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Danny Diamond Inner circle Connecticut 1400 Posts |
So this woman calls me Monday morning about a show, it sounds real promising, she sounds excited. To me, it's a done deal - she was out of the country when she called and said she'll call me when she gets back.
So she calls today, it goes something like this... "Hi Danny, this is xxx, we talked the other day about your show. Well I just wanted to get back to you and thank you for all your information, but we decided to go with another magician, because he's young, I thought the kids would enjoy that...he's 17... so...I thought the kids would think that was fun...ok? So thanks" Quick translation: "Hi Danny, I found a kid who just ordered some tricks online and will do a "show" for a fraction of your price...so, I thought I would save some money...ok? So, thanks!" I had a ton of things I WANTED to say, but I thought - what's the point? I just said, "alright, good luck". What would you say if you got that call?
You don't drown by falling in the water;
you drown by staying there. - Edwin Louis Cole |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
I'd say what you said (nuthin').
What I'd be thinking would be: "You'll be SORRY!" |
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Danny Diamond Inner circle Connecticut 1400 Posts |
Yeah, I'm sure it's happened before to me, probably many time over the years - people deciding not to go with me but instead choosing someone much cheaper. This was just the first time a client basically called me up and TOLD me this. Sure, she tried to spin it by saying "I thought the kids would have fun" because of his age. That's probably the part that was most insulting - the fact that she thought that I might buy that reasoning. Oh well, would I be a bad person if I hoped the kid bombs miserably and she is filled with regret for her decision?
-Danny "Over the Hill at Age 32" Diamond
You don't drown by falling in the water;
you drown by staying there. - Edwin Louis Cole |
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
A lower price is something we will always have to deal with. But, do you think she was telling the truth? I was thinking about this the other day. When it comes to kid shows, do young magicians have an advantage over older magicians? Danny’s contact thinks so. Does all of that experience, wisdom, etc., etc go out the window because some will think the kids can “relate” to a younger magician?
It’s a sobering thought. 30 years ago I was this young, cool teenage magician. Then one day I woke up and I was 47! What do you think? Danny, I hope I’m not derailing your thread but I think this is, in part, what you are asking.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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Danny Diamond Inner circle Connecticut 1400 Posts |
It's a fair point Ken - but honestly, I just CAN'T imagine a 17yo kid is charging the same rate as me, so I feel quite confident that his lower asking price is the real reason she went with him. I could be wrong, but I don't think so in this case.
And this is NO KNOCK on some of the older magicians on here - but if I were in my fifties or older, I could buy her excuse easier. If I wanted an animated, high-energy magician for my child's bday party, then I might not choose a guy with a long-gray beard sprouting from his weathered, grandfatherly face. But the fact is, I am 32. I am FAR from old! So to your point Ken - at some point, an older appearance might lose you some gigs, from parents who are looking for a younger, "hipper", magician. But again, in this case, I really feel it came down to a young kid simply willing to do the show for $50.
You don't drown by falling in the water;
you drown by staying there. - Edwin Louis Cole |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
People buy with their emotions, and then justify it with facts or logic.
Most likely, her emotion was attached to the fee more than the desire of a certain outcome, but she felt she had to justify her decision. At the time, the best you can say is, "Thank you very much for letting me know." (I find that a large percentage of prospects, who decide not to hire you, don't get back to you about their decision.) To deal with this, you should be off chasing your next show lead / booking. Someone's waiting to hear from you. - Donald P.S. If you want to do something to feel better, another thing you can do is say, "My shows aren't for everyone." By saying this, you kind of withdraw your offer of the show, and you also hint a little bit at exclusivity.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Don't count junior out due to his age. We have an 18 year old here who has attended McBride's school twice and can hold his own against any magician. He justly charges in the same range as those of us who work the area and he is a full-time pro.
It's possible that your fishing client chose to save a buck with a younger performer. That's the nature of business. If the kid sucks, she'll know better next time. I would have responded with a cheerful, "Have a great party and please let me know if I can be of service in the future."
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Skip's answer is the right answer, too.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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alexa Veteran user NJ 393 Posts |
I find this very interesting. Do not assume that a younger magician is not hustling MARKETING skills. If they are positioning themselves as being more "relatable" to make their age a benefit instead of a detriment, that may affect a decision. Whether this particular magician is excellent or not is another discussion altogether. Instead, how can we market more effectively to make ourselves the best choice over price cutters as well as entertainers offering different features?
I can tell you, as Skip would attest to, that I was charging A LOT when I was 17. Alexa |
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Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
And some people just don't care about the quality of the entertainment, as long as it occupies the kids and they can say they had a magician. They just don't know the difference in a kid who shows up with a ball vase in a paper sack or a professional performance. OR...a kid with a beat up suitcase full of card tricks.
Steve |
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-19 15:45, alexa wrote: And worth every princess penny then and now.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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chris mcbrien Inner circle Chicago 1235 Posts |
Don't take it personally, above all else.
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Ryan Price Special user winnipeg, MB, Canada 641 Posts |
If someone says they went another way instead of booking you. Then you should strive to know exactly which way and why. You already know the why (at least the one they were willing to tell you) it wouldn’t have been too much more to learn the name of the performer. The name and a simple google search could tell you a lot.
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
There are two things here. The first is what would you say to this woman. I don't know, but I would probably have said something to her that would have made it very clear to her that I knew what was going on, and that she was losing out on the better show.
I got a call a few weeks ago to do a company barbecue. My price was almost 50% dearer than the guy they had used the previous year. When the booker pointed that out, I said to him that there was a reason he was shopping around, rather than rebooking last year's guy. I told him he could go for price or quality. He booked me at my price, and after the gig told me to keep the date free for next year. I feel that if you know you are good, don't be afraid to let the booker know. The second question is a bigger one; do younger people relate better to kids? I did not believe so until recently. I performed at a comedy club recently in a competition. It was my first time in years doing pure stand-up with no props, but I was carefully prepared and I went down very well. The audience laughed at everything. Then the results were announced, and I did not place. I was beaten by young guys who got far less laughs than me. I asked the organiser why, and his answer was sobering. He said that I was excellent, but I was fifteen years older than my audience, and while they laughed with me, they didn't relate to me. That's why younger and less polished guys beat me. I think that a time comes when we have to relate to our audience in a different way. Quentin Reynolds, a very experienced kids magician, advises that we view ourselves as either an elder brother character (the young magician who got the gig ahead of you), an uncle character (you and me now) or a grandfather character (me when I should be retired but am still trying to pay the bills). And we should design our show and market it accordingly. Unfortunately this may be a wake up call. My comedy club appearance certainly was for me. Or maybe he was just cheaper. And if he was 17, that's probably the answer. Remember one thing; you are booked by the parents not the kids, so you should win most of these age-battles.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
I have no problem with those who sell for less. They know what their show is worth!
Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Keep in mind, it may be possible that the other performer told her that they would relate to the kids better because of their age. So, the mom might just be repeating what she was told / sold.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
I like all of your responses. But remember, I am in a different neighborhood. Where I am at, us business owners are suppose to be manipulative, if not, the citizens will kick us out the neighborhood. So I would have said the following:
"Oh, you found a younger magician. What is his price? I will only charge a third of what he is charging. Thank you for approving it with me again, see you at the party next week." The day of the party: "Ma'am, I am just not feeling good today. So I can't make it over there...... What did you call me?...... Well, back to you!..... I didn't care about your crappy party the first place!" [Hang up] Like I mentioned above, it is only way they would not kick us business owners out the neighborhood. |
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BIGmagiclV Veteran user 375 Posts |
I'm a little surprised that no one here suggested the original poster still try to sell the mom on his show. After all, what kind of business people are we if we take no for an answer right away? My response might have been, "Its true that some kids may relate to a younger magician. And I have nothing negative to say about your 17 year old. Its good that you give beginners a chance. I just worry about the memory you are making for your child. with my experience comes a proven show that hundreds of children and adults have loved and cherished. Not to mention that doing as many parties as I have, I may be able to handle certain situations that tend to arise that someone of his young age may not have had to deal."
By emphasizing your experience while at the same time making the 17 yo sound younger than they may want, you place the idea in their mind that you could handle anything that may come up. A 17 yo may not. Just a thought. |
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magicone Veteran user Doylestown, PA 351 Posts |
I've found that when you actually receive a call back telling you they are going with someone else the potential client is ultimately looking for you to counter with a lower price in hope of getting their business.
You have two options, one would be to give them what they are looking for in hope of getting the show or two wishing them well and offering to be of service in the future (as Skip said above) I've only twice countered my price and both times regretted it as the client actually thought less of my services and treated me with the same regard. Even though I didn't have anything to do on both occasions I was frustrated with myself for taking the shows at what I felt was a compromised price. I no longer counter and only wish the would be client the very best and I mean that sincerely. If they are looking for a better price they will find it (I hear there is a kid with a ball and vase out there somewhere) and the show will also be of lesser quality of which they will never know anyway as they didn't experience my show. |
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2392 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-19 22:09, BIGmagiclV wrote: Hey, that’s good! I like how positive and honest it is. Just to be clear, I am not putting down young magicians. Frankly, many of you are more talented than I ever was or am now. But BigMagiclV has a point. Many of us older guys know how difficult kids show can be and know how to handle a varity of difficult situations in a professional manor. That is something we can certainly ‘remind’ the parents of in the way that BigMagiclV has suggested.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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