International Musician 13
Focus
Put a Little Magic in Your
Music Career
by Bob Popyk, member of Local 78 (Syracuse, NY) and Local 283
I have a magic
wand in my desk
drawer. It has my

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name engraved

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on it. I got it about 40 years ago when I was play-
ing for a bunch of magic shows and conventions
in the North East.
The first Magician’s Convention was near where

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I lived, and I saw it being advertised in the paper.

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No one called me to play the gig; I just thought
I’d find out who was in charge and suggest that
I could help make the show a success. When I
got someone on the phone, I told him that I was
available to play for the show with an electronic
keyboard and my own sound equipment.
He immediately told me that most of the magi-
cians have their own recorded music, and the
few that don’t, didn’t need anything. I told him
that, if that was the case, there was no music to
get the performers on and off the stage, there
was no music to bring on the emcee, and there
was no music to close the show. I told him that I
had some creative vamps to play until they were
ready, and chasers that would bring the perform-
ers back for a second bow. I also could rehearse
with the magicians that had no music and figure
out something appropriate for their act.
When I found out the person who I was speak-
ing with was going to be the emcee, I told him
that the right type of music would get him more
applause, and that the kickers at the end of the
show would get the audience on their feet.
I got the job. Fortunately, there were other fac-
tions of the organization there and they hired
me for their events, as well. All of a sudden I
was doing magic shows for hundreds of miles
around. It was an easy gig. Also, I got to learn
how all the tricks were done. That was pretty
cool. (If you want to know how Houdini escaped
from the trunk, call me.)
What I learned from this experience was, some-
times to get more work as a musician, you have
to make your own magic. I think it’s a combi-
nation of how bad you want to work, and how
creative and persuasive you can be.
Oh, oh … persuasion. That means selling. We’re
musicians, not salespeople. Well, sometimes
we have to be both. That’s where the magic
comes in.
I just got Jerry Weintraub’s book on the art
of persuasion. He was the promoter behind
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Member Recordings!
Elvis Presley, John Denver, Frank Sinatra, Led
Zeppelin, The Moody Blues, Dean Martin, and
dozens of other music legends. I think he is one (P1SP
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of the best promoters the music business ever TUPSF
had. His book is titled When I Stop Talking You’ll
Know I’m Dead. In it, he describes his top five
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tips on the art of persuasion. I like his thoughts.
Here’s a synopsis:
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1) Be persistent. Do not hear the word no. Al-
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most every time you have a new idea, someone QSPDFTTJOH
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says, “No, that will never work.” But, “no” is just
an opportunity to convince someone to say t
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“yes.” Keep knocking, keep pitching, and the "7"*-"#-&
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door will open for you. &7&3:
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2) Have conviction. Act as if the result you want
has already been achieved. When Weintraub FOR MORE INFO REACH US AT
signed John Denver, he had only one genuine
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hit, but Weintraub still called Denver’s next
album John Denver’s Greatest Hits, making it $BMM
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seem to the public that Denver was already a
star, like they’d known his music forever. And
the rest is history.
3) Respect yourself. This is key. If you respect
yourself, you will be treated with respect. Stick
up for yourself. Don’t let anybody get the best
of you.
4) Be creative. Think your way around prob-
lems; come up with novel solutions—improvise.
If you think you have failed, you simply haven’t
thought hard enough.
Professional musicians need the best
5) Go nuts. Reach for the moon. Most people possible lighting.
think that, if it hasn’t been done, it can’t be
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I agree with these ideas 100%. Don’t give up the orchestra,
when someone says “no.” Keep in touch with on a gig or at
them until they buy or die. You never know home.
when they might refer you to someone else, even
if they don’t book you right away.
Everyone has their own magic to propel their
careers, or to make their way in life. I think, no
matter your age or station in life, you just have
to know what that magic is and give it all you’ve
got. You’re responsible for your own success.
You’ve heard it before: Whether you think you
can, or whether you think you can’t, you’re
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absolutely right.
Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.