What about the bugaboo of vendors' licenses and related legal tripwires?

Steve

I came up with one of those 'ultimate secrets' for performers, especially street (it works BETWEEN performances!)and Ren fairs...but I'm real reluctant to tell it in open forum. It is WAY too sweet and an original idea.

I will PM two folks I trust on this forum and run it by them late tonight...first...and see where it goes...this IS a little KILLER. As Bugs Bunny says "Ain't I a stinker?"

This will depend on your state. I kow in NY you have to have a sales tax number to collect sales tax. People do actualy check these things at fairs and festivals. Check with you local county clerk for more info.

That aside, you can check out http://www.fivedollarmagickit.com for kits to sell after a show.

Is Rick Allen's Mega Bux still available?

The biggest problem I've got with BOR merch is the inventory and having to haul the stuff. Earlier this year, I created a product that is totally automated for Internet delivery. A 36 lesson, time released ventriloquism course at:
http://www.Learn-Ventriloquism.com

Following shows I hand out cards and see new sign-ups over the next couple of days. The course features five free lessons and then requires payment. I'm averaging a solid and steady percentage of conversions. Best part - no printing, no inventory, and no worries with sales licenses. It is all done and there to earn income 24/7.

The site worked out so well, I teamed with another magician to create a one year beginner's magic course. It is themed to our magic shop at the Maryland Renaissance Festival. (Nothing screams renaissance like an Internet magic course...) There is a three trick funnel, followed by 52 lessons, released one a week. For immediate sales, we will use an overview video on a camouflaged Ye Old Ipad and accept payment immediately. (Offering incentives for the immediate sale.) We are also starting to work on promotion for the site and setting up for affiliates to generate some on-line sales. The site is at:
http://www.GuildOfWizards.com

Lots of people like to do business with Robins on line, and they are good to work with on line, but if you ever call them up with any question what so ever be prepared for a very rude awakening. They have absolutely no customer service skills and in the middle of your question are quite liable to hang up on you with out even a good by. Robbins are definitely the rudest people I have ever spoken to on the phone.

The nice people at Loftus will bend over backward to make sure you are happy before you hang up.

I get a kick out of these. I've had a handfull of school principals and public librarians show me copies they were given - same exact book, all different "authors".

One librarian, who is in charge of hiring presenters for two districts near me, showed me FOUR of these she got a her main library. FOUR different magicians gave the library a copy of "their" book, all claiming to be the author, all books identical.

Guess which four magicians ain't going to be working her libraries any more.

Note to self.

Do not give away any instant author books to librarians, just sell them to the little kids.

Sorry. I have no idea. I made my comments on this thread 8 years ago, and I've lost contact with Rick Allen since then.

As to instant author product, I always change them in significant ways. So, I don't recommend the idea of keeping the same cover and insides, and just changing your name on the cover.

- Donald

I agree with Donald. You can easily take the basic set up of an instant authur book and add and delete effects to make it your own, as well as create a unique cover. I personally wanted to add additional value to mine pror to selling it anyway. The instant authur product is helpful at getting the ball rolling though.

You could just charge more for your show if you need money. Nahhh never mind.

Danny - have you shared your concept with David Copperfield. He hasn't quite figured that out yet either.

So the comparison is valid?

And what does he sell? Instant author books?

Yes - the comparison is valid. He (DC) realizes that people coming to his shows have various levels of expendable income and interest. Some come and sit in cheap seats and leave. Other people sit in expensive seats, buy t shirts, DVD's, posters and such. His income is determined by more than just the price of his show.

Many times the person hiring us as a performer has a fixed budget and allows BOR sales to attract a performer who would generally charge more than their budget but can make up the difference or more in sales. The performer, like DC realize that some will come to the show and leave, but others will purchase books, wands and such. Instant author books fit more in line with the fact that we selling them are hardly a celebrity like DC, but we are somewhat celebreties to the kids who watch our shows and purchase them as keepsakes. Books @ $3 sell all the time after my shows. Wands @ $2 sell even better. If raising the rate of the show was that simple, everyone would do it - including DC. This is a way to hold the rate at a certain price yet yield the desired income.

The comparison is convenient and little more.

But cool.

A person who sells a book, and claiming to be the author without actually writing it, is being fraudulent. Even if it's with the creator's permission.

A person creating and selling such a book is less than ethical.

People doing that in my territory are exposed as such.

Yep.

I don't expose anyone though. But I do agree about the fradulent part.

What about ghostwriters and graphic designers who can help you write books or design promotional products?

Is it the mass copying of a single source that is the problem, or are there objections with using any sort of ghostwriter?

- Donald

Instant author books are nice, but there are lots of other items that you can make good money on too.

Danny
When you get a job in a library they usually have a budget limit, so you are only going to get so much from the librarian, but most kids at library shows show up with a parent, and the parent's purchases after your show can easily be more than your fee. So you can turn a $200 show into a $500 pay day with a few smart BOR items.

Seriously Donald? You don't see a difference in hiring a ghost writer to tell YOUR OWN STORY and putting your name on something you didn't create and claiming you did? If so then there is no need to talk to you about it.