Do you have a sense of the demand for another variety show or cabaret in your area? It's always nice to put together a good show and get a chance to perform, but if nobody comes to see it and you can't drum up an audience it tends to be an expensive mistake. Plenty of good shows go unattended, so you really have to be on top of marketing.
My area is sufficiently far enough away from this one I was invited to that it would be two different 'markets.' Also, I happen to live in a very artistic community and there is always a demand so I'm not particularly worried about that aspect. Especially since I'm one of only about three active magicians in the area and the other two never seem to do anything of this kind.
Re: The Cabaret of Dr. Caligariphilemon_vDecember 20 2008, 01:40:04 UTC
Sadly, it's not original with me, but ripped off from an earlier British incarnation:
The Cabaret of Dr Caligari was a BBC Radio 4 comedy series first broadcast in 1991.
Starring John Woodvine as Dr Caligari, Victoria Wicks as Anthrax and Sylvester McCoy as Snuff, The Cabaret of Dr Caligari is a macabre comedy about the goings on at a night club owned by Dr Caligari. The episodes centre around the unpleasant actions of an individual (usually a character strongly associated with the 1980s), who finds themselves in Dr Caligari's nightclub, catching up with them in a suitably ironic way.
The title of the series is a reference to the 1919 German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. This has caused confusion for some listings sites, and some radio presenters have stumbled when introducing it.
It was originally created as a late night live show created for the London Bubble Theatre Company featuring early career performances by Sharron D Clarke, Lisa Spenz and Lynn Whitehead.
We used to do a variety show in a pizza place in our nightclub area. We did it ever wednesday and asked for tips from the crowd.
We had a good following and over time it grew, as things do over time. We had magic, escapes, and sideshow. (Zombie sideshow even!) Regardless of the financial gain or not, it was a GREAT opportunity to try out new stuff and get ready for paying shows where we HAD to be good. To have the freedom to goof of with yer friends in front of an audience is a great thing.
Once a month IS more profitable tho'. Just like a new haunted house, you will be lucky to break even yer first time out.
3rd Place Booksj_dreessenDecember 23 2008, 09:33:17 UTC
There's a bookstore near our area where the local Magician's group use to do a 3rd Monday of the Week variety show. Each Magician had their own "genre" so there weren't any last minute "Hey... I was going to do that"'s.
Looking for a new trick? Try www.800MrMagic.com He's available 24/7.
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You have to deal with a variety of talent, a few very professional, but many are inexperienced or undisciplined amateurs.
And yes, publicity is the key to get butts into the seats to make it financially worthwhile.
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The Cabaret of Dr Caligari was a BBC Radio 4 comedy series first broadcast in 1991.
Starring John Woodvine as Dr Caligari, Victoria Wicks as Anthrax and Sylvester McCoy as Snuff, The Cabaret of Dr Caligari is a macabre comedy about the goings on at a night club owned by Dr Caligari. The episodes centre around the unpleasant actions of an individual (usually a character strongly associated with the 1980s), who finds themselves in Dr Caligari's nightclub, catching up with them in a suitably ironic way.
The title of the series is a reference to the 1919 German Expressionist film The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. This has caused confusion for some listings sites, and some radio presenters have stumbled when introducing it.
It was originally created as a late night live show created for the London Bubble Theatre Company featuring early career performances by Sharron D Clarke, Lisa Spenz and Lynn Whitehead.
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Does your show have a somnambulist mime? Every cabaret of Dr. Caligari must have one!!
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We had a good following and over time it grew, as things do over time. We had magic, escapes, and sideshow. (Zombie sideshow even!) Regardless of the financial gain or not, it was a GREAT opportunity to try out new stuff and get ready for paying shows where we HAD to be good. To have the freedom to goof of with yer friends in front of an audience is a great thing.
Once a month IS more profitable tho'. Just like a new haunted house, you will be lucky to break even yer first time out.
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Looking for a new trick? Try www.800MrMagic.com He's available 24/7.
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