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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Chad C
You have struck a nerve. When I first started and I inquired about fee's with SOME local magicians the answer I got was, I charge much more than most magicians, because I'm so darn good, I'm always turning jobs down, because my regular customers reserve me months in advance, and my only advertisement is word of mouth. There are lots of pompus delusionary magicians that are quite frankly are tooooo important to share anything, or belong to the Café. Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Hi MagicKev -
Although this was a challenge to find without the Café search function working, I found it for you. 8 glorious pages of discussion on show fees, within the Little Darlings area! Cafe thread titled... How much do you al......'s show? With regards to children's birthday shows. I currently have a package that runs about 35-40 minutes, which I charge $175 CAN for. I also have a package that runs about 60 minutes, which I charge $250 CAN for. These rates are for an in-home birthday party, with up to 15 children. If the group is 16-25 children, I charge $200 or $275, instead of those other rates. In my area / phone book, I am at the high end for birthday show rates. That doesn't necessarily mean I charge outrageous fees... I think I am fairly compensated for what I deliver to my customers (good quality shows and good quality customer service, connect well with the children giving them a fun and memorable time, happy parents who get a great party, etc.) Also note, I am in an area where the cost of living is not as much as a larger city, such as Vancouver or Toronto. In some parts of the country, I am sure birthday rates are higher. - Donald P.S. I charge more for my other non-birthday shows, and those start at about $350 and go upwards from there.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Heck, if I found a magician who was turning down work I'd make a deal with him to refer the drippins to me and I'd slip him $20 per show he sends me.
Steve V |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Steve
They are not really turning work down, they are just full of them selves. Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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calamari Elite user The San Francisco Bay Area 429 Posts |
As I am part time (can only handle about 100 shows per year) I do have to turn shows down all the time, but I have a couple of full time guys I recomend when I am unavailable, I have heard of people giving a taste back to the guy who refers a show but I never saw the need to take any. I will only recomend guys I know to have great shows and customer service.
"I came, I saw, SHE conquered." (The original Latin seems to have been garbled.)
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Franc Karpo New user Natick, MA 6 Posts |
I live in the Boston area and I have three bday packages:
40 minutes: $225 60 minutes: $250 (plus $3 extra after 15 kids) 75 minutes: $350 Most of my clients go for the $250 package. It's all relative and rates can vary. Locally I know one guy who charges only $99 and another $375 for 45 minutes. Franc
"The biggest mistake people make in life is not making a living at doing what they most enjoy."
- Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990) |
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
I know Al! That is why I said 'if I found one'! Francs in the ballpark too from what I recall about Boston.
Steve V |
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MagicKev New user 72 Posts |
Thanks for the advice. I've asked a few parents and they informed me that they typically expect to pay between $200-$300 for an appearance at a birthday party by a childrens' entertainer.
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Boston yeah... So I take it you are not going with the $30 shows? By the way, what town are you actually in?
Steve V |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
MagicKev
Smart move, Now that you have more money than you expected invest it in some attractive business cards, so they know how to contact you. Break a leg Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I absolutely agree with Al. Invest in yourself and your marketing. Get cards done and have them done profesisonally with quality design. Thewn make sure to carry them with you at all times. I have them with me, in all my cars, at work and every place I can think of.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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MagicKev New user 72 Posts |
I do intend to invest my earnings from my first shows into my act and business. I'll by business cards, put up a web site, and buy better quality props.
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Kev
You sound like you have given this magician thing some thought, so I will say one more thing and shut up. When you get your business cards put your picture on them, and give them out liberally. I always give adults that come up to me after a show two cards each, because they just saw my show, and must have liked what they saw. All you need is one job from someone who saved your business card, and that job will pay for several thousand more cards. HAVE FUN Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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MagicKev New user 72 Posts |
Al, you make a great point. And don't worry about saying too much. I welcome all the advice and help I can get!
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DerZauberer Elite user Southern California 468 Posts |
I live in a rural area in Bavaria, (I am approximately 45 minutes from Nürnberg).
When I started to do shows, commercially, I was really in a pickle because there were no local magicians except one in my area. I also had to keep in mind that this area has a very low cost of living so people cannot afford that much. I am conscious of charging too little, compared to a large metropolitan area, but I am getting work. Sometimes I question whether I should raise my rates, but I know the clients would stop calling if I charged too much. I am slowly starting to get the company gigs, in which I can charge a fair price. I only have a special “children’s birthday rate” which I reserve for children in the local area. On the positive side – because I am in such a small area – almost every public show I do is covered in the newspaper which is tremendous exposure and free advertising. Regarding the “other” magician in the area; I know I am charging less than he is and many people tell me he charges too much. But I see he has a clown act, he does balloon sculpture, face painting and furnishes an inflatable jumping castle. I am a straight magician and I do not offer fluff or bells and whistles to sugarcoat my act. |
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mghia Veteran user Kymystical 387 Posts |
Sorry to disagree with you guys but if the person is NEW they need to charge MUCH less.
$30-50 is fine to work out the bugs. Before you start typing look at it this way. You are telling someone who is new enough not to know what to charge, to meet your level. I will tell all who do not know why they told you this, the reason is to make sure they do not loose shows to lower priced performers. But for those who disagree with me, look at it in the best way possible. I new show or new talent might not have the skils yet. If they charge your $250 price and they do a weak show, they WILL hurt your business! It is the "once bitten twice shy" syndrome. A client will feel burned and then question, no matter what the praise, that your show might also bring the same quality. They will make you work harder than you had to. But if the client buys a cheap show and they get a cheap performance, they will then be lead to the beleif that they get what they pay for and will seek out a better show. "You get what you pay for" syndrome I do not want a weak performer in my catagory. Don't worry, if they are looking for income they will quickly raise it up when they have the confidence. Pricing is a tricky thing. One guy might charge $175 since he needs to eat and another might charge $250 since it is his/her side line and she cares less if she gets the show or not. I will say, once you are at the level, it professional courtesy to be in the range of other entertainers. Most party entertainers are booked site unseen from the phone book. You need to teach the consumer that price is not the indication of quailty. You need to teach them tha tthe $30 they might save at your competitor is really not a savings. However, you can not do this if you do not have your chops. And the best way to get your chops is to work cheap and work the routine 100 times. When I was 10 my first real show I was paid $5, my mother's friends invited me to perform so I charged $10 and with each show started upping it $5. For a kid even $50 is just fine. The more popular I was the more I charged what I was worth. By the time I was a young adult I could charge the level of most since I had paid my dues. The rate raising did not always jump. For I while I was stuck, in fear that it would over price the market. I recently had to do another small increase due to the increase of fuel and expenses. So far most do not have the problem with the increase So it is my opinon that it not the best advice to tell someone you have not seen perform to charge market level. |
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
To work out the bugs they should do volunteer shows at childrens hospitals, shelters, and friends and family functions. When the product is ready for the market that is when you put it on the market, you do your NPD in house.
Steve V |
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