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HowaboutBob New user south of atlanta 54 Posts |
Quoted a birthday couple weeks ago. First words out of mom's mouth, "How much?"
Gave her the details and quoted her 175.00 for show. Never called back. Found out she had the party yesterday and got a magician for 40.00 bucks. I wish her and the magician best of luck together. Thank you for shopping at Walmart. (my apologizes to Walmart) Bob |
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kimmo Inner circle Sheffield 1193 Posts |
I had a great call from a lady a few years ago. She asked:
'How much forra bitta magic fo' kids at a party?' (strong Yorkshire accent) I ran through what I did and gave her a price for my one hour show - there was a long silence and then the inevitable 'HOW MUCH?!!!' She went on to say that the magician she booked last year stayed for TWO hours, played party games, did a disco, a magic show and even brought a face painter with him and only charged her £50! I politely enquired why she hadn't just rebooked him, to which she replied: 'BECAUSE HE WAS CR*P!!'
VISIT MY ONLINE STORE!: www.kimmomagicshop.com
NEW LECTURE NOTES - SHOW US YOUR TRIX NOW AVAILABLE AS AN INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD! Kimmo DVD available Now! Watch the promo here! Order your copy NOW! CLICK HERE! ENTERTAINER,MAGICIAN AND VENTRILOQUIST'S BLOG - DON'T READ THIS... |
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
HA HA! Kimmo.
I'm sure if you offered to do it for free, they'd ask if you'd give them money. Rule of thumb: Don't charge less than it costs for gasoline and balloons.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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Wanlu Inner circle Manila, Philippines 3058 Posts |
My way?
When they ask how much...I tell them to visit my website at http://www.wanlu.net because my rate is posted at the website...my rate is basically double to tripple the amount most magicians in my area charge... If they call me back...then money is not an issue Also in my website aside from the rates are photos,videos and testimonials from some very prominent clients So if money is not an issue to the client...I'm confident they will call me back
"The Old Path"
www.angdatingdaan.org Wanlu's Affordable Puppets http://wanlu.net/ventpuppets.html Wanlu and his Puppets http://wanlu.net |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
May I suggest............because we all get calls like this.
When asked 'How much?' I invariably reply 'As much as I possibly can. I'm awfully expensive but then......I'm also terribly good!' Now, don't tell her at this stage what you do. There's no point. You must first find out what she wants before you can possibly hope to offer her what she thinks she wants. We'll deal with what she needs in a second. Once you've pulled the gag line 'expensive but good' - and this does go over better if you are speaking with a well modulated - dare I say rather English accent - then before she has time to say anything, soften and warm the voice and ask 'What is it you're looking for?' Let her tell you so you can see where she's coming from. Like anyone selling anything at all, whatever you're selling has a long list of features. She's not interested in them as such. She is only interested in what she can perceive as a benefit. Any skilled salesman will tell you that. So find out what she wants, match to that just those features of your act which apply and then - sell her the benefits. Often what the person needs is slightly different from or additional to what they say they want. So again, offer her the benefits of any additional features you believe she might need. Keep it sweet and short. Don't rabbit on. Then tell her the price. And now she can say 'How MUCH!!!!'
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
When my show and economy merit it I always have mixed feelings of raising my rates.
After a while, I get used to it..and then the process repeats. Kimmo loved the story..... Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
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MagicalArtist Veteran user Hobart, Indiana 378 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-03-10 09:55, Wanlu wrote: You may be loosing a lot of clients that way. Here you have them on the phone, the perfect opportunity to give them your sales pitch...and you let them go. You're basically giving them the message that you're afraid to tell them to their face how much you charge. Better is to have a range of show packages. At the bottom is your basic show at a half-hour for the lowest amount you're willing to work for and moving up the scale is the more elaborate packages with balloon animals, goodie bags, bigger effects, etc. for which you can charge handsomely (and which many parents will pay). |
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Hansel Inner circle Puerto Rico 2492 Posts |
Here in Puerto Rico we have this BIG problem...in other thread about etchnic groups as a Puertorrican I metioned this and is the sad REALLY.Making a good charge or price to your show prevent the work for bad audiences.Its not discrimining,its no put my finger in some persons economycal status,but someone that pay to you $300.00 for an hour show have lots of posibilities to have a good audience as guests.In all places we have bad people...but in a place that pays you $40.00 for a show you have more chance of kids and ADULTS!Yes people ADULTS treating you without respect and broking the peace of your poor little bunny...this animal have so much staying for 45 minutes inside a dark and small "Circus Wagon" waiting for "appear" so that they come young and adult to haul the ears to him.A good rate mantains a Quality Control...Just my opinion...
Thanks, Hansel!
Follow Me...
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/Hansels-Comedy-and-Magic-Show-929625643774678/ Youtube: HanselSP Twitter: @HanselSP Instagram: HanselSP |
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nucinud Inner circle New York, New York 1298 Posts |
18 years ago when I started doing shows for money, I used to get $100 from event planners. $40 just fills my gas tank in my car.
Some people just don't get it.
"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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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
$40? Count your blessings.
A regular Ford station waggon here costs close on to £60 to fill. That's $120 And this week the government will add two more taxes on top. An increase in 'Duty' and an increase in Value Added Tax (sales tax) which is a tax on a tax. We've just had one rise and every six months or so they increase again. Long Island seems cheap to me. How much daily tax do you have to pay in order to drive into town? In London it's $16 per day rising soon to $20 but if your car is big and uses fuel then there's an extra on top of $50 PER DAY just to drive in. It's FREE to drive out! You have to buy your tax ticket before you go in and you are checked by camera. If their computer says you don't have a tax ticket you are in deep trouble. They are making life a misery for a farmer the other side of the country. They claim his tractor is a car and has been driving in town. It's never left the village where he farms! But he can't prove it to their satisfaction. Crazy world.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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jkvand Special user Johnstown, PA 658 Posts |
Long Island isn't considered a cheap place to live here in the US, it's actually one of the more expensive places. But compared to England, it probably does sound cheaper! Kimmo - Great story!
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Bradley Roberts Elite user Las Vegas 413 Posts |
Kimmo that was great story. I run into this all the time. I was once told how much do you value your show and the work you put into it? Then charge that amount.
I am doing a lot better since I took that advice. Cheers, ~B-Rad
B-Rad "The Kids Magician"
Brad Kids Magic Website "A child's smile is one of life's greatest blessings." |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
I have no complaint with those who charge less. They know what their show is worth!
Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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derrick Inner circle I dug holes for 1044 Posts |
Cost's me $80 to fill my truck. I charge the IRS rate of .50.5 cents per mile on top of my show fees now and have not had a singe person tell it was a deal breaker. Everyone is aware of the cost of travel these days and understands charging for it.
Derrick |
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
I had to raise my fees by $50 each for the summer's library shows due to the cost of lodging and travel. Nobody's complained, either.
I also run into the "HOW MUCH?" people. Sometimes, that's all they want to hear. You can give a very convincing 3 minute description of what you do and what you offer, and all they hear is the price. Steve |
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Wanlu Inner circle Manila, Philippines 3058 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-03-10 13:40, MagicalArtist wrote: Basically I don't tell them directly to look at the website for the rates...I basically tell them to check out the site for pictures and videos and the rates But thanks for your concern and Ill try it out... So far my strategy works for me
"The Old Path"
www.angdatingdaan.org Wanlu's Affordable Puppets http://wanlu.net/ventpuppets.html Wanlu and his Puppets http://wanlu.net |
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Mark Andrews New user Coventry in the UK 31 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-03-10 18:18, Tony James wrote: Do you know something that the rest of the UK doesn't know about an increase in VAT??? We may well have a good idea what will be increased in a budget, but until the Chancellor gives his budget we never truely know what will be increased decreased etc etc so it's hardly correct to say VAT will be increased, when in actual fact no-one knows. |
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Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
No Mark. I wrote that clumsily. What I was meaning was that an increase in the tax we know as 'Duty'(because fuel is considered a spirit like alcohol) is automatically followed by an increase in the AMOUNT of vat we have to pay because vat is a tax on the Duty as well as the product ie, a tax on a tax.
I should have put it better. Thanks for pointing it out.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
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darkdean Regular user 153 Posts |
I am in agreement with most of you.
Charge what your worth and what your happy with and if the customer does not wish to pay it then they don't have a magician. Dean |
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Habu Veteran user Texas / Alabama 393 Posts |
I have had a problem deciding on prices for this area. It is midway between Huntsville Alabama (1 hour to the northwest) and Birmingham Alabama(1 1/2 hours to the southeast) and Chattanooga Tennessee (about 1 3/4 hours to the north).
The good news for me is that the closest magicians are in those towns (with the exception of one who may be in a town 45 min away). So the people in this area (a 60 mile range) have not had the opportunity to have a magician for their events. The bad news is, the economy, gas prices and a rural area. Fortunately I will be performing for a party place in a very nearby town. According to the owner of this business, $100 is about the best I can hope for with most of the people in this area. I have to decide on higher prices with fewer shows, or go with a lower fee and get quantity. We are working up a business plan for birthday parties at his business, in-home birthday shows booked from his location, school shows booked at his business and school assembly shows at the schools. I am cutting my fee by about 30% for parties at his business, but I don't have to worry about finding the house, etc. Besides, I will make up more than that with the family night shows (besides getting paid to advertise). He gets paid his regular rate and I get the add-on magician fee.
www.magicbyhabu.com
Real name: Rick Jackson Habu: Taken from SR-71 spy plane I worked on. It's name came from a poisonous snake on Okinawa. Hope my magic isn't poisonous! |
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