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The Drive By Sidewalk Magic Show

One good idea leads to another.  I just received an email from a photography business that was offering Porch-Raits during the coronavirus “stay at home time.”  The basic idea is she will drive by your home at an agreed-upon time and take a high-quality professional photo of you and your loved ones sitting on your porch from the sidewalk. A memento of this crazy time we are all collectively living through.  Everyone would stay at least 10’ apart, you stay on the porch and she takes the photos from the sidewalk.  There was no charge but when she emailed you the photo if you liked what you saw… you could put a donation in the electronic tip jar.  I’m thinking that tip jar will fill up pretty fast.

I always find one good idea can lead to another.

How about a Drive By Sidewalk Magic Show (or Juggling show)?

Kids are still having birthday parties during the COVID-19 epidemic and this would be a way to entertain at a party.  You could promote the show as a free (or paid) service and all they need to do is let you know the address, day and time.  You show up, do a quick set up on the sidewalk, have a speaker for your microphone in the car window, and do a quick 20 minutes magic show for the kids and family while they watch from the porch.  No contact… no physical audience interaction… but there are lots of great kids magic tricks that get them all involved shouting, laughing and having a good time.

You already have their email and afterward, you send an email explaining that they saw an abbreviated version of your full 45-minute show that you normally charge… x amount of $ for at a birthday party and you list your normal price.  You tell them you hope they will remember you and consider hiring you for a party in the future when things get back to normal… meanwhile, there is an electronic tip jar here and if everyone enjoyed the show anything they can add to the tip jar would be greatly appreciated.

Of course, you could also make this a business model for an agreed-upon fee in advance and they could pay via PayPal, credit card, etc.  As I said, I have a feeling that electronic tip jar would fill up and I’ll bet they will hire you to see your full show in the not too distant future.  Just an idea…hope it works for someone out there during these crazy times.

Paul Gertner is nationally recognized speaker and corporate magician, whose honors include multiple Tonight Show appearances, performing at a presidential inauguration, and winning three international competitions. He can be hired as a trade show magician or keynote presenter. For more information, visit gertner.com.

Posted in Magical Thinking, Magicians Only on March 29, 2020 by Paul Gertner.