COVID-19 has hit many industries hard, forcing many companies to go bankrupt and leaving many people jobless. One of the industries most impacted by the pandemic has been the live entertainment industry. As a live entertainer, your job is to entertain a crowd of people in a venue. However, with large gatherings prohibited in most of the country and many bars and restaurants shutting down, live entertainers are finding it increasingly difficult to earn a living. Some entertainers, like magicians, are finding new and innovative ways to perform for an audience. You might not expect anyone to hire a magician that can’t perform right in front of you, but some professionals are adapting or even thriving in the new conditions. So how exactly can magicians perform during a global pandemic? Let’s take a look.
Zoom Calls
One of the most common ways that magicians are still able to perform during the pandemic is through personalized Zoom calls. This is probably one of the mediums most similar to traditional live performances, especially for magicians that get up close and personal during their acts. When a magician uses this medium to perform, they are usually hired to entertain a small group of people for a socially distant party or event. The magician can simply join the call from anywhere and begin performing magic as they usually would during a performance. Although performing over a Zoom call does add some complications and makes certain tricks impossible, it also has its advantages. Since interaction through video calls is relatively limited, it may be even easier to pull off some tricks. You may also be able to use an entirely new repertoire that you wouldn’t be able to use in an in-person performance. If you’re a magician and want a method that’s extremely close to live performances, you should definitely look into these types of performances.
Pre-Recorded Videos
An fascinating way of tackling performing during the pandemic is through the use of pre-recorded videos. Although this option has the potential to be lucrative and build a massive following, success isn’t guaranteed, and performing for this medium is likely quite different from what you’re used to. Pre-recorded videos can be uploaded to platforms such as YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, as they are designed to reach a wide range of people and generate a following. You may very well enjoy making these videos, as it isn’t live, so there’s not as much pressure to perform right away. In fact, you can use as many takes as you want until you’re satisfied with the final product, a luxury you don’t have when performing live. However, this could also be a double-edged sword, as fans might expect over-the-top tricks and extravagant magic due to the tools at your disposal. Finally, although using magic to become an influencer of sorts can be quite lucrative, it only applies to the very successful ones. If you plan on making a lot of money out of this method, then you’re either going to have to slowly build a fan base over time or get extremely lucky with some type of viral content. That being said, this pandemic provides an interesting opportunity for magicians to switch up their style into a unique hybrid of magician and social media influencer, allowing them to use their magic to generate a social media following. If you’re someone who’s fascinated with social media and have always wanted to be an influencer, then this could be a blessing in disguise.
Live Streaming
Another great way for magicians to still perform during the COVID-19 pandemic is through the use of live streaming. Live streaming is extremely unique, as it is a combination of the previous two methods. Much like using pre-recorded videos, you are still building a social media following and attempting to gain as many followers as possible. In addition, much like private video shows, you are live and interacting with members of the audience. Live streaming has typically been reserved for industries like gaming, but with the pandemic going on, other industries are beginning to take advantage of the concept. Platforms like YouTube, Twitch, Facebook, and Instagram Live all provide perfect opportunities for you to perform and interact with fans. However, lots of preparation needs to go into performing magic over a live show, as you don’t have the luxury of refiling failed tricks like when filming pre-recorded videos. In addition, you could potentially have thousands of viewers watching you live at any time, a kind of pressure that small-time magicians may not be used to feeling. That being said, live streams provide the perfect setting for a magician to perform if done correctly.
Date Of Update: 24 November 2020, 12:55
