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Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
I just got my copy of Quickly and Easily Book Daycare Shows by Dennis Regling
What a waste of time and money. Says very little actually about daycares,and most of what I did see was either out of date or just wrong for dayscares (in my experience). He just gives general booking ideas which I have seen in other books. He even repeats himself with very few pages. For example he tells of seeing a clown do a show and using a few food related tricks. He talks about how the told her she should do a "clown's kitchen" show, then a few pages later, tells the same story but just words it a bit differently. Oh well live and learn I guess.
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
When I was trying daycares, I had a good success rate offering "safety magic shows" - very short shows with a few effects based on "what does a red light or green light mean?" and the like. Key way SHORT show (they have short attention spans) and some way to involve my rabbit ("everybody gets to pet the rabbit" uses up several minutes and makes the sponsors feel like they got their money's worth)
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arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
Neale, I sent you a PM ...
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Snidini Special user 776 Posts |
Thanks for the review Neale.
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
We have all purchased magic books and dvds that failed to live up to the hype. A couple of magicians tried doing a review show to inform others of items like this to help us spend our money more wisely. Unfortunatly it got them hated by many. But they keep on going and numerous copycats have appeared to try and steal some of their limelight.
The good thing is that we have magic auctions, eBay, Facebook and forums like this one to sell the item onto someone else (although, its usually wiser to sell it first before posting a review like this one). I have several other books on daycare and resturant work that are equally awful. They were written from the looks of it for the author to simply say they had written a book or released a dvd, without actually having any worthwhile comment to tell, or new thinking into the field to submit. Since 2001, it has become incredibly easy to self publish. So everyone is doing just that. A magic book I purchased arrived this morning. It has just 14 pages in it. Fourteen. I purchased several books earlier this week outlining tricks that sounded good in the advert, but with methods or complications that no-one in their right mind would do. I now know why the tricks were only sold in books and not on a dvd, as they could not get actual performance footage of the trick working. Anyway, I have a bunch of magic books to go sell on ebay, which I have to do asap before someone else reviews them and ruins my sales! Steve |
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Greensboro New user 73 Posts |
Neale,
"Quick and Easy" in conjunction with "Booking" should have been a red flag for you. Selling is pretty much a grind and there is really no way around it. The guys that have a good show and are willing to do the grind work of selling seem to do the most shows, by my observation. I've got to go now, my DVD of "Quick and Easy Ways to Lose 30 Pounds by Summer" just arrived. |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Here's a link to an older thread. On it, we discussed preschool & daycare marketing:
--> Magic Café thread titled... Daycare/preschool marketing - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Neale,
I owned and helped operate a large daycare center for 18 years. If you ever have any specific question about the inside operations of a daycare, just let me know. I will gladly answer anything I can about the business. You can reach me here or on Facebook. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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arthur stead Inner circle When I played soccer, I hit 1773 Posts |
Neale, Tom neglected to tell you that he wrote a great book on performing and booking daycare programs. It's entitled "The Daycare Magician." Well worth the investment.
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Karen Climer Veteran user Orlando, Florida 324 Posts |
I second Tom Boleware's book. It's excellent.
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Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
I was hoping to gain some insights but obviously went to the wrong source. I know of Tom's book and it is on my shopping list as my next purchase for sure.
I do a fair amount of daycare shows and have discovered I really like them, and would like to really focus on them. I know they don't pay well per show but 1) you make it up in volume, and 2) it fills out the weekdays on my calendar. Thanks for all your feedback!
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
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Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
Donald, thanks for the reminder about the old thread. Wow! That was 6 years ago! No wonder I didn't remember we have gone down this road before (probably a few times)
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
Neale,
To be clear, you don't have to buy my book for me to answer any questions you may have about the daycare business. Also feel free to ask questions here about booking the show. Somebody will answer you sooner or later. Please don't think I'm here just trying to sell my book. I've actually stopped selling it from those old links, but if you do ever decide to buy it, I will find you a copy. Many recommend my book simply because it explains the daycare business and it does help to know the market. Not just the daycare market, but anytime you enter a new market you need to learn all you can about that market. You need to feel comfortable walking into a place. But no, you don't need my book to book daycare shows, just go about it just like you would any other show. Honestly, daycares are not that hard to book. Yes, you right that the daycares are a great place to fill up the weekdays. And true they may not pay as much as the other shows. Good luck with the shows, Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Neale!
It isn't how much you "get" per show. It's what's "left" at the end of the year. I worked schools for almost 50 years. I might have made more per show doing club dates, but I would have needed to move to a metropolitan area. Most of the guys that I know, who did schools, retired with their home paid for and they bought a new car regularly. If you like what you do, it isn't "work"! I liked what I did. No drunks in the audience, No stagehands to tip. I was a "paid" tourist all those years.I traveled coast to coast, and border to border (in a nice new motor home every few years). My school program trouped in a 13" x 20" x 8" case. It weighed 20 lbs, and it set up in less than 4 minutes. (It packed in less.)I could do it anywhere for anybody. You can do day cares with a small case, and make money at "$79.99". It does fill in those empty mornings and afternoons. (Club dates and family parties at night) 20 minutes is a long time for moppets to sit in one place! KIS--MIF! (Keep It Simple--Make It Fun! Is that a puppet in your avatar? The tiny folks love puppets. Try and find a copy of Bert Easley's "Doing Magic For Youngaters" It's s paperback, about 25 or 30 pages. Also, the VOLUME I of Frances Marshall's "Kid Stuff) Karrell Fox had a "shoe box" size case for birthday parties. His only "get ready" was balling up a paper napkin for the T&R Napkin! He worked trade shows for $1,000 per day (plus per diem--hotel, meals, and plane fare)but he also worked club dates at $500,and lots of birthday parties at $100. Good luck!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Bazinga Loyal user 277 Posts |
Dennis Regling, also known as integritymagic, Pithy Smithee, Pete Smith, and Reno Raines, has quite a reputation. And it ain't a good one. Mostly what he does is sell bootleg copies of other people's products. I have unwittingly bought some of those bootlegs. They were by Jim Snack and Eric Paul. I contacted Jim and Eric about it and they confirmed that they had that trouble with him.
As to Tom Boleware and his book, I am among many who can't say enough good about him and the book. Besides his inside knowledge of the daycare business and being a performer for daycares, he's just about the most helpful person you could ever hope to talk with. I was also lucky enough to be a member of his Pinebelt message board and saved a few threads from there that were very helpful. There was one in particular I remember about crafting a letter to send to daycares for getting gigs. That thread alone would be worth the price of another book. AFTER buying Tom's book, I'd recommend getting Sammy (Samuel Patrick) Smith's daycare book and other material (DVDs.) I saw a mention of another book out but I know nothing of the contents or the writer. I think his name is Russ. I don't think he's a member here. But definitely start with Tom. Get his book, ask him questions, pick his brain, and listen to him. |
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Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
Bazinga (love the name BTW)
I thought that might be the case. The sellers name was Integrity Magic (seems a bit ironic now) Just to be clear, I already do daycare shows, and have discoverd I really like doing them and would like to do more. Dick Oslund - it is kind of hard to fit my show in a small case as I am a ventriloquist and the puppets do take up some room for sure, but I understand what you are saying. Tom - thank you for your generous offer of being able to tap your knowledge. I will probably email you so we don't create giant threads here.
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
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dearwiseone Inner circle Portland, OR 1143 Posts |
Neale,
If you bought it off Ebay, remember to leave a negative review to help future buyers beware! Thanks, Kevin |
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Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
Too late. I didn't realize this scammer was selling under the magic store name so I didn't leave negative feedback for the seller, although I did for the book itself.
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Neale, I did read the free pages to the book in the following link: http://www.amazon.com/Quickly-Easily-Boo......77488928 To me it makes a good book for amateur magicians.
After reading your following quote, you are far over an amateur: Quote:
On Mar 16, 2014, Neale Bacon wrote: It all depends on what level you are on. I remember years ago when I was already professional, I purchased Dave Dee's Kick Butt Marketing material. I felt like it was a waste of money to me because I was already experienced. If I would have been starting off at that time his material would have meant a lot to me. |
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Neale Bacon Inner circle Burnaby BC Canada 1775 Posts |
Dynamike, thanks for the kind words - yes I am far from a beginner but firmly believe we should always be learning, which is what I hoped to gain from this book but I don't think that book would have even helped beginners!
Neale Bacon and his Crazy Critters
Burnaby BC Canada's Favourite Family Ventriloquist www.baconandfriends.com |
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