Curtis
I have a ipod nano that keeps me company on long trips in the car. It also contains all of my show music, and my introduction, all in seperate files.

Here in Montreal I haven't really noticed much difference in my bookings between this year and last year, and gas is at $1.35/litre here. Here in Canada we are less prone to the worst of a recession, due to our rich store of natural resources, including five huge freshwater lakes, the massive Alberta Oil Sands from which we are becoming wealthy despite completely destroying an entire ecosystem in Alberta's north (not to mention those pesky little carbon emissions), and because we don't have the same massive expenditures as does a military state, since we only have 16 Mounties and a few Raging Grannies defending our borders, despite a few soldiers who went to Afghanistan to supposedly overthrow the Taliban but in fact were on a secret mission to open up a Tim Horton's shop in Kandahar.

And don't forget some words of wisdom:
"Succeed by Selling Out" (Nikolai Magicaveli, from Tips on Rising Above the Mediocre Masses)

Where I am in Northern NJ the calls of slowed quite a bit. Others will not agree but it depends were you are. City or Country. I posted elsewhere while gas may be a factor it is not the cause. That is just media hype. Calls are down since people are pinched in so many little ways that they are making SMARTER decisions. Gas is just one pinch. In NJ gas is lower than most places but catching up (however we have the highest property taxes in the nation and high auto insurance) Housing prices went high in NJ and I think some middle class are even having trouble paying for the house they over paid for when the variable interest rates rose. There has been reports on the news that it is just not the low income having trouble buying food. NJN news reported that more people had their electric turned off in the last year than ever before and more are applying for food and electric assistance than before. Again, this is now not just the low income. Some people with good jobs did go overboard a few years ago and now having to decide what is important.

I agree with some that one needs to be more proactive. I have changed some marketing but still not getting the phone to ring. Value added might turn into me spending more time. I am not a circus or party store. I really do not want to be maintain popcorn and cotton candy machines or bounce houses.

For those who's phone is ringing like never before- GREAT! Share your marketing plan. Count your blessings that your area has a large pool who are not affected by this down period.

Sorry guys, I do not care how good you think you might be and how great your show is, we have to remember we are NOT needed and a luxury. In the end it is their money and choice what to do with it. (The key is to get them to choose a magic show)

I think the parents, who are being squeezed, are not spending less since little Billy is their Joy and they will still want a good birthday.

However I feel they possibly are finding higher value for the same $$.
At 3-7 years a parent can rent either you for an hour or for the same price, maybe less, rent a bounce house for all afternoon.

They are not spending less just being smart since really, at the end of the day, a six year old will have just as much fun bouncing around or having a water fight. THEY WILL NOT, go home crying, "Mommy the party was great but I really wished they had a magician."
It just will not happen.


I am sure it is a variety of other factors affecting the calls but think the choices they have (reptiles, Mad Science, pottery parties, ect) make magic just one more choice that there was not in past. It used to be, for many parties, a clown or magician. Unless your show the so unique and little Betty Sue will not be happy unless she has your show, they will be looking for the best value for their dollar.

So what do you attribute the increase to?

Hey, Al:

What are you using to cue up the music on your iPod? I've loved using my little Nano in shows, but the remote is another gizmo I gotta juggle, and if the iPod screen is more than a coupla feet away, it's a bear to see.

Thanks,
Leland

OK so you cut out your yellow page ad and kid papers so how did that equal more work?
Would you share your proactive approaches in some detai. What seemed to work be best to get the 5x times more bookings than the year before?

Thanks

So what do you attribute to doing more business than last year and can you share your marketing approaches?

Number one reason for me is word-of-mouth. I don't market to libraries - I am booked with repeat customers and word-of-mouth marketing. With schools I do several mailings a year but mainly it is now also word-of-mouth as well. So between repeat customers and then word-of-mouth and some mailings that's how I increased from last year.

Chad

This seems like the right thread to post this on:

Coach Thom's August 4th Blog post... A ......Economy.

- Donald