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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
I've booked an elementary school fundraiser and have a question.
The autotoruim isn't that big and they are worried they may sell out and they would also be interested in making the most they can in ticket sales but they want to keep it at their school. How would you guys think I could schedule a 2nd show? Two on one day? Friday and then Saturday? Etc? What advice, pros and cons of how this could work? Thank you! Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Depends on your set up time, Jim. You did not say if this is morning or evening event. I would schedule them as close as your set up time will allow.
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briansmagic Special user USA 507 Posts |
A lot of pro fundraising companies will have one show on, say, a Saturday, with the possibility of doing another show if too many people show up for the first. The second show isn't advertised...they've just got the time to do it if it becomes a necessity. That's probably what I'd advise. I've done a lot of school fundraising work.
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Thanks, guys.
The set up time is about a bit over an hour. The show is structured to run about 40 minutes, then a 15 minute break, then another 30 minutes. I didn't know how we could do more than one like that in one evening. It will probably be a Friday or Saturday evening show, then haven't picked a day yet. Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Bill Hegbli Eternal Order Fort Wayne, Indiana 22797 Posts |
Then you could have a show at 6PM and one at 9PM. That would give you plenty of time to set up and go again.
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Magical Dimensions Inner circle 5001 Posts |
If you do two shows, it is better to do them the same day. It makes everything so much easier.
Ray |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
If you could trim your show down to an hour (no break), you could do shows at 6:00 and 8:00 (or 5:30 and 8:00), with brief time for autographs & BOR after the show, before re-setting for the next show.
I think 9:00 is a bit late for an Elementary School Show. Encourage the customer to fill the 6:00 (or 5:30) show first, and then the overflow is assigned tickets for the 8:00 show. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Thanks for this, guys. I'm meeting the principal this afternoon and I needed your thoughts!
Bill, I mis-understood your set up time question. It won't take me an hour to reset the show but to do the initial set up. I think I'll advise doing the first show at 5:30 and the second at 8 if needed. The idea for the intermission is to increase BOR and food sales. Thanks again! Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Jim -
When I do my school fundraisers, I do a show without intermission. I do BOR before and after the show (not just afterwards). There was one time, when I sold out of 90% of product before the show. I also encourage the customer to do food sales before and after the show. I think at that show, they mostly sold out of food before the show, too. - Donald P.S. In my experience working with Elementary Schools, shows on a M-F evening work better than a Saturday or Sunday evening show.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3660 Posts |
One of the other issues of why schools like to have the M-F show is that the janitorial staff, and security is "on" during the week (at least here in Montreal). If they have a weekend show then they have to pay to have the staff work on the weekend, which at today's union rates can cut into a shows profits.
B
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
I strongly agree with M-F evening shows. This also allows for a daytime teaser to give a final promotional push for the event while it remains fresh in their mind. Good luck, keep us posted as to what you decide and how it goes.
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JamesinLA Inner circle Los Angeles 3400 Posts |
Thanks again!
We set the show for Friday, April 1st. The PTA wants the show to start at 5:30 but the principal wants it to start at 6:30. With either 8 or 9 pm for a possible second show. You know, I'm learning/realizing that one problem with these type of events is that elementary schools have limited seating in their auditoriums. This school can seat about 350 or a little more I think he said. Hence the need for the 2nd show. Donald, love the sound of selling out of your BOR stuff. I better start working on inventory. I have my own sound system--a PD 150--but the principal wants me to use their stuff because they have a Bose that cost $15,000 he said. Donald, when you do a show without an intermission, how long is your show? Jim
Oh, my friend we're older but no wiser, for in our hearts the dreams are still the same...
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Jim -
Send me a PM to discuss the finer details of my approach. I'd be happy to share with you. Thanks. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
Doing a weekday is fine however doing a saturday with one show at 1pm or 2pm and the second show at 7pm is the way to go.
intermission is only for you to sell stuff if its to give the audience a break then its not needed. if you need it to set some thing up that's fine too but in general intermissions are just another opportunity to make some money. what are the price of the tickets if I may ask? sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
Fitz Elite user Phoenix, AZ 476 Posts |
I have worked both scenarios and both have benefits.
Two shows on the same day means you will only need the venue for one day, you wont have to worry about your props being messed with over night, and you only tie up one day of your time. Two shows over two days has a strong benefit as well. Lets say you sell the majority of the first nights show, and you do a good job. The second night will now sell more tickets because some people will come back, and they will bring their friends and family with them. Good luck, Fitz
I have a daily web show all about magic at http://FitzMagic.info
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