If you think that the young India likes to party, brace yourself for making a career out of fun. Careers in mimicry, jugglery and magic are now becoming popular and providing individuals the opportunity to make good money. Moreover these careers are offbeat. So they focus as much on hands-on learning as on theoretical study. Welcome to the world of entertainment careers that may see you imitating famous voices, balancing swords or making objects vanish.

“It all started with Rabindranath Tagore endorsing a mimic named Robin Bhattacharya in 1935,” recalls mimic Shubendu Biswas who is of the opinion that one must know the history of mimicry in order to practise it successfully. Biswas says that making a career as a mimic in India today offers good prospects, provided one has the patience to stick to the art. Although there are no formal institutes for teaching mimicry, Biswas has set up his own academy to teach students the rudiments of mimicry.

The mimicry course, run by Biswas, focuses on teaching students tunes and pitches of songs and ragas so that they develop a keen musical ear. “A good mimic must have an excellent ear to catch the nuances of various kinds of sounds,” says Biswas. His courses on mimicry emphasise that it is important for students to have a love of Nature to excel in imitating natural noises. Learning depends on time and there is no set time frame for mastering mimicry. “One has to be extremely patient to be a good mimic,” says mimic Swapan Dutta. A good voice with singing ability, memory and hearing make for a good mimic. “A mimic should also have the ability to laugh at himself,” says mimic and comedian Raju Srivastava.

Probuddha Bhattacharya of Sunlight Entertainment, an event management company in Calcutta, says that good mimics are in demand for stage shows not only as mimics but also in a dual role as comedians. “Good mimics can leave an audience enraptured after a performance and can command anything between Rs 8,000 and Rs 30,000 for a solo performance,” says Bhattacharya.

Mimicry can be combined with ventriloquism, the art of speaking without moving one’s lips. “Ventriloquism is a fascinating art and can rivet an audience if performed well,” says Biswas. Ventriloquists imitate the voices of different people, sing songs and deliver narratives, all without their lips moving a single inch. “Good mimics are in demand in theatres, television, drama shows and stage shows,” reveals Biswas.

Another form of art that could offer good career prospects is juggling. Abhay Mitra, one of the country’s best known jugglers, says that jugglery is an upcoming field where prospects are good. Mitra’s schools of juggling in Calcutta and Adyapith have scores of students who are eager to learn the tricks of the trade.

“Juggling is a mind boggling activity and one that can be practised in grounds, malls, road shows and fairs,” says Mitra.

One needs to have a high level of concentration to be a good juggler. Priyabrata Dasgupta, a Calcutta-based juggler, mentions that to be a good juggler one must exercise regularly and undertake skipping activities to keep fit. Jugglers could juggle with a wide variety of objects including fire, sticks, balls, plates, hammers, ribbons, swords, knives, flowers, umbrellas, hats, tops and carpets.

“One has to keep abreast of new developments in the world of juggling to do well in this career,” explains Dasgupta. Juggling is now merged with art forms like dance. “A good juggler must possess a lot of courage to perform in front of an audience,” says Mitra. Jugglers must be able to control their breathing to attain the right kind of balance and need to keep their joints flexible.

“Juggling can be a popular activity for entertainment and good jugglers can earn anything between Rs 3,000 and Rs 30,000 a month,” says Soubhanik Nanday, director of Resolve Events in Calcutta. Mitra says that his students are doing well and the demand for shows is increasing.

If juggling and mimicry are popular, so is magic. P.C. Sorcar (Junior) plans to start a magic academy in the city to train students who are keen on making a career in magic. “It is appropriate to start this university here since India is the original land of magic,” he says. “While there might be more glamour in Europe, there is much more to India’s magic traditions than pulling rabbits out of a hat,” says Sorcar.

Sorcar’s penchant for weaving magic into the public consciousness has made him plan an institution where it will be possible for students and connoisseurs of magic to appreciate it. “I am planning something that is totally unique in the world,” he adds. The university will cater to different sections of society. There will be a two-year MA course open to graduates of any stream. The entry requirements will also include IQ tests.

“The course will have to be based on personal one-on-one interaction with the teacher. Therefore, the number of students will be limited to a dozen at the maximum,” he reveals. In addition to fulfilling the bachelors degree and IQ test requirements, applicants will have to qualify in what Sorcar calls a “reaction test” (which determines how quickly one reacts to a situation). Only those who do well will be accepted.

Prince Sil, a magician who performs a dare devil stunt of bullet catching, stresses that it is important for magicians to be tenacious to establish themselves. However, he bemoans the dependence of today’s magicians on magical goods and camera trickery. “The principal skills required for a magician are intelligence, appearance, presentation and the ability to speak well,” he says. Sil says a good magician can earn anything from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh a month, depending on the level of expertise and experience.

“If you want to become a successful mimic, juggler or magician, the important thing that you have to keep in mind is that the show must be well presented. Once you manage to grab the audience’s attention, popularity is guaranteed,” sums up Rajib Chatterji, senior vice-president of the television channel Zee Bangla.