It is surprising how many businesses these days do not have websites or any kind of inbound marketing strategies.
Already, there are some articles about using Facebook, Television Ads, and information about what kind of services we can offer. Free info for you...
I have a team of folks helping me promote...each person with their own specialty. If you have a local business, or know someone who needs some online help, check out the site!
Well, it finally happened. Someone created a Wikipedia page about me. ( See the Adam Grace Wikipedia Page. )
I often wondered when it would happen. My band, Truth & Salvage Co, got Wiki'd a few years ago. Other projects I have been involved with have been Wiki'd. I just patiently waited ... and waited... I even read an article about how the articles got created. I still waited and I never tried to create my own.
Then, yesterday, someone emailed me and said "You have a Wikipedia page." I checked... and it was there. Boom!
Having a Wiki page is not some ego-stroking adventure. I just find it very interesting that someone out there took the time to create a page about me.
So What?
Well, I recently read a book, Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, which pointed out how projects can become gigantic if the people creating them have the proper drive and motivation. At the time of Wikipedia's creation, Microsoft had it's own version of a digital encyclopedia that was on track to sell millions. Suddenly, a crowd-sourced project comes along and surpasses everything that Microsoft was trying to do. Wiki now owns the Encyclopedia market!
The entire site of Wikipedia is made by people like you and me! Think about what must motivate someone to sit and create entries in Wiki? There is no pay. There is no physical reward. What do people get from it?
The answer is clear: People want to be a part of something bigger and greater than themselves.
Community of Magic?
There is so much information about magic, methods, and the history of magicians. There is exposure, and lies, and a ton of information for a budding magician to find. Yes, the Wiki is a community of magicians all working on preserving the history of magic in the digital age.
Once you dig deep enough, you can find the answers to almost every question about magic. Okay...dig away!
I was on the phone today booking a magic show. The man on the other end was giving me some hesitation about booking my show. That's when I used a technique that my Father taught me along time ago.
There is one word that can change the outcome of your conversation. There is one word that will up your "booking ratio". There's one word that is the most powerful word in ANY language.
Are you ready for it?
The word is..."Why?"
I've used this technique for many years when helping a client to go ahead and make a decision to book me.
Usually, when a client gives you some hesitation about booking your show, you're not privy to the real reason and you don't know what to do. This is a typical conversation...
Client: Well that all sounds great. Magician: Okay, so should we confirm this date right now and I can fax over the contract? Client: Well... I'm not sure and I'm going to have to get back to you. Magtician: Okay... just give me call when you know.
And that's it. No show for you because they never call back. However, the word "why" changes things. It makes the client address his REAL concerns about hiring you.
Try it this way:
Client: Well... I'm not sure and going to have to get back to you. Magician: Why? Client: I'm just not sure that we can afford you. Our budget is only for $800 and your fee is $900. Magician: Oh... well, if I could do it for $800 would you go ahead and confirm the date? Client: Yes.
And there you go! You got another show. Try this in your life and see if it works for you my friends...
I spent an hour today trying to find some way to contact my old teacher/mentor in magic. His name is Frank Brents and he lives in Bronx, NY. Frank was the very first person that spent time with me and taught me magic. We spent many days together back in the early 1990's at a place called Ruebens in New York City.
I met Frank on a cruise ship when I was only 13 years old. He was the nicest guy and opened up his brain to me. I picked him clean that week... 8 hours a day with the guy... and he answered every question I ever had about magic. Looking back I was so lucky to have met him. It changed the course of my life and gave me a burning interest in magic. I did not get off that ship the whole week. My family was visiting exotic locations and I refused to leave Frank's side. I knew that the opportunity to study with a true master of magic would never come along again.
Frank was the first guy to do a duck act. He was billed as "Americas Black Magician"... which today seems ludicrous. But back in the day, he was one of a tiny number of African Americans that could make a living doing magic. He told me stories about some of the discrimination he dealt with back in the day. His life is an incredible one and I think someone should write a book about him.
What about his magic?
His show was incredible. He produced doves of many colors, changed them into ducks, handkerchiefs, and featured the $1000 challenge at the end of his show. He would invite spectators on stage to try to figure out where the duck went after he put it into a box and vanished it. There was a $1000 prize if they could figure it out...which no one ever did. But that was a ballsy thing to do.
I saw a video once of David Copperfield. David was commenting on seeing Frank's show and said something like, "The ducks were really great... what a great idea to use ducks in your act."
Not more than six months later, Copperfield had put a routine into his show featuring... a duck! In fact, it was a big part of his show back then. I can't remember David's duck's name....
Frank also did all the classics in magic: Linking rings, 6 card repeat, etc. He was also a master card guy... most people don't know that about him.
If anyone knows his number I would like to have it... so I can see how my old teacher is doing.
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I've been getting requests to post some videos of my show online. Funny thing is... if you just go to Google and type in my name you can find all kinds of videos of me performing. Here's a couple that I got from youtube... enjoy.
I can't tell you how long I have put off doing a blog. Everyone these days tell me it is the number one way to create buzz and generate interest in websites. So I started reading a few blogs... Tom Frank has a cool one ... and I realized that there is something to this. It's slightly addictive.
For my first blog post I have an idea. Sexy girls in skimpy outfits!
A few months ago my band, Even The Sun, shot a music video. (As some of you know I play a little music here and there) We were lucky to have The Brothers Dowdle, a duo of writer/director/producer team, who filmed our hit song "Unknown Hottie" .
The Brothers Dowdle recently sold their film at Tribeca Film festival and it will be getting a national release next year. It's called "The Poughkeepsie Tapes". They are also shooting a new movie with a huge multi million dollar budget... but that's for another Blog.
So... the band met at midnight at a grocery store in the valley. There were seven models, all pretty and wearing literally nothing, who were excited to be a part of the shoot. Did I mention that being a rock and roll person is very fun...
Seven hours later we emerged with our first music video. So... for my first blog I present the hit music video"Unknown Hottie"
