|
|
Tony Thomas Inner circle North Carolina 1248 Posts |
Okay - Let's say a parent hires you to do a kids birthday party in his elementary school classroom. She tells you it is all cleared with the teacher, and she is bringing cupcakes for everyone. All you need to do is show up and do a 30 min birthday magic show at x time. Are you good? Have you been invited? Or do you need specific contact with the teacher?
Last year I was invited to do a birthday party at a private, christian, elementary school classroom for a friends child. She told me it was all clear, etc. I showed up did the party, everything was good... Or was it! This year one of the parents at the school told me that the principal made an interesting announcement to the parents at the open house. She said, and if anyone is bringing in a special guest "like a magician" for your childs birthday, make sure you first clear it through the teacher. Okay, why did she announce that? Am I just being poranoid, or do you think that teacher really had no idea that I was coming to do a half hour show in her classroom? Was it my responsibility to talk with the teacher beforehand directly, even though I was "hired" by the parent who was my "liason" to the teacher. How would y'all have handled this type of situation. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, the teacher really knew, and this announcement had nothing to do with me, but it certainly got me wondering. What would y'all have done in this situation? How do you know when you have really been invited? |
Ryan Price Special user winnipeg, MB, Canada 641 Posts |
I have done similar events for daycares. I always call the centre to make sure that they are aware of the situation. They are the ones in control of the room so anything that you need done to set up for your performance would be on them. It only takes a couple minutes to do and can definitely save some head aches.
|
Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
Generally, when I check in at the office of the school (NEVER go directly to the classroom!) they usually tell me that they're expecting me. I do check (with a phonecall) prior to the showdate to be sure the mom has let somebody know. Last one I did (1st grade), I showed up, mom wasn't there yet, I set up, mom wasn't there yet. Pizza guy showed up, mom STILL wasn't there yet. When I started the show, the mom still hadn't showed up. I don't know if she showed up by the end of the show or not. I was paid in advance. Never met the lady.
Steve |
Tony Thomas Inner circle North Carolina 1248 Posts |
Whenever I have done events for entire schools, I ask to speak directly to the principle. It has felt awkward at times to ask. For instance, the PTA President has invited me (and is in charge of assemblies), but I asked to speak to the principle just to be covered. Once I was invited by a community liason for an inner city school. Again, I asked if they minded that I speak to the principle, and each time they look at me as though I don't trust them. Is there a good way to say it without conveying mistrust?
In this situation, because it was a smaller class event, and I trusted the parent, it never dawned on me that she wouldn't of communicated well to the teacher. But who knows, maybe this teacher thought I was just going to do a couple of tricks. The mother clearly told me the teacher was expecting me to do a thirty minute show. But I was thinking about it afterward, if I was a teacher, there would be know way I would allow that for a kids birthday. I would draw the line at moms bringing in cupcakes. Now I wouldn't mind an end of the year party, but not a birthday because suddenly you will have to do it for everyone. No thanks... |
Floyd Collins Inner circle Ohio 1633 Posts |
I don’t know for sure as to what happened in your case, but I would surmise that the Teacher told the mom that it was ok! The word got out that the class had a magician who did a show and how nice it was kids talk on the play ground. The principle asked why he/she was not informed of the entertainment going on in the room, and the Teacher clamed up and said she did not know it was going to be like that. I don’t think any mother would have a magician show up, who they pay for without making sure it was ok, in the end it would be their child who would take the brunt if the mother did not ask. Also given the work load on teachers it would be easy to forget to alert the office of a planned party.
I do many high school show, with the way the world is and all the security in schools, I make sure to speak to the principle before the show, as soon as I get there and after the show. Even if it is a evening show for a fund raiser I still speak to the head of the office. Some of the situations I have gotten into by speaking to the principle have been; *Well I need to get board approval. *You will have to pay us a clean up fee for our custodians. *I need to see your insurance. *You need to come in for a photo id before you can enter that section of the school. *I would like to see a DVD of your show to make sure it is school and age appropriate. Sometimes the event planer has no clue that the above is needed by the office for you to do a magic show! All of the above I fully understand and had no problem at all providing, given the way the world is today I would rather it be like that then not. Floyd
No one said it would be easy, or did they?
Check out my all new book "Chicken Scratches" visit my lulu store for more information. http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/thecenterstage http://www.collinscomedymagic.com |
TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
I would not bother to speak to the teacher. If the mother booked you, she booked you. Not the teacher. Its manners to deal with the person who booked you. It is not manners to go behind her back and deal with someone else. It undermines her. So talk to the mother.
If I ever have any doubts about whether a show will be welcome in a particular venue I explain those doubts to the booker (the mother) and ask her to check that everything is ok. I do not go behind her back to make those checks.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
I think you're being a tad paranoid, Tony. Since your event went off without a hitch, it is far more likely that some other parent invited some other magician without seeking prior approval. Frankly, I wouldn't be the least put off.
I've always felt that it was the parent's place to clear approval for my appearances in school classrooms. I've never felt the need to follow up and I've never had a problem. When booking, I do ask if we have the teacher's consent and I ask for any limits required by the school: noise in classroom, "magic" over "imagination" and so on. Beyond that - not my problem.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Tony Thomas Inner circle North Carolina 1248 Posts |
Hey Roger,
I love your new Avitar. That is a crack up! I probably am being a bit paranoid, but I just wanted to see if I was overlooking an obvious part of my responsibilities. Thanks for the feedback everyone. Aceofhearts - boy your opened up a whole can of worms with that list... TonyB - That is an interesting point about manners to deal with the one who booked you. |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I am with Tony on this one. The mother who books me always checks with teacher. The mother is being the middle person, not me. A few times I had to do it on a certain day because the teacher told the mother when it was approved for. Sometimes the mother told me a hour is too long because the teacher wanted it shorter. The mother always tells me what time the teacher wants the show to start.
If a mother want to book you for class, ask her if she checked with the teacher. |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The little darlings » » When You Are Invited, Are You Really Invited? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |