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RandomEffects Veteran user Boston, MA 323 Posts |
OK everyone i am interested in what tricks everyone uses to get bookings for kids shows. We can ignore the obvious ones, working in a restaurant and the Yellow Pages are well known. But what else do we use to keep ourselves known?
One of the best things i ever learned to do was to get a coloring page with my info on it. I will give it out to kids wherever i am performing and tell them to hang it on the fridge once they have colored it in. Th keeps it in the parents full view for at least a couple of weeks after they have seen me. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE do not reply with just Geat/Horrible idea responses unless you are also including a Tip. I would like the thread to stay as uncluttered as possible. Lets get the ideas, and in turn the money, flowing folks, Mat |
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tkuhns Regular user Kirksville, Missouri 134 Posts |
Here in Japan, the kids love getting autographs. It's a real novelty to see someone write sloppy, cursive English -- they think it's "cool." So after the show, I distribute my flyer and they line up to get me to sign it. I know they will be holding onto it for a long time...
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
one the best things is to get them to remember your name. My name is Ken Scott and my logo is Ken scott so they see my name which is the logo all the time. What this does is that they rmember my name.
I also have the kids sign up for a fan club where they will recieve a FREE trick if they mail back their name address and date of birth. this gets put in a data base and about 6 weeks before there birthday I send out a birthday flyer to there mom or dad. I also pass out a ton of COLOR business cards. Buisness cards are a walking billboard they work much better if they are not in the box but rather passed out to people. I go through about 15,000.00 cards a year. I also use a ED Harris Giant mystery dolloar that had my name and WEB SITE along with number. On this it will teach them some easy magic tricks to learn. Ken http://www.kenscottmagic.com |
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Andy Wonder Special user Auckland, New Zealand 747 Posts |
You can give out your own fridge magnets to the kids as prizes. Fridge magnets will last longer than the coloring page. I have had people keep my magnet on their fridge for over 3 years before calling to make a booking.
(Ken: I thought it interesting the 2 decimal places in the total number of cards you give out. I bet you don't use those when you quote your fee)
Andy Wonder, Auckland, New Zealand
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
Forgot the magnets! Yes I do those as well and you are right they stay on the fridge for many years. I take a picture with a poloarid camera with me and the birthday child floating in the air and then i put a sticker on the front with my name and web site and number put a magnet on the back and put in on there their fridge.
Great point Andrew. Ken |
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danryb Special user 506 Posts |
I also give out coloring pictures with name etc. I used to hand out stickers and business cards but lately have developed small laminated cards with a optical illusion printed next to my name and number. I tell the children that they can entertain their folks and friends with this magic card. I also tell the kids to get their moms to invite me to their birthday parties because I had a great time with them and would like to see them again. I also let the kids know that they have my number on the card and they can phone me when they desire - usualy the mother phones and let's me know that her child wants to talk to me.
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p.b.jones Inner circle Milford Haven. Pembrokeshire wales U.K. 2642 Posts |
do a good show!
phillip |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Tell your patron after the show you will give them $15/$20 for every show they find for you.
Send your patron a thank you letter a few days after the show. |
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Cheshire Cat Special user Wilmslow, UK 941 Posts |
I am not sure whether you are asking to be told what you want to hear? Or looking for a quick fix, or gimmick ideas? All I can do is back up Ken by saying push your name till you tap yourself on the shoulder in the middle of the night with it; and back up Phillip by saying always do a good show! If it's additional advertising promos. then you could always supply party invitations with your booking confirmation, magic certificates (at the party) etc. with your details on. I personally would not stick any labels onto kids with phone numbers on as I think this offensive. Also analyse the area and social groups within Boston you are selling to (sorry guys, you'll shoot me for this!) - but we've always aimed at the money! as let's face it, we've all had poorer families that pay you out of money saved in a coffee jar, their kids are beautifully behaved and dressed, but how many kids entertainers are hired by these compared to lawyers, doctors etc. in expensive schools and areas.
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DemuMagic New user Canada 18 Posts |
One of my tricks even though I have only been doing kid's shows for about a year is sending out a post-performance-package. I include an evaluation sheet along with buisness cards and a formal thank you. I find this is a good way to get repeat bookings,and it shows that I care about my audience. That way they will be more keen on reffering me to others. I also like the idea on here about sending out a pamphlet to families six weeks before their birthday. If it's ok I think I will use that idea to help promote my buisness.
Chris
We bring peoples wildest dreams to life
live magic |
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KyletheGreat Special user Georgia 560 Posts |
I ride in all the local parades on the back of my "Magic mobile" in my costume while throwing out playing cards that have my business card stuck to the back of them. (I print off business cards onto stickers and apply them to the back of every card.) I go through about 8-10 decks or more each parade.
I also have people walking beside my float handing out cards and candy while wearing my T-shirts that I had printed with my logo and contact info on them. The little ones that are involved wear plastic top hats and carry wands. I also shoot off large party poppers and throw candy for effect as well. The "Magic Mobile" is decarated accoriding to the theme of the parade...and I always hook my sound sysetm up and run it out the back window so that I can BLAST music throught the parade. I like to play the six flags theme song because everyone who hears it has to at least tap a foot. Children love it and you can see them dancing all up and down the sidewalk! It works out really well. I get a lot of calls from these parades. Another bonus...the magnetic signs on my truck have my number and name on them...so when the parade is played on the local channels, viewers can get my number from there. Withing 1 week of the first parade I booked 9 shows. Every person that booked me caught one of the playing cards. It is the best Idea I ever had for advertising and it works extremely well. THat is about the only thing I do that is different. I mean I also do the business packets with promo shots, contact and show info in them, and leave cards in restaraunts, etc...all that stuff. |
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macmagic Veteran user MA 400 Posts |
Well the coloring pic is great and I will tell you what I do, a lot of people on this board will disagree with my methos but it works!
tell the kids they will all get a picture, but its a magic picture so you need to listen carefully to learn how to make the magic work, first take the pic home and color it in, then hang it on your fridge, now here is the important part........go get your mom or dad and show them what a great job you did then ask them to bend over, give them a kis on the cheek.........tell them you love them and that you would really like "Greg the magician" to come to your BIRTHDAY PARTY........and just like magic I'll be there! the parents will laugh at this and I have actually gotten applause for this, yes it is in the face blatant.....but like I said it works really good! and I have never gotten a complaint! Greg
"Its a magic thing...........you wouldn't understand"
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Gideon Sylvan Special user Deerfield, IL 541 Posts |
Have a contest for a free show where kids must fill out their bday and everything. This way you get a mailing list.
You know you are a magician when you have boxes full of lecture notes you have never read, but still are excited about going out and buying more.
www.gideonsylvan.com |
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James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
Mat,
A give-away is useless if it stays in the hands of the child. As Greg mentioned, if you give the kids business cards you must tell them to give the card to their mom or dad so she can call you and get you for THEIR party! Actually, I don't think you should give out much stuff to the other kids. I prefer to give the birthday child tons of cool stuff and drive the other kids insanely jealous so they beg their parents to invite me to their party. Also, I agree with the above point about doing a great show. Moms talk and if you do a good show your name will quickly get round. Best, James |
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Tom Stevens Veteran user Australia 361 Posts |
I send a $10 voucher with my thank you letter. In the letter I draw attention to the fact that the voucher has no expiry date, and can be used by anyone.
I also put a magnet sticker on my business card. |
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Daniel Faith Inner circle Neenah, Wisconsin 1526 Posts |
Chris,
People do not like filling out evaluation sheets. How many of these do you accutally get back? Kyle, Great idea using the parades.
Daniel Faith
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kenscott Inner circle 1869 Posts |
I would say they do like filling them out. I get almost all of mine back. I give it to them at the party and ask them to fill it out later and send back to me. they want to help they want to see you succeed for the most part.
Ken |
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Countage Veteran user Charlotte 361 Posts |
A few years ago I went school to school in the area during July. It is real easy to get the principal in front of you at this time the year. I introduced myself, performed a simple sponge routine, and handed out brochure. In two hours I can visit ten schools. On average every forty visits booked a school assembly which rebooks itself the next year with a phone call. There is the process and the numbers to work with. Give it a try.
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James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
Quote:
There is the process and the numbers to work with. Give it a try. Countage, I'm not sure I like your numbers! If I read your email correctly, your system means that on average you spend eight hours visiting 40 schools to potentially book a single show. That's too much work! I also suspect it would take most people longer than you claim. 10 schools in two hours means you have just 12 minutes to drive to each school, find the office, introduce yourself to the secretary, wait for the principal to see you, perform the world's fastest sponge ball routine, and sell your assembly show! I'd find this impossible even if the schools were all lined up next to each other on one street. Best, James Ken, I'm interested that you still do evaluation forms at birthdays. You must have enough good quotes by now. You also know you have a great show. Do you see an additional marketing benefit from the forms? Or is there another reason? Best, James |
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todsky Inner circle www.magicstore.ca 2354 Posts |
I agree with Philip: do a good show. Even better, do a great show. Word will get around. Be patient. Good marketing is like the cover on a book: it may draw initial attention, but it's the actual content and quality of show that will give you a long and succesful carreer.
Todsky's Magic Shop: over 15,000 tricks, books, DVD s and Card decks. www.magicstore.ca
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