Being a virtual magician and doing shows online has many upsides, but perhaps the most absolutely game-changing thing about being a virtual magician is that you don’t have to stay in one specific place to perform your magic shows. If you’re like me you want a career that’s as flexible as it can be and gives you maximum freedom. Quite possibly that’s why you became a performer in the first place. It’s always been a dream to travel and perform from anywhere. Cruise ships are lovely for exploring the world but have their downsides, and you don’t always get to choose where you go, or who you’re with. Ships are often very sheltered and you don’t feel like you’re really experiencing a place because you’re only there for a few hours. It’s very fancy and fun, the experience of “filtered” adventure, or you might say it’s “diet traveling” – international travel for people who don’t want all the hardship that comes with independent travel.
Virtual Magician shows are different – they allow you to explore the world, live anywhere you desire, and immerse yourself in a place on your own terms. From the beginning, a personal goal of mine when I started performing virtual magic shows was to be able to eventually work from any country. This goal was something that was out of reach until March 2020 – when everything changed. Over the last few months I’ve had the pleasure of performing virtual magic shows all over the world – on very long extended trips from Cusco, Peru to Paris, France, and I’d love to share with you some of the fun and eye-opening things I’ve learned, along with some super easy hacks to make your virtual show the best it can be while you’re on the road.
Make sure you have a strong internet connection if you’re a Virtual Magician
The most important rule when traveling internationally and doing virtual magic shows is this: you must have quality internet. Remember, before you book a hotel or Airbnb, always check with the concierge or rental person who’s managing the space and make sure that the internet is strong and reliable. Ask your contact if they have done video calls from the spot, and be sure to let them know you plan on using the space for work to do Zoom calls. You can tell them that if the internet isn’t reliable and doesn’t properly work that you may ask for a refund because that’s the main reason you’re renting their specific space. Make sure to check on this before spending money. If you’re doing Airbnb you can even ask them to do a speed test and send you a screenshot beforehand (you may need to use Google Translate). This will take them about 30 seconds and save you both a huge headache down the line. You may have to contact a few different places before finding the right one with someone willing to help you. It’s worth it. You will also want to do a speed test yourself within five minutes of arriving at your rental or room to double check. Do it right away so you can leave and still have time if you need to find somewhere else to rent. This is not something you want to leave up to fate – a poor connection can not only spoil your show, but jeopardize your reputation with your client.
If at the end of the day the only hotel or Airbnb with strong internet is a little more expensive than the others it is most definitely worth it to shell out an extra hundred or so to be guaranteed the best of the best for the night of your performance. For example, perhaps you're roughing it on friends’ couches or in a hostel, but you rent a five star hotel for two nights so you can perform your shows during the day without a worry. That money you make from your virtual magic show could pay for your plane ticket to your next destination. It’s most definitely worth it. You may also want to stay in hostels or at friends' homes if they have adequate internet, but remember that you need a quiet and clean room to yourself to do the best show, so hostels or shared rooms that may be dirty or crowded are not an option on the days you’re performing. Everything should look neat and tidy for your show (unless of course your magician character would be further supported by having a messy room). Just be sure that everything in your virtual magic show that is seen by the audience is not messy or distracting, or if it is that it is a very specific choice.