How to Turn Your Hobby into Extra Income: Lessons from a Magician

When I was just nine years old, I watched David Copperfield make a train disappear on TV. I was mesmerized, and that was the moment I decided to become a magician. Over the years, magic has become more than just a fun hobby for me. It’s also an excellent source of extra income that has helped pay the bills and added a sense of fulfillment to my life.

Many people have hobbies they’re good at, but not everyone knows how to leverage them to make easy money. The good news is that the principles of turning a hobby into a side gig can be applied to any hobbyist entertainer. It may take some time, effort, and patience, but it’s definitely possible. In this article, I’ll share my insights and experiences about how to turn your hobby into extra income, using my journey as a magician as an example.

Learning the Show

The first step in turning your hobby into a side gig is to master your craft. Whether you’re a magician, musician, comedian, or any other form of entertainer, you need to practice endlessly until you can perform your craft instinctively. This involves two levels of practice:

First Level: Technical Mastery

You need to practice until you reach a level of muscle memory, where everything becomes second nature. In my case, I’d practice magic for hours until my knuckles bled, and my hands would still go through the motions while I slept. This level of technical mastery is crucial because without it, everything falls apart, and your growth as a performer stagnates.

Second Level: Performance Mastery

Performing for people is where you learn presentation and showmanship. Even the most technically skilled performer can bomb if they don’t learn how to deal with the irregularities of performing: different audiences, technical difficulties, unusual stage setups, etc. You need to get out there and perform for as many people as possible. Start with family and friends, and then move on to open-mic nights, charity events, and other free venues that allow you to practice your craft.

In my case, I cut my teeth at parties and family functions, performing magic for anyone who’d watch. This is where the real learning happens, and I’m still doing open-mic nights at bars when testing new material. Performing for different people in different scenarios has helped me hone my skills and develop my style.

Learning the Business

Once you’ve mastered your craft, it’s time to learn about the business side of entertainment. While there’s no shortcut to mastering your craft, you can speed up the process of learning how to book shows and get paid by learning from established people in your field.

In my case, I was lucky to have a network of magicians in my city who were willing to teach me the basics of booking a show and getting paid. Your greatest asset to booking shows is referral business, and it’s quite possible to make a sustained income on a strictly referral basis.

Here’s how to get started:

Contact everyone you know and let them know about your services. I got my first few gigs this way, and I continue to get bookings by telling everyone I meet about my magic.

Deliver an amazing show as a way to market yourself to your audience. After your performance, thank your client and ask if they enjoyed your show. If they say yes, ask them to pass along your name to others who may want to book you. My record to date is getting nine bookings as a direct result of one show I performed at a daycare.

When you’re ready to take it to the next level, connect with established entertainers in your field, and learn from their experience. One of my mentors is Elliott Smith, a full-time magician who wrote a book on how to make a living as an entertainer. His message is simple: if you want the results, you need to put in the work because the world is not going to find you in your basement. Long-term success rarely happens overnight, so be patient and keep working at it.

It’s Going to Take Effort

The road to consistent extra income from your hobby is difficult and long, but rewarding. You’ll have many doubts and be tempted to quit along the way. However, once you break through those barriers, you won’t be able to imagine life any other way.

In the beginning, I’d perform for free, but eventually, I started getting paid for my shows. It was a great feeling to earn money doing something I love. Over the years, my network has grown, and my bookings have increased, allowing me to earn a significant amount of money on the side while still enjoying what I do.

Conclusion

Turning your hobby into a side gig takes time, effort, and patience, but it’s worth it. Whether you’re a magician, musician, comedian, or any other form of entertainer, mastering your craft and learning the business side of entertainment can lead to a fulfilling and financially rewarding side gig. As Elliott Smith said, if you want the results, you need to put in the work. So go out there, master your craft, and book your first show. It could be the start of something truly magical.