Hi gang,

I was wondering what the best route to go about when doing a direct mailing is. That is to say how do you pitch a show, or strolling magic for a company event; seems that it's a drastically different approach than the one used for restaurants, and I'm at a loss on this one.

Thanks,

Josh

Cold calling office parties will return a higher yield.

Thanks for the reply, but how do you make the pitch for doing the office party?

Send me a PM.

If the mailing list is comprised of your own past customers, yes, that's a good idea. Otherwise I'd pass on a direct mail campaign. The trick is you have to get directly to the corporate person planning the party at exactly the right time... that's almost impossible.

I suggest you develop relationships with banquet and catering mangagers at hotels and restaurnats banquet facilities. They're often in a position to recommend musicians, DJs and magicians.

In that case, I can only send direct mail to one party. I'll try the other avenues as you've suggested.

Thanks,

Josh

Josh, the basic deal with direct marketing is LTO - List, timing, offer. If you are sending the right message, to the right person, at the right time, then you are on to a winner, regardless of what you are selling. The idea of DM is to spend a lot more money on each individual than you would with mass marketing. So what can you do to offer them something? How are you going to stand out from the crowd? Are you confident if you get to see them face to face that you can sell your services? Remember AIDA Attention, Interest, Desire, Action. Can you do something over the phone with them? I'm sure there are plenty of effects, whereby you could send them a deck of cards in the mail and then perform an effect during a follow up call. Receiving a deck of cards from a magician will get their attention. Telling them to be at their phone at a particular time on a particular day will get interest. The effect you perform will create the desire. And the deal should be easily actionable thereafter. If they can't be at the phone? Give them a voucher for dinner at your current venue in order to see you perform.

Remember, DM is about what you put into it. Writing a letter informing them of your services is not good enough. It's about spending money to make money!

BTW, I am not speaking from experience in terms of marketing magic shows, but I can tell you I have certainly seen thousands of DM campaigns up close! Anyhows, best of luck!
Scott

Eric Anderson Has excellent information on this.

Use existing leads! If you work trade shows, you have a prospect list. Often the supplying company wants the connection!

Also remember that people who own businesses seldom own only one. (Top down works better than bottom up.)

Good Luck!

Bob Sanders
Magic By Sander

(An old booking agency owner and officer with the American Federation of Musicians.)