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Michael Kaminskas V.I.P. 117 Posts |
I though this would be a good topic to find out more about what people are doing in terms of creating their own one man show...In November, I recently completed one of my personal goals. While I've worked for some amazing clients, I've always wanted to write, create, and perform in my own one man show. In November I opened my show IMAGINE...An Evening of Conjuring, Mind Reading & Mirth! to sold out crowds. Feel free to check out my website for the show http://www.ImagineMagicShow.com
It is not done that often and I know exactly why....IT'S A TON OF WORK! But ask me if it was worth it...and that is an unequivocal YES!!!! So if you have any questions or think that you might want to try your hand at doing what very few others have tried I'll be happy to discuss. |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
I've performed in restaurants, walk around gigs for parties and gatherings as well as parlor style stand up shows for varied venues. But always as a highlight of the evening or event. These engagements I know are different than promoting oneself and selling tickets just to see me.
It's allot of work just putting on a small show for a company Christmas party. I'm just a part of the entertainment, NOT the reason people came to the Christmas party. If you are selling tickets to people to come and see you, you had better deliver and be worth people's time as well as money. So how do you determine your show is worth seeing and paying money to see? How many other people are involved in your decision making process? Do you develop a show, perform it for people who will critique it and then promote yourself? (I remember Carl Andrews discussing on one of his DVDs making a deal with a hotel to be able to have access to a conference room in exchange for the hotel selling drinks and Hors d'oeuvres etc.) I digress So you have the skill, you have a ton of material that you perform well, now you want to perform a One Man Show. I'd love to get this discussion rolling !!!!
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Michael Kaminskas V.I.P. 117 Posts |
The first step as you said is having a plan. When you decide to take this venture on full force you MUST attack it from a business standpoint, an entertainment standpoint and an artisitc standpoint. Of the three, the artistic or actual magic part is probably going to be the easiest of the three.
The entertainment part might require you to hire or work with a director if you are not well versed yourself and lastly the business includes all the marketing, and details of location, food and beverage, ticket sales, promotion, etc.. |
Steve Friedberg Inner circle 1402 Posts |
To that end, Mike, *what* are you selling? What are you offering your prospects that makes it worth their time/money to buy a ticket and see you (not to mention the goober who's doing sleight-of-hand before the show and during intermission)?
From a marketing perspective, what is your Unique Selling Proposition? Who is your audience, and what's the best way you've found to communicate with them?
Cheers,
Steve "A trick does not fool the eyes, but fools the brain." -- John Mulholland |
Michael Kaminskas V.I.P. 117 Posts |
Wow...apparently a very loaded question as you are part of the USP Steve! lol.. My target audience is the 25 and over crowd. But what I have seen is that the majority are in the 40-55 range. I appeal to their sense of wonder and offer in exchange for their patronage an evening of entertainment that only a select few will ever get to see. In a world filled with mega concerts and huge illusion shows filling up thousand seat theatres, what makes this show unique is the type of magic, how it's presented, and where it is presented. Not to mention that it is really two shows in one as you know I have guest entertainers that really add to making the evening special!
All of my marketing materials are designed to convey this "feel". I also partnered with a great sponsor in Lexus. Again, even the sponsor is geared toward having the target audience attend the shows. In terms of communicating, I've found classic avenues to be very beneficial for my show. Television newscasts, Newspaper articles, rack cards, posters, but I've also found that many people are followers of social media...facebook, and online city blogs among others. In terms of marketing, I have also tried my best to push the envelope and be proactive. Lastly, and certainly not least, I love when other magicians attend the show. Hopefully they can share in my love of the art and I am able to pass on something to them by way of my performace. I've tried to keep this as brief as possible while still trying to give a "full" explaination. I'd be curious to know if any of you here on the Café have any thoughts on marketing your shows? And I guess I skipped the original question as to what I am marketing....I am marketing myself and the "Upscale Experience of the Imagine show"! Cheers Steve! I'll be seeing you soon in Philly... |
Blindside785 Inner circle Olympia, WA 4541 Posts |
How do you go about gettinga venue to perform in?
Do you rent out a spot? if so, how much does that usually cost? I was looking at your photos and it doesn't look to be in a theater, but some kind of suite. |
Michael Kaminskas V.I.P. 117 Posts |
You are absolutely correct...I have heard other performers work both ways...Some rent the space, some split the house, some get the space in return for the show on a regular basis. The problem with my show is that it is constantly changing venues. I might be at a location for a week at the most. So for me, I have been renting space...And I can tell you it doesn't come inexpensively.
Because the IMAGINE show is about the overall experience of the magic and the venue, I have decided to ONLY hold my show at the most exclusive of luxury hotels such as the the Four Seasons and the like. This does come with a hefty price tag and one of the reasons for my show to be successful and profitable sponsorships are a necessity. I could rent a black box theatre for just a few hundered an evening but that would ruin the ambiance that is so crutial to the overall product. I love that Steve Cohen has his show at the Waldorf Astoria in NYC...Just by the location of the show you know it's going to be a special evening of enchantment. I wanted to create a similar feeling but I wanted to be able to travel with the show from city to city...that's when I came up with my current concept for the show. The spaces are not "boardrooms" or typical office space rentals...each one was hand selected for the amazing views, the history of the hotel and location to re-create the drawing rooms of yesteryear even if has a modern flair. As for costs, these rooms can go anywhere from 1-2K depending on the night of the week and various other amenities such as food and beverage, bartenders, cashiers, etc.. as compared to say 2-3 hundred at the local comfort inn or best western for the same size space. Even being a magician I have been unable to make these fees vanish completely.... but that is only because the show is travelling. My overall plan is to settle the show down in one spot for a while...I'm working with them right now on coming to an agreement that will be mutually beneficial to the hotel, my sponsor, and myself. I still plan on touring with it, but it will be nice to have a regular location for an extended run. :) |
davidpaul$ Inner circle Georgetown, South Carolina 3086 Posts |
Would you please talk a little more about sponsors? Who would be interested in being a sponsor and what is in it for them?
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
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Michael Kaminskas V.I.P. 117 Posts |
While every show does not require a sponsor, I chose to go this route because it was beneficial to both parties. first, I received financial funding. Secondly, was associating my show with a proven quantity. A company who's name alone extolls that of excellence.
So what did my sponsors get in return? Advertising! In today's marketplace the cost of advertising has become really expensive. Not only that but finding effective ways of marketing is even more difficult. So what I did with my show was to "give" my sponsor 4 front row seats to all performances of the show. In addition, they are listed on my website, they are mentioned in promotional spots on the radio, television, and in newspaper articles. I average about five thousand printed flyers that are distributed around the city prior to the show with their logo. In advertising lingo...it's branding. A different but effective way of keeping their name in front of an audience who demographically is a good fit for their product. Last but not least, the sponsors also get to be associated with a very unique and upscale event...a win...win! ....They use the seats as a thank you to employees or for VIP customers and this also helps sell the show as they discuss it amongst their friends and co-workers. It's not easy to find a "match" but once you do, you will find the relationship mutually beneficial. |
Michael Kaminskas V.I.P. 117 Posts |
Okay,
I was just having this discussion with another professional and this is what he had to say about the whole thing.. He said it much more eloquently than I did so I will paraphrase his sentiments. And I'll probably get charged royalty fees but it's worth it to share with everyone here...lol.. In a nutshell, he said my audiences were upscale with disposable income....which is what many brands seek. I agree.. He said that the average couple who comes downtown to see my show will likely do dinner before, drinks during and after...and that they may end up spending $500 on the evening. Also true...more if they stay in the hotel overnight as a guest. This is a combination which appeals to brand marketers at places like, oh.....Lexus. -- Agreed again.. and that as a sponsor of your event, they get exclusive access to your audience and can deliver their message in a venue where they're more likely to listen to/read it. That to me is the real selling point...my target audience is in line with the sponsors and therefore neither of us have to reinvent the wheel. Hope this side conversation is helpful in understanding who you should be looking at to become a sponsor of your event. |
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