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close_up_act Special user Idaho Falls 773 Posts |
I go to a lot of fairs and festivals and I always see some poor balloon twister working his hands and fingers to the bone making balloon animals for free! I definitely don't want to do that. It did cross my mind to set up a booth to book more shows. I do some balloon twisting so I can have some made for display to get people's attention. Get there attention with balloons and keep there attention with magic.
I would have a huge signing board with name, birthday and email so people can get on a mailing list and then a different board or pad where you can book me for a show. Maybe do some give away with every booking. If you have done something like this can you give me some tips? Should I perform some kind of a show? Should I have a PA system with music ? A tv/monitor with clips of me performing? God Bless, J Rodriguez
J Rodriguez
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
First off, you may want to move or re-post this in the section "Ballooning 101"
Now, when you say you see them doing it "for free" I assume you mean theyre not getting paid by the festival, but relying on tips right? If it's a fenced festival where they charge admission to get in (like a renfaire) you would either pay for booth-space as a vendor (which is what you seem to be planning), or stage-time as a performer. But that's the beauty of balloon-twisting: You need neither stage nor booth. Just a shady spot to stand in. Therefore you can usually get a pretty sweet deal on your fee. In fact, you COULD sidestep the fee altogether if you take the 'remora' approach. Get with one of the vendors, and offer to do balloons right by their booth. This will bring more people their way. (I've done this several times....the fair officials never seem to ask or care). Now, if it's an open festival, like an art-fest, or a parade-day etc., you could go to city-hall or get with whoever is organizing it and ASK (crossing your fingers), but I prefer to go commando----just blow in and start twisting until someone tells you to bugger off. The remora-approach works here too. Now, if youre planning to simply display balloon-animals for attention and then shift to magic, BE WARNED!! That is a tricky & risky maneuver! Once you start doing balloons there is no going back! Before you know it, you'll have a line or a crowd and they will NOT be best-pleased if you simply stop making what they came over for and try to do a magic show!
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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jay leslie V.I.P. Southern California 9498 Posts |
I think the fair is the final destination and people who see you there are less inclined to hire you elsewhere.
Ever had someone say "we've seen that before?" Or "We saw him last year" It's the same thinking, it's wrong, it's odd and it's going to happen more often in the states but it's still wrong. I know someone who tried the same approach at a farmers market for an entire year and got nowhere. A restaurant is a better choice to "farm".
Jay Leslie
www.TheHouseOfEnchantment.com |
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Julie Inner circle 3936 Posts |
Years and years ago we had 4 magicians (maybe 5-6) rent booth space at a 3 day county fair in the Midwest. We sold slum magic AND had a drop box (big box with a sign and slit in top) sitting on the table.
The box was there to hold entry cards for a FREE DRAWING awarding a FREE BIRTHDAY MAGIC SHOW. One of the guys agreed to do the free show from the drawing that was held the last day of the fair. We made a few dollars (more than paid for the space and our expenses) had a LOT of FUN and, more importantly, wound up with a bunch of pre-qualified leads for Birthday Party shows. I see no reason why this wouldn't work today. Julie |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Here are a few previous threads on the topic, from the Tricky Business area:
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=44 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=44 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=44 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=44 http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......rt=30#23 - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Yes, this topic seems more appropriate for Tricky Business more than anything else. It's not about balloons as much a s it is as generating leads and business. May experienced members will be more than willing to help you there.
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MagiCol Special user Dargaville, New Zealand 929 Posts |
Donald, thanks for posting links. That will add to readers' resources.
Woops, I went off to the first link and then remembered I had yet to send in this post!!
The presentation makes the magic.
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Karen Climer Veteran user Orlando, Florida 324 Posts |
I agree with Mighty Fool that once you start making balloons, it will be difficult to transition to magic.
Mighty Fool suggested that you show up and go commando or that you get another booth to allow you to stand there. Most of the time commando works. I've found it's rare that someone will kick you out. If another booth is allowing you to stand there, they will probably want you to make balloons and promote their product. That doesn't mean you couldn't hand out business cards, but it's really more about them. (I'm making huge assumptions here. This obviously depends on the specific expectations you work out with them.) Again, I'd encourage you to rethink "getting their attention with balloons an keeping it with magic". It might turn out to be getting their attention with balloons and angering and disappointing them by switching to magic. |
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 14, 2016, Karen Climer wrote: Oh HECK yeah!! If you remora a booth you better promote the dickens out of whatever it is theyre sellin'! At one renfair, I latched onto a booth where the lady was selling "fairy furniture" (household items made into tiny chairs, lamps, etc.) so, I put fairywings on all the little girls, handed out magic wands, made Tinkerbells, and basically got people into the fairy-mood. The lady said it worked wonderfully and promised to buy me lunch if I showed up again tomorrow!
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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RobertSmith Veteran user 330 Posts |
Why not find a way to get paid by the fair or festival instead of getting a booth?
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 18, 2016, RobertSmith wrote: I'm not saying that this wouldn't be IDEAL...peachy in fact, but...............fat chance. The fair sometimes doesn't even pay the people whom it directly EMPLOYS, namely the walkaround characters. All they might get is 1 free meal-ticket. The people that (usually) do get paid by the fair are the groups which enact jousts, and maybe a few other big-draw entertainers. And of course, the security gaurds, police, paramedics and other staff are paid as well. If an entertainer really builds up a fanbase and gets to be well-known like the Tortuga-Twins, or Twig-the-Fairy, or the washing-well-wenches, then the fairs will try to entice them to participate with pay, and what's more, (during season) fairs on the same circuit will bid against each other for those entertainers! In the faire industry, this is called "Hitting the big end of the small-time".
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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Howie Diddot Inner circle San Francisco & Los Angeles California 3288 Posts |
Dr Solar. a member of the Café gets paid to perform in fairs.
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 18, 2016, The Mighty Fool wrote: There are more than just Ren Faires out there. It seems like you are focused on the existence of only that type of event in your posts on this thread. Either you have myopia, or it seems like you are very uninformed of the wider world of festivals and fairs that employ many entertainers. BTW, I think that Master Payne performs at Renaissance Faires as a paid entertainer. But I'll admit that I'm not very informed on that niche market. ----------------------- Two books for magicians wanting to work the Fair and Festival Market: http://kpmagicproducts.com/Festival_Magic.html (from Kyle Peron) http://hellermagicshop.com/magic/ (from Kevin Heller) Kevin Heller also spoke on one of the Magician Business podcasts: http://magicianbusiness.com/ep41-the-bus......-heller/ (free to listen to) Jim Snack also offers an ebook and MP3 on booking the Festival and Fair Market: http://www.success-in-magic.com/store/pr......featured One of the speakers on the Magic Master Summit was Josh Knott, and he did a 2 part series on working the Festival Market. http://magicmastersummit.com/abra (you can purchase online access to the complete series of 30+ interviews that was a part of the Magic Master Summit) BTW, Robert Smith (who The Mighty Fool was responding to), also works the Festival and Fair Market. As does Living Illusions (Lady Houdini, aka Kristen Johnson, & Kevin Ridgeway), who have been active participants on other threads on the Magic Café. - Donald P.S. Here's just one thread on the Café about working the Fair and Festival Market. It's 16 pages long! http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=63668 There are other threads if you search them out.
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
[quote]On Aug 19, 2016, Donald Dunphy wrote:
Quote:
There are more than just Ren Faires out there. It seems like you are focused on the existence of only that type of event in your posts on this thread. Either you have myopia, or it seems like you are very uninformed of the wider world of festivals and fairs that employ many entertainers. Oh yes...guilty as charged! renfaires have always been my focus and pleasure. The only other fair / fest where I've seen people 'getting into the mood' more than renfaires is ComiCons. I did mention other F/F's in an earlier post though. It depends a great deal on wether the CITY is running it, or a private interest.
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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RobertSmith Veteran user 330 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 19, 2016, The Mighty Fool wrote: I've spent the better part of a decade not only working in but making a living in the fair market. I have literally never heard of anything you've described actually happening. I know several balloon twisters in the fair industry that actually get paid real money, not "1 free meal-ticket." Not sure what you mean by "big end of the small-time." |
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The Mighty Fool Inner circle I feel like a big-top tent having 2140 Posts |
[quote]On Aug 20, 2016, RobertSmith wrote:
[quote]On Aug 19, 2016, The Mighty Fool wrote: Quote:
On Aug 18, 2016, RobertSmith wrote: Rennaisance faires, or Fairs in general? I was referring to just renfaires. (I Shouldve been more specific.)
Everybody wants to beleive.....we just help them along.
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magicmanfrank Inner circle 1127 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 20, 2016, RobertSmith wrote: It's been close to 28 years for me! =Frank=
The Early Bird may get the Worm, but it's the SECOND Mouse that gets the CHEESE!!!
Frank Thurston www.FrankThurstonMagic.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Magic-of-Frank-Thurston/116625117910?ref=nf |
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RobertSmith Veteran user 330 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 21, 2016, magicmanfrank wrote: And yet you have more hair than I do. Am I doing something wrong? |
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RobertSmith Veteran user 330 Posts |
[quote]On Aug 21, 2016, The Mighty Fool wrote:
[quote]On Aug 20, 2016, RobertSmith wrote: Quote:
On Aug 19, 2016, The Mighty Fool wrote: Ahhh. Gotcha. Plenty of room in the fair industry. |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Quote:
On Aug 21, 2016, magicmanfrank wrote: Sorry I forgot to mention you, Frank. I see enough of your Facebook posts to know that you are a busy fair and festival performer. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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