@whatever.com I don’t think that will work as well… just a hunch…

For business cards try Zazzle… it’s a fantastic website with a lot of cool options keep the card simple with your name, e-mail, website and phone. They just need a way to contact you so more info than that is overbearing. If you can’t afford business cards right away try writing your new website’s address on a playing card after an ACR… the point is to just get it out there!
If you have a pro and have a website, what are you currently doing with your site? How does it look and what’s on it? Same for business cards please; all of your info is greatly appreciated!

The next episode will come soon! You can find my new website in my signature, I don’t have a .com yet but I plan on it soon after some other expenses are put aside. It still needs work (aka video, pictures and more) but I’d like to hear some imput!

[-Mike-]

I do agree with some of what you posted, but I dont agree about the free websites.
Free websites make you look cheap in my opinion. I actually use freewebs, but I would never put it on a business card or let anyone know about it unless I paid at least a minimum to get rid of ads and .webs.

[Shawn Mullins]

I do agree with some of what you posted, but I dont agree about the free websites.
Free websites make you look cheap in my opinion. I actually use freewebs, but I would never put it on a business card or let anyone know about it unless I paid at least a minimum to get rid of ads and .webs.

You can still make the site look nice on a budget is what I'm saying. With past bands I've had etc. you can still get a nice site to promote your services on a free hosting website. Later on, the more professional you get and more revenue from the buisness starts building THEN pay for the site. It's all about returns and what you do with the investments. Do you retain the money and use it to improve your buisness or do you pocket everything?

For a starting company there's nothing wrong with free web hosting and no one will look down on you becuase you are still a starter company. Now if you are applying to work corporate events that;s a different story but we are talking about pulling this from the bottom with hardly any starting capitol.

[-Mike-]

Well in that case I do agree with you. If you cant afford a site, yes its definately acceptable to have free promotionals. As long as it looks good, organized, and professional. Yep, I agree.