You don't need natural talent to succeed, according to this all-round entertainer. A self-taught magician and musician tells all to KERRY ANN EUSTICE.

Name:

Simon Palmer aka Professor Palmermoff

Qualifications:

  • Degree in economics and geography
  • Self-taught musician and magician

Place of work:

Magic shows locally in the south east. Travel with band the Cosmic Sausages all over the world

Earning potential:

According to Learn Direct successful full-time entertainers can earn £15,000 to £30,000 per annum

Hours:

Long busy hours at weekends quiet during the week

Simon's week:

I'm basically an all-round entertainer. I work as a magician at children's parties all over south east London. It all started when I was entertaining my own children and I realised I was quite good at it. Soon friends and other parents asked me if I could do it for their parties.

I bought some props and read some basic magic books and studied magic hard for three to four years. As I practiced my skills got better and better.

I already had performing skills from my music I'm in a band called the Cosmic Sausages, which started off as comic street theatre. We now travel all over performing our acoustic set which includes silly interpretations of things such as Britney Spears, the Sex Pistols, Bob the Builder and Argentinian tangos. We include silly magic tricks in the shows too.

I generally do traditional magic tricks such as the disappearing handkerchief, a hypnotic rope, a pen through the leg illusion, card on the ceiling, cut and restored rope and a bit of balloon modelling.

Before I started the magic and the band I was a promoter and ran a comedy club in Sydenham.

I like entertaining as I am in charge of my own schedule. I don't do a nine to five, day in, day out. I do have long days at the weekend but then I'm free all week.

I wouldn't recommend this sort of job if you want to get rich but I think it's important not to be ruled by money it's important to have desire, dedication and to practice I don't think talent is genetic.