Weaponize Your Show
Discourse in Magic
In this episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins dives into a powerful concept from his mastermind sessions: Weaponizing Your Show. The idea is simple—make your show book you more shows. Beyond just delivering a strong performance, Jonah shares five practical tactics to turn every gig into a referral engine, rebooking machine, and review generator. If you want your performances to create momentum in your business, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can implement right away. Mention What You Do Onstage Audiences rarely know whether magic is your hobby or your full-time...
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Thoughts on FISM
Discourse in Magic
Thoughts on FISM: The Good, The Bad, and The Overwhelming In this solo episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins shares his raw and honest reflections on FISM 2025. From mind-blowing performances to marathon-length competitions, Jonah walks through the highs and lows of the world’s biggest and most prestigious magic convention and competition. Whether you attended or are just curious about how FISM functions, this episode offers a candid inside look. Highlights from the World Stage Jonah opens with praise for the best of the best—performers whose acts left audiences stunned. Standout...
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Jamie Allan: Building Big Magic With Authenticity
Discourse in Magic
In this episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah sits down with Jamie Allan, a pioneering illusionist and producer known for blending large-scale magic with theatrical storytelling. From growing up in a showbiz family in the UK to launching Broadway-scale productions in New York, Jamie shares the ups and downs of his journey—offering invaluable lessons about reinvention, creative resilience, and staying authentic in a world of illusions. From Red Coats to Broadway Jamie traces his early days performing in holiday parks and on cruise ships, where he learned to love the stage and reject the grind...
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The Art and Hustle of Modern Magic with Xavier Mortimer
Discourse in Magic
Jonah sits down with viral magician to trace an unlikely journey—from learning back‑and‑front palming out of a gas‑station booklet to topping “Best Family‑Friendly Show” lists on the Las Vegas Strip and amassing billions of social‑video views. Along the way they dig into creative misfires, the treadmill of nightly shows, and why rehearsing a TikTok illusion can cost $20 K. From Gas‑Station Book to Barn‑Built Show Xavier’s origin story starts with a coincidence: his father picked up a sleight‑of‑hand booklet as a fuel‑pump freebie. Two weeks of rural...
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The Business of Fringe Magic with Luke Oseland
Discourse in Magic
In this episode, Jonah Babins is joined by rising UK magic star to explore a journey that spans from toy magic sets and teenage tinkering to sellouts and cruise ship stints. From co-creating to redefining how young magicians build their brands, Luke shares the behind-the-scenes of developing shows, finding your performance voice, and building a magic career from scratch. You’ll learn how to structure a magic show, when to take creative risks, and why sometimes the best marketing strategy is just putting on a killer show. How Luke Got Started in Magic Luke’s magic journey began like...
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Summit, AI and Where I Am
Discourse in Magic
In this week’s episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins returns with a behind-the-scenes look at the Mexico Mastermind Summit, his latest adventures in AI, and what’s next for the magic community. After a brief hiatus, Jonah shares the lessons, breakthroughs, and future plans that are shaping his approach to magic and business in 2024. The Summit Experience: Magic, Community, and Growth Jonah kicks things off by recapping the recent Mastermind Summit in Cancun, where 40 magicians gathered for a week of learning, jamming, and business breakthroughs. Unlike traditional conventions, this...
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Pioneering Corporate Magic with Bill Herz
Discourse in Magic
In this episode, Jonah Babins is joined by corporate magic legend to unpack a career that spans summer camps, corporate boardrooms, and headline features in . From his early days performing with to founding Magicorp and representing world-class talent, Bill shares the highs, the hustle, and the hilarious behind-the-scenes of building a career in corporate magic. You’ll learn what makes a magician bookable, how to navigate pricing, and why a magician’s greatest asset might be understanding the client better than they understand themselves. How Bill Got Started in Magic Like many...
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Leah Orleans: Pushing Boundaries in Magic
Discourse in Magic
In this episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins sits down with magician, circus performer, and entertainer to discuss her unique journey in magic, her experiences blending circus arts with illusion, and how she pushes the boundaries of traditional performance. Leah shares insights into how she found her place in the magic world, her approach to creating engaging and original performances, and the lessons she's learned along the way. Finding Magic in the Circus Leah’s entry into the world of magic was anything but conventional. She started as a circus performer, mastering aerial arts,...
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Jonah Babins: Magic's Business Whisperer
Discourse in Magic
This week on Discourse in Magic, we're bringing you a special repost of Jonah Babins' appearance on the , hosted by . Jonah, the long-time host of Discourse in Magic, takes the guest seat and shares insights on the world of magic, business, and podcasting. How Jonah Built Discourse in Magic Jonah shares the journey of how has grown over the years. He discusses the evolution of the show, the challenges of maintaining a podcast in the magic space, and what has kept him going for nearly a decade. Jonah explains his strategy for selecting guests, emphasizing the importance of personal...
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Public Shows and Upcoming Tour Dates
Discourse in Magic
In this solo episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babins dives into the world of public shows, sharing his insights on why every magician should consider doing them. He also provides a sneak peek into his upcoming shows across North America and highlights a special event happening at the end of April. Why Do Public Shows? 1. Promo Material: Public shows are an excellent opportunity to get high-quality promotional material. By hiring a photographer or videographer, you can capture footage of your performance that can be used to market yourself and book more gigs in the future. 2. Friends and...
info_outlineIn this week’s episode of Discourse in Magic, Jonah Babbins kicks off the new year with an insightful discussion about the January slump—a reality for many magicians—and how to turn it into an opportunity for growth. With the rush of holiday gigs behind us, Jonah explains how January offers a unique chance to focus on improving your magic business.
The January Slump: A Common Challenge
As Jonah points out, January can feel like a shock after the busiest month of the year. December brings a whirlwind of gigs, inquiries, and emails, but when the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, everything seems to come to a halt. Jonah reassures listeners that this is entirely normal—not just for you, but for magicians everywhere. In fact, it’s the slowest month of the year for most performers, as evidenced by the revenue data he tracks for his mastermind group of magicians.
Rather than feeling discouraged, Jonah invites you to see this slow season as a gift. Instead of scrambling to keep up with gigs and inquiries, you now have the time to work on your business rather than in your business.
Three Big Projects to Tackle in January
Jonah highlights three key areas to focus on during this quieter season to set yourself up for long-term success:
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Revamp Your Website
January is the perfect time to improve your website. Whether it’s upgrading the design, adding a booking form, or updating images, this is the time to make changes. With less traffic coming in, you don’t have to worry about downtime, giving you the freedom to experiment and improve.
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Create a New Promo Video
If you captured video footage from your holiday gigs, now is the time to turn it into a standout promo video. Jonah emphasizes the importance of crafting a video that showcases your best moments—whether it’s a trick with fire, a big audience reaction, or a beautifully staged performance. With January’s slower pace, you can give this project the time and attention it deserves.
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Set Up or Upgrade Your CRM
If you’ve started booking gigs regularly, it might be time to implement a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system to organize your client data. Jonah shares his thoughts on different CRM options and explains why this is a task best tackled during a slower season, rather than in the chaos of the holiday rush.
The One Thing You Must Do in January
Planning your entire year is Jonah’s top recommendation for January. He explains how having a roadmap for your goals, projects, and marketing efforts can keep you on track throughout the year. Without a plan, it’s easy for big projects—like setting up Google ads or improving your SEO—to fall by the wayside.
Jonah also encourages listeners to reflect on the previous year. What types of gigs did you enjoy most? What areas of your business could be improved? This self-assessment will help you prioritize your efforts and make 2025 your best year yet.
Join the “Preloaded Year” Workshop
To help magicians plan their year, Jonah is hosting a free workshop called The Preloaded Year on January 15th. In just 75 minutes, he’ll guide participants through creating a comprehensive plan for their magic business. Whether it’s marketing, business development, or personal goals, you’ll walk away with a clear strategy for the year ahead.
Can’t make the live session? No problem! Jonah is offering a recording of the workshop for a limited time to those who sign up. Click the link in the episode description to secure your spot.
Final Thoughts
This episode is packed with actionable advice for magicians looking to make the most of January. By embracing the slower season and focusing on big-picture projects, you can set yourself up for success in 2025.
Links and Resources
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Sign up for the Preloaded Year workshop here.
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Follow Jonah on Instagram: @JonahBabbins.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode. What projects are you tackling this January? Share your plans in the comments or on social media, and let’s make 2025 a year to remember!
Be sure to subscribe to Discourse in Magic for more insights, tips, and strategies to elevate your magic business.