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jkwebber New user 76 Posts |
Several threads talk about having a contract signed for birthday parties. Is there anyplace where I can find some sample contracts?
Thanks |
shomemagic Inner circle Missouri 2232 Posts |
I think(?) Jim Kleefeld has a contract book with contracts you can insert your personal information in and use.
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rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
HERE is the contract I used to use, formatted for mailmerge.
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MikeHMagic Inner circle 1007 Posts |
It is Jim Kleefelds "The Contract Book" I have a copy, very good.
Mike "Gus" Harvatt
"Bullwinkle that trick never works." |
jkwebber New user 76 Posts |
Has anyone seen a used copy of "The Contract Book" on Ebay or Amazon?
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rookrulz New user 91 Posts |
Please don't use contracts for birthday parties unless you want to scare off mothers. Call it a "confirmation letter" and include the details of the show but don't have them sign it or anything of the sort. Trust me, you don't need it.
Louis |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
I also use a simple confirmation letter for birthday shows.
Contracts are for other customers. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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LMLipman Elite user Falls Church, Va. 443 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-08-09 19:52, rookrulz wrote: I agree about 90 percent with my friend, Louis. I call it an agreement letter, rather than a contact. I e-mail it to them, but then I do ask them to type their name into the space provided and e-mail it back to me. I doubt it would hold up in court, but I feel that having them indicate they've seen the agreement letter and everything is agreed to sort of informally binds both of us to what's been agreed to. I haven't had anyone object to that. I could send you a pm of my agreement letter template if you'd like. |
Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
I have been using my contract for birthday parties for 15 years never had a problem actually parents enjoyed knowing that they had a contract and that it detailed everything from my arrival to their responsibilities.
and having a contract protects you! you need a contract for every show you do. now my birthday contract is only one page simple and easy to read my illuion show contract is 8 pages but that is a different story. sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
I use the confirmation letter from one of the volumes of The Success Book, from Magic Inc. I've modified it over the years to make it fit the times and to make it suitable for email.
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chill Veteran user colorado, usa 385 Posts |
Rossmacrae,
thank you for posting that link. bob
I spent most of my money on magic and women, the rest i just wasted
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
Ross,
Its an interesting contract, that's for sure. I like the term about you being allowed to video your own show with full permission rights and full permission to bring an assistant to do it. How often do you utilise that clause to video your show and have you ever had any problems with it? I'm also interested in your cancellation policy. It states that if they cancel on you close to the day of the event, then the full fee is still payable but if you cancel on them, then they just have to put up with it. I know that's a standard clause and its in my contract too, but it reads a little harsh. I know you didn't use those words, but that's my interpretation of the sentence. Steve |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
Quote:
Sam YOU may need a contract for every show YOU do but I don't. And I expect a great many others also do not complicate a straightforward children's birthday party with paperwork. Try working without and see how easy life becomes. At the last count I have had three occasions in the last forty years when a contract might - just possibly might - have caused someone not to cancel late. Think about that. My Punch & Judy show tours the whole of the UK. I have just got in from the Lakes and in a few hours I will travel overnight to Bedford for a four day event. I don't have contracts for these shows either. We shake hands when the bookers meet the showmen in October. A Gentleman's word is his bond. I have worked across Europe on a handshake. Just today I was booked back for next year on a handshake. Only twice in thirty years have I had an event renege on a handshake. The rest of the business knows who they are. I am never clear why you folk in America appear to be so concerned with contracts. Why? Is it fear based on fear or based on experience? And is your experience so full of twisters and people out to pull a fast one over you that you are afraid? Or is it that when you work through an agent they use detailed eight page contracts and you think therefor that this is the norm and having such a document makes you appear 'more professional'? It doesn't you know. Or is it possibly your clients who demand a contract because they don't trust you? Is this mistrust personal or reflective of a general mistrust of magicians? Now that I could understand, if magicians are as poor at their business as many of them are as performers. It is unfortunately a consequence of an oversubscribed marketplace - too many, too many of too poor a quality and the business gets a bad name. It happens here too.
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
Jestnjoker Elite user 440 Posts |
What do you guys all think in regards to Tony's comments? Are we just a much more litigious culture here in the States?
I recently started using contracts. And it has significantly simplified my work. Everything is streamlined, everyone is on the same page, and everything works for the mutual benefit of all parties involved. There has also been advice offered on the Café as to how contracts are great ways to track past business and rebook for the future. I'm working with a fabulous online booking/contract system that is currently in beta testing. It makes life so easy and it's actually one of those things that puts an extra little skip in my step when I'm doing business because of the tools it gives me. Stay tuned!
Jeff Wright
www.WrightEntertainment.biz Voted Best Party Entertainer in Cleveland, Nickelodeon Parents' Picks Awards |
Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
I understand w hat you say tony james however for me h aving a contract is both peace ofmind for me and my clients.
first I use it to clarify things I need. not many things needed for a birthday party but it does clearly lay out what I provide and what is expected or the client- Payment time of show etc. for other shows I need the contract to clearly lay out the needs such as stage being cleared prior to my arrival, the tempature of the room, tables, chairs that are needed etc etc. having a contract protects me and takes only a few moments to print out and mail or even faster to email it to my clients. for me I guess yes it is a security thing but I also know that the clients appreciate the professionalism that comes with my classy fun looking contract. I guess your lucky that you don't need one but I will continue to use one. it has saved me several times over the years. sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
[quote]On 2010-08-10 15:42, Tony James wrote:
Quote:
I am never clear why you folk in America appear to be so concerned with contracts. Why? Is it fear based on fear or based on experience? Based on experience. There are plenty of people, in my area, whose word means nothing. The contract and deposit sets my mind at ease. It also sets a professional tone. I find that it also sets the client's mind at ease. If I didn't have a confirmation letter, my business would taper off. Some have been stung by my "competitors". |
Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
[quote]
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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1653 Posts |
I never use contracts for birthday bookings.Seems a lot of extra work with nothing to gain.
Once in a while a customer would asked if they can refer to our email communication as a contract. Tricky Ricky |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I always, always always use a contract (of some degree) no matter what the show is. It is not a matter of how long it takes me to do it or the hassle involved. It is a matter of 1) protecting myself and 2) making myself look even more like the professional I want my client to see me as.
Now when I send out a contract to a birthday party client, I simply do not call it a contract. I call it a Conformational Agreement. It is still a contract but in a shorter fashion. The goal is to have every detail of the event written out as well as the items I need for them to remember, to enable me to provide the best party experience I can. It gives me protection and gives them peace of mind. Working with clients is about relationship building. No better way to make yourself look great, then to have a confirmation agreement going out so that they can review. It is easy to do and to set up. The extra time spent is well worth it. It shows the client you care, you are thorough and gives them a chance to correct any information that is not accurate. Better to find this information out ahead of time, then to try and address it at the event. The contract/conformational agreement is there to protect me but to also ensure the show runs as smoothly as it can without any issues. This allows the client and myself to be at ease at the event knowing everything is set and agreed upon long before the event date itself. Now a contract or conformational agreement also protects you. In the rare case when a client gives you problems or states something you did not agree to, the contract is with me at every gig for me to refer to. You will be amazed at how differently they treat you when they know it is their signature that is on a contract or their name associated to a conformation agreement. In rare cases, I have had to use and show my contract to a client. It does not happen often. However, when situations occur like this, you want to feel assured that you are covered and can prove what was agreed upon by showing the contract/agreement that they clearly signed. You can show them the terms to which their group booked you under. No business these days would ever do work at your house or for you without a contract of some sort signed by you. As consumers, we are accustomed to this. We do it every day as a part of doing business. Well I am not sure about you, but I treat my magic as a business. After all, that is why they call is show business in the first place. If I treat my show as a business, then part of business is the usage of contracts. Consumers are used to this and should not be scared off simply by you using one. In the contrary, most clients really appreciate you using one and will often ask you for one if you do not bring it up first. Now contracts and agreements do not have to be hard to do. They do not have to take up so much of your time. Part of running a good magic business is creating systems that work for you to streamline processes. I have a contract and agreement templates set up for every show I offer to clients. These templates are then stored on my main system and are there when I need them. Now when I need to do a contract, I can bring up the template and just enter in the information that pertains to that event itself. It cuts back on the time devoted to the task and also helps me to 1) keep the contract branded and 2) make sure I never forget anything. Do not fear contracts or agreements. They are there to protect you and to ensure to the client that you deliver what you both have agreed upon. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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