This is my last year in college and school starts in a couple of weeks. The first 2-3 weeks of schools all the frats and sororities have their welcome back events where they recruit new members. They have a lot of events so I know I can capitalize on it and perform. So I am going to place a ad in the local paper, (this is my best medium, over 60,000 people read the paper everyday) for my services. I don't think I will have a hard time booking shows, cuz a lot of people know who I am and what I do. But I was wondering how much should I charge?

Being in college frats and sororities spend like 80% of their budget on alcohol, so I can't charge them my corporate rate of $1000+ a show (I am a mentalist), but I know that some people here have performed their hypnotist shows or magic show for frats and sororities. So can anyone give me a good idea of what rate to charge, hence I am kinda a local celebrity on campus. I was thinking of $500-$600, any feedback would be appreciated.

Forget your corporate rate it isn't a corporate show.

Find what they can afford. Without knowing where the school is we have no way of knowing what that is.

Mentalist for rush week? good luck with that.

I hope you mean the family events for welcome back week otherwise alchohal is the only entertainment needed, maybe a band.

Your newspaper wont help much. You have to book straignt through the entertainment comitee. Find who they are.

Charge high as possible. Don't drop prices just to get the show. It makes you look bad.

At my school, we don't really have a entertainment committee for the greek system. Each frat and sorority does their own thing when it comes to planning events.

Good advice from Danny. I've done these and they can be difficult if everybody is drinking. Better have lots of comedy and forget mentalism. Also forget advertising in the newspaper; a feature story would geet better results.

Jim

Jim, you put it LIGHTLY when you say they can be difficult HA HA !!! You Are so right sir.

As a rule of thumb what to charge is mostly a function of a lot of things. Location, budget and many other factors. It is kind of what in cryptology they refer to as a "Self authorizing language". Meaning once you are smart enough to read it you are permitted to know what is being said.

This is kind of the same thing. Once you have the experience to know what you should be charging, you will be well worth the price you decide on. Nobody can really help you here it is because of the other factors that are unique to your particular situation.

My heartfelt advice is to avoid these shows for now. You don't seem to have enough experience to do them. I can be TOTALLY wrong here, it is just the way you come off from the question. Heck the question itslef screams to avoid the shows. If you choose not to I wish you the very best. Let us know how it goes!

First of all, find out what they are paying for bands; that will give you an understanding of what they will pay for an evening. If they are only paying bands $600 a might, I know that is low, but it will tell you their frame of mind towards entertainment. I would not quote a fixed price but would use Ammar's flinch technique once I have an idea where to start. No flinch talk about upgrades and add-ons. Flinch offer to leave somethings out.