What It Costs To Get Started

What it will cost to become a magician depends a great deal on what you will do with these skills. If you simply want to have a few tricks you can use to entertain people at social functions, you can get started with an investment of under $100 and a month or two to perfect some of the details to be adept at them. But if you want to get the professional training and expertise so that you can take your skills on the road to perform for paying audiences, you should plan to spend considerably more in classes and tools you will need, as well as in the time you will spend on this endeavor. This can be a few thousand or more, when you add up all of the expenses. Here is a breakdown of some of the things you will need:

• Joining a magic circle - $75 to $100/year
• Becoming a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians - $65/year
• Magic lessons - $100 to $1,500 and up for a weekend workshop (keep in mind you may want to take several)
• Props - $20 to $500
• Costume - $75 to $300
• Acting lessons - $200 to $500

So becoming a magician can cost anywhere from $100 to $2,500 or more to get yourself equipped with the skills and tools you will need.

Final Note

If you want to get some performance experience without a lot of money, consider providing the entertainment at parties. This can be a great way to develop your prop magic and sleight of hand tricks. You may want to do your first few shows on a volunteer basis, but once you come adept at your tricks and your timing, you can ask people to pay you for services.

Another good place to find work is at most underground music clubs and bars. Look for places where Goth and electronic bands play, since they will more likely be interested in hiring a magic act to complement the other performers. Starting out you may earn anywhere from under $100 a show on up to several hundred or more for your performance skills as you get better and better.