Hi everyone - I thought I'd be a good boy and post a formal introduction!

I've been a full time professional magician for around 20 years performing stand-up and close-up. I'm a past winner of the British Close-Up Magic Championships (at the Blackpool Convention) and the IBM British Ring Close-Up Competition, and have published a fair bit of material here and there.

I'll be posting semi-anonymously as, like most working performers, I sometimes get clients and audience members googling my name. I, therefore, try and avoid it being linked on the Internet to discussions about effects that I might use. But if you want to know my real name, you're welcome to PM me and ask!

Sean

Welcome kozmic kettle,

You sound like a great addition to the ranks.

- Mary Mowder

Thanks Mary.

Hi Sean I agree sometimes it is best to keep a low profile.

Welcome to the Café' kozmic.

“Always remember in the Café' we must welcome the future, remembering that soon it will be the past; and we must respect the past, remembering that it was once all that was humanly possible”

Rick Anderson

Welcome to the Café!!

Awesome to have you on board... Sean? Or is it something else? Love mysteries!

Thanks everyone, Sean is real ... I just avoid using my full name on magic forums just in case it turns up on Google.

Welcome to the Café. As an "old school yank", I'm knowledgeable about some pro performers here in the States, but how is the market in the UK nowadays? Would like to hear your "take" on the European availability of performance magic gigs.
WK

Hi WK

Sorry for the delay in responding. I've only just looked at this page again. Most of the pro's over here were saying that business was down a bit last year with the recession - but the corporate market seems to be picking up again now.

I think the main difference between working in the UK and US is that, over here, most pro's target the whole country as their market. I can't think of a professional stage magician in the UK who only targets their local area.

Obviously, there are language issues when a British performer takes bookings in mainland Europe - though it can be a big market for those who perform to music. I don't do any silent material, but I've worked successfully in Holland and Scandinavia where everyone speaks English very well ... and less successfully in Germany and Eastern Europe where they don't!

Best
Sean

Welcome to the Café

Welcome to the Café and always like to hear about a fellow performer who has a little history behind them in the arts. Congrats on the awards.