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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2393 Posts |
In the many threads about GigMasters there have been many people that swear the gig always goes to the lowest bidder, and therefore see no use in this service. I have always admitted there is some of that but not nearly as much as everyone thinks.
To quote myself: Quote:
On 2011-07-14 18:19, Ken Northridge wrote: Well, over the weekend I got an $80 tip from a GigMasters customer. It was a last minute birthday party, 10 minutes from my home. A $300 gig plus a 27% tip! I’m just saying….
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
I am going on a year with GM with nothng booked directly. I say directly because I may have received a Christmas party gig from them out of town from a client who paid well. I am keeping it another 6 months just for SEO. I reply to most inquiries but seldom even get a response. That makes me wonder about the inquiries. I have used lengthy as well as short responses back. I have also directly emailed the client.
As users well know, you get a response back from GM when the client books someone. I have received a few of these and seen they are like $200 or so dollars for a corporate gig. The majority of inquries I never see these however. Makes me wonder. One note, I never give a price in my inquiries. Comp
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10602 Posts |
Gotta use the phone, e-mail is only minimally effective. Not stating a price is almost sure to have them pass over your response.
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
I hear what you are saying MP but what if you are not going to low ball the price? I charge a lot more then the local performers in my area.
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10602 Posts |
Yes, that's what I mean. Y&ou must present yourself by phone. I too am much higher priced than most who bid against me, yet I still get regular bookings and some great gigs through G<m many that have become annual events.
The phone give you a chance to sell yourself, your benefits and the differences over the budget entertainers. When presented properly, you can almost make them want to stay away from the budget acts. You must understand though, there will always be some that will only shop on price alone, and that there are many tire kickers that are just "seeing what's out there" and may not even be serious enough and an event or an event date. Also I suspect some leads are simply other entertainers researching the market and competition. The key is identify these and separate them from the serious inquiries. Also they do not expect to be as bombarded by responses from entertainers as they will receive so to me it is important to be the first to respond, as then all others will be compared to you or shut out all together as after hearing from a few they quit wanting to hear from other and their bids, regardless of price, quality, etc. |
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Ken Northridge Inner circle Atlantic City, NJ 2393 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-01-24 21:29, Decomposed wrote: When a potential GM customer is viewing your press kit, they are encouraged to click ‘Request Free Quote’. By not supplying that information in an upfront manner you give them the impression you are being deceptive, or appear to be playing games with them. (Just my humble opinion). I know you folks have success with picking up the phone, but I have never called a Gigmasters customer unless specifically requested to. There’s nothing wrong with it, I just prefer email. And understand, there are some customers that prefer corresponding by email as well.
"Love is the real magic." -Doug Henning
www.KenNorthridge.com |
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
Good info, I also prefer email Ken but decided to give a phone call a try today. What MP says makes a lot of sense though. When I spoke to the lady she seemed genuinely glad I had called. I am waiting now to see if she emails me. I sent her a personal email with my website etc.
I think also like you said Ken some like emails only but there are some who still like phone calls. I have been approaching it all from what I LIKE. I will also think now about not giving prices. I know I bid higher then anyone in my local area so I like to get more info from them for a quote. I hate for them to bawk right off the bat. Comp
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
One note, this is not the first time I have called anyone. Its just its been a while since I perfer email contacts. I guess the last few times I did call, I took the non-booking as a sign. Of course I have a lot of no contacts via email as well. Its a percentage game. Perhaps former car salesmen turned entertainers would make the best marketers.
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dduane Special user Bridgewater, MA 784 Posts |
I average at least one booking a week from Gigmasters. The trick for me is to respond as soon as I get the lead; quote a slightly higher price than I'll accept; send an email of my own immediately; and then call them right away. I also answer requests for things that I don't do, like face painting. The customer usually can be talked into magic. They don't always know exactly what they want anyway. IF they want to see what others will charge, I tell them I'll give them a special deal - and ask for the price I wanted.
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Sam Sandler Inner circle 2487 Posts |
I have received over 200 request and not one booking.
most of the shows are in Maryland (which I find odd) I did get a show from some one who told me they found me on gigmasters and then contacted me later and booked the show. it was horrible show but I got paid. I am not sure keeping gigmasters is worth my trouble. I am still on the fence.
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com http://www.deafinitelymagic.com |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10602 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-01-26 20:23, dduane wrote: I so agree with everything you mentioned. You must have a system to utilize GM to it's maximum potential. I've posted before about responding ASAP, calling, following up, etc., but I've never mentioned responding to inquiries for other types of entertainment or trying to upsell or sell additional offerings to the leads. You are so correct that many times they either don't know exactly what they want, they are just looking for ideas, or they can be presented and sold on other things you have to offer. Case and point - (remember I quote rather high four figure price) I get a lead, respond, do my sales presentation (for lack of a better term), and even though they may express that I'm a bit higher than they were willing to spend, I still continue and mention that I have also been working with an opening act stand-up comedian (for an additional $350.00) who has been working out great as it provides a great warm up with audience interaction and them my full 75, 90 or 120 minute performance. I present it as they are actually getting an entire night of entertainment. I have been averaging booking success 7 out of 10 booking that I get that are now with the comedian. So it goes from "you may be a bit more than we were wanting to spend" to "yes, I want to book the whole show (both acts)." What's even greater is the comic wanted to give me a commission for these gigs and I said no, so he offered to pay for my nationwide listing with GM, so it is costing me nothing! I don't think I would have brought it up as it might seem like boasting, but since dduane mentioned it I thought I would share my experience and story. |
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
Don't blame you for going with them MP. I need to now get me an animal act to pay for my listing lol.
Just kidding but I try to also give them something unique when I do my followups. Lately I have been getting the inquiries like you mentioned above. Comp
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MichaelDouglas Special user Portland, Oregon 766 Posts |
I've been with them for a couple of years. I bid on 2-3 per week and win about 1 or 2 monthly from gigmasters. Most never look at my response to their inquiry. I do follow-up with a phone call and usually get voice mail and no call back. I generally respond within at most 2 hours. I do have a couple of standard sales letters within GM and I just click on the boxes, determine my rate based on their location and fire it away within 1-2 min of looking at the gig request. I can even reply from my phone.
Gigmasters does pay for itself in my experience. I always pay the $20 booking fee. I'm considering changing that to see if it affects my win rate. I really have no way of determining if the ones that I loose go to a lower bidder. |
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
1-2 a month is extremely good Michael. I am trying to call any significant leads now.
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Bball5630 Regular user 140 Posts |
I have a question for those in the know. I perform primarily magic at corporate and festival events, however, my wife and I also enjoy doing birthday parties with magic, balloons, and face painting. Is there a way to have separate listings? I don't want corporate clients seeing us doing children's birthday parties and pictures of balloons and face painting.
Anyone know this? |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10602 Posts |
That's really quite easy, just have separate listing(s) under a different name or business name rather than the name you promote yourselves as for corporate and fests.
Many performers have found better success by hosting separate or individual listings. Personally, I belive you get better quality leads by doing it this way also - more targeted, people looking specifically for your type of service (of course it also depends on how you setup the listing and the categories you choose). |
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Bball5630 Regular user 140 Posts |
So this is included in the one account you have? I see you can list under different categories, but each of these can be totally different listings?
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10602 Posts |
No, I was referring to having multiple accounts. With only one account it is that very same account that comes up under all of the different categories you choose.
This is why many here complain that the leads they receive from GM are for other types of entertainment, as initially many members think if the choose many categories when setting up their listing, they have a better chance of getting bookings, so they choose many categories. Then in actuality they receive the leads from being listed in these categories and then later complain that they are not direct leads interested in their very service. My experience has been choose less categories to better filter the leads, and then the leads I get are much better quality leads better matched to my services. |
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Bball5630 Regular user 140 Posts |
So purchasing separate accounts is the only way to have your listings show up different?
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10602 Posts |
Yes, as far as I've ever been aware of. Plus if you're trying to keep you identity separate from other markets, it's the only way I see it possible with GM.
It's actually quite affordable as the largest listing is what $250 or so for the top, premium listing for an entire year? One booking from each listing pays for itself and offers profit. If you can't do that you're probably doing something wrong. Plus after you have one listing I believe the additional listings are 50% off. Of course this is all dependent on how you're working their system. |
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