|
|
Daryl -the other brother Special user Chicago 594 Posts |
Hi Guys,
Is it me? Case in point: DJs charge $500 & up to spin records for a few hours at wedding receptions and no one remembers who the DJ was a year later, but we as magicians will design custom shows, entertain all the guests at their tables(most have never seen magic close up),and do something special for the bride & groom (anniversary waltz)leaving them with a special signed card that will probably end up in their wedding book. Magicians at weddings are rare compared to DJs,yet we charge only a couple hundred bucks? If value is truly in the eyes of the client, shouldn't we be charging more for these memory-making moments? |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Well I disagree a bit with your premise there. If a couple spends the right time planning their wedding, then they are looking over many Dj's and many photographers to make sure they have the right people for them. It is their special day and they do not take it lightly.
Because of this, I think people are very much aware of who they are hiring for their wedding, just from the simple factor that they are forking over so much money for the services and that they care that everything be just perfect. A couple will certainly know who their DJ is. And, if the DJ is as good as they are supposed to be, they will set the tone and feel for the entire reception. You are right in that magicians CAN set memories that last a lifetime. That IS IF we do our magic the right way. If we entertain the audiences as opposed to entertaining ourseleves or simply trying to "fool" people. If we value our magic, we certainly can establish real magical moments for the audiences that watch what we do. These our the memories that they will keep with them. You also have to charge what your worth is. The problem is that you must establish your worth to the market that you are working.
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
Kyle is right about establishing your worth in the marketplace.
I've been hired to entertain as a strolling magician at weddings and as an after dinner entertainer at the rehearsal dinner. While I've received a decent fee, I've found that there are market forces that can keep prevent you from charging high fee as high as the DJ or band. At a wedding music is considered essential; magic is optional. Couples planning a wedding often try to keep the costs down. Optional expenses are just that - optional. The first to get cut. This keeps our value in the market place down. The only way around that is to work for clients who are not trying to cut their overall wedding costs. Nice clients to work for! |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Jim:
Thanks for the kind words. You are also right that magicians at weddings are very much an optional expense after the DJ, Band and Photographer.
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Allan Elite user 405 Posts |
While I agree that music is a must, I really don't think of myself as "optional". What I do every time I perform is try to stir peoples emotions. To make them think that I am the one person that they must have at their wedding. While my fee is certainly lower than that of a full band or a DJ with many people (dancers & behind the scenes), If I work the entire event, After The DJ or band pays off everyone they bring. I am actually getting the largest single slice of the pie. I am certainly charging more than a solo DJ that works alone.
It is up to us to create the need for our services & to get the most we can. If we don't place a high value on the service we provide, they certainly won't. |
RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Jim makes some excellent point on the market and cutting the optional costs.
Anyone even the slightest bit interested in getting into the wedding market (yes it can be done successfully), should contact Jason Juliano jason@uniquemagic.com. He's 20 years old and easily blasting into the 6-figure income range much of which is from the wedding market. He's phenomenal. Robert Bloor
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
TheDean Inner circle Reno, Nevada 2164 Posts |
Weddings are a phenomenal market!
Hi ya'll! I've been blessed and honored to be able to support and assist 100's (maybe 1,000’s) of brides, grooms and their families over the years as a wedding professional and minister, DJ as well as magician. The wedding market is a relatively un-tapped market by n' large for most performers but the traditional musicians/DJs. As ‘even’ a DJ, we DO, in fact create life-long memories, as we can also as magicians. As one, I can tell you for a fact that DJs are an essential element in the wedding day “experience”. So, for the sake of THIS discussion, I guess the question is “how do we, as MAGICIAN’S create the ‘demand’ for our services as a DJ or band would” Honestly, think about it, NOW you would never expect a bride to consider here wedding day with-out live music (a generalization, by the way.) it just doesn’t, or very rarely happen. There is ALWAYS a DJ or music of some sort… it’s just part of the expected convention of the industry. SO, to reiterate my question: “How do WE, as magicians become THAT expected on a wedding day?” There are sooooo many ways to approach this market effectively. - If you are a family entertainer who does birthday parties, man do you have it made for the wedding market! LOTS of brides hire professional kids performers to ‘entertain’ the children at a wedding while the adults enjoy the ‘adultness’ (I just invented a new word – Hehehehehe!) of the event. It’s a GREAT way in to the wedding market for that style of professional. - If you are a ‘hospitality’ professional, certainly YOU are an invaluable asset to any successful wedding day! Our challenge, generally speaking, is that the ‘brides’ usually don’t realize this… The good news is; “It’s and EASY fix!” All “WE” have to do is ‘position’ ourselves in the minds of brides as a NESSESITY for her entire wedding day solution! OK, I said it was “easy”, not necessarily ‘simple’. Though it’s really not as tough as it may seam either. I hopr I haven’t confused you too badly. Sorry! Here’s the gist: All we have to do is hang-out where brides are, and make sure they know that we can truly support them with the “Spectacular Wedding” that she has always dreamed of all her life! (Like wedding fairs, wedding mags, banquet facilities… etc!) Network, JV and BE where perspective bride’s hang-out and expose yourself to those brides! (and I mean that in the nicest way… hehehehe!) One place we can be of ‘incredible’ value is the time, during the reception where the Bride, Groom and significant others in the bride and grooms life are getting their pictures taken. That alone is usually no-less than a good solid 45 minutes where there are ‘invited guests’ milling around with little to do WAITING on the guests of honor to arrive and the event to ‘truly’ begin… make sense? THIS is the PERFECT time for a strolling professional such as ourselves. This is virtual ‘dead-time’ and is begging to be filled with our talents! Just let the bride KNOW that with our marketing and you will not have anything to worry about, as far as getting wedding-day bookings! …and that’s just TWO of the reasons to book a strolling wedding professional! Get the idea? See, it IS about our marketing and the position we create in the brides mind. So, go out and change some minds today and enjoy the fabulous wedding industry! You will NOT regret it! Just some food-for-thought having ‘been there, done that!” I remain at your service and in His service, Rev. Dean Hankey <>< http://www.SpectacularWeddings.com (If you care for a peek…) PS Yes, Jason has done ALL THE WORK for you with his system on weddings! I have it and it is GREAT! I couldn’t have paid a professional marketer to put together such a comprehensive and truly effective work on the wedding market as Jason has! http://www.UniqueMagic.com - NO, neither of us make a penny off the referral or endorsement of Jason’s information! It’s just a GREAT system if you are truly interested in saving time and money getting into this very lucrative market! - It also pays almost as good as the ‘corporate’ market with zero hassles and headaches associated with the corporate performing. How cool is that? – And AGE is waaay les of a consideration in this market!
Dean Hankey, *M.D. - The Dean of Success Solutions!
Serving & Supporting YOU and Your Success! "Book More Shows... Make More Money... SERVE MORE PEOPLE! - Not Necessarily In That Order…" (*Marketing Doctor) |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Dean:
It is always a delight to read any of your posts. I always learn so much from them and appreciate your willingness to share with us. You brought up some great points and I love the idea that you need to show the bride the benefit you can provide to them to make their event as memorable as possible. You can do this by letting them know that you can fill that empty void that is often there before they arrive and can ewntertain the people and keep the party going strong long before they even get there. This then becomes a need that you can provide to them.
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Daryl -the other brother Special user Chicago 594 Posts |
Thanks for the great insight guys! Dean, your experience in this field really shows and I have taken your words of wizdom to heart.
I am planning to start my own magic business and focus on the wedding market in the Chicagoland area, I will contact Jason and also put your marketing ideas to the test. Thanks again. |
K-Max New user Oklahoma City 49 Posts |
Also, be sure that they know that you can entertain children. I know that for myself I always dreaded going to one of my relatives' weddings as a child. It was long, boring, and the adults were all gushy with emotion. What was worse? I was dressed up in a suit and tie! My brother and I almost always found some sort of mischief to get into while the adults were distracted at the reception.
If you are really good with kids book yourself as a babysitter. Just find a corner and dig in, because kids at adult parties can be kind of wild. But if you do a good job there are almost always tips from thankful parents. |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Tricky business » » Wedding memories sold cheap (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.05 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 < |