Discourse In Magic

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 bus

In this episode, magic business coach Jonah Babins outlines the foundational model for growing a magic business from a part-time hobby into a six or multi-six-figure enterprise. He breaks the growth process down into three core pillars—Leads, Sales, and Systems—and provides actionable self-evaluation questions alongside real-world examples of magicians who have successfully scaled their incomes. Key Takeaways Generating Leads: A magic business cannot survive without a consistent flow of inquiries. Leads are categorized into inbound traffic (such as Google Ads, which helped Cameron Leo cross $150,000 a year), outbound traffic (such as cold emails, which drives 60% of Cody Clark’s business), and nurturing past clients (which helped Manuel instantly book a $5,000 gig). Mastering Sales: Converting leads requires strategic pricing, packaging, and high-quality promotional materials. Babins emphasizes that clients need visual proof of your value, noting how Max Olbrich used a specific promo video template to

In this episode of Magicians and Margaritas, Jonah sits down with Caleb Wiles to discuss his journey from doing casual side gigs to becoming a full-time, highly successful corporate magician. They break down the mindset shifts required to elevate a magic business, the realities of raising your prices, and why you must stop performing for other magicians and start focusing on what real-world audiences actually care about.    Key Takeaways The Power of Raising Prices: Increasing your rates creates a healthy internal pressure to over-deliver; when you charge top dollar, it forces you to ensure the client feels completely taken care of and validates their decision not to hire a cheaper, lower-quality performer. Tinkering vs. Performing: You must separate the time you spend tinkering with complex magic concepts from the time you spend on stage. When performing for laypeople, the only metric that matters is whether the audience is having a great time and being genuinely entertained. The Social Engineer: If yo

This episode tackles the frustrating nightmare of “ghosting” in your magic business—when a lead inquires, has a fantastic phone call, and then completely vanishes before booking. The typical sales process involves a website form fill, a sales call, and finally the decision to book, but many magicians lose their prospects in the ambiguous gap immediately following the call. By implementing a specific structure at the end of your calls, sending a targeted proposal email, and utilizing funny, low-pressure follow-up tactics, you can actively prevent ghosting and close more gigs. Key Takeaways: BAM FAM (Book A Meeting From A Meeting): Never end a sales call by sending the client off into the ether with a vague “let me know”. Instead, explicitly schedule the follow-up conversation on the calendar before you hang up. Train for Replies: While on the phone, ask the client to reply to your upcoming proposal email just to confirm it did not go to spam, which establishes a habit of two-way commun

This episode transitions some of our best recent YouTube content into podcast form, giving you actionable business lessons you can listen to on the go. Many magicians constantly spend money trying to acquire new leads through ads, agents, or gig sites. However, the most underutilized resource in your magic business is the people who have already hired you. This episode breaks down how to properly re-engage your past clients, turn them into your biggest fans, and secure repeat bookings without spending additional money on marketing. Key Takeaways: The 9-Word Email: A highly effective, simple email template originally from Dean Jackson that simply asks, “Are you still looking for entertainment for your [event]?” to instantly revive cold leads. Optimal Follow-Up Cadence: Reaching out to your past clients 4 to 12 times a year is the sweet spot to keep you top-of-mind without being annoying. The 70/30 Rule: You must ensure that 70% of your communications are “gives” (providing genuine val

Welcome to the brand new series on Discourse in Magic: Magicians and Margaritas! In this inaugural episode, host Jonah Babins sits down over a margarita with Mastermind member and stellar Australian magician, Cameron Leo.  Together, they pull back the curtain on Cameron’s massive business transformation. We unpack the exact trajectory that took Cameron from zero to $20K a year, and then explosive growth from $20K to over $150,000 a year doing magic full-time. If you want deep business insights, actionable scaling models, and real strategies you can steal for your own career, this episode is packed with invaluable nuggets.  Jonah also drops a major announcement regarding the future of the podcast and the community: Discourse in Magic is officially launching video content on YouTube! You can now watch full episodes (including this one) to see the action live, alongside exclusive strategy breakdowns to help you optimize your business systems. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: The $0 to $150k Bluepr

In this solo episode, Jonah Babins reports back from the annual Mastermind Summit. Every year, Jonah takes the mastermind group to an epic, tropical destination to map out business growth, and this year they returned to a beautiful resort in Mexico. While the room tackled classic pillars like contracts, public shows, SEO, and cold email, one massive topic dominated the entire trip: Artificial Intelligence. Jonah issues a direct warning to performers: it is 2026, and running a business without looking at AI is simply irresponsible. This isn’t about shoving technology down anyone’s throat; it’s about recognizing a unique window of opportunity to out-innovate your competition before your booking systems feel completely ancient. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The Rising Floor: Why “okay” websites and generic marketing won’t cut it anymore as new competitors launch with highly optimized, AI-driven setups. Lead Generation in Flux: How the foundational engines of magic booking

In this special episode, Jonah Babins shares a “meaty” excerpt from his recent business lecture delivered to the Chicago Magic Round Table. Recorded while Jonah was in the midst of a residency at the Chicago Magic Lounge (654 Club), this session skips the tricks and goes straight to the systems that allow a performer to scale from a hobbyist to a high-earning professional. Jonah breaks down the exact philosophy they use at the Toronto Magic Company. While the full lecture covers everything from t-shirts to thumb tips, this episode focuses on the “engine” of your business: how you handle leads, how you optimize your time, and when it’s finally time to ditch the spreadsheet for something more powerful. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The Chicago Residency: Jonah’s experience performing close-up in the legendary 654 Club and the unique energy of the Chicago magic scene. Systems vs. Software: Why you shouldn’t buy a CRM until your current system is “breaking” from

This week, Discourse in Magic looks a little different. Instead of Jonah interviewing a guest, we’re sharing an episode where the tables were turned. Jonah recently sat down with Josh Norbido and Nick Kay—better known as The Magic Guys—on their popular Australian-based livestream and podcast. The Magic Guys actually “robbed” Jonah of the FSM Award for top Magic Podcast this year, but there are no hard feelings here. Their show is famous for its high energy, active YouTube community, and hilarious banter, making this one of the most engaging “crossover” episodes yet. In this session, Josh and Nick grill Jonah on the inner workings of his business, his performance schedule, and his philosophy on growth. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The Toronto Magic Company Story: How Jonah built a brand that doesn’t just book him, but manages a roster of talent across the city. The FSM Rivalry: A behind-the-scenes look at the friendly competition between the top magic podcasts in the industr

In this episode, Jonah Babins breaks down a critical mistake magicians make when a lead finally lands in their inbox: treating the sales call like a logistics checklist. While knowing the venue and guest count is important, a truly professional sales call does something much deeper. Jonah explores how the right questions don’t just give you information—they prove your expertise and give you the exact language you need to close the gig. Whether you’re performing at high-end weddings or corporate holiday parties, the strategy remains the same: stop asking about logistics and start asking about the experience. Jonah shares two specific “power questions” that shift the dynamic from being a vendor to being a consultant. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The 10,000-Foot View: The ideal structure of a sales call, from discovery questions to the final close. The Language Mirror: Why asking the right questions gives you the “tools” to explain your magic using the client’s own goals (like

In this solo episode, Jonah Babins pulls back the curtain on the eight-month hiatus of Discourse in Magic. Since August 2025, the podcast feed has been quiet, leading many listeners to reach out and check-in. Today, Jonah is back to explain his disappearance, share a major business epiphany from his recent travels, and lay out the future of the show. The truth is, Jonah hasn’t been resting; he’s been on a whirlwind journey across the globe. From Auckland to Melbourne, and Pennsylvania to Denver, Jonah has been physically traveling to visit members of his Magic Business Mastermind. He shares the “insane” rule he follows: when a magician has worked with him for 18 months, he flies out to see them on his own dime. This commitment, combined with a heavy November/December gigging season, made recording high-quality episodes nearly impossible—until now. What You’ll Learn in This Episode The Travel Log: Why Jonah spent 30 of the first 45 days of 2026 on the road and what it’s like managing a 60-person m

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. The post Weaponize Your Show appeared first on Discourse in Magic.

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. The post Thoughts on FISM appeared first on Discourse in Magic.

Jonah sits down with Jamie Allan, a pioneering illusionist and producer known for blending large-scale magic with theatrical storytelling. The post Jamie Allan: Building Big Magic With Authenticity appeared first on Discourse in Magic.

Viral magician Xavier Mortimer shares his 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. The post The Art and Hustle of Modern Magic with Xavier Mortimer appeared first on Discourse in Magic.

Jonah Babins is joined by rising UK magic star Luke Oseland to explore a journey that spans from toy magic sets and teenage tinkering to Fringe Festival sellouts. The post The Business of Fringe Magic with Luke Oseland appeared first on 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. The post Summit, AI and Where I Am appeared first on Discourse in Magic.

Jonah Babins is joined by corporate magic legend Bill Herz to unpack a career that spans summer camps, corporate boardrooms, and headline features The post Pioneering Corporate Magic with Bill Herz appeared first on Discourse in Magic.

Jonah Babins sits down with magician, circus performer, and entertainer Leah Orleans to discuss her unique journey in magic. The post Leah Orleans: Pushing Boundaries in Magic appeared first on Discourse in Magic.

This week on Discourse in Magic, we're bringing you a special repost of Jonah Babins' appearance on the Penguin Magic Podcast, hosted by Erik Tait. The post Jonah Babins: Magic’s Business Whisperer appeared first on Discourse in Magic.