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Michael New user 20 Posts |
I’m having difficulty obtaining the necessary contact information for local cub scout packs. I’ve tried the internet with minimal success. Other suggestions?
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Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
Your local Family magazine. Almost every major city has one of these. Take out a small ad (they’re quite inexpensive) on the PARTY PLANNER page. In your ad, mention that kidshows are your speciality, and list schools, birthdays and scouts. You’ll get a response or two from that, which will lead to repeat bookings.
A yellow pages ad is worth its weight in gold for these types of shows as well. I’d recommend you place your ad under "entertainers" and a listing under "Parties" and "magicians." Be aware, however, that there is usually not a huge budget for these events. I do ten or so per year, but you won’t get rich off the scouts!
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
My Lybrary Page |
RayBanks Special user Nassau Bay, TX 533 Posts |
Michael,
You don’t say where you live but every community has a Boy Scout Council. These councils are divided into districts for particular areas. Try this--it’s a council locator. http://www.scouting.org/councils/index.html Also, check with your local elementary school and local churches. Most Cub Scout packs (and you are talking about blue and gold banquets) are sponsored by either a school or a church. Good luck. And like Scott says don’t expect to get rich but take a handful of business cards as the parents are usually in attendance. _________________ Ray Banks
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Pick a card, any card...No. not THAT one...THIS one Ray Banks |
Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I've dropped off a pile of promo brochures, specifically designed for the B&G market, at the headquarters. SOmetimes, they got 'em, sometimes they didn't, but that method has gotten me shows.
I also did web searches for area cubmasters and did direct mailings to the names I found (web searched & phone book for addresses), which also resulted in bookings. You might try blind mailings addressed to "Cub Scout Leader" at the area elementary schools, although that is admittedly shooting in the dark. I never tried that method, but it might work. |
magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I also have done and used the internet approach Mark is talking aboyut and have some pretty good success. With a little bit of invested time, you can find a pretty good listing of contacts. Just be ready to realize that a lot may not be current or up to date. You may need to qualify your list before doing your mailing. I have received interest in our shows through this method.
Another idea is to find out when the next round table meeting is being held and trying to eitrher be there to present or to drop off information packets for the round table event. Most places have round table meetings where local area scout troops meet once a month to go over things. If you can find out when they meet, you might be able to use this approach as well. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
My experience is that when you work enough adult shows, meetings, parties, etc., there are some interested grand parents who not only seek you out, but also sponsor your part of the ceremony. (There is no substitute for deep pockets!)
BTW --- In the last shipment of silks we received several sets of 20th Century Silks (18" real silk with the good hems) in blue with the center gold or yellow. They disappear pretty fast in these colors. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
rossmacrae Inner circle Arlington, Virginia 2475 Posts |
Absolutely contact the local council for pack contact info.
Wanna REALLY sell? Each council holds a monthly "Roundtable", a free event for pack leaders, where they distribute resources suggesting activities, crafts, songs etc. along the lines of the monthly theme. At the roundtable you'll also find fliers from local companies (camping stores, "Scout Night" at the area basketball venue, etc) - you might arrange to have your fliers there (if they'll allow it see that they're there EVERY time, familiarity sells) - you also might contact the local Roundtable Coordinator and offer a free 5-minutes (keep it SHORT) of tips showing pack leaders how easy it is to teach the kids bits from the "Cub Scout Magic" book. Don't plug your show (aside from mentioning your fliers and how many Blue & Golds you've done) - they'll see you and hear you and sudenly you will be the "go-to-guy" for Blue & Gold entertainment. My fave B&G effect: 20th-Century Underpants using neckerchiefs and the Cubmaster. My REALLY successful B&G closing-trick trademark: turning all the assembled Cubbies into an "instant chorus." Get em all on stage - tell them in a soft voice in 10 seconds or less "you all know the tune, I'll sing the verse and you sing the chorus when I hold up the words, OK?" I have big-print cue sheets to hold up for each chorus of the song, and I launch into my own words set to the verse music from "Mary Poppins" (Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious) (it's such by-the-numbers music that even someone who's never heard it can follow along) - my words are about familiar Cub Scout parent plights, and the cue cards let the kids sing/chant the kicker to each verse (not really the "Poppins chorus) ("Are we there yet Dad?" [repeat 3x] "Can we buy one, Mom?" "Can we go home now?" "Do I have to go?" and RTEAL LOUD, NOW! "Thank you Mom and Dad!!!") |
Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Great one, Ross!
Lucy wonders why at age 60 I still have my scout shirt! She missed the fun. Bob Sanders Magic By Sander |
Bill Douglas New user El Paso, TX 90 Posts |
Speaking as a Cubmaster (El Paso, TX- Mescalero district/Pack 209) and father of 2 cub scouts, the best place to go isto the local council. To find it look in the locil yellow pages and/or go to http://www.scouting.org and click on the cub scout emblem (top left). Then look at the list of links in the left hand column and click the last one "local councils". Type in your zip code and you will get the address. Try leaving brochures, cards and flyers. (Passive)
The best (active) thing to do is make contact with some of the cubmasters and scoutmasters in the area. To do this, go to the local council office and ask for contact info for the CM/SM in the areas of town your interested in. OR... ask the school principals if they know what pack serves their school and how to contact them. Call the Cubmasters directly and give them a short direct pitch on the phone and ask them if they would be interested in getting a ONE TIME mailing of your promo packet. BUT... You better be quick because B&G's usually occur in the spring (around scouting anniversary time) like Feb-Apr. Some areas or districts may have a different tradition. B&G's are annual events so you can probably do a handful during the "season" and not every year for the same pack. They can be, as Scott referred to, as a way to generate follow up business because your "room" will be full of kids (siblings), parents and grand-parents. Put up an easel stage left or right with your poster (contact info/venues/ website on it) and put cards and brochures out on the side table that has other hand outs on it. (If you know some of this stuff...sorry, I like to be helpful and thorough). If you have a good show "Do Your Best" and you'll be rewarded with follow-up business. The best advice I can give you that will pay off in many other ways is to build a rapport with the scout organization in your area by volunteering some of your time to help out the organization. Be a den or pack leader or a Friend of Scouting. Scouting is non-profit so can always use even a little free help, and you can probably get a bit of a tax break by donating the discount you give back to them. ;-) The advice Ross gave is great and will help get your name out there. I suggest you make in-roads by building some relationships so that you continue reaping dividends. Get involved (even a little) with the scouting community and you will meet great people that will regularly toss work your way and feed you when you may need it the most. Scouts have birthdays, and little bothers and sisters (and so on), and parents that like to be entertained (at work and play). It can be one of those "the guys that work, get the most work"...deals. I have made great contacts and networks via my involvement in scouting. I am not a pro magician but have a handful of business cards from contacts made. think about it..... |
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