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LeeDillingham Loyal user Las Vegas 263 Posts |
I recently signed up with gigmasters.com. It is sort of an online booking agency for various types of talent. Their prices are fairly reasonable. They only charge a 5% booking fee, which is very cheap. In a little over a month, I have received about 24 requests for bids and I have actually booked 6 gigs. This is business that I would not have had otherwise.
I am curious as to any others experience with this service. I only signed up for three months and I will make a decision later as to renewing it or not. |
RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Lee,
I've not heard a lot of positive about them. However some folks I've heard from are in more remote areas. Do you suppose being in Las Vegas has helped you? Robert PS: What are their fees other than the 5%?
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
magicofCurtis Inner circle Los Angeles 2545 Posts |
The entertainer does not have to pay the 5% fee. The person who contracts with the entertainer does... There is an option for the entertainer to pay the fee....
Curtis
Curtis Lovell II
http://www.CurtisLovell.com http://www.MagicofCurtis.com www.facebook.com/curtislovellii Los Angeles, California - U.S.A. |
LeeDillingham Loyal user Las Vegas 263 Posts |
Curtis is right. I opted to pay the 5% myself.
Their fees vary depending on how long you are signing up for and what radius you are wanting to work. I think the 3000 mile radius for 3 months was around ~$80. I guess living in Vegas helps some. Many of my gig requests have come from California and Arizona. I even got one from Canada. However, they thought my price was too high. Overall, I would say that I have been happy with their service. It is also very user friendly to the client doing the hiring. |
nucinud Inner circle New York, New York 1298 Posts |
Hey Lee, just curious, I have been debating about signing up at gigmasters myself.
With so many magicians listed, I felt that I would get lost in the sauce. I looked at your listing, very nice. Question, how where you able to get listed number one and how did you get such a high rating in such a short time?
"We are what we pretend to be" Kurt Vonnegut, jr.
Now U C It Now U Don't Harry Mandel www.mandelmagic.com |
LeeDillingham Loyal user Las Vegas 263 Posts |
You can look on the site and see their formula for the rating number. I think that I just got lucky and signed up when there were very few magicians in Vegas on Gigmasters. Just having a few bookings through the site will raise the rating near the top. If have noticed that the vast majority of all Gigmasters talent has NEVER had a booking. I am not really sure why that is.
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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
To date, my experience has been that if you pay the additional fee to have the "airplane" icon on your Gigmasters listing (ie. will work beyond your local geographic location), it will likely generate many (many) initial (and serious) inquiries. However, once the potential client finds out (and adds up) the actual cost of flying you in, feeding you and lodging you over night for the gig, they ultimately end up hiring locally based talent. At least that's been my experience to date.
Therefore, I believe that Gigmasters is best for local bookings, and I have booked several of these to date. Still, perhaps others have had some success booking outside their geographic area. If anyone has ever had success booking an out of town gig through Gigmasters, please let us know. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
LeeDillingham Loyal user Las Vegas 263 Posts |
I have had some success outside Vegas. This has been mostly in Arizona and California. However, I have gotten many requests much farther away that I was not able to book.
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jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Thanks for your quick and honest response Lee.
What I am concerned about are the Gigmaster clients that offer to pay the entertainer for round trip travel, food and lodging, but in exhcange for providing this same entertainer with an "exciting" travel experience, they knowingly offer very little remuneration (well below the normal rate) for his/her show. So, if I understand you correctly Lee, in addition to charging your "normal" fee, your Arizona and California clients covered the costs for airfare, lodging and meals... is that right? If so, that's very encouraging. Please confirm. Your thoughtful and candid input is much appreciated. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
magicofCurtis Inner circle Los Angeles 2545 Posts |
Gigmasters will bring you all type of clients... Depending on the client and your/management negotiations reflects on your travel experience....
But awesome for local work.., my team uses it…
Curtis Lovell II
http://www.CurtisLovell.com http://www.MagicofCurtis.com www.facebook.com/curtislovellii Los Angeles, California - U.S.A. |
LeeDillingham Loyal user Las Vegas 263 Posts |
I always ask for fair travel expenses whenever I have to go out of town. Additionally, my fee goes up a little also. This is only fair because an out of town gig usually means that I lose two days of possible local bookings. It always depends on the situation.
Also, I always request to purchase all travel myself. This way, I have control of my frequent flyer miles and hotel points. Afterwards, I just invoice the client with photocopied receipts. Most corporate clients are very used to this and I have never had a problem getting paid. |
jlevey Inner circle Montreal, Quebec, Canada 2076 Posts |
Thanks Lee (and Curtis)for your insightful input regarding how Gigmasters has worked for you.
Best regards. Jonathan
Jonathan
Max & Maxine Entertainment Magicians with a touch of comedy! ___________________________________ www.maxmagician.com www.mindreadershow.com www.monsieurmagic.com |
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