How would you complete this sentence?

I am one of the more expensive children's entertainers, but...

Oh, make it two or three sentences if you wish.

Don't like the word BUT

Andy, your a great Magician BUT

Andy, your Yellow outfit looks great BUT

Andy, your one of the more Expensive Magicains BUT

Andy Walker is one of the more expensive children's entertainers, however, his fee is in line for the quality of show your buying.

My goal is to finish it with...

but my schedule is full!

... but I'm hardly the best. Still, I'm a better buy than the slot machine at the Indian casino.

Okay interesting.

Now how would you use it as part of a sales pitch?

I am one of the more expensive childrens entertainers, but...you need a sales pitch?

I doubt dealers of Rolls Royces and Ferraris have much of a sales pitch. If a person has decided upon the having the best or most expensive of things they don't need a sales pitch. When dealing with a client my fee is the first thing I mention. If it's out of their price range I end the conversation as it's not worth either of our times hoping I'll lower my rate or they'll increase their offer to meet my fee.

HI Andy,

I"m with Den on this one. Using: however, that also provides, as well as the best etcetra, is the best way to complete your sentence.

I'm sure you going to get some good lines here though.

All the best,

JoJo

Yes I am one of the more expensive entertainers, and when you see my show and compare it with the others you'll see why.

Yes, I am one of the more expensive entertainers, but I've told you what you get for your money if you book me, now go and ask those others that are cheaper and see what you get from them.

Oh hello again, you did and what did they say? right but I'm sorry that time/date has now been booked, you can never be too early to book me, but it's so easy to be too late. Maybe next year.

As Den said the use of however is better than but, although I've left the 'but' in as per your question.
Basically though my answer depends on the bookers tone, I have lots of variations on the theme, it all depends on how the booker has come across on the phone. If they've been a bit offish, or demanding (you know what I mean) something like answer 2 gets used. I do love it when they are phoning round and when they come back to me the date/time has gone.

HI,
Even though I am in my area, I would never mention that in my sales pitch
Phillip

BUT is a negative word and as some great speakes have said, it should not be in your vocabulary.

As Politicians have said, it should be eliminated along with the word "I".

If YOU want great entertainment, then YOU will have to decide what price YOU can afford for such entertainment.

...But I do not consider myself as just a magician. I consider myself as a total solutions provider to the many clients, such as yourself. By providing family-friendly entertainment solutions, I can promise you that you will have more time to relax at your event and less hassles. You will also have many smiling faces and enjoy people telling you how glad they were that they came out.

Kyle

... but you get what you pay for.

or

... but, if you've ever seen my show, you'll know I'm worth it.

Saying you are worth it gets you no where or at least I have found. You must PROVE yourself to the suspect or prospect. They do not know you or have seen you before so how do they really know you are worth it?

Instead I want to listen to what they have to say. I get them to talk about the needs for their event. By listening to these needs, I can often change the conversation around to me solving their problems. When I do this I stop becoming a pricey product and instead I become a well worth it "problem solver" and "solutions provider" for them.

When you do this, your perceived value in their mind climbs and this means they do not have as much problem with the money your asking for.

Kyle

Andy -

Den is 100% right on this. We were taught in our Dale Carnegie classes to not use the word "but" to bridge a sentence. "However" is also a bad bridge word.

Use "and" or a pause (new sentence) instead.

Example -- "I love you, but...", or "I love you, however...", cancels out the whole "I love you" part!

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Here's how I personally would do it. I would use an analogy to back up my logic to the prospect.

Donald: "It's true, I am one of the more expensive children's entertainers. And you can see from our testimonials that customers are very happy with our services.

Choosing the right entertainer is important. It's much like choosing the right restaurant for a SPECIAL meal.

If you always choose to eat at McDonald's, that's fine. Sometimes, if you REALLY want to impress your spouse or a special loved one, you will spend a little more, and eat at a nicer restaurant, with tablecloths, better food and a better atmosphere.

It will be a more memorable meal, and everyone will be happier. McDonald's isn't always the perfect choice, even though it is one the least expensive choices.

So, sometimes it is worth the INVESTMENT to spend a little more. Is the success of your event important to you?

Do you think it might be worth a little extra investment?"

- Donald

Ok my two bits on this.

Eliminate the word "Expensive". From past experience if someone sees that the first thought is "hmm maybe I should look around first and see what is "Cheaper".

Just my opinion!

John B

In this case, John, I suspect it was the prospect who said that statement to Andy. "Wow, you are expensive." He's just responding to it.

Am I right there?

In my response I turned it around to talk about "investment", rather than "expense".

- Donald.

Donald:

Very nicely stated. I like how you worded that and got the message across without sounding aggressive to the prospect. You also gave them an analogy they can relate to well.

Kyle

As Phil said, I'd never bring anything like this up in my sales pitch, my answers would be to the question, Why do you charge more than the others, and my answer would then start, I'm one of the more expensive........

I would never mention that as well, but my feeling is what would you say and how would you handle it if someone said, " oh your so expensive.. way more then I had thought." or something to that degree? When the prospect brings it up, then you need a solution as to what you might tell that prospect.

Kyle

Of course, you ALWAYS need a sales pitch. You may not call it that, but you'll need one. Yep, even guys who sell Rolls and Farraris. In fact, those guys are more likely to know precisely why their cars are more expensive, and they are prepared to explain it to prospects. To suggest otherwise is naive at best.

Now, as for magic ... you have to analyze your own program and, as already mentioned, anticipate their objections and sometimes answer them before they are asked. Often times, the only way to do this correctly is find out what they need -- there "hot button" -- and present your "pitch" from that perspective. See the "Money In Your Pocket" series (http://markstarr.com/magicians/products.htm#1) for details on how to do this with magic shows.