|
|
TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Are you stealing your business and marketing ideas from the right people? No, I’m not talking about outright stealing from others. What I mean is, are you modifying and using any business practices from successful non-magic businesses? Or are you just copying what all the other magicians are doing?
Today I want to share a few thoughts with the self-employed, those that book their own shows. Those that don’t depend on agents to get the work, the magician that is the owner, chief cook, and bottle washer as they say. I’m a big believer that the magician shouldn’t get stuck in the magic bubble and fear looking outside the entertainment industry for ideas, tips, and good habits that could be applied to the magic business. Now don’t read me wrong, I’m not saying we shouldn’t listen to other magicians, we should and especially in the beginning. But as the business grows one may want to start thinking outside the magic box in order to avoid becoming ‘just another’ magician. We may need to look elsewhere for new ideas, tips, and ways to grow the business to a new level. As a magician, when I would go into Home Depot, Lowes, or Joe’s, and as I started looking around the store I would begin thinking to myself, how could I use something like this in my magic? Would this box make a production box? Would this glue work on that magic repair? Would this thing fit in a hat? Does your mind work like that? (Lol) I’m sure the magicians that work with props understand this. But what about shopping in other places? Do you notice their business practices? How do the employees treat the customers? How did they answer phone calls? Do the products have good eye appeal? Do you notice the signage? Are all the light bulbs working? Now if you really want to see how the manager and employees feel about their job, peep inside the restroom. Is it clean? I’ve heard it said many times that a neat, clean restroom communicates that the business respects its employees and visitors. What about the repairman that came out to repair something, did you notice how easily he sold you that extra repair job? You needed it soon, right? Or what about that car repair at the auto shop, that good deal wasn’t so good after all, huh? Or what about shopping online, do you notice how the website is designed? What about the colors or fonts being used? Is there a guarantee and how is it being offered? Is the price there on the website? Is clear contact information provided? Did the first few lines of copy get your attention? What caused you to read the email you received? How about this post, was it the catchy title that cause you to read it? My point is, and maybe it is because of the fast-paced world we live in today, that sometimes we don’t see what is right in front of us. We are just not that observant of all the many everyday happenings. And I don’t think the self-employed are as observant of the business practices of others as they should be. I challenge everyone here to be a little more observant when doing everyday business with others and look for business practices that you could steal, (steal as in adapting to fit) your own business. Notice how some businesses stand above the rest and think about why that is. I think you may be surprised at some of the things you may see. And remember, seeing things that you shouldn’t do is also a valuable lesson worth remembering. When I was in the grocery business, I liked knowing what the other local businesses were doing including the nonfood ones. Why would I care about how an unrelated business was conducting its business? Because competitors are usually only considered competitors if they are selling similar products are services, but that’s not always the case. I believe that the competition is anyone the customer compares you with. Now let me repeat that because it is important. The Competition Is Anyone The Customer Compares You With. This thought is also discussed in an older book by Tom Connellan called Inside the Magic Kingdom. He said that the definition of ‘competitor’ should be much larger than it is. I completely agree because customers coming away from an interaction with a good positive experience will remember it and then compare it to other business experiences. Example: A Mom with a seven-year-old decides she wants to talk to someone about hiring a magician for the boys' birthday party. But before she calls, she calls someone else to settle a business matter that went wrong. She has a long conversation with the sweetest voice you have ever heard and ends up getting a huge refund that she wasn’t expecting. She is happy and excited as can be and all is forgiven. Now she calls you the magician. No, she won’t be expecting a refund from you, but you can bet that inside her mind she will certainly be comparing how the two calls are handled. Customers Compare Experiences. Example Two: The magician does a great show at a company meeting, everybody had a great time, and the boss said he was satisfied. True he was satisfied with the show, but he wasn’t that happy in the end. The magician was in a hurry to leave, left a paper on the floor, spilled water on the table, etc. Not really a big deal except that the boss recalled how the plumber he had hired the week before went to great lengths cleaning up after his job. The plumber won the comparison hands down. Customer Experiences Can Become Customer Expectations. I’m sure you’ve heard talk about going the extra mile. But in business, it’s not always the extra mile that matters the most, it’s the extra inch. This is why I say that it can be extremely helpful to look into industries other than your own and see what their leaders are doing to separate themselves from the others. I think you will find that sometimes the smallest things can have the biggest impact. It’s these little things you should be searching for. Constantly be on the lookout for those little things that can make your business stand out. Look for ways to give potential customers a compelling reason to choose you over everyone else. Example: Tommy the Magician buys a new washing machine from a local dealer, and two weeks later the salesman calls to thank him again for the purchase. They chat for a few minutes and after the call, Tommy starts thinking. His thoughts were, why can’t I call the client after the show instead of just mailing a thank you note as my magic friends taught me to do? Why can’t I do like the salesman and do both? Tommy the Magician borrowed an idea from the washing machine salesman and it worked well for him. Get to know some local non-magic business people and don’t be afraid to talk business with them because no matter how much you know, or how much you think you know, there will always be something new to learn. Also, don’t be afraid to read customer service, self-help, and business books, in general, that have nothing to do with magic. When magic is more than just a hobby, magic itself is just a small part of the business. The real trick is getting others to do business with you, and there are many ways to do just that all around us. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Tricky business » » Are You Stealing From The Right People? (2 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 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 < |