The Blackstoneian

The official newsletter of I.B.M. Ring 200

Volume 4, No. 4, April, 2008 Editor, Eugene Raymond Soucek

THIS COULD BE YOUR LAST ISSUE IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID YOUR 2008 DUES

ARE YOU A MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING

If you have not yet paid your annual Ring 200 dues for 2008 you are in danger of losing your membership to Ring 200. If your membership lapses you will lose all the benefits of membership in Ring 200. You will not be able to attend lectures for free, receive free videos/magic, or enjoy free catered parties. You will also no longer receive this monthly newsletter, The Blackstoneian. You still have time to pay your dues. If you come to this month’s lecture, you can pay your dues then and still attend the lecture free.

MAGIC SHOW RETURNS

By the time you read this our annual Magic Show will be history for this year. A full report will be given next month.

LONNIE CHEVRIE LECTURE IN APRIL

Our regular monthly meeting in April will be a lecture by Lonnie Chevrie. For more info on Lonnie, please read the attached flyer.

NEXT MONTH: ANNUAL AUCTION/FLEA MARKET

Our May meeting will consist of our annual auction and flea market. This is your opportunity to pick up some great magic; videos; books, etc. at bargain prices and also to sell off some of your no longer used but still serviceable magical effects and related stuff. Reserve your table now before they are all gone. To reserve a table, contact Ray Nieves at 732 661-1963, or Eric Appel at 732 826-6647

THE SUCCESS IN MAGIC SERIES

The following article is the first in a series of articles that will be reprinted here, with permission, from Eric Paul. Many of you will recall that Eric did a lecture for Ring 200 a few years back. If you want to know more about him, go to his website: http://www.MoreMoneyWithMagic.com “Dedicated To Bringing Your Magic to the PAYING Public!!!” Written & Published by Eric Paul

Your most used Marketing Tool:
Today we are going to cover the tool you use most of the time to book shows and even more importantly, I will show you how to make it work better for you!

Your most used marketing tool – your business card.

(Author’s Note): Everything from this point forward will be coming from the assumption that you have a killer show, i.e. product. This is your first and foremost marketing tool but I will assume you have that covered. You just want to get it in front of more paying customers.

Never hand out a business card!

What? That’s right. Never hand out “A” business card. I always hand out three or more when someone asks for a card. They are so inexpensive nowadays that you can afford to do it. It is also training your prospects that you accept referrals. If they liked you enough to ask for your card, they like you enough to share you with a friend!

I get many, many shows this way, my friend! Don’t let the simplicity of this fool you. It also does something else that is absolutely amazing!... It conditions YOU to be on the look-out for potential gigs! Freely handing out your contact info does something to your reticular activator. That’s just a fancy way of saying that it comes to the forefront of your mind and stays in the conscious.

If you are always handing out multiple cards, freely handing out give-aways with your contact info on them, having cards handy in the back of the room for folks to take, and putting your cards on bulletin boards wherever you go - you are training yourself to be proactive about your career.

My challenge to you is to try it for 90 days. That is typically how long it takes to form a habit. You will see a dramatic change in how your business is growing. Sure there’s more to it, but just trust me on this – it works! Next month share with you the script I use when handing them out. It’s killer!

Yours in success, EP

P.S. Here are a few printers you may like: I use: http://gotprint.net/gotprint/welcome.do I’ve also used: http://www.48hourprint.com/

There are many out there and prices are very competitive. Please, whatever you do, don’t use a premade template. They look so cheap. Also, don’t print them on your computer. It amazes me that so many performers use these two methods with printing prices the way they are now. Would you trust booking a party with someone who looks like they just flew into town and printed some cheap cards at a copy shop? I sure wouldn’t and neither would anyone else. Even if you’re charging a hundred bucks for a show, the client has got to be nervous if they even call you at all. But at least I know part of the reason so many magicians get price resistance.

SCHEDULE FOR THE YEAR 2007

April 15th - Lonnie Chevrie Lecture

May 20th - Magic Flea Market /AUCTION Gather up your stuff and maybe someone can give it new life.

June 17th - Al Hillman Excellence in Magic Competition

July 15th - Money Magic - Everyone bring $7.00 in NEW Bills (a five and two singles) Gene Soucek will give a workshop On “Beswitched”

August 19th Picnic swim party at Gene’s house

September 16th - Magic Jeopardy

October 21st - Jim Angelo Card and Mentalism Competition - Show us your best card or mentalist effect or routine

November 18th - Lecture TBA / Nomination of Officers

December 16th - Holiday Party / Initiation Performances

We meet at: The Stelton CommunitWe Community Center, 328 Plainfield Avenue, Edison, NJ; on the third Tuesday of every month; doors open at 6:30 p.m. – Meeting starts at 7:00 p.m. You are invited to join us for coffee at the local diner after the meeting.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Out of the mouths of babes comes all manner of things. Usually puke.

Tom died with his boots on. Unfortunately one was on the accelerator at the time.

"The best car safety device is a rear-view mirror with a cop in it."
-- Dudley Moore

A TIP FOR NEW MEMBERS

A wealth of books on magic can be yours for FREE by logging on to The Learned Pig Magic eZine at, http://thelearnedpig.com.pa/magos/ This website was created by Marko who currently writes a feature each month for MUM Magazine.