A Small Challenge for The Strolling Magician

Boston Magician

www.ferrantimagic.com 339-927-4710

I acquire my work in several ways. In an ideal world, all work would come from spectators who were in attendance at a previous Gig.They would know exactly what they will be getting in terms of entertainment. The next best scenario is a response from my web site. www.ferrantimagic.com

Finally, last, and I mean last is the pseudo “agency”.  An agent is different, they keep your schedule busy, line you up with clients that fit your style. They take care of everything and are paid a percentage, which they earn.

The pseudo agency is where we find most of our work. These agencies have plenty of money to be in the top of all the search engines, and they pay for ads as well. With their names, it appears to the customer that they have the “Best” entertainers in the area. In truth, most of us are listed on the first page of Google, but my site may be directly under the Big Paid Ad.  Enough complaining,  Here is the challenge.

I got a lead from “The Agency” and the description of the client and the guests.”

“a smart, fun, sophisticated group that appreciates elegant tricks and sleight-of-hand; in small groups at table, not a large show”

This seems to be a challenge, as I never want to let a client down. Can I entertain and deceive the “smart”?  Is my sleight of hand “elegant”?

My reply about the sleight of hand was you will not know if it is elegant as you will not see it. Sleight of hand combined with basic psychology is “stealth.”

I informed the potential client that I had worked for Harvard business School, and listed my most intelligent “appearing” clients. As is sometimes the case, I was hired at a pricey fee. Such requirements can’t come cheap.

So what do I use for material? Do I use the stuff I save for the intelligent clients? Or just do what I do?

In truth, of course I don’t have separate material for the average or above average client. You just go in with your usual repertoire. It has always worked, why should it let me down?

How pleasant to find these were very nice people, no different than any other group. They weren’t looking for anything but a good time, provided by a professional Magician. There are "magicians" out there who will claim they have the “goods” but show up empty handed. Which is one of many reasons we fight the Magician reputation battle, job by job?

What a wonderful group and most generous of clients. The evening was truly a great time for me.  

Joe Ferranti                                                                                                                      Magician in Massachusetts    

Reviews of a Boston area Corporate Magician

Reviews of a Corporate Magician

Boston area Magician Joe Ferranti

Wine & Cuisine Society, a Student Club at Harvard Business School
Joe was a fantastic addition to our event. He mingled for 3 hours with over 250 guests at a black-tie gala and kept everyone entertained. We had so many people ask for his card or contact information, really the star of the show. Very professional and courteous, great communication before the event, and extremely conscientious and punctual. He was even doing impromptu magic for the catering staff during the event setup, which they loved and set the perfect mood for the evening. Will definitely use again, and highly recommend. - Will F.

Tatnuck Country Club
We hired Joe for our annual “I survived the holidays party” for our employees. We are an exclusive country club and have continuous holiday parties and get to celebrate ours after the fact. We were looking for something fun and interactive and found him. He utilized his mix and mingle magic skills to wow every one of my coworkers. His sleight of hand is immaculate and left everyone wondering for weeks after on how he did it.(Magician Joe Ferranti) He is a very friendly and personable professional and you can see the air of enthusiasm that surrounds him. He had everyone laughing and many following him around not wanting to miss anything. He was very humble and able to ‘go with the flow’. We were very unorganized as to the actual flow of events with in the fiesta but his ability to shift gears at a moment’s notice is what really amazed me. Many entertainers can get frustrated or offended if they are in the middle of something and then you start making announcements, but he was able to foresee and prepare to start again without notice. He came early and stayed later than expected. Very nice and magical guy. Highly recommended for any event and his prices are unbeatable. Kyla H.
Tatnuck Country Club – Worcester, MA

Apollo Professional Solutions
My Company had a national conference in Boston over the Halloween weekend and the theme was a “magical” theme. Joseph Ferranti was our professional magician and he was absolutely perfect with a great combination of magic, comedy, engaging our employees and weaving our theme into his presentation. I would recommend Joe Ferranti as he will work with you to customize your event.
Gayle Williams, President, Apollo Professional Solutions, Inc.

Senior Whole Health
I would like to thank you for the fun and wonderful performance you put on for the clients at the Adult Day Center at Blair House in Tewksbury MA this past Tuesday. I know they enjoyed it as much as I did!It was a pleasure doing business with you, starting with my finding your services on the internet, contacting and communicating with you was always very prompt and professional. I would definitely recommend your service to anybody looking for a magician or entertainer for any occasion. Tracey Tobin, Senior Whole Health

Phillips Academy
“Our students were very impressed and I heard great things, also, from your dinner shows.”
Stephanie W., Student Activities Coordinator, Phillips Academy, Andover, Ma.

Elderhostel, Inc. (Road Scholar)
Hi Joe! Thank you so much for your performance par excellence! All the Folks at Road Scholar were thrilled to see (some for the first time) a real, live professional Magician.
Best, Dave H.

University of Massachusetts Medical School

  Dear Joe, “I heard wonderful compliments from the people. Kind Regards, Ashling R  University of Massachusetts Medical School

Mass. General, North Shore Cancer Center Program
Dear Joe, Thank you so much for helping us make Breast Cancer disappear! You were fabulous! So nice of you to donate your time It was a special evening to benefit Mass. General.
Jeanne Hennessey (Lorraine Roy Designer Collections and Friends)

Edgewood Church of Christ
From initial inquiry all the way through performance, Mr. Ferranti was extremely professional & courteous. He arrived early to set up and was flexible & accommodating when our late arriving guests pushed back the start time. The show was entertaining & appropriate and the many audience participants loved being part of the show. We will look for opportunities to hire Mr. Ferranti again in the future!
Matt Welch, Youth Minister, Edgewood Church of Christ, Mansfield, MA

Top of the Hill Gang, Inc.
We were very pleased with Joe Ferranti and the magic he performed for our group. He arrived early, was prepared, and was very accommodating for our location & group of people. He performed in a friendly, professional manner & everyone enjoyed his show. Thank you for all your help. Maryann D.  Top of the Hill Gang, Inc.

AIM entertainment and enrichment coordinators
Hi Joe, Thank you so much for performing at AIM (Angels in Motion (A.I.M.) )on Tuesday, Jan 8th. The members loved the show. You were so entertaining and we loved the stories you told while engaging their interests. We look forward to having you back in the spring and would love to book you again for next year too! Thanks again, Noreen Curdo & Pam Almeida (AIM entertainment and enrichment coordinators)

www.joeferrantimagic.com

Adult Birthday Magician Boston Massachusetts

ferrantimagic.com 339-927-4710

The Magic of Joe Ferranti Walk Around Magician Boston Massachusetts

Just got back from an Adult 65th Birthday party in Natick. The beginning was actually a little scattered. Some people are so receptive, a few...not so much. I can understand it, some of the guests were older men. It's pretty well known in the Magic business that a lot of people have preconceived ideas as to what a Magician does. We entertain children...well not all of us. BTW, entertaining children is an admirable branch of Magic, but I'm at a 65th Birthday celebration. The best way to overcome this barrier is to get "your crowd" to make some noise. This will come naturally, and as an entertainer, once that fire starts, it's our job to pour gasoline on it. which is exactly what I did.

Adult Birthday Magician Massachusetts and New Hampshire

So I announce this will be my last piece as it is time to go. Time to perform something that hurts. (them, not me.) One good closer is called, repeat cards to pockets. Selected cards go to three different pockets, not once but twice and then end up in a zippered wallet. At this point thirty people are gathered around, and I'm liking it, well time to go home."Oh would you like one more?" The crowd roars. I won't tell you what the real closer is, everybody wanted a business card. some days are harder than others. Thank goodness this isn't work.

Joe Ferranti  

 Massachusetts Adult Party Magician...Boston and beyond.

                                                             The "Birthday Card Trick."

Google Searching for The Best...

Google Search for The Best Magician in Boston

I just did a Google search for the best magician in Boston. Have no fear, I stopped counting after 50. There is no shortage of the “Best”. How can you go wrong?

Very easy, you may hire the wrong “Best Magician”.

You should have done a further search…Best Magicians that Suck. Just kidding!

Sadly, this is a business. It’s like picking out a Salad Dressing…Salad dressing is relatively cheap, so you can try a few and decide for yourself. Magicians? Not so cheap and you are having only one 50^th Wedding Anniversary.

I was talking with a potential client, and I told her, “Truly, I am one of the best close up magicians in this area.” Well, I was hired and she was kind enough to write a review…here’s a bit of it. “Joe was one of the Best Magicians…” I’m not sure why she used the past tense. I also ask a few questions, it helps because I’m not a marketing specialist. Also, believe it or not I am humble and don’t like to brag, I’d rather have my work speak for itself. But I have competition with essentially the same claims. If I say I’m the second best, it doesn’t turn out so good.

Actually, I’m in the ballpark with everyone else, but here is a little truth for you. Whoever you hire, when you say Good night and walk out the door, they better think you were the Best Magician they ever saw. That’s the part each of us must fulfill. It’s probably not true, but the perception better be there.

Now here is the caveat to all us Magicians. This advice comes from many of the “Real Best Magicians around the globe.”

Appreciate the compliments, the applause, the laughter, the occasional scream, but the moment you start believing you are the best. You’ve let your ego get the “Best” of you. There are so many entertainers out there. Plenty are better in many aspects, some in all aspects. Keep yourself grounded. The moment you develop an “attitude” you’re done. Let’s face it; we’re not performing brain surgery. (Just doing a few tricks.)

Humbly,

Joe Ferranti  “The Best Magician in Boston” well, you know.

Boston Magicians

Finally...Harvard Calls Me.

Joe Ferranti Corporate Magician Boston
Entertaining for the Harvard Business School, MBA Class of 2014

The sky was the limit for Harvard business school, or perhaps it was the bottom of the ocean floor. Regardless the MBA class of 2014 celebrated in style on a rainy March night, at the New England Aquarium (1 Central Wharf Boston, MA 02110.)

I haven’t been to the Aquarium since my kids were small. On this special night we had it to ourselves. As always I arrived early. (Better early than a minute late.) This gave me enough time to reacquaint myself with the penguins, who seemed excited to see me. (I later saw they gave the same reaction to everybody.)

Arriving early gave me the opportunity to perform for some of the aquarium staff and the food service staff before the event began. After receiving a warm welcome, I knew all would go well during the evening. (And it did.)

As a close up/ strolling entertainer, you need to learn to politely make your way into conversations, interrupt in a way that is not offensive, and let the group know that you have been hired to entertain them. You know you are welcome when their eyes open wide and they say, “Oh yes, we heard there would be a Magician strolling tonight.”

Then the “snowball” starts rolling. Laughter and applause attracts the interest of the surrounding attendees. This keeps me going for at least a half an hour, and then I start the cycle again.

I had the pleasure of meeting young adults from around the world. My favorite response was from a young woman from Russia, and I quote, “You are a true professional, and I respect that.” Of course I thanked her and wondered in my head, what did she expect?

Enough about my evening, further entertainment was provided by a live band, which played at the opposite end of where I was entertaining. As I was leaving at 11:30 P.M., I noticed that dancing had begun. Hooray for the band.

Also there was a diver who “entertained” during a fish feeding. Although I was a bit busy and missed that.

Thank you to the Harvard Business School, MBA Class of 2014. I see much success in your futures.