MAGICWEBGUIDE
The Performer's Notebook

by Dennis Regling

 

Do It Yourself Magic Kits

Recently I did a vacation Bible school for a church in St Louis. We offered a
magic kit as a reward for bringing the most guests, one for a boy and one for a
girl. Every night we had more and more kids showing up.

These were simple little kits with a magic fish, a snapper, 3 dollar repeat, a
devil's hook, and a few other tricks, plus a booklet with 50 other tricks. They
were in a nice 9" x 11" x 3" white mailing box. On the cover was a page size
label with my picture, a list of the tricks and some other basic information.
The cost of these magic kits was under $2.00. They looked to have about a ten to
twenty dollar value.

If you are a magician, having your own magic kit, with your face on the box
really creates the image of a professional. I used them as give-aways, but they
can also be used for back-of-the-room sales. Doing a fundraiser for a school?
Offer a free magic kit for whoever sells the most tickets. Plus they can also be
sold after the show. Doing a birthday party? Offer a magic kit with your picture
on it as an incentive to book you. What a great gift for the birthday child.

If you will use your imagination, I am sure you can think of several ways you
could use a professional-looking magic kit to promote your business and increase
your income.

The tricks I put in the box were simple tricks from D.Robbins and Company in New
Jersey. All of the items were only pennies each. Plus this company sells a small
booklet with 50 magic tricks, again for pennies. This booklet makes a great
give-away if you put your info on the back. Less than two dollars fills a box
nicely.

You can get Two-Card Monte for about 8 cents each. These sell for $2 retail.
Fortune Telling fish are 4 cents each. They are not exactly a magic trick, but
kids love them. Devil's hooks, butterfly illusions and more are all available
very inexpensively. Of course, you can always spend more if you want. Want a
deluxe kit? A Super-Deluxe Kit? You are only limited by your imagination.

Boxes can be bought through the mail, wholesale or at your local office supply
store. They will have the white mailing boxes with the tuck-in lid. Get white -
they look clean and sharp.

Now for the cover label, I went to Staples and bought a package of AVERY 8 1/2"
x 11"labels. I designed the label on my computer with PrintShop. I have a
caricature of myself pulling a rabbit out of a hat. I used that, a party design
background, and listed the general contents of the box on the label. It covered
the lid of the box and looked very nice. I wish I could have shrinkwrapped it,
but I sealed it across the front with clear strapping tape and it looked great.

I am including some sources for you to use to buy the components for your own
magic kit. When you have one completed, drop me an email. Let me know what it
cost you, what you put in it and what you used it for.

Thank you and God bless, Dennis

SOURCES:

PAPER MART (boxes)
9" x 6" x 3" White Tuck Boxes for as little as 36 cents
http://www.papermart.com

D.ROBBINS & CO. (Wholesale Magic Supplies)
http://www.ezmagic.com
Requires Minimum Order
Tricks can be bought for pennies

To contact Dennis Regling, go to:
http://www.magicministry.com

PREVIOUS ARTICLES BY DENNIS:
Mobias Madness (with two routines)	Becoming a Magician: Get Rich Quick
Healing with magic	Real Magic: The Mentalist
What Every Magician Needs	Sound Systems for Magicians
Do it Yourself Magic Kits	Classified Ad Prediction
Marketing Secrets	Developing Business Referrals For Magicians
Postcard Marketing	Audience Warm-ups
The Wedding Magician	Targeted Marketing
CURRENT ARTICLE BY DENNIS

 

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Dennis Regling is a professional magician, author and lecturer. He performs educational programs at over 250 elementary and junior high schools every year. Additionally, he performs gospel magic programs at church camps, Vacation Bible Schools and other church events. Dennis has authored over 12 books for magicians. Dennis currently resides in Freeport, Ohio and performs throughout the east and midwest.

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