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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
There were two recent unrelated posts that got me thinking. One was about getting many requests for the same date (such as a Saturday before Christmas), and the other was commenting on the abundance of websites that are popping up to advertise entertainers.
When I can, I will refer people to others I know. But the truth be told, there are only a few people that I trust enough to refer someone to. I would rather NOT suggest an alternate magician than to refer them to someone and have them be disappointed with a poor show, which would reflect poorly on me. I am not an organized person, and I am a bit technologically ignorant about building websites, but I wonder if there is a way that we could somehow post overflow show requests for others to contact. Think of it as a "clearinghouse" for overflow shows. There could be a referral fee process for the originating magician, the customer could get access to some other acts, and there is not an agent or overlord assigning the shows. I realize there are countless problems with this concept, but might there also be some merit to such an idea? There are a lot of pretty smart people on this board, and I'd really love to see some of you kick this around. |
Gerry Walkowski Inner circle 1450 Posts |
Starrpower,
While I realize you're asking a different type of question and others here will respond, I have to admit I'm always hesitant about sending folks to other magicians for a wide variety of reasons. For starters, I have a really unique act. If folks know of my show, I feel like they might be disappointed by just getting a regular magician. For some reason, too, I always get burned when I refer shows to other performers. I've had instances whereby I've told a good friend about a show and because he couldn't do it, he wound up giving it to someone else he knows. So now, if something goes wrong, a third unknown party is involved. To be honest, I hate it when this happens and this is why I no longer refer shows out to other entertainers. You also lose that quality control. Just because I can't do the show this year doesn't mean I don't want the booking the following year. So now, this 4rd party magician is contacting my contact trying to rebook his show for the following year. Also, in all my years of referring shows to others, you would think that one of these guys would have enough manners to say thank you, or just sent a little something in the mail. I know I gave this one magician a $1,500 booking and this guy never said thanks or even sent a $10 tip to show his appreciation. Oh and by the way, I personally know the the lady who booked him, and she said she did mention my name when she hired him. Myabe it's just me, but I've had so many bad experiences going this route. Gerry |
Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Like you, Starr, I'm fortunate to have an excellent relationship with several top notch performers in my area. We routinely cover one another when illness or emergencies arise. We also routinely refer overflow bookings to one another. We generally do it simply with emails and texts followed up by phone calls.
We actually tried your private webpage idea a few years ago. The problem is that there are performers in the area that I'm friends with but, for various reasons, I would never refer to my clients. Performers connect through several social circles and they talk. Eventually, word got out about the referral website and we were hit with questions as to why this person or that wasn't included. It led to some hard feelings and broken friendships in the end. We closed the site and went back to one-on-one contact. Now, we give the client the names on our referral lists that we think will best fill their need then we contact those performers and let them know to expect the call.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
While I hate to hijack my own thread, I agree wholeheartedly about losing control over possible future bookings (although the "clearinghouse" concept would not necessarily do this any more than them finding another act through other means.)
One that sticks in my craw to this day deals with a restaurant chain I worked for over a decade. One particular store was far enough from my home that I did not want to work it on a regular basis, so I started sharing the venue with a friend of mine. This worked well for a few years, until he wanted out to pursue other things. At that point, the two of us discussed the venue with a third magician, with the understanding that if he ever had to cancel he would call us as his first substitutes. Over the ensuing years this fellow has NEVER called me to fill in. Additionally, he has since approached EVERY manager at EVERY store in this chain (about 5 stores total) about doing magic there, even though I was still working for them! Now, I understand that I do not "own" a venue, but I also think there should be some common courtesy and consideration when someone plops a nice, steady gig on your plate. I think this magician is unscrupulous and rude. He will never get another referral from me. I guess that makes me shallow and vindictive. What I would like to do is tell every act I know about this guy's behavior, but I just cannot bring myself to acting in such a petty way. So, about this clearinghouse concept ... |
Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
In the uk, there is already a website overflow referral site in place. It's run by Rob James, but almost all the gigs posted come from LOndon which I don't travel to and ultimaty it was so rare that anything was posted I stopped visiting. It's too much work for most entertainers to get all the clients details, to log on and post the details to the booking.
I work closely with three other entertainers in my area. We are all good friends and socialise so I don't mind passing them the work. They do the same for me and we cover each other for illness / emergencies etc. None of the others are really computer literate however and so any website posting site would probally not be appreciated by them. I also appreciate picking up the phone and calling them and offering them the job personally. Its nice to think of people and call them. I wouldn't want a website to ruin that social interaction. This business is already solitary enough, I don't want to make it even worst. Steve |
David Thiel Inner circle Western Canada...where all that oil is 4005 Posts |
Quote:
The rudeness some performers exhibit is...well...remarkable. They are short-sighted little people who really need to re-think how stupid it is to shaft someone who is in a position to help you. But, Star -- I have a suspicion that what people like this guy ultimately self-destruct in the end. They can't help it. Sorry it happened to you, though. David
Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Except bears. Bears will kill you.
My books are here: www.magicpendulums.com www.MidnightMagicAndMentalism.com |
Julie Carpenter Regular user Watford 139 Posts |
Ive been using Postgigs since it started its kids section
So far Ive received 2 booking fees and have sent one booking fee off to another entertainer - yes it has flaws, but I think its a great service. |
TheGreatNancini Veteran user Ohio 373 Posts |
I have to agree with those above regarding getting burned when handing off shows. There are actually a couple of guys with magic props in our area, who are really nice guys and they claim to be magicians, but they have no clue how to entertain and hold an audience. They also invest in props, but never support equipment such as sound, backdrop, etc. Even though we like these guys as people, we cannot hand off our shows to them because we along with many other legitimate working magicians would never stand a chance to get the client for future bookings because of the bad impression of magic they received.
We just did a rather large children's gig last week and the customer actually told us she was new to the facility, and when she told the staff she hired us, they were very concerned about her hiring magicians as "They had hired one several years ago that was......well......ok......I guess." After the show, the staff approached us and were totally amazed and said we won them over in the first five minutes. It is very frustrating because I don't believe a lot of magicians realize what it takes to entertain real audiences in the real world. It is so much more than buying props or even having good manipulation skills. Also, performing for other magicians is totally different from performing for the lay audience. We have a magician in our area that actually makes it a point to sell the customer on the fact that the only real magic is slight of hand and the use of props such as boxes and tubes are not magic. We have seen his act and he has awesome manipulation skills, but is totally unable to communicate with and entertain his audience. I believe there is room for all types of magic out there and it can all be very entertaining or very boring depending on how it is executed in performance. |
robjames New user 26 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-01-22 12:34, ku7uk3 wrote: That's right, http://www.postgigs.com Quote:
but almost all the gigs posted come from LOndon which I don't travel to Wrong - gigs are posted all over the country. Quote:
and ultimaty it was so rare that anything was posted I stopped visiting. You don't need to visit - emails are sent out every time a gig is listed in your area. Quote:
It's too much work for most entertainers to get all the clients details, to log on and post the details to the booking. Wrong, takes about 30 seconds to list a gig on there. A couple of emails later and you will have successfully referred the gig. Postgigs is a hugely popular site with close-up magicians (at the time of writing almost £500 000 worth of work has been listed on there). It's still growing with children's entertainers and I am guessing that negative and factually incorrect posts like the one above won't help. |
Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
Hi Rob,
I just logged on. I stand by what I've already said. Which is not a negative thing, just that it didn't help me. There are entertainers who are looking for work, who are willing to travel great distances to a booking, they will find it useful for sure. I personally don't travel further than 30 miles from my home and so it became less useful for me personally. I know close-up magicians seem willing to travel anywhere for a gig. That's not my cup of tea. Its a great idea that maybe in time, will develop for children's entertainers. Steve |
themagiciansapprentice Inner circle Essex, UK 1381 Posts |
I've an agreement with two local kids show entertainers so I do pass on gigs. I also do the same for weddings in London and foreign gigs.
Have wand will travel! Performing children's magic in the UK for Winter 2014 and Spring 2015.
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