|
|
danryb Special user 506 Posts |
As some of you know, I produced a new show for 3 to 7 year olds.
"the Coola Buba show" - comedy, puppets and illusions. I hadn't advertised myself for the past 3 years and decided that if I wanted to start to pick up some work I should advertisemarket. I then decided that if advertise, I should at least have something new and different to offer other than the basic regular magic show. Well, next week is my big day. Aside from the weekly ad in the paper and fridge magnets I tried to think up an origanal idea to get maximum publicity on a minimum budget that is basicaly $0. by next week, some 15000 (fifteen thousand) local residents will know of the magical comedy "coola buba" by Dani the magician. So how did I do it? Answer: OPM (other peoples money) & OPT (other peoples time) For a long time I have had an incredible urge to make a lot of money. Not being able to come up with any brainwaves on that I turned my urge around to donate to those that are in the need but didn't have money to donate. I put one and one together and I came up with an idea to rent a theatre, advertise, sell tickets and perform for the locals. And then, donate all the income to a worthy cause. I aproached the manager of the municipality center for the wellfare of the children of drug addicts and anti violance and asked if they could accept a donation from me. She was so intrigued that she imediately got the mayor on the phone who inturn made sure that the theatre would donate their hall, then she got the local newspaper to put a big advert and the radio to make up a jingle (this will start playing as of tomorrow). A local printer arranged to print up full color posters to put up around town and in kindergardens and schools and also made me the tickets all at his expence. A professional sound company have supplied their services with all technical sound aparatus for virtualy nothing and everything is going smooth and I have started selling tickets The show is next Tuesday and I hope to have a full house of 350 seats. At only $3 dollars a ticket I hope to be able to donate a grand total of $1050 dollars (minus a few shekels for the sound system). Not bad considering: A. this is all an acumalation of other peoples money B. I should be getting a lot of promotion and not to mention P.R after the show. C. every one gets to feel great about the whole production and not just me. So - if any of you, new or old entertainers are looking for ideas to market on a cheap budget, then know - it is possible as is magic for children. I will use this opertunity (at my own expence) to film this show live and make my first DVD and video clip for the internet. I hope to get it up and running so that I can show you all how I perform. I hope some of you will use this example to do the same in your region for the a good worthy cause and to promote yourselves at the same time. Enjoy, Dani |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Great stuff. Just remember to actively market yourself through press releases you send out prior to the event as well as actively market yourself when at the event as well. there are many great ways you can do this without spending much of anything to accomplish it.
Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Congratulations on a fine job of self-promotion.
However, be aware of one thing: you can claim (for publicity's sake) a $1050 donation, but don't try to make that same claim on your income taxes unless you're prepared to also report that same $1050 as income first. And then there's no point to it, as it becomes a "wash." The current tax code does not allow you to place a value on your time or service as a performer. Go figure ... So, how are the tickets being sold? Is here a ticket office, or what? |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
I don't think the current tax code in the US would apply to Israel....it may but I doubt it.
Steve V |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Okay, Steve, I put my foot in my mouth (again.) You're right ... I failed to look at Dani's place of origin. Too bad the Café won't let us remove our posts!
|
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Promotion should never stop. (But it does! Even for old marketing professors like me.)
The real difference between advertising and promotion is that by definition, advertising must be a paid form. Because promotion is not a paid form and usually what someone else is saying, it usually carries more credibility than advertising. You’re in an ideal situation to take advantage of that. Good Luck! Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
danryb Special user 506 Posts |
Yes, their are two ticket offices selling the tickets and we will sell any available seats on the day of the event at the theatre. Israleis have that "last minute" kind of mentality.
As far as tax, that of course has all been looked into. I will report all the income from the tickets that are sold and will recieve an invoice for the whole sum from the center I donate it to. I did of course look into this because there are charities that do not allow you to claim a 100% tax refund. It depends if these centers are privately owned or run through municipalities or even nation owned political centers. Anyhow, I found the correct one and I know exactly whos hands this money will be in to make sure it goes to the cause and not to some "ones" pockets. As far as promotion - the idea is to get lots of pictures from the even into all the local papers, a 10-15 minute interview on the radio and a lot of jive and talk from the locals around town before the show and after. The advertising is also free for me - 75 colour posters up around all the local kindergardens, 2 weeks in the local paper and again - a lot of word of mouth at the expence of the printers and radio station and newspaper. My actual "whole" marketing plan for this first year consists of 52 weekly ads in the top local paper, 2000 large size full color fridge magnets to hand out to the kids at my birthday shows until they run out. The above mentioned charity show + all promotion, advertising, publicity etc. Production of three dvd's (2 different shows + one magic lesson session) to hand out as gifts to birthday children and to sell as "after show" items on display. Other than all that I will aproach every hotel in the area to demonstrate and pitch the new show on a one on one basis with the entertainment and general managers. my budget has been set at $1700 dollars for the year or $140 dollars per month on average. Not bad for all that if I may say so myself. I say all this to promote and urge yound aspiring magicians and older ones who need some inspiration too, to go out there and plan some marketing for this coming year and, quoting NIKE - "just do it" At 140 bucks a month - you cant go wrong. enjoy and thanks for the response, Dani |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Hey Dani, what is the story with you? Where are you originally from? I ask because your verbage indicates either US or UK. Also do you have a kid who sometimes posts using your name? I've seen some posts in your name where the communication wasn't at the same level and also, if I recall, a statement that 'my dad is a magician and I'm learning'. Just wondering. Also where abouts in Israel are you? I've been to Haifa and Tel Aviv, my brother in law is from some town just North of Haifa, a port city.
Steve V |
danryb Special user 506 Posts |
Hi steve,
I was born in London - UK. I emegrated to Israel with my parents and brothers when I was 11 (23 years ago). I live in Eilat - it is a desert tourist city, the furthest point south on the border between Akaba (Jordan)and Sinai (Egypt). (Haifa is north, Tel Aviv is central and Eilat is south - If an Israeli goes west - he is likely to get blown up or linched .) Also, I have three kids - they are 11, 9 and 6 years old. I wouldn't put it past my eldest to peek into my "stuff" - I just got myself a new laptop because he literaly took over my PC. But I can't see it - I would imagine you are mistaking that one for someone else. I don't think that he would attemp a post here. His english isn't bad but not quite at the level of posting something like that. That's the story, Dani |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Okay, cool. Never made it to the South. I spent my time in Lebannon blowing up folks and sheep (the occasional cow), whatever we happened to hit. Good to have ya around! I really enjoyed Israel, wonderful folks.
Steve V |
danryb Special user 506 Posts |
Well, I got home a few hours ago and I realy wanted to share the news with you all.
It was a great success if I may say so myself. 75 tickets were sold up to the day of the show. Just as we (me and my team of happy sponsers) were starting to get a little distressed and somewhat afraid that we weren't going to cover the evening, not to mention leave anything for charity, things started to pick up on the spot and at the theater. A further 150 tickets were sold then and there which brought us to a grand total of some 250 tickets. It was virtualy a full house in a theater of 300 seats. The atmosphere was just the way I wanted it for a stage show and the camera man got some great footage. I hope he will edit and get the DVD and video clip for internet back to me within a few days. All in all, I got some great puplicity and a good time was had by one and all. The radio had me on this morning to promote the show which was another added bonus and a shall make sure that the local papers continue to publish some photos and some columns for some good old P.R. Hope others can follow in my footsteps both for your own good and all the better if you donate the profits. enjoy, Dani |
Steve V Inner circle Northern California 1878 Posts |
Good for you!
Steve V |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The little darlings » » Maximum publicity with minimum money (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |