Big Daddy

Double your fee and sell on your background you be surprise how many people will still hire you at $500 to $800 for a kid show...

One can sell on price
or one can sell on background and style....

I also remembered a similar thread in the past, so I dug it up for you:

Magic Café thread titled... Professional In Small Town

Some of the information might be helpful.

- Donald

Thanks Don

It costs more than $55 to do the show. Counting prep time, paper work, marketing, liability insurance, rehearsal time, set up time, the cost of props, hat tears, slush powder, mouth coils, rope, cards, gas, etc. Not counting travel time and packing the car.

Almost forgot, 9 volt batteries for my mics and sound system accessories.

$55 is an insult!

Ah yes. I see where you are coming from now.

You haven't really said who suggested the $55 fee, but be careful it isn't some of your potential customers suggesting that. Some will pay you little, and some will pay you more, if you ask for it. Your job is to find those who will pay you what you ask, and then deliver value on what you are paid for.

Most of the time, inexperienced customers have no idea what a professional performer charges for their services.

I've even had some prospects who told me I charged too much, and should be charging less. Someone else gave me some perspective on that idea. One perspective is that they might not know any better. Or it could be that they want me, but don't want to pay more. Another possibility is because they were jealous of the fee I was asking (if they only knew how much experience and work goes into my 30-minute show!)

- Donald

P.S. I prefer to go by Donald, as opposed to Don. Thanks!

Ah yes... then theres the people who say..."You charge HOW MUCH?? My Doctor doesn't even charge that much".

"You charge HOW MUCH?? My Doctor doesn't even charge that much"

Becasue your doctor doesn't perform MAGIC!

Some people will respond with a great deal of surprise when one quotes a high fee.
When discussing your fee, it helps to prepare the listener properly. One way is to frame your quote in a value proposition to soften the blow. Another way is to soften it with a little humor. I read once that Lisa Menna, when asked what her fee is, prepares the listener by first asking, "Are you sitting down?"

Jim

Wow I was just speaking to someone the other day about a gig, they didn't hesitate about my cost $250, a juggler just quoted them $400.

I always tell them about my show first, then pop the performance fee in. They need to know what they are getting for their money.

Good call.

Couple things to consider. IF the prices are being balked at then you need to think about how and where you are generating your leads from.

I have to wonder if you are not happy with the prices people will pay, why you market yourself to that demographic in the first place.

Second of all if you are selling on price alone, expect a few things to happen. First of all you will be very busy talking to price shoppers and negotiating. Not a lot of fun if you ask me. Second of all expect to get a lower percentage of gigs. There is always someone cheaper.

Second your repeat business may not be as high, as they will always look for that bargain.

Why train people to bargain hunt in the first place? Why teach them that this seems an acceptable form of shopping?

So here is where I recomend Jim Snacks course. Read it then re read it and then impliment it.

There is some very good information in this thread. I'll just echo what has already been said. If you have a show worth performing, it's worth more then $55. When I just started performing I charged at least $100 but it went up very quickly when I realized that was very cheap. I've performed in some very rural areas in PA and they had no problem paying what I would charge for a show in a larger city plus more traveling expenses.

Nor does the doctor offer effective guarantees.

*jeep!
--Granpa Chet

"Oh, your children are entertained and come away with priceless memories when they go see your Doctor?"
:rotf:

Christopher that is priceless!