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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Steve, you do pay for those lawyers and doctors....through taxes!
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BCaldwell Special user is really regretting his 524 Posts |
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On 2007-03-12 19:26, Starrpower wrote: I second (or third or twelfth!) that. Excellent points, and also excellent responses. -b-
"...that's just my opinion. I could be wrong." Dennis Miller
~Bob~ |
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ed rhodes Inner circle Rhode Island 2885 Posts |
I've done free shows. I did a show for a retirement home that was a great experience. The other show had a little background.
The company I used to work for would hold raffles for the people who'd donated to the United Way. Everyone would donate some item. (I won a chocolate cake one year and a bottle of home made Harvey Bristol Cream another) I donated a magic show both years. The winner of the first year's show asked if in turn <he> could donate it to the Lion's Club. They asked me to perform at the Hasbro Children's Hospital Christmas party. I had a good time, they gave me pizza afterwards, the kids were wonderful and I got on local television for it! (Lost the tape in time, shoot!) Another time I offered to do a free show for the Hospital's Children's Ward (different hospital). They said they didn't allow performers in the children's ward as it got them too worked up, but would I be willing to do a show for the children of the employees who were going to have a Christmas Party? I said; Sure, but I gotta charge you for that! So I tried to do a good thing and ended up making money on the deal! Too cool.
"...and if you're too afraid of goin' astray, you won't go anywhere." - Granny Weatherwax
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Magicmike40 New user 96 Posts |
The long and short of it is if you do free shows the only advertising you’ll get is that you do free shows. In addition, the show you doing free has no value. Remember always appear and act professional. If you have a good show charge people for it but make sure, you give them there moneys worth. One bad show can haunt you. Pick and choose carefully what shows you donate. Do not forget to get a receipt showing you donated X number of dollars (value of the show) and use this as deduction during tax time.
:rabbitfromhat:
Magic Mike
www.MagicWithaTwist.com |
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AshleyW Regular user 174 Posts |
Yes, I think it demeans the product to give it away.
I once worked for a company that provided free gloves to medical students or they could choose gloves that cost $. There was little difference in the 2 products but they overwhelmingly chose to pay for the gloves. There is a stigma that goes with the word FREE, and it is called, INEPT. |
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docbarnes Loyal user 299 Posts |
I use free shows to promote my full time job at times. I also use free shows to pracice new rountines. You can practice in you basement all night, but you need an anduience to get the bugs worked.
I am choosey with my free shows and I have had horrible experiences, but they sure make great stories. |
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AshleyW Regular user 174 Posts |
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On 2007-10-13 14:22, docbarnes wrote: Yes, and those "clients" you performed for will laugh at the next magician who tries to get $300 for a party, when you did it for FREE. They do not understand quality issues with magic. CHARGE for your show bro, if something goes horribly wrong, offer a discount afterwards. But you are taking from others when you give away free what others work for. |
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Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
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On 2007-03-12 22:08, Starrpower wrote: It does make sense if you want to buy a home and can claim a $50,000,00 bump in your "Gross" income. Remember, Mortgage companies want to see your tax returns. So for the purposes of purchasing real estate it helps, a lot. That being said, it makes a lot of sense, unless of course you are too ignorant to understand the advantages. "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
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Bridgewater Regular user North Carolina 184 Posts |
I stopped doing free shows when I noticed that individuals and organizations of very modest means were willing to pay me when they wanted a magician. I've had people living in public housing projects hire me and pay cash. If they won't PAY for your services, logic suggests they don't really WANT your services.
"Don't run with those..."
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indridcold Regular user 163 Posts |
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On 2007-03-07 15:25, Al Angello wrote: Oh if only! I work as a domestic for a nursing home, and you would be supprised what is said about the entertainment. While having dinner on friday nights, the rezzies will often talk about how they feel they are sent crappy entertainers just because the diversional therapist figures 'no one will care what they are like, they are lucky to be getting anything'. There is a specific young lady who comes in to lead sing-a-long and they are often upset about how badly she plays the piano and sings. Lesson learnt...make sure you do a good job, whatever your audience. People are never to old to !@#$%. Dave |
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BIGmagiclV Veteran user 375 Posts |
A magician friend of mine was doing a free show for charity and asked if I wanted to come along and participate. I had nothing booked that day so I said sure. We got there and although there was a little table with the charity's name on it, the larger event was a real estate deal! They were demonstrating model homes for this development complex. We were mad that we were lied to but did the show for the kids anyway. They had a little play that went on before us with a 4 member acting troupe and we found out they got paid!
Does this sour me on charity shows? Not at all. My wife works for a not-for- profit organization that works with mentally and physically challenged people from age 1 to whatever. I did a show for them and it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. There was one young man in a wheelchair who was severely disabled both mentally and physically but when I showed up and did a little magic for him, he couldn't stop smiling and laughing and asked for a picture of us together. I still get misty thinking about that one. |
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
All charities have the money to pay you, they just don't want to.
Old people's homes have tons of money since it most are not only funded my the NHS but also gets fees from each occupant. Yes they have bills like everyone else, but they still have money left over. You can still give them a free show if you want, but its not easy, and its definitely not fun. They ask you to do children's magic to adults, and it feels so degrading to perform the paint book to a 90 year old. Personally, I'ld never do a show for free unless it was for a friend that I knew for years. If you do a free show, then video the performance. Its something you can only do when your giving them something. If you tried to video a paid show, then the client might say no etc. and you won't be able to video anything. But a free show... if the client said no, then you can walk away. You have nothing to lose and so they never say no. Why would you video your performance? - Lots of reasons, self promotions, having a record of your achievements, Internet advertising (put videos on you-tube), marketing a DVD, examining and improving your performance etc. Yes, the client might be annoying and the children awkward because its a free show situation, but that's part of the business. You get bad gigs, and if you can survive those them and still come out looking like a magician, then you prove how good you really are (and have a video to prove it)! Steve |
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