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Magic of Dan Regular user St Charles, MO 115 Posts |
I was curious how often others have ran into this problem. I emailed a couple places that do party planning and rent out inflatables. I got responses back from two, one already had a magician they solely used, but thought the other guy could steer some business my way. The second company asked me the basic questions of what my hourly rate was, what percentage cut they would get, travel charges and how far I would travel. I emailed the guy back with all the info and he replied back to me that they have a 20% booking fee and they only allow the performer to charge a max of $100 an hour. My fees are over $100 per hour and I am not about to lower my price down to $80 per hour ($100 minus the 20% fee to the event planner). Your thoughts?
Thanks,
Dan
The Magic of Dan |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I looked up entertainment in the yellow pages, and I saw an agency that I never heard of, when I called them they told me that they charge $100 a party, and they keep $50, but they can guarantee me 6 or so parties a weekend, so if I was willing to hustle I could pick up $300 a weekend.
NEVER, NEVER, NEVER SELL YOURSELF CHEAP. I work for lots of party planners, and agencies that add their 20% on to my price.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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nucinud Inner circle New York, New York 1298 Posts |
Party Planers - I could write a book about them.
Stick to your guns. You have to lower your price a little sometimes for them, but not that low. Between prep time and the cost of gas, etc. $80 is nothing. Either they pay more or find a higher class party planers. Or just market yourself for your rates on your own. My 2 cents.
"We are what we pretend to be" Kurt Vonnegut, jr.
Now U C It Now U Don't Harry Mandel www.mandelmagic.com |
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Anybody with a used inflatable is a "party planner" these days. There are real pros who will deal with your prices and small time wanna be's who try to lowball the going rate in the area and try to get anyone they hire to do the same. Don't lower your price, you are better off getting your own gigs than with dealing with some lowballer like that.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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The Drake Inner circle 2274 Posts |
All a "cheap gig" will get you is another " cheap gig".
Best, Tim |
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Magic of Dan Regular user St Charles, MO 115 Posts |
Thanks guys, I have been marketing myself and getting shows. I was just exploring all possible avenues to see where they would take me. This party planners info will be going into file 13.
Dan
The Magic of Dan |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
There are party planners/event coordinators/talent agencies who want quality, and pay for it, so keep looking. Go to your yellow pages look up entertainment, and call all those who are not DJ's, or escort services.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
The best person who knows your products or services is yourself and who else can sell them better than yourself, right?
I sell all my services myself without having to rely on any middlemen. And most of the time because of 'add on' techniques that I use, I get to up my price quite a fair bit. I don't believe in lowering my price. |
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leapinglizards Inner circle 1263 Posts |
If you have an convention planners in your area, that might be a better direction to look. In this area conventions spend 8 grand for NAPKINS, so they do have budgets.
Leaping Lizards!!! Who knew it was possible.
<BR> <BR>www.LeapingLizardsMagic.com |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-09-23 23:02, Al Angello wrote: What's wrong with DJs????? LOL |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Mr. Bill
There is nothing wrong with DJ's I have had agents book me with DJ's many times, but when I tell them how much I charge they get quite angry and tell me "what makes you think you are more valuable than I am" so with few exceptins they are small time, no talent, nobodies hiding behind their CD collection. Bill except for you how many DJ's belong to this forum? I realize you are a man with many talents, but you are in the minority among DJ's.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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MattWayne Special user Manhattan, NY | Studio City, CA 624 Posts |
Tim Drake said it the best.
Just market yourself higher. Why settle for the cheap stuff when you could easily go to the top? Many performers are too afraid to not accept the gig- in fear of when the next gig will come along- so they take the $100; they're all down at the first floor. Skip taking the stairs- use the elevator and go right on up to the penthouse floor! There's tons of high quality booking agents out there. There's also better party planners. I always think to myself, 'If they have Bozo the clown in their database. There's better out there.' Now, if Bozo is one of the top clowns in Manhattan-- different story. You can do better!! Go for it... best regards, Matt Tomasko
Matt Wayne
The Celebrity Magicianâ„¢ www.CelebrityMagician.com / youtube.com/celebritymagician / twitter.com/RealMattWayne / Facebook.com/CelebrityMagician Creator of, 'Got a Light?' and others. Spokesperson behind, TouchTricks |
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gmmagic124 Special user 751 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-09-23 22:14, Timothy Drake wrote: You got that right. |
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Big Daddy Cool Inner circle 1604 Posts |
Event Planners are in the same boat - they want cheap, cheap, cheap! Basically, because their clients want cheap, cheap, cheap! I don't work for EP and anymore...
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magicofCurtis Inner circle Los Angeles 2545 Posts |
HMm,,,
One must understand how event planners work.... Some are bottom feeders that are offfering jumps, clowns, etc they are more like entertainment brokers which will be a big hassel in price.... However, if you get in with event/convention planners that plans larger events they tend to have better budgets... But they want a wow factor, as well as kick-butt entertainment since their clients are paying big for AMAZEMENT.... I have had some of my largest gigs through wedding planners and agents... I have scheduled three shows through two agent and an event planner in the past three days .... So my vote is for a good event planner....
Curtis Lovell II
http://www.CurtisLovell.com http://www.MagicofCurtis.com www.facebook.com/curtislovellii Los Angeles, California - U.S.A. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
The key word in the last post is GOOD.
Most with simple used inflatable games and such are just looking for filling that spot as cheap as they can. Quality is not high on their list. Find a GOOD one and you have a gold mine to work.
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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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
There seems to be some loose use of terms here that affect fees.
Personal managers do get a fee and really handle the business for you to include representation to booking agents, publicity, travel, etc. This is typically the only one contractually obligated to you for a period of time beyond gig at a time. (40 weeks work at a stated rate is a typical requirement.) Thus, all loyalty due the talent stops at the personal manager level. Booking agents are like real estate agents. They are only paid for completed sales gig at a time. I strongly recommend NEVER having an exclusive agent. A personal manager is a much superior deal. They cover much more than just the gigs and frequently get most of the gigs too. Think of booking agents as commission salesmen. (Yes, you may have to pay both the personal manager and the agency fee. Hooking you up with good agents is just one of many of a personal manager's duties.) Agents are functionally limited to geography and/or certain types of talent buyers. Some are extremely seasonal. Most need to book 50 different acts three times a year rather than one act 150 times a year. They rarely have steady work to offer. Therefore, a professional entertainer usually needs several agents seeking contracts just to keep booked. Successful agents usually cultivate talent buyers rather than talent. Event planners do not work for the talent! They work for the client planning an event. That is who pays them. If they charge you too, it is double agency and certainly low on integrity. (Tell their client.) Real event planners want a good buy but do not get paid by the talent. They don't work for the talent! Good ones are great to work with. Bad ones should be avoided like a disease. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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Magic of Dan Regular user St Charles, MO 115 Posts |
More great info guys. Bob, that makes perfect sense about event planners not working for the talent. The last event planner I worked for paid me exactly what I asked for and did not tell me I had to pay them. They found me though, I did not call them looking for work. I was able to get a friend in on the gig as well. He said I under charged them and they had a much bigger budget than what I thought. It was still a good gig and I was happy with what I made from it.
Dan
The Magic of Dan |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Dan
When an event planner asks me what I charge my first reply to them is "what do you think I can get", because I don't want to be a $200 act when they have a $500 budget.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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The Drake Inner circle 2274 Posts |
Be wary of Party Planners who call on behalf of Charities. They will give you the sob story about the good causes of the Charity to get you to lower your rates. Many times the party planner has a budget for the event from which they pay all expenses and they keep any remaining amount. Any amount you drop your rate is only going to leave them more surplus from that budget to keep for themselves.
Best, Tim |
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