That's the Boy Scout motto and should be every performing magician’s words-to-live-by. Being a full-time pro now for thirty years, I've racked up somewhere in the neighborhood of 24,000 shows. With that many performances under my belt, I can safely say that being prepared for the worst performing situations and conditions is what keeps my sanity intact.

I do have a contract and rider that my major corporate clients receive, review, sign and send back. No matter how big or small the show is, there are certain things I request of the client to be prepared in advance of my arrival at a venue, whether it be a theater stage or a person's living room.

A private, set-up area is at the top of the list if I'm in a person's private residence. For larger shows, I usually need a microphone with a pole stand, a sound system that I can patch my remote-control iPod into, adequate lighting, and a proper introduction. Seems to be pretty simple right?

Amazingly, even with a signed contract and rider, clients frequently forget to have my requirements ready for me. More often than not, I walk into a venue and find that I need to take charge and set-up missing items. Not surprisingly, I find that the more money I charge, the better chance I find that my performing needs are met in advance to deliver the best possible performance.

So, is there an answer to this problem? Yes: Be prepared for whatever is dealt to you.

People will always forget to honor obligations and promises - contractual or not. I've never found this problem to be of malicious intent. It is what it is. It's human nature. The best we can do is roll with the punches, learn to service our clients and do the best show possible. It's part of doing business. Be prepared.