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chichi711 Inner circle 5810 Posts |
Sorry if this has been discussed. I know a lot of factors go into this. Just curious to find somewhat of an average. Where is your pricing for an after dinner/conference stage show?
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
That is a question I would hesitate to answer. As you said, there are a lot of factors that go into it. For example:
Are you an established performer with several years of experience who perhaps even specializes in corporate shows or a part-time performer looking to get started? Is the client a national company with many regional offices or a small company in your hometown? Is it a sales meeting, HR meeting or something else? Who is the ultimate economic buyer, i.e. who is responsible for the meeting and has the power to commit the funds? Have they seen you before? If not, are you being referred by someone that the meeting planner has a relationship with or did they pick you out of the phone book? Who have they used previously? Are you booking the engagement directly or going through an entertainment bureau or agent? If so, is it a major agency that handles major corporate events or a small agency that handles only smaller local events? Do you have first rate promotional materials and a killer demo video? Do you have media exposure? All these things factor in establishing your fee. It is really pointless to ask for an average, because that will vary widely. I will admit that I remember once doing the same program in the same month for as little as $50 (an honorarium from a non-profit) and as much as $3000, so I guess the average then would be around $1500. That really doesn't tell you much. Just curious, why do you want to know? Jim |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
As Jim as pointed out there are many missing basic pieces of information here that need to be known before this question is anywhere near a rational answer.
Here are a couple of guidelines that may help. 1. As the former owner of a talent management and booking agency a contact with the corporation would have at least two predictable courses. A.) If the corporation asked for you by name, the fees would be negotiated from the top down based upon the training and experience of the agent. The corporate budget would not be a major consideration. That is because there is no budget as a rule when talent is bought this way. The budget is being planned at this stage. B.) If the corporation had a budget, the agent would offer talent within that budget. You may or may not be considered. (Remember that the agent will do his/her best to keep the corporate buyer coming back for talent buys.) 2. You should have a set of rules within which you predictably work. Realistically they should be based upon "opportunity costs". That is, that there is a base number at which your time is better employed earning elsewhere. For some people that is what their "day job" pays. For some there is a booking that is always available when you are. For others it is what we call "standby fee". (If you really make it in corporate entertainment, there is a fee for "standing by" or holding a date. It is not the total charge but enough to make you "unavailable" to others. Think of it as a paid "off day". It is a fee or deposit that you get to keep and can still do other non-conflicting employment for the period. (That often means that you cannot perform for anyone in the same industry like soft drink, auto manufacturer, tool company, electronics firm, etc. that is a competitor. But you can work a TV commercial, banquet, night club, etc. for anyone else.) Usually you know at least a week ahead that you are available to others. Plus corporate magic is usually week-day rather than weekend magic. Therefore, there are typically two "standby" rates (i.e. $600 for week-day and $1000 for weekend dates or about half of your standard rates). Of course, if the corporation uses you, the "standby" fee is part of your pay for the day. In real life, you'll find that the better corporations expect much more than magic from corporate magicians that they keep. Do you have experience, contacts or a formal education that directly benefits the corporation? (For me, having been a marketing/management consultant, importer and a published university professor have been great advantages. Among other things it allowed me to produce the MBAs that make the decisions. It also enforced the recognition of "opportunity costs".) Good Luck! Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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