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Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Hey all. After waiting around for a while, and a lack of private parties, I'm trying to change this.
How do I get out there and get the gigs? I'm tired of waiting for people to come to me with 1 gig a month. How can I get agressive and book more shows? Also, I'm not asking to be spoon-fed. I'm just trying to figure this out... I have many business cards (other peoples), and know some important people. Should I put together a promo package and send it to them? Maybe shoot them an email around October/November with perhaps info about Christmas parties? I'm willing to try anything at this point... Thanks for any and all advice as well! I would be lost without you all! Best, Steve |
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joshlondon17 Special user San Diego, CA 685 Posts |
If you sit around and do nothing that's what you'll get. And it seems that you've found that out. You need to do something.
The best thing to do is create a postcard and keep in constant contact with the people you know via their business card. Call them to see how they're doing. Don't "sell" them your show, just call to chat. Create a relationship with them and they can and will refer you to people who need you. Putting together a promo pack then send a postcard calling attention to the new promo is a great way to get past that first hurdle of , "Why am I contacting these people in the first place?" Tell them what you want them to do and they'll do it! Josh |
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TroyRoark Loyal user Springfield IL 282 Posts |
Hey Steve,
I wouldn't go overboard on your promo material right away. I've read a bunch of your posts, and I'm thinking that a nice flyer that sells your show would be a starting point. I remember spending several hundred dollars (back in the day, long before ink-jet) on 1000 full color glossy promo flyers... I think I still have about 800 of them. As you do more shows, and develop your act, and get good quotes from clients, you're going to want to change your promo material. And, when you're just getting started, you'll probably want to change it about every week. Whip up something nice on your computer, get some feedback from people you can trust to give you an honest opinion (like us ) and then send it to your list of business contacts. And keep building that list! It will be the lifeblood of your business before long. BTW, don't wait until Novmeber to send out holiday party stuff. I'd do it Mid-September. You can always send out another batch in Mid October if you haven't gotten the response you were after. Keep fighting the good fight! We are always here to help you!! |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Steve your making a classic mistake.
You need to find, and define your market. Once you have done that, market to them. BUT if you are just doing what most around here do, and that is wait till people call, and just "want" more, you are going to wait a while.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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robertwong Loyal user Calgary, Canada 212 Posts |
Danny:
I totally agree with you. I just made the leap into full-time performing recently and I do not wait for the phone to ring! Define who you are, what you are offering and go after the people that can use your services. I would suggest you have a website to start, that lists what you offer, plus features and benefits. Robert. |
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Brady Loyal user Los Angeles, CA 235 Posts |
Steve,
The fanciful dream about the glamorous life of a magician is about to come to an end. You brought it to an end by asking your question. Allow me to rephrase it for you: How do I profitably sell my services in my area? Not quite as romantic as "how do I get more gigs?" But it is far more accurate. You must first realize that you are in a business and you must see it as a business, and treat it as a business. If you want to sell and market your own services, you must approach it as a salesperson, because that is what you are. So, to accomplish your goal you need to study the methods used by top sales people, and skillfully apply them to the selling of your service. General sales books by top sales trainers, such as Tom Hopkins and Zig Ziglar, will be helpful. If you can find someone in magic who has specific info available on sales and magic, that would be optimal. This is not an ad, but I have purchased some of Jim Snack's material and found it very helpful. I know some people who have his "Success in Magic" course and have found it of value. Now there is a way for you to bypass all the sales stuff and begin doing shows immediately and get paid for them, it is called busking. That is also a skill that needs to be acquired and you will want to do a lot of reading and studying on the topic before you go out and try it. Let's assume for the moment you are not going to go busking. Here is some advice I can give you: Your success is directly related to "your numbers." This is what I tell all my sales people. Let me explain. Let's say you are a really smart guy and take Danny's above advice. So, instead of trying to sell to the entire world you target a market that suits your show, in your immediate area. Now let's say you find 10 people in that target market that could use your service and you approach them. Out of those 10, you find 5 that will talk to you. Out of those 5, you find 3 that give you an appointment and you present your service to them. Out of those 3, you find 1 that books you. At that point your numbers would be 10 contacts, 3 presentations, 1 show. Everyone's numbers will vary, but after you do this long enough you will find your numbers will be very steady over the long run. So, if you want to increase the number of shows you do, you simply increase the number of contacts. Let's say that your numbers are close to the above, then instead of 10 contacts, contact 30 people, that will get you 9 presentations and 3 shows. Now, the contact has to be a quality contact to count. For instance, if you are doing kid birthday parties, you need to talk to the Mom and/or Dad. If you are doing banquet shows, you need to talk to the person who is actually booking the show. You want to do restaurant magic? Talk to the restaurant owner or general manager. You must make your presentaion to the person who can say, "Yes." If your not presenting to the decision maker, you are wasting your time. There is an old saying: Work your numbers and your numbers will work for you. In 30 years of sales experience, I have found it to be true. So, here is what you do: 1) target a market. 2) find decision makers that could use your service in that market. 3) contact the decision makers. 4) present to those who will listen. 5) book and give your shows 6) repeat. Welcome to the world of business. Regards, Brady |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Steve, it could not be laid out better than it just was. Bravo Brady.
Indeed the "dream" is over if you wish to do it. Jim Snack has a wonderfull course that I recomend without qualification.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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FunTimeAl Special user 987 Posts |
Heya Steve!
I'm not a full-time professional magician...which you knew already. I'm a school teacher that manages to earn enough on the weekends as an entertainer so that a public school teaching salary can still cover the expenses of a family of 4 without my wife having to work. So, perhaps this post isn't coming from a full-time entertainer; but it's certainly coming from someone who couldn't support his family without the additional funds. With all that said, let me begin by saying that your original post was not in any way singling you out as a "dreamer". You asked a great question on the appropriate message board and I would like to offer you an approach to getting more business. If you look in the Yellow Pages of your town under "entertainment" you will probably find agencies that offer clowns, balloon artists, magicians, etc... You might consider calling them and saying, "hi, I'm a magician, would you be interested in sub-contracting me?" This will come at a cost. They will want a cut but in turn you don't have to answer calls, pay for advertisement, etc. This will not work for someone trying to do magic full-time. Sometimes the agent wants up to 50% of the profit! However, if the agency is any good at what they do, you will see a considerable increase in gigs. Be careful though...agents can be slimy!!! |
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Hart Keene Inner circle Eugene, OR 1486 Posts |
Let me make this a "little" easier. I would start with restaurants. I have read your posts on the Café and I have a good idea of where you want to be at in the next few years.
I can tell you from experience that if you work in restaurants and hand out a ton of well made business cards YOU WILL GET MORE WORK. Anyone who tells you otherwise has either never tried it or was no good. This ties in with the law of large numbers thing, the more people you perform for the more chance of getting work. The problem with what the others have said(postcards, sales calls, busking, etc.) is that you are not getting paid to do any of that. In some cases you are actually paying out money in the hopes of getting work. The great thing about restaurants is that YOU ARE BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE! Danny mentioned target market. This is very important!!!!! (speaking from experience) When you choose the restaurants you will be talking to make sure that they fit into your "target market". Approach pizza places if you want kid shows, approach non-franchise high end restaurants if you want more corporate-cocktail type private parties(these are just two quick examples, obviously more to it when you begin your search). In the mean time you will be gaining experience and have a place to polish routines and develop new material. Doesn't that sound better than spending all day at kinkos and the post office? |
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Justin Style Inner circle 2010 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-05-10 11:34, Brady wrote: Hi Brady. I like your advice. I will certainly use it myself. Now that I am a “Therapeutic Thaumaturgy” I need to start marketing to the mental wellness community. Thanks for the tip! Justin |
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Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Hey all. Thanks for all the advice. This has given me a lot to think about and definately plenty of ideas to set the ball in motion.
Thanks! Steve P.S. Whoever said I thought being a professional magician was glamorous?! |
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BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
Much like the life of a rock star, the 1-2 hours that you're actually performing are "glamorous," but the other 22 hours in that day are a grinding business. With magic, at least for me, the performance is more than enough of a reward to keep me trecking through the business aspect of what we do. Sorry, that sentence was a little shaky; hopefully everyone understood that
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TroyRoark Loyal user Springfield IL 282 Posts |
This is a great thread. Danny and Brady hit home runs with there advise. Danny touched on the point that I think you at right now. You need to FIND your market, before you go and target one.
While I'm sure you're a great table magician, you might want to take a crack at putting together a stage show, or doing festival walk-around, or illusions might be your thing. If you are interested in several different types of performance, you might want to try several things, and see which one you truly enjoy doing...then target a market that lends itself to the kind of performing you like best. I understand your anxiety of wanting to get out there and perform, but don't get into a hurry. I would suggest figuring out what it is that you want to do first. |
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Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Is it possible that I'm actually too inexperianced to find my market? I hear what everyone is saying, and ocmpletely agree. But at the same time, I don't want to cancel out something that I don't care for right now, and find it may suit me beter later.
If I had to decide though, then my market would be adult close-up and strolling/restaurant magic. Those are the audiences that I most enjoy working, and recieve the best vibe from. Opinions? Thanks! Steve |
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Hart Keene Inner circle Eugene, OR 1486 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-05-10 18:07, Magic_Steve wrote: Pleas take my advice above... |
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WagsterMagic Special user Myrtle Beach, SC 639 Posts |
WORD OF MOUTH!!!
that's all the advice I can give you. Best Brandon
The Wagsters: World Class Magic & Illusion
www.wagstermagic.com |
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robertwong Loyal user Calgary, Canada 212 Posts |
Brady:
You rock!! Robert. |
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ralphdean Loyal user Northern Ca 300 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-05-10 18:07, Magic_Steve wrote: Targetting a market does not mean that that is the only thing you do. You can take other jobs, if they fit you. Targetting means that that is where you are focusing your marketing. If you want to target the kids show market then your busines card will show balloons or something and not fire eating. Your tricks, jokes, patter, and everything else will focus toward your target market. If you want to work with adults, and like restaurants, then target restaurants that cater more toward adults and stay away from Chuck E. Cheese. You could talk to party planners or meeting planners. Conventions often use hospitality rooms or hold dinners where walk around magic would be welcome. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-05-10 18:07, Magic_Steve wrote: Here is a punch in the gut for reality. NOT the best paid market you could have chosen. Especially if experience is an issue.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Magic_Steve Inner circle Maryland 1476 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-05-10 18:42, Dannydoyle wrote: Danny, this is for right now. As stated, I want to eventually start doing corporate and tradeshow events. While my abilities would allow me to work a corp event quite well, I highly doubt they would hire me for the gig at my age. Thanks man! Steve |
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