Brian T. Lees products: page 1
Tool Box Show
Brian T. Lees
A call comes in and their magician cancelled. They need a magic show in the next half hour. Can you be packed and ready to go? Maybe you are at an event and one of the sponsors comes up to you and says they need to fill a thirty-minute gap in their schedule. Are you ready to step on stage and go to work? The answer rests in what this text refers to as a tool box show. When the phone rings, if the money is right, all you need to do is grab your tool box and go to work. This ebook will help you take advantage of those "short notice" performance opportunities.
- Real world
- Tool box show purpose ...
Abraca-Poof October 2016
Brian T. LeesSell the Sizzle
Brian T. Lees
The climax of a magic trick can only last a few minutes. But the build up can take a lot more time. The "sizzle" created by the magician adds drama, mystery and builds the element of surprise. This ebook covers sizzle. What it is, when it is needed, when to use it, and how to work with it.
- What is sizzle?
- When to use sizzle
- Creating sizzle
- Automate yourself
- Timing
- Wrapping it up
1st edition 2016, 15 pages.
Setting the Environment
Brian T. Lees
A major portion of the audience's experience involves the environment. Their enjoyment can be pleasurable or highly distracted by the area they are given to watch you. This text covers the importance of the performing environment from both the stage and audience perspectives. It goes into details that need to be discussed before the room is set up. It covers many areas most magicians take for granted.
- Seating
- Staff
- Performance Area
- Sound
- Flow Path
- Emergencies
- Get Ahead of Set Up
- Meet and Greet
- Wrapping it Up
1st edition 2016, 20 pages.
Entertainment Factor
Brian T. Lees
Two magicians do a show. At the end one audience leaves the show walking out like students changing classes at high school. The other comes out excited, talking about some of the "WOW" moments of the show. The difference between the two magicians is the entertainment factor.
You can have the best equipment, do the latest/greatest magic and still fail. The true unit of measure for magicians is the entertainment factor. That factor is controlled entirely by the audience. This text identifies elements that impact the entertainment factor.
- The Entertainment Factor
- Entertainment Factor Impacts ...
Working with a Partner
Brian T. Lees
A primer for working with a partner. This text addresses such questions as: why work with a partner, what do look for in a magician you want to work with, documents that both partners need to consider, the basics of putting a performance together and other information.
- Why a partnership
- What to look for In partner
- The partner agreement
- Partnered performance
- Transitioning
- Accent the positive
- Wrapping it up
1st edition 2016, 21 pages.
Abraca-Poof September 2016
Brian T. LeesTransitioning
Brian T. Lees
Now for my next trick..... Ladies and gentlemen watch as I take this silk...... And now, right before your eyes I will...... For my next trick......
Announcing each and every trick you do during your show gets boring to the audience. Nothing makes you sound more generic then constant repetition. For that reason, magicians have come up with methods to create flow through their performance. The methods they use between their magic is referred to as transitions.
The three basic transition tools are: announce, lead and connect. This text identifies the three transitions and helps you use...
Free Money
Brian T. Lees
Working on tips, fund raising and ticket sales are sources to generate free money. The term free identifies no contract/invoice. But it doesn't mean you do not have to work for it. This text gets you started with these approaches. It is nice to have the guaranteed income of a contract. However, in the proper situations, locations and with a professional touch the income with these activities is unlimited.
- Everything old still around
- Fear
- Apply yourself
- Working for tips
- Working on tickets
- Taking it to those in need
- Wrapping it up
1st edition 2016, 20 pages.
Performance Investment
Brian T. Lees
Ever wonder why some magicians always seem to get hired over others? Do you want to get your quote higher in the piles of those being considered? If you position your quote with a return on investment approach you will have more success. Skills and performance content is important. But those who suggest better returns in terms of value are those who get hired. This ebook identifies the “value add” elements that, if included in your quote, helps push your information to the top of the list.
- Preface
- The Buyers Side
- Disqualified Proposals
- Value by Definition
- Value Adds
- Structure the...
Abraca-Poof August 2016
Brian T. LeesThinking of an Assistant
Brian T. Lees
Bringing on an assistant to work with you does not have to be expensive. But it does need to be planned out. From adding the employee, to work costumes and through performance this ebook sets the foundation to get started. Begin with the magic you already own and with increased marketing watch your shows evolve to larger venues/audiences.
- Selection
- Payroll
- Sources
- Appearance
- Performance
- After the Show
- Train Wreck Performance
- Wrapping it Up
1st edition 2016, 23 pages.
Show Development
Brian T. Lees
A primer to help organize clusters of magic into a professional show. Rate your magic in terms of entertainment factor and establish a flow that moves your performance from show opening to close. Learn the reasons larger and smaller magic are blended into a performance. Then learn how to use these various waves to slowly build your audience to that big "wow" finish successful magicians close with.
- Show Components
- Mechanics
- Inventory
- Flow
- Music
- Produce Your Show
- Specialty Shows
- Documentation/Backup
- Wrapping It Up
1st edition 2016, 27 pages.
Abraca-Poof July 2016
Brian T. LeesAbraca-Poof June 2016
Brian T. LeesWorking on Stage
Brian T. Lees
From the Preface:
An actor who has always been an inspiration to me once said:
"There are plenty of $400 magicians out there who are only worth $75 and there are plenty of $75 magicians out there that should charge $400."
That is a harsh, cold but very true fact. They all have the skills and potential. Still some do not take their performances up to the levels they should. The ending result is an audience that only gets parts of their show. The cheap $400 magicians shut out part of their audience. They do not allow the entire audience to listen to what they say. And they have serious...
Marketing for New Magicians
Brian T. LeesSafety Magic Show Primer
Brian T. LeesPerforming as a Business
Brian T. LeesWorking with Music
Brian T. Lees
Music is an element that can take a simple show and make it fantastic. This text will identify the various uses of music. I will go into detail on a simple "start up" system you can use. Sources for music will be identified as well as editing materials. A system you can control while on stage, using music that has been edited to fit your performance might already be near your fingertips.
- Uses of Music
- Legal Issues
- Emotion
- Getting Started
- Background
- Choreographed
- Looping and Editing
- Back Up
- Wrapping it Up
1st edition 2016, 22 pages.
What Do You Charge?
Brian T. Lees
There are things that need to be researched and many considerations to think about when setting your prices. This ebook is a basic guide to how to determine what you should be charging in your area.
- Do Your Homework
- Activities / Services
- Market Values
- Price Structure
- Comparisons
- Wrapping It Up
1st edition 2016, 10 pages.
Sponge Ball Magic
Brian T. Lees
Sponge balls pack small and play as big as your imagination allows. Learn basic manipulations and routines. Use as close-up, walk around, with volunteers during your show or on the spot. This ebook gets you well on your way with some of the classic manipulations.
- What makes magic work
- Why sponge
- Palm vanish
- Place vanish
- Complete the vanish
- Classic pass
- Color change
- Pass through
- Change bag
- Classic 3 ball routine
- No sponge
- Wrapping it up
1st edition 2016, 22 pages.
Show Documentation
Brian T. Lees
"I used to do that trick many years ago. I just cannot remember how it went but the audience loved it." Have you heard that before? Everyone has files. We keep records of bill payments, taxes, bank statements and a bunch of other important information. Why would your magic be any different?
This ebook identifies the importance of keeping back up information on your magic. It offers suggestions on a file system that includes text, binders and DVD sources. Armed with this system you could bring back any magic that you have done in the past. Use your files to determine what has changed, what...
Productive Rehearsal
Brian T. Lees
Whether you spend an hour a day, or a few hours before your performance this ebook helps you get the most out of the time spent.
The materials in this ebook help you identify dead spots, problems with angles, poor manipulation and other elements that directly impact your performance. Materials are included that help you prepare for the unexpected. The performance factor rests entirely on the audience. This ebook helps sharpen your performance skills.
- What is rehearsal
- Tools
- Evaluation
- Documentation
- Sample documentation forms
- Trick/Routine form
- Train wreck rehearsal
- Wrapping it...







