The Mark Leveridge July 2019 Podcast

Podcast Gold

Each year I like to put together a special 'reprise' edition of the Podcast in which I look back over the previous 12 months or so and select half a dozen of my favourite topics to create a special compilation. If you are a regular listener, you will hopefully enjoy hearing the chosen tracks again, and if you are coming fresh to the Podcast, it should give you a good flavour for what it is like. Here are my chosen topics:

• I discuss whether social media ever really delivers in terms of creating actual bookings or whether we are simply deluding ourselves
• cancellation clauses in performance contracts can cause more problems than they solve
• do you feel a bit uncomfortable performing for people who know you very well, such as family and friends? I look at why this might be
• when creating new magic, should you start with the effect or the method?
• is getting to the magic 'moment' as quickly as possible, always the right way to go?
• online booking agencies make for lazy enquiries and encourage potentially unfair price comparisons

The Mark Leveridge June 2019 Podcast

Here is the line up of topics for sunny June!

• Magic that is designed to be filmed for social media use may not always be suitable for real world performance
• it pays to be aware that lay people assistants may misinterpret your instructions because they are intimidated by being up on a stage
• magic that impresses us can often be seen completely differently by lay people
• when people retire from their real job it provides the opportunity to do more magic and to become 'professional' - but what do the magic pros do?
• when is it advisable to work for free in order to put yourself in front of the right people?
• online agencies have created a race to the bottom in terms of fees leaving most of the good entertainers with no bookings

The Mark Leveridge May 2019 Podcast

'May' I offer you the following topics of magical interest?

• does Uri Geller really still need to make wild claims in the media?
• if your spectators have paid specifically to see you perform there is perhaps more pressure on you to deliver than if you are just the 'hired help'
• getting started at a gig as a strolling magician can be tricky to know the exact right moment to jump in
• I consider the assertion by Dr. Kuhn that magic is an enjoyable sensation because the audience knows that magic is not real
• Anthony Owen's demise is a real shock and a huge loss to magic
• the second hand magic market is surely going to be affected by the lack of physical trick instructions
• I anticipate my annual trip to the marvellous 4Fs close up magic convention in the US

The Mark Leveridge April 2019 Podcast

Here is the April shower of topics:

• The show fee debate rages on, but I make the case that all fee amounts have equal validity
• if you never perform magic for the lay public, does that mean you should have no involvement with magic at all?
• we are all guilty sometimes of performing tricks that we like and not necessarily ones that our audiences like
• musicians can teach magicians much about dedication
• if you could create the perfect magic convention, what would it look like?
• lay people are sometimes impressed simply because they do not know the secret rather than by the skills that brought about the magic

The Mark Leveridge March 2019 Podcast

The line up of topics for March is as follows:

• Blackpool is over for another year and I give some observations, including comments on those gold wrist bands!
• Morgan and West show the way to look at classics and create something better
• Ian Brennan reveals a singular way to get your name remembered by spectators
• Judging Arrival Times - an audio advice track extracted from a recent Mark's Monthly Message
• is getting to the magic 'moment' as quickly as possible, always the right way to go?
• the variety of dealers at Blackpool is even more diverse than ever

The Mark Leveridge February 2019 Podcast

The February 2019 Podcast offers the following content:

• Reflections on The Event and The Session from last month
• do mentalists have a more difficult job than magicians presenting their effects as strolling entertainers?
• if you want to work your magic for local businesses, get involved in your local business community
• why face-to-face conversation will stimulate and progress your magic quicker than anything else
• when creating new magic, should you start with the effect or the method?
• the biggest challenge for busy performers is maintaining a freshness and spontaneity of presentation

The Mark Leveridge January 2019 Podcast

Get your New Year off to a flying start by listening to the following topics:

• The launch of the new Mark Leveridge Magic website is getting closer and I give an update about what it will be like
• I reflect on the latest Magic Clips get together and compare it to the traditional magic convention
• why do some spectators think it is OK to rummage through the magician's clothing if they want to find out how a trick is done?
• the sophistication of some modern dealers is amazing when compared to 30 years ago
• if a spectator can come up with even a simplistic and inaccurate explanation for your magic, it diminishes the impact of it in their eyes
• the true story of the lady spectator who found a way to get maximum value for money

The Mark Leveridge December 2018 Podcast

The final Podcast of 2018 has the following topics:

• How do you define the difference between a close up competition and a stand up magic competition?
• changes in the average attention span of spectators can have an effect on the type of magic we need to present
• it seems that some people are suffering from magic fatigue
• I really enjoy spending some time with Paul Gordon putting the magic world to rights
• is the Christmas rush still a rush?
• I consider the John Bannon assertion that maybe the stereotypical close up worker may need to change what he does in order to remain bookable

The Mark Leveridge November 2018 Podcast

Dark nights are brightened by the November Podcast contents which feature the following topics:

• The CCC rebrands as the OCCC but the meeting provides the same great stimulus as always
• online booking agencies make for lazy enquiries and encourage potentially unfair price comparisons
• does it matter that explanations of many of our tricks are openly available on YouTube?
• magicians sometimes get too hung up on moves and procedure and can easily forget what is far more important
• online video instructions provide both the best and the worst type of trick explanation
• do you feel a bit uncomfortable performing for people who know you very well, such as family and friends? I look at why this might be

The Mark Leveridge October 2018 Podcast

An OctoberFest of magic opinion and comment featuring the following topics:

• I reflect that it's not easy as a self employed business person to clear the desks before going on holiday
• Wittus Witt asks whether close up magic really has any place at modern large conventions
• creativity is all about making choices, but this can present you with a dilemma
• Shin Lim brings a theatrical importance to his visual close up miracles in America's Got Talent
• how much do you value magical advice?
• cancellation clauses in performance contracts can cause more problems than they solve