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FrankieF Veteran user So Cal 334 Posts |
Just out of curiosity, how do you guys go about getting Charity events?
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
Simply exist. Seriously, you're having trouble getting CHARITY work? Well, look at any charities in your area that you support or believe in. Had a family member or friend affected by cancer, look at one of the cancer related charities. If you are a kid's magician, look at a children's charity. I'm a 3 time lymphoma survivor and I do a lot of work with the Leukemia Lymphoma Society in my area. During their big events, I often perform strolling, or as an emcee. I also donate performances for an auction. There are a variety of ways to help charities AND you can get exposure to your target audiences also.
Once you get started, the tough thing will be saying no once other charities realize you donate your performances. I really like to stick to charities that are close to my heart. A few years ago, I was asked to donate a performance for a pet fashion show that would benefit the local ASPCA. I love animals, I do, but I think people who dress up dogs and cats are ridiculous and I just wrote a check. |
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
I choose the charities I like and offer to perform or in the case of Ronald McDonald House I have an association with them through friends who tell me when they are having an event.
I'm offered free work for many charitable causes and also a lot of TV stations and Community events for "publicity". Once you start taking these, your name gets around so I prefer not to take the calls for the most part. I tried doing several TV and Community events early in my career and found I was treated very shabbily all round (No parking, no specific time to count on, no attention to who you are or how to spell your name and last to be called for a payed show.) The exposure was always for the TV hosts and local political types. Try asking for a few of these in writing and you'll get fewer calls LOL. If I'm going to work for free, I want to choose the charity. I have been treated poorly by some charities that I chose but at least I liked the cause and was not chasing exposure I knew would not happen. By the way, Ronald McDonald House has always treated me with respect and gratitude. -Mary Mowder |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
In my experience, I would say that "the one on the right" (above) and my dear friend, Mary (just above) have "said it all".
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
Thanks Dick!
Hard won experience. -Mary |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Working for free rarely means being treated well unfortunately.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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FrankieF Veteran user So Cal 334 Posts |
Thank you all, for your input.
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Nala Nosmoht Special user Surrey,B.C. Canada, 641 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 19, 2015, Dannydoyle wrote: Danny, unfortunately that is so often the case. |
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Pirouz Regular user 114 Posts |
I agree with Mary.
Choose your charity. If you don't have a favorite charity try: Community senior citizen center, library, scouting group, church fundraisers, school fundraisers,etc. My SAM ASSEMBLY PERfORMS FOR A CHILDRENS HOSPITAL AND A veterans hospital.
Pirouz
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Mary Mowder Inner circle Sacramento / Elk Grove, CA 3659 Posts |
By the way, working for a charity does not have to mean un-payed.
You should see if they are offering an honorarium or tell them your prices and see how they react. You can offer a discount or otherwise accommodate them if you wish. I'm just saying that sometimes they have a budget and it might be more than you'd think. They will almost always say you can take it off your taxes as charity. People who perform services can not do that and you should tell the the caller so. -Mary Mowder |
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jakeg Inner circle 1741 Posts |
Sometimes, 'working for charity' can mean either working for free while others are getting paid for their services - and sometime they are other entertainers - or if can mean taking a lid show away from anothe magician, as in the case of a library show, senior centers, and other venues that have a budget for professional entertainment.
I used to get down to the children's hospital and help with fund raisers that depended solely on volunteers. Learned the hard way . Charity event. Got there and found a DJ - paid, singer - paid, food service people - paid, balloon decorations - paid. The only yutz that wasn't paid was me. It taught me to ask questions before saying yes. |
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Pirouz Regular user 114 Posts |
Yes, services are not tax deductible.
One way around it is to agree to get paid and then donate that amount back. BUT: the amount you got paid has to be declared as income. You may need a tax guy. When I do charity shows, I'm happy to do it and don't care about tax deductions. I pick my charities.
Pirouz
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
The room is being rented, the caterer is being paid, the electric company gets paid, the DJ is probably being paid. Usually the only one not being paid is the guy who is doing it because he picks his charity (Which is wonderful.) or the guy who is falling for the "exposure" pitch.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Pirouz Regular user 114 Posts |
Danny,
Not always. That might have been your situation but not mine. I performed for a Catholic parish preschool. The preschool was being held regardless of whether I showed up or not. My show was an added attraction for them. There was no additional expense. The same is true of my work for a fundraising event for terminally ill children. The event happens regardless of my presence. The same is true of my strolling performance at a fundraising festival. During the festival, the food preparers, the dancers, singers, performers, kitchen volunteers, bakery committee, bartenders, money handlers, custom cash registers, advertisement, etc. They were all gratis. Free. Exposure was not a concern. Just wanted to help.
Pirouz
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Wanting to help is great. But the guy who provided the food probably got paid. The liquor was probably paid for, and so on.
All I am saying is often this is the case.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Doug Arden Special user 886 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 7, 2016, Dannydoyle wrote: Danny, I couldn't have said it better myself! When I work for charities I get paid. I just did one on February 6th. I gave them a $500 discount but still got $3000 plus expenses. I was happy and so were they. |
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Doug Arden Special user 886 Posts |
Quote:
On Mar 8, 2016, Doug Arden wrote: Incidentally, after all expenses were paid (venue, food, booze, advertising, entertainment, etc.), the charity raised a net $133,000. If you choose to work charity events for free that's your business, just not mine. |
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Pirouz Regular user 114 Posts |
Quote:
If you choose to work charity events for free that's your business, just not mine. "Exactly"
Pirouz
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MeetMagicMike Inner circle Gainesville Fl 3501 Posts |
If you are performing for free at charities out of guilt, stop doing that. If you enjoy performing at charities for free, keep doing that.
If someone enjoys performing for free no one should discourage them from doing so even if it displaces someone else who would have been paid. Performers fill a demand but they have no right to inflate that demand by discouraging volunteers. I'm not saying anyone in this thread is suggesting that, just making a point. Because I perform an average of six days a week I choose not to support charities by performing. I support my charities by donating. If another magician wants to perform for free more power to them. |
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Doug Arden Special user 886 Posts |
Mike, I also donate to several different charities but choose to do so with my money, and not my time. I certainly didn't want to give the impression that I thought it was the "only" way to go, although I may have inadvertently done that.
The point I was trying to make was that charities do have money to pay for goods and services. Of course if someone offers those goods or services to them at no charge, they'll accept them. Who wouldn't! As you said, Mike, "If another magician wants to perform for free, more power to them." I just do what works for me. |
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