Hey guys
I had a couple of questions that I am sure you guys have an answer for.
I haved Don's video (fantastic and informative by the way)for almost a year now and I never really got around to putting them to use. Thought I would finally get in gear and pitch some decks.
I didn't see any of these mentioned after reading all the posts in the Step right up section

First, can you overwork a particular site, like a flea market? If so what is considered overworking a site and what would be the recommended cooling off period?

Based on the first question, should you have a certain rotation of locations so you only work a certain place one weekend a month? Area markets for example.

Finally, I saw Don post that he has never worked a place where he had a competitor at the same time, but how would this be handled if this did happen?

Thanks for the help

-Clay

Hi Clay,
First off,thanks for buying my DVD and glade you liked it.

If you hit a Virgin flea market and it has like 10,000 prople a week end or more you should be good for at least 6 months.It is much better to find like 4 markets and just work one a month.You could be good for almost ever.

Finly,if you should work a market and someone else is pitching,so what.How many sunglasse dealers do you see and T-shirt dealers etc.If you think it would be a problem,offer the guy a job pitching for you.But the chances of that happening are very slim.

Thanks for your post.Hope this helped.

Later,Don

Thanks Don
I was hoping to hear from The Man himself
I appreciate your advise and words of wisdom
Thank you also for the speedy reply.

Take care

-Clay

In my limited experience (3+ years worth), it is possible to overwork a site, and when that happens you will know, because sales start to drop off despite your best efforts.

Don has the right idea, it's much better to work several sites in rotation, spread yourself around. I work a circuit of street festivals, country fairs, craft shows and fleas in a 35-mile radius, so I only hit each one once or twice a year. But with about 25 places to work, I almost always have a site when I need it.

Only once in three years did I have a situation where somebody else was pitching Svengali Decks besides me. Ordinarily, I get a promise from the site booker that I will be the only magician -- and that's not too tough to get, considering the scarcity of Svengali pitchmen.

But last year, when I got the usual promise of exclusivity, another guy showed up at a flea with Svengali Decks. He had told the booker he was selling "toys," which in fact he was doing, but he didn't mention Svengali Decks. So it wasn't her fault, he misrepresented his wares. She asked me if I wanted to have him shut down, but I said no, let it be this time, but next time it's either him or me.

Meanwhile, I still sold rings around him because my decks were $8 and his were $10 (and I had a better quality deck, too.) I also had a better pitch and a nicer-looking joint --- largely due to Don's excellent Svengali Pitch DVD and good follow-up advice. (Thank you again, Don!!)

I was also selling other items (Magic Worms and Money Paddles), so I had different merchandise to fall back on if necessary. But I don't think he will be back. Ordinarily it's not a problem anyway, and if you get the exclusivity promise, you should be fine. And if you sell something besides the deck, that's just extra insurance. SETH

Thanks for the excellent insights Seth.

Thanks for the excellent insights Seth.