ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In the third episode of Magicians and Margaritas, Jonah Babins sits down with Ivan, a Long Island-based magician who successfully transitioned from performing at kids’ parties to booking high-ticket corporate events. Together, they break down the systems, mindset shifts, and team-building strategies that helped Ivan rapidly increase his revenue from roughly $100,000 to approaching $170,000 a year.
Key Takeaways:
- Automated Lead Generation: To maintain a consistent flow of incoming inquiries, Ivan relies heavily on Google Ads and maintains an active presence on multiple gig platforms, including GigSalad, Bark, The Bash, Thumbtack, and Entertainers Worldwide.
- Building a Reliable Team: Hiring a Virtual Assistant (VA) can be challenging—Ivan cycled through four or five assistants before realizing he was micromanaging and needed to accept “80% good” to avoid burnout. Today, his VA efficiently manages his inbox and schedules 10 to 20 calls a day, freeing him to focus purely on performance and business strategy.
- Pricing and Mindset: Surrounding yourself with successful peers can provide the psychological “permission” needed to raise your rates. By joining the Mastermind and seeing other magicians confidently quoting high prices, Ivan overcame his internal blocks regarding premium pricing.
- Elevating the Performance: Shifting from children’s entertainment to corporate events requires a refined, professional presentation. After receiving honest feedback, Ivan injected more humor into his act and elevated his show’s overall quality, leading to glowing testimonials from corporate clients.
- The $12,000 Gig: Relentless follow-up and strategic package structuring can lead to massive paydays. Ivan initially lost a lead on a gig site but kept the client in a “No and Maybe” email sequence, which eventually landed him a $6,000 4th of July house party the following year. When the client returned for an even bigger event, Ivan offered tiered pricing and successfully up-sold them a $12,000 package featuring large-scale stage illusions.
Resources Mentioned:
- Discourse in Magic YouTube Channel: You can watch the full video version of this episode, along with additional resources and visual models, on their YouTube channel.
- The Mastermind: There are still a few spots open in the Mastermind before the end of 2026. If you want to work together to grow your magic business, send an email with the word “Mastermind” to magic@torontomagiccompany.com.
How Ivan Went From Kids Magic to Corporate Parties
This video is the YouTube version of the podcast episode with Ivan, providing the visual context and full conversation about his transition to corporate magic and massive financial growth.
English
United States
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