If you have the skills then you can make a full time living with your mentalism and magic. Let me say up front that what I am talking about in this article is magic and mentalism. tricks by fun. I am not talking about contacting people in the afterlife or casting spells for fun and profit.

What do I mean by mentalism and magic? Very simply, magic uses sleight of hand while mentalism uses mental sleight of hand. A mentalist can ask someone to think of a number and then (pretend) to read her mind and tell her that number. A mage can make an object disappear and then magically reappear somewhere else. He can major in magic or mentalism and still make a good living, but it will maximize his earning potential if he can do both.

1. Work the tables at weddings and in restaurants

This is a common, and for some, the most reliable way to make money with magic. Traditionally, mentalists don’t do as well as wizards in this environment. The reason for this is that at weddings and in restaurants there is often a lot of alcohol flowing and this affects the audience’s ability to follow complex magic tricks.

Earning potential is reasonable, but work hours can be long. You should have a five-minute routine that starts with a quick, impressive opening that commands attention. Be prepared for rejection and jeers. None of your audience has chosen to see a magician (or mentalist) but he has been chosen by you by approaching his table. Not everyone likes magic and some may see you as a threat, stealing their attention.

2. Work on cruise ships and in resorts

Here you can find regular, albeit seasonal, work. If you want to go down this route, you should be prepared to find other avenues of income during the off season. To work in this area you need to have a full stage act. You can choose magic or mentalism. Audiences can be tough and you’re expected to be a crowd pleaser if you want to keep working.

3. Create and publish your own magic and mentalism books and DVDs

If working in front of a live audience isn’t for you, you can sell your ideas to other magicians. This usually means creating books and DVDs that teach others how to perform the tricks and routines you’ve created. Earning potential ranges from a few dollars per eBook to several hundred dollars. How much you earn will depend on how many copies of your product you manage to sell. There is a lot of competition in this area and it can be difficult for a newcomer to enter the market.

4. Corporate magic and mentalism

Mentalists in particular can earn a great income working in the corporate environment. For example, companies that exhibit at large conventions spend thousands of dollars trying to attract people to their booths. Skilled mentalists are often adept at presentations and audience control, a clever reworking of tricks can draw a crowd. If you can include a message in your event, there will always be companies willing to pay you to deliver that message.

5. Organize your own stage show

This is the riskiest method of trying to earn an income from magic and mentalism, but even if you don’t make a huge profit, you can make one. Very simply, organizing a stage show involves reserving a venue and selling tickets. If you can sell enough tickets to cover the cost of putting on the show and have money left over, then you have made a profit. It is difficult to make large and regular profits this way. If things go wrong, you may end up losing money. Only the big names can win real money. However, putting on a stage show is a great way to get noticed. If you can attract an agent or use advertising to get a job elsewhere, then it’s worth the effort.