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MonsterMagic Special user 517 Posts |
I’m just starting out full-time. I have a concern that my weekends will become full, but my week days by and large empty.
How do people find work on week days? |
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Robin4Kids Veteran user Lower Alabama 396 Posts |
That's the best time to book your school and daycare shows.
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
I offer a €20 discount midweek on birthdays. There are no school shows in my area.
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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MichaelDouglas Special user Portland, Oregon 766 Posts |
Those week days are also a great time to focus on your marketing.
You may want to consider sharpening your close-up skills if you are not already strong there. Then book a restaurant or several for mid-week income. Many restaurants will have a kids eat free night and having a competent and personable magician on that night can help boost sales for them if promoted well. Not only does performing in a restaurant generate mid-week income, but it can lead to bday, school, and other bookings. Hand out your business card to each table to remind them that you are there each week and that you do birthday magic shows. Consider also adjusting some of your kid show material and book retirement communities for mid-week shows. I find this market appreciates some of the material that I use in kid show, but I use some strong adult parlor show magic also. Sometimes these retirement communities also will book a kid's show when they have events to which they are looking to attract the grandchildren of the residents: e.g. Grandparent's Day, Easter. Albeit, the kid shows at these communities are generally going to be on a weekend. There are times when some of them will partner with local schools and the school kids will come for an "Adopt a Grandparent" type of events. Sometimes they may book a kids show for that kid/elder audience during school hours mid-week. Also consider any local colleges/universities that offer child care for parents attending evening classes. They will sometimes book a kids magic show mid-week. You may also want to pitch your kids show to the local corporate market for events they plan to which they invite the entire family of their employees. Company picnic's are likely to be on the weekend. However, I've seen some corporate family functions mid-week. During the Christmas season, many companies will have a Holiday Party. Consider a sales letter or phone call to the event planner to mention your services as a great option for the kids at the Holiday Party. I've not worked the Library market yet. However, during the summer when kids are out of school, they may book a kids show mid-week. Other's here on the Café can comment on that better than I can. I wish you the best in staying booked. |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Nursing homes, assisted living centers, and adult community centers. The money is not much, but you can do 2-3 per day and you're done by supper time.
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Man, some poor advice being given here. School shows are not for anyone just starting out. This is one of the greatest bits of misinformation given in this forum. Seems many here think that all you have to do is take a kids show and offer it to schools. This is a great formula for disaster. The school market is about much more than doing a kids magic show for fun.
Daycares may be a good idea, libraries may create and opportunity doing their season and for special occasional events but not always year-round strong.. I think you're putting the cart before the horse. Doesn't sound to me like you're ready for full-time since you seem to be assuming your weekends will be filled? Are they yet? How can you be considered full-time while asking these such questions? I'm also not a big fan of kids performers that again try to take their kids show to senior centers and senior living facilities for the residents. I hear from AD's all the time that are bothered by this. If you have a show created and targeted to this market, great, but I hear it over and over again, that many magician's just come in and do their kids show, which is not encouraged by many of these directors, unless it's for a family-weekend or open house. As for a regular senior activity or event, like any good entertainer, adapt your show to the needs and interest of the market. Also many of these ideas being offered are lower scale paying events. As a full-time entertainer this should be of concern to you. The best advice so far is to spend much of your time marketing and building your entertainment business. This is where success as an entertainer, especially full-time is created. Seems you are at a crucial time where you are building the foundation to your entertainment business. Don't make the mistake of building a wobbly foundation by being a "jack-of'all-trades" in the name of making a buck so you can be considered "full-time". This only leads to a bottom-feeder level performer that is always undercutting other professionals just in order to make a buck (not say you but just in general). Take the time at this important point to establish your business, decide on the markets you want to specialize in, then put all of your efforts into those markets (I suggest only one or two). This offers structure, image, credibility and in the path to profitable success. Perhaps tell us a bit ore about yourself, your level of experience, they type of material you offer, where you're located, etc. There are great opportunities available during the week for the right individuals depending on the answers to these questions. |
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Robin4Kids Veteran user Lower Alabama 396 Posts |
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Man, some poor advice being given here. School shows are not for anyone just starting out. This is one of the greatest bits of misinformation given in this forum. I may be assuming wrong, but Harry Patter said he was "just starting out full-time" and not just starting out. Since he joined The Magic Café back in 2008, I thought he had been performing for at least several years. HP may need to verify that. If he was just getting started, I would certainly agree with Mindpro. Sometimes we read things and come to our own conclusions without having all the facts. If I did that...SORRY!!! |
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dearwiseone Inner circle Portland, OR 1143 Posts |
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On 2013-10-30 11:23, Mindpro wrote: No it's not. The educational school market is, but not the school market. I perform at several schools every year and it's just about a kids magic show for fun. In fact, I've got one today! PTA nights, carnivals, fundraisers, rewards assemblies, class parties, after school programs, and more! It's just a kids magic show for fun...nothing else! Some very poor advice being given here. Also, we don't know what level of magic the original poster is at. Just because he's just starting out full-time doesn't mean he's new to magic or performing. I know a few part-time guys who are much, much better than some full-time guys! Schools can help, daycares are good. I use most of my week days doing other projects, but it can be a great time to market yourself as already mentioned. Hope this helps, Kevin |
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MichaelDouglas Special user Portland, Oregon 766 Posts |
Mindpro is right in that if your show isn't rock solid and adjusted to include some material that addresses educational goals, then the school market is not the right place for a fun birthday show. But get those elements right about your show and with the right marketing, as Robin suggests, schools can be a good thing for a f/t performer.
I agree that just taking a birthday show to a Retirement Center is not appropriate. It is also true that the money is not that great at most of them. There is a mix of intellectual capacities at some of these centers. As such, some of the bright, colorful and easy to understand effects that might work in a kids show can be patter adjusted to also work here. I also include some of the material that I'd use in a stand-up show. This targets the more lucid in these audiences. One market I forgot earlier is scouting. Bookings can sometimes be picked up mid-week in the evening. At least it has for me. As mentioned, it is best to narrow the focus of your show. It takes a lot of time to become proficient in multiple types of magic. I'd go brain dead if I focused on just one type of magic/audience. I enjoy entertaining a variety of different types of audiences. It is true that I'd likely have grown faster if I just studied and marketed one type of magic, but I'm okay with slow growth. |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
I also perform fun shows, as well as message shows, for elementary schools. I booked 3 school shows last week for dates in November and February, and they were all fun shows.
- Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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MonsterMagic Special user 517 Posts |
I'm 40 years old and live in London U.K. I'm married with children.
I was a street performer to get through university in the 90's. Sadly I then went in to the corporate world where I have been getting steadily unhappier. I have been performing for children part time for some years, simply getting work through referrals. It is now time to do what I love. Mindpro, I appreciate you don't know me and my post was short, but you seem to have taken me for an idiot. I'm giving up a secure job with benefits etc I need to have plan for my career. I can see myself eventually doing school shows and possibily shows for the older crowd in the future, but of course I wouldn't do the same routines, who would? And I'd spend a very long time putting together the show. And no, I'm not fully booked every weekend yet, but all my bookings are at weekends so far. So I'm looking towards the future. I don't want to stop at 6 to 8 shows at the weekend. Does anyone have a residency at a child friendly Café for example? |
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dearwiseone Inner circle Portland, OR 1143 Posts |
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On 2013-10-30 12:59, MichaelDouglas wrote: Then how do I do it? How does Donald do it? The school market is huge and right now I'm ONLY performing fun shows. No "educational goals", no mention of red-ribbon week, no anti-bully theme, nothing. I get brought back to these schools year after year to perform "just for fun" magic show The school market is a GREAT place for a fun magic show, with no theme whatsoever. As long as it's marketed as such, it can be very lucrative. Mindpro and MichaelDouglas - If you've never considered marketing a "just for fun" show to schools, you're missing out big time. What about harvest festivals, fundraiser kickoffs, fundraiser reward assemblies, reading reward assemblies, class parties, and spirit assemblies. Those shows don't need (and in my opinion shouldn't need) "some material that addresses educational goals." Plus, all of those shows I just mentioned are weekday shows! |
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JoshLondonMagic Special user 675 Posts |
If you really do fill your weekends you wot have to perform during the week. My weekends are booked solid 6 weeks out any given time. On the week days I spend time with my 8 month old daughter, wife, social media, blogging, creating, following up with leads and a million other tasks I forget about.
Josh
Josh
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
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On 2013-10-30 12:59, MichaelDouglas wrote: I see the words "birthday show" mentioned here. I don't think anyone recommended doing a birthday show at schools. I don't do a birthday show for schools, churches, Christmas parties, daycares, etc. I do a family show or a children's show, which is different. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Robin4Kids Veteran user Lower Alabama 396 Posts |
Taking care of business and marketing on a daily basis are always necessary, no matter what type of business you have. But if you re-read the OPs original question, he asks "How do people find work on week days?"
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
I think the distinction might be passive marketing vs. active marketing (beyond the essential of having a great show).
Birthday shows are somewhat passive. You might pay for some ads (used to be the phone book and parent magazines... nowadays, it's more google adwords, etc.), have a good website with decent SEO, rely on word of mouth, etc. People discover you, and come to you. School shows, daycare shows, etc. are more active. You have to make calls, do mailings (or emails), etc., to promote your shows. For the most part, they find out about you because you've contacted them. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
I love the fact that ideas are being tossed about, thought about. We can all benefit from this interaction, even if we don't post our-selves.
The presentation makes the magic.
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-10-30 11:23, Mindpro wrote: To me it depends. Put all the factors together. Schools presentations are what made me professional. I was a volunteer with a County's DARE program back in the early 90's. A deputy sheriff would call me everyday letting me know what schools he wanted me to meet him in. If performing in schools are a magician's dream, I see nothing wrong with starting there. I would recommend starting off as a VOLUNTEER to the schools with approximate 15 minute classroom educational shows. You will be learning from your mistakes and strengthening your speech each classroom. It is a good way to get your foot in the door. When you call back the schools the following year, mention there will be a fee next time, and your shows will be approximately 60 minutes long. Another plus will be to purchase a book or DVD explaining how to perform educational magic shows. If the magician's dream is to be an educational performer for schools, let him use his or her desire to accomplish their mission. It might not be how most of us started, but remember, "Where's there a will, there's a way." |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-10-30 11:23, Mindpro wrote: Funny, I didn't see anyone suggest that. Of course, you ARE the MindPro ... perhaps you are prognosticating that someone WILL! |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
Funny, I guess you missed it. It was obvious that he was a kids entertainer. So those offering the advice to perform at senior and retirement facilities and schools were suggested several times. I guess you missed it.
Reread things from the beginning, as I said some poor advice has been offered. And yes, perhaps in my divine perception I saw this coming before it happened. If you are a kids performer and that is what you do, you should be seeking other kids performance opportunities. As always much of the school market advice offered here is way off as well. Nothing worse than offering someone with a sincere interest poor or misleading advice. Also it's now been realized is from England. This also changes some of the advice offered here as some of these markets are quite different there than here. |
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