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dmagic Veteran user 384 Posts |
What do you say about a birthday for 2 kids?
Ohh, it's so crazy...I don't know why I can't do it. The parents want to save money, so they want to do it for 2 kids. Sorry for my English... |
carldourish New user 88 Posts |
Maybe you could lower your price, so more kids can attend. Then there is the chance of more parents and children seeing you, and in return, more bookings.
Carl |
Magic Jeff New user 26 Posts |
Hi dmagic,
I do not charge more for 2 kids sharing a party, if that is what you are saying. I do charge more for bigger parties that would require a sound system though. If that is the case, I think you should charge more. But if it's still a "normal" party of 15-35 kids, I don't care if they have 6 birthday kids, as long as the check is good! How many guests are expected? |
dmagic Veteran user 384 Posts |
I have one plan for birthday 4-8 ages.
If someone calls me and says, "Can you do for 2 kids?" I say, "No..." I need to change my show for 2 kids. Ohhh... Maybe I need to make a plan for another show (with all my magic). dudu |
Brian Lehr Inner circle Edmonton, Canada 1605 Posts |
There doesn't have to be any major changes in the show. If you have one child who becomes the star of the show, simply do something special with the other child also. Right now, my big trick with the birthday child is either the production of a lizard or the Chair Suspension. If I find there's another birthday child, I just add something extra like a candy production.
Don't stress out about it. Just take a look at the tricks you have, and see what could be used to make the second birthday child feel just as special as the first one. Brian |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Dmagic -
I think that this earlier thread will be of help to you (exact same topic): --> Link to Café thread titled... Do...... parties - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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kimmo Inner circle Sheffield 1193 Posts |
Are you talking about joint birthday parties, as this thread seems to suggest, or parties for 2 year olds? I think there may have been some confusion here due to language barriers.
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Smoke & Mirrors Special user 506 Posts |
Actually, I read it as it's a birthday party for two kids, period.
An audience of 2. I don't blame anyone for not taking that! Magician: "Who would like to help with the next trick?" :) |
dmagic Veteran user 384 Posts |
Yes, it's a problem ...
If I do a trick and have 2 kids, with which kid do I start the show ?! And all the birthday with 2 kids, what about all the kids in party? I hope you understand me. |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
The poster indicates that parents are doing it to save money, so it is likely a party shared between two families for two kids who are celebrating their birthdays on the same day with a combined party. I can't do birthday party shows (or any other types of shows, for that matter) any more, but when I was up and about, I was all in favor of this approach. In fact, I used to recommend it as a solution for parents who couldn't afford my fees. By combining several parties into one, with more than one family contributing, my $300 fee could be split two ways, or three or even more.
Here's how I saw it: it was a booking I wouldn't have gotten if I hadn't made the suggestion to combine parties. It was entertainment none of the kids would have gotten on their special days. Win-win! The only caveat is that I required ONE person to be in charge of the party and that payment be made in cash prior to the start of the show, collecting my fee from only one parent, not the group. One contract was signed by all parents involved, agreeing to the person they chose as the one in charge. That way, I only had to deal with one parent if there were problems. I don't recall ever having any problems with this set-up, but it's best to be prepared, especially in this lawsuit-happy day. Posted: Nov 4, 2006 2:05pm The original poster came back just after I had written my eloquent reply. However, it still holds. This is a good idea if you learn how to deal with it because you can get more such bookings in the future (assuming you want the bookings!). There are plenty of tricks that require two volunteers. Start with one of those tricks, and invite both birthday kids to participate (holding the ends of the ropes, for example). Then, since the birthday kids were first to help, you then take turns calling up the other kids as helpers. You might want to end with another double trick for the birthday kids, or have two special tricks and have the kids flip a coin to see who gets to help with which trick. The important things is, there is more MONEY to be made if you can handle this type of show. You've increased your market by including parents who normally wouldn't be able to afford your fees.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
MikeRaffone Special user 623 Posts |
I charge the same. Just do the same show and give equal attention to both kids. For example, I normally pull a silk out of the kid's sleeve. So if there are two birthday kids, pull a different color silk out of the other kid's sleeve.
Mike
Mike Perrello
DC Area's Leading Family Entertainment Expert |
Brian Lehr Inner circle Edmonton, Canada 1605 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-11-08 18:44, MikeRaffone wrote: Or make a silk disappear in one sleeve, and then pull it out of the other kid's sleeve. Brian |
MikeRaffone Special user 623 Posts |
Thanks for the idea, Brian. Can I use it?
-Mike
Mike Perrello
DC Area's Leading Family Entertainment Expert |
Jarana Regular user 183 Posts |
How about when you get to a party, and there are only 3 kids??
...or 4??
Got a website? We can help--> www.clorus.com
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Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Less kids, then more interaction; no problem.
Steve V |
Danny Hustle Inner circle Boston, MA USA 2393 Posts |
I did a party tonight that was a combined birthday through a "party planner". I didn't know until I showed up. No big deal for me, it was a fun show. I am curious to know if the planner charged more, as my rate was the same. Party planners are blood-sucking vultures, who usually take half of the fee (see the other thread on that subject).
I also did a party last week for three kids. There were 5 more that were sick (all from the same kindergarten). Again, no big deal; we all had a blast. The way I look at it, being a b-day magician is kind of like being in the military - assess, adapt, and overcome. Best, Dan- "MT is one of the reasons we started this board! I’m so sick of posts being deleted without any reason given, and by unknown people at that." - Steve Brooks Sep 7, 2001 8:38pm ©1999-2014 Daniel Denney all rights reserved. |
John Bowlin Special user Maryland 827 Posts |
My view is that having two birthday kids doesn't require more props, more magic, more time, or more of anything except directed attention. You might have to slightly modify your act. I sometimes do have to drop my best feature effects from my act, such as Chair Suspension or Fantasy Magician (depending on age).
Divide the attention you would normally give the one birthday child in half. I up the price a bit, as I don't like to have to do this, and it does require modifying the act. After one bad experience of having a bratty kid pull a "but I wanted to be in THAT trick" tantrum, I know longer use only one birthday child in an effect where two birthday children are present. I also ask the parent to explain to the birthday children that they will have to share the limelight. Birthday kids usually do want to be the center of attention. I use both birthday kids equally, or not at all. I learned from suspending one of the birthday children one time, and the other freaked out. I had to suspend the other one to save face, and well...you know the show was ruined from there. This is one case where Danny Hustle is right, in that the COI is far better than the Chair Suspension. |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
I misread the original post, I thought only two kids were in attendance. With two birthday children, just do a special trick with each one. I always had my birthday combined with my sister (Irish twins) and never a problem, other than her kicking my behind just because she could.
Steve V |
iwillfoolu Special user Upstate NY, USA 746 Posts |
I have done a number of 2 birthday kid parties. I up the price a little to compensate for the double giveaways. I use both of the kids for the first trick, and alternate between the two for the rest of the tricks.
Joe |
dmagic Veteran user 384 Posts |
Today, I have a birthday for 2 girls.
Maybe I start with change bag (good for 2)? |
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