Nine years ago, I pitched up at the Edinburgh Festival, worked my socks off, and promptly lost a tidy £5k.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve grafted harder than ever, learned a fair bit about our craft, and returned for eight glorious years. In that time, I’ve bagged the Edfest Bouquet four times, sold out shows like a pro, and landed the biggest contracts of my career so far.
Sure, I made a right mess of things along the way and spent some dosh, but this book spills the beans on the secrets I’ve unearthed...
Here’s a taste of the techniques you’ll find inside:
Defining Your Lags and Dealing With Them!
A nifty system to sniff out and zap those pesky lags that’ll have your act looking slicker in no time! Taught by comedian Scott Harris, this one changed my life. Seriously.
The 1 Thing!
The one thing you need to do that’ll fast-track your improvement quicker than anything else! No matter where you’re at!
Authenticity
How to be more genuine, why it matters, and the magic it can do for your show.
Notes
The how-to on note-taking, what to do with them, and a system to implement them that’ll have you performing like a pro in a jiffy.
Pattern Breaking
I’ll show you the two pattern breaks I use before the curtain even goes up, plus how I mix things up during ETHERMIND. We’ll explore the different ways of pattern breaking you can use...
Movement and Script
A truly potent way to marry your words with movement that’ll resonate deeply with any crowd...
ETHERMIND Analysed!
My most successful Edinburgh show ever, raking in more than double my previous run! For the first time, I break down the show, examining the psychology of each stage.
Scripting
A foolproof system for scripting and evolving your script to keep things natural and congruent.
The 3 Elements
The three elements that need to be in place for your audience to vibe as a cohesive group and respond powerfully to you.
Character
How to ensure congruency and portray the one thing that’ll make you stand out...your character!
RAS
Learn how to trigger your Reticular Activating System to hit your goals quicker than you can say “abracadabra”...this technique could genuinely change your destiny (and that’s not just me being dramatic).
Star Moments
Never seen this discussed in our world. Learn how to weave star moments into your show and let your act shine brighter than a supernova!
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg...
Plus, I hand over my precise technique for reading people.
I trained at Leicester University under one of the UK’s top profilers. He taught me a lot! For the first time, I reveal my full system for reading people quickly to optimise your chances of picking the best volunteers for your show. This alone is worth the price of admission. I’ve charged corporates thousands for this info... now it’s yours for the taking!
Everything I do to speed read people in real time
Your audience can make or break your show. Do these things to give yourself the best shot at a cracking performance...
How to pick the type of volunteers that will elevate your show
One of the most crucial keys to success and also the least discussed. I’ll share all my wisdom on this vital subject...
Real world applications!
Use these techniques in everyday life, both in and out of magic!
Retrain
With today’s societal shifts, we all need to do this ASAP to read people to the best of our ability.
Then, I dive into the 101 tips in more detail than ever before...
To ensure this book helps you get better, I’ve packed in more info than has ever been released regarding the 101 tips.
They say “if you get a couple of ideas from a book, it’s worth the investment.” My aim here? To absolutely smash expectations...
This book is 148 pages of pure gold, filled with ideas and concepts that can seriously amp up your performance right away. Designed to be easily devoured, digested, and put into action, this could very well be one of the most valuable books in your collection...
No matter your current level, from novice to seasoned pro, you’ll find something of real worth in its pages...
"This book is an easy to read, no nonsense guide to making your show the best it can be. A must read for anyone who really cares about the art"
- Jon Armstrong
"Probably one of the most important books ever written...You want a rating, I'm going to give this book 200%... I genuinely think I would be more successful as a performer if I had access to this book 10 years ago... I think every single performer should buy it!"
- Craig Petty
"Imagine you're at the pub having a beer with a good friend who's a masterful performer and a great success, and they spend a few hours giving you their best advice and insights into what it takes to be a true pro! This is what Chris Dugdale has done in his new book, Becoming Better. With candor and clarity Chris sets you straight with the kind of time-tested advice that will save you years of trial and error and add to your happiness, both onstage and off.
I had an opportunity to catch Chris's show aboard a cruise ship and was impressed not only by his performance, but by his winning way of interacting with people offstage. He made every single person he spoke with (whether they were a staff member or a guest) feel seen, heard and valued. His jovial and inquisitive persona makes him a delight to be around which is, I'm sure, all part of his success. I think you'll find much to inspire you in the pages of Chris's book. Cheers!"
- Bruce Gold
"Give thought to even part of the contents and you'll emerge a better performer for it... you will return to dip into this little treasure-trove time after time, coming away having your collar felt at each and every visit...whatever the next stage up from a no-brainer may be...pretty much an essential read"
- Bob Gill - THE MAGIC CIRCULAR - MAY 2023.
