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Publicity Tips for Magicians

By Joan Stewart The Publicity Hound

How to write a compelling news release—and knowing what to write about—is sometimes more mysterious than figuring out where the lady inside the Origami box actually goes when you fold up the box and insert the swords.

But there's nothing magic about a great news release. The most important element is that it must convey news. News is what happens that is different. Here are 7 ideas to consider for standard news releases:

1. When you book a public show for a fair, festival or other community event, ask the event planner if they are sending a news release to the entertainment sections of local newspapers and magazines. If not, you send it. Don’t forget second- and third-level publications such as alternative weeklies which focus heavily on entertainment, free weekly shoppers, and your college alumni publication.

2. Some magicians give free performances at hospitals and for non-profits. This is worth a short news release. See Create Free Publicity by Donating Time, Products, Services.

3. If you are performing at an unusual party, ask the host for permission to send a news release to local media.

4. Consider a free class at the local library for children who want to learn simple magic tricks. This is a great visual for TV. Announce the class in a news release. See How to Get on the Local TV News Tomorrow.

5. Team up with a non-profit or other community group that is sponsoring a big event and plan a fun publicity stunt. Announce it in the news release.

6. Create your own TV show, or an entire series of shows, on your local cable TV company’s public access channel. Air time is free. You pay a small fee to rent the camera equipment. Announce the shows in a news release. See Host Your Own Cable TV Show.

7. Donate your services for your public television station’s on-air auctions and other on-air promotions. This is a great way to get in front of people who might later hire you. Send a release to local print media.

Now for some tips on how to write a good release: * The best ones are no more than one page, typed and double-spaced. See How to Write a Killer News Release That Stops Reporters in Their Tracks. *

Don’t try to cram the entire story into the release. Give just enough information, including facts such as the time, date and place. *

Then include one enticing piece of information that encourages a reporter to call you for the rest of the story. For example, my friend Robert Ian, a hypnotist and magician, says this about one of his after-dinner programs: “Under good-natured hypnotic suggestion, audience volunteers sing like Elvis, talk like Martians and dance the Macarena.” *

Include contact information such as a telephone number and email address. *

If you’re writing about an event, the date should be in the headline so reporters know immediately that it’s timely. *

Post all news releases at your website. See Secrets for Getting Through to the Media Online. *

If there’s a good visual that would interest photographers or TV camera crews, you can suggest that at the bottom of the release with a note that says: “Editors: Ed the Magician will be using colorful scarves, Hoola-Hoops and live birds and rabbits in his show.”

Don’t be intimidated by news releases. The more of them you write, the better you get. Now get going. There’s an editor out there somewhere just waiting to hear about your news.

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