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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Like Donald, I do quite well and have a strong reputation with area PTA's booking my noneducational family shows. Book Fairs, School Carnivals, Fundraiser 50-50 Shows, and Reading Reward Shows are strong in my market. Dave Risley and I make a very good living working our regular daycare circuits. After School and year-round Track Out programs are strong clients for fun shows, magic, makeup, and balloon classes. I agree that a kids' show generally fails in senior centers, but kidshow performers like Gary Shelton and I do very well with comedy, historical, and nostalgia themed shows in senior markets - like Gary's Greatest Generation show and David Bartlett's music-centered programs- all using kidshow effects with a more mature script.
As always, there is no riight or wrong here. It depends on your skills, your personality, and your market. If the Wright Brothers had listened to the "experts" who claimed flight was impossible, they never would have left their bicycle shop.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
I agree Skip Way. My point was as you said yes, the senior market while not paying much can be an additional source of weekday income, but again doing as you said a specifically themed or formatted show based on nostalgia or their demographic, not just doing your same kids show material. That was my entire point.
As far as the school market, the events you mentioned are one-off events that are usually coordinated by PTA or volunteer committees. These as well as year end celebration events can be occasional weekday bookings but nothing that a full-timer can rely on consistently. Same for after school programs. When I speak of the school market I'm speaking of the actual daytime school events that can pay decently, are consistent and come from the school's budget, not outside parent or different entities. While the events you mentioned do exist, depending where you live or the area you are working, may not be regular enough to be a dependable part of a business plan, but rather occasional extra income from time to time. These are also the type f events that are being cut out, reduced and eliminated due to budgetary issues in many areas. If you are willing to work a larger area, of course you increase your chances of more potentially available. As I (and others) mentioned day cares can be consistent. As a full-time entertainer the key comes down to specializing in a specific market or two. We book kids and family entertainers that have birthdays seven days a week, but it because we've taken the time to establish that market. There are many kids entertainers that earn between $60,000-$100,000 a year if the are serious, aggressive, invest in their business, and specialize in a single performance market or two, as opposed to those that try to be everything to all people and take a mismosh of whatever bookings come in. These are also typically the minimally priced performers and the ones usually complaining that they aren't cutting it and are not receiving their value. I'm also surprised that no one where has mentioned restaurant work to the OP as a source of weekday income. Also much also depends on come and pricing. Sure if you want to work for a couple hundred dollars you can hustle to get bookings at that level but you will have to perform many events at the price to make a comfortable living. By the time most are interested in entertaining full-time, they value their time and efforts, ad choose to work smarter rather than harder. As a full-timer you do not want to be in that position where you are constantly chasing after you next booking. This will only lead to ups and downs and not the consistency that should be established with a full-time entertainment business operation. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I would like to do 2 shows a day 7 days a week, preferably close to my home at about 10:00 am and 2:00 pm daily, but that's not going to happen. I am kinda content doing about 4 jobs a week and working mostly weekends.
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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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-10-31 08:45, Mindpro wrote: I was going to mention it. But Michael beat me to it in his second paragraph. That is my goal, a restaurant Mon - Fri, (soon as I get off my butt). lol |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Opps, you are correct I missed that.
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Another lower-paying weekday opportunity are magic classes after school. Usually at a school or recreation centre. Those can run for 6-8 weeks (or be a single session like a magic workshop), and spin off into birthday shows, etc. You can do several of these a week, at several different locations.
EDIT - Skip mentioned it, but it's kind of hidden among other great info. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
I work both day care and senior centers during the week. Keeps the money flowing in and me happy.
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-10-31 00:28, Mindpro wrote: All we're doing is trying to offer some suggestions. Now I remember why I left this place for a year. See you guys in 2015. Maybe. |
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MonsterMagic Special user 517 Posts |
I appreciate all the ideas.
You never know where you will find gold. |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Quote:
On Oct 31, 2013, Starrpower wrote: Quote:
On Oct 31, 2013, Starrpower wrote: I agree with you, Mark. Mind is the giving poor advice in this thread himself, not any of us. |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
So you resurrect a two year old post for that? Sounds again like a personal agenda. Fact is your are incorrect, actal advice was being given where poor misleading advice had been originally. Nice try.
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