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Parson Smith Inner circle 1937 Posts |
Hi,
I do not mean for this question to be insulting, however, I am sure that some will receive it that way. Today, I was speaking to a fellow magician in a major American city. He said something to this effect, "Every second rate magician in the city who couldn't make a go of it in magic has started doing hypnosis." Last month, I was speaking with a hypnotist who was performing at a state fair. He said something like this,"Everybody and his brother has started doing hypnosis shows. The market is flooded. Every jackal is out there undercutting fees." So is the maket really flooded and what are you folks doing about it? Peace, Parson Again, I do not mean for this post to be insulting.
Here kitty, kitty,kitty.
+++a posse ad esse+++ |
inorthcott New user 90 Posts |
Hi Gary,
I do not do hypnosis as such. In the UK we have the 1952 Hypnotism Act which forbids the public showing of a hypnosis show without a licence. It is a joke actually but does cause a few probs for the hypnotic entertainer. There is one guy about who does a hypnosis type show and bills it as a hypnotic chow that contains no hypnosis at all. This is brilliant as it examines the question of what hypnosis actually is. Is is social compliance or is it an actual altered state. I have studies MIlton Erickson and I think that we are all in and out of altered states all day. It is natural and normal. Magis use it all the time when cenetering a persons mind on a trick. They become absorbed in the trick and for a moment their reality is changed. Ian
"Life's too short for wasting - for ifs and might have beens"
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nalu_magic Loyal user Paradise 297 Posts |
Hi Parson,
Although I don't live in a major American city population wise I can say from experience that I know of many magician's who have tried to become hypnotists. Many of them read through a few books and courses off of ebay and think that they have what it takes to put on an entertaining show. The sad thing is that most are undercutting our fees like you mention. Why do they do that? Because that is the only way they know how to sell and market themselves - merely based on price. I've seen that within a year or two though most aren't doing hypnosis anymore. The market may be flooded in certain areas but they are flooded with wanna-be-hypnotists with low fees. What am I doing about it? I'm going after clients that fit my persona and fee asking price. Clients aren't dumb, they know a quality entertainer when they see one. One look at a website or promo material or a few seconds on the phone will reveal a lot about a performer's quality. Clients also know that they get what the pay for. Low priced entertainers almost always equated to a lesser quality show by top paying clients. Just some things to think about... |
Parson Smith Inner circle 1937 Posts |
Thak you,
Tis is the kind of input I was hoping for. I hope that there are others who will share with us. Peace, Parson
Here kitty, kitty,kitty.
+++a posse ad esse+++ |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
The market is flooded with BAD hypnotists. Happens every few years. Then the cream rises and all is right with the world.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Martin S Taylor New user London, UK 9 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-11-29 04:56, inorthcott wrote: Is this me? If so, thanks for the compliment! Martin
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Martin S Taylor New user London, UK 9 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-11-29 01:12, Parson Smith wrote: Out of interest, which American city? I don't think this reflects the position in the UK at the moment. Martin
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Signature deleted by SysOp owing to offensive content. |
jl17 Regular user 110 Posts |
I live in a major city on the west coast. I have observed that many magicians and hypnotists are undercutting and just plain charging too low of fees. I'm talking $300 for an hour hyp or magic show. Luckilly, I do not perform all that much here, I usually travel, so I do not deal with it that much. But, there are those calls I get when the client say so and so will do it for $X.
The market is flooded in my opinion. The question is what do we do? Those who charge low fees usually are not as skilled and do not have the experience to command a few thousand for a show. |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
The very problem with entertainment is that someone takes $300 for a show!
Man a hyp show for that? What happened to the good old days where hypnotists had a minumum they would work for? Come on man $300? WEST COAST? yea the market there is flooded but if you just wait it out the bad ones will cycle through......keep prices as high as possible or nobody will be able to make a living. I get flown into LA for more than 5 times that so the market is there ..... it is about "percieved value", if they think your show is worth a lot it is! It is also a case of not being able to work within a 100 miles of your own town. People figure "hey we flew this guy in from the Midwest to LA....he MUST be good". Again "percieved value". I have never lost a show to a price cutter......I give a fair value for the show I provide..matter of fact they feel that they get more than their monies worth....and they do. I never worry about losing shows to this because the NEXT time they will call you and suddenly your fee is MUCH higher and they will be happy to pay it! You can be either be in it for the long haul or the short run......
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
shrink Inner circle 2609 Posts |
It doesn't reflect the situation at the moment in the UK but a while back this is exactly what killed the hypnosis market over here. Instead of magicians it was mostly failed comedians that jumped on the hypnosis band wagon. It caused unlimited problems not only with price but also with public perception of hypnosis shows. Most were badly trained, and cerebrally challenged and made hypnosis on stage a dangerous place to be.
Sounds like the states are following the trend that happened over here in the 90s. I predicted it would a couple of years back on this very forum. Shrink As for Martin good luck with your way of over coming the current situation in the Uk. Unfortunately most of the venues I used to perform in wouldn't buy that as they would be held liable should anything go to court.. |
Partizan Inner circle London UK 1682 Posts |
I do very, very private demonstrations for small groups (no fee). This is always at my patrons request for a selected few of his friends and clients.
My demonstrations never contain any of the standard, and in my view, humiliating stunts that the majority perform. My demonstrations are more about human potential then comedy.
"You cannot depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."
- Mark Twain |
Lee Darrow V.I.P. Chicago, IL USA 3588 Posts |
The best response I can give to the original question is that I am giving quality shows, have a 37 year reputation for doing so under literally any conditions and that I have the references to prove it.
I then ask the booker if the guy charging a quarter of my fee can match that. They never can and I get the booking. Quality still does stand for something these days, it seems. Lee Darrow, C.H.
http://www.leedarrow.com
<BR>"Because NICE Matters!" |
DoctorCognos Elite user 413 Posts |
Not just Hypnosis, but mentalism too.
Magicians who couldn't fool an audience in their right minds try to change their minds.
The Doctor Knows.....
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