I know that there have been posts about prices before but haven't seen any about what you say when friends ask you for a price for your magic show? Do you give discounts to them?
Thank You
Grand Illusions

Do your friends who are doctors, lawyers, car dealers, etc. give you a discount?
I didn't think so.
Question answered.

No way! If they are good friends buy the child a present or a nice foil helium balloon.

I offered a good discount to friends recently. They felt uncomfortable because they knew performing was my livelihood and offered to pay me double what I had quoted them. Lesson learned.
I may still offer a small discount to friends if I was going to socialise at the party, but only if it was held at an off-peek time (eg. a Sunday evening).

To me I see no problem. But it is no more than $25. I usually get tips anyway. So it is ok with me.

Peter, I nearly always agree with you (and I hear that's a rarity ). I have to call this case-by-case. For example, my family dentist loves my magic character and brings her son to see me perform whenever possible. She's such a great fan that she never charged me and my wife our co-pay. She asked me to appear at her son's 4th birthday party. In return for her courtesy, I appeared at no charge. She now does all of our dental work for whatever the insurance pays. I've yet to pay her a dime out of pocket and she's constantly giving us gifts like our Sonicare toothbrushes. One courtesy led to another.

The same is true of a local restaurant owner; a good friend and business peer. He paid me well to appear at his restaurant for two years. He stopped using my services only because he took the restaurant in a more exclusive direction. His youngest daughters fell in love with me and he asked me to perform at their parties. I've done their parties for the last two years - no charge. My wife and I eat at his restaurant fairly regularly and have yet to pay for a meal (although we tip VERY well.) It was never discussed or bartered - it's just mutual professional courtesy and respect.

I recently performed for a local mall general manager's party - no charge. She has put thousands of dollars in my pocket by referring me and hiring me exclusively for her mall promotions and kid's club - I returned the courtesy. She turned around and enthusiastically referred me to a national candy manufacturer who was setting up a new product promotion in her mall. I now have an nice contract to draw crowds to this company's booths in three states.

I perform for close family free-of-charge. Truly close and mutually supportive friends and neighbors (the kind I would turn to if I needed help or a favor) receive a courtesy discount. I perform for my annual neighborhood block party at a discounted rate. In return, they refer me exclusively to their friends and business acquaintances.

I've also discounted and given away shows that have done nothing for me. It happens. I've learned to be more selective and frugal in my discounts. Still, overall the gambles have been beneficial. My style - not for everyone - but it works for me. Never say never.

Like Skip I make these decisions on a case by case basis. If someone invites me to a party, and tells me to bring some tricks along I do not go to that party. If someone invites me to a party and says we don't want you to perform, we just want to have you as our guest, you can bet I will have my pockets full of tricks, and be prepared to do a free show, because it is my call, unless my wife tells me it is her call.

Yea, I know what you mean Al. I feel that person is trying to use me by taking advantage.

Years ago a friend asked me to his birthday. at 8pm he asked me to do some magic and I said NO. he was almost forcing it on me. so I declined and then he started doing magic tricks - really horrible. the party went on. at 11pm I felt it was time to do someting. and it rocked. al I did was to wait for the moment and sometimes the moment comes or not. I decide if I want to do someting.

My enemies won't hire me .. so, Yes I charge my friends full price.

If I am invited to a party as a guest by a good friend I do not charge anything. If I am invited only because of my talent I charge. My best friend asked me to perform at a last minute business outing a couple of years ago. No money guarantee but I trusted his judgment that it was a good idea. I only made $200 and a meal for 1 hours work but most important I made a contact with a partner at a top 3 accounting firm and one heck of a nice guy.

Posted: Oct 24, 2007 9:50pm
I would also like to say that you should NEVER discount. Stick to your price. You have to figure out what that price is but once you do stick to it. I price based on personal parties vs. corporate events. Just like all other businesses I price for the Christmas season and new years eve.

As Bob Sanders once told me "I have two prices mine, and free" that says it all to me.

I guess it depends on you, your friends, and finances. Rather than charge really close friends for a show, I'd try to get them to have their party on a weekday, so it doesn't affect my weekend "bread and butter" shows. If they insist it has to be at the weekend, I charge a reduced rate.
I recently did a show in London on a Sunday for some very close friends of over 25 years. I lost about £400 revenue that I'd normally expect to earn in my own area. I drove a round trip of 250 miles, and gave my deluxe party, for which I would normally charge around £500. All this for nothing more than travel expenses. Well, they're my friends, and my friends are not there for me to profit from. But in the end, they insisted on paying my considerably more than I asked for (though still considerably less than I'd have charged a regular client).
Another very old friend of mine has me regularly to entertain her kids, but she's always struggling with finances, and it never even occurs to me to charge her. But we always have the parties weekdays, that's understood.
Whatever works for you. How much do you love your friends?
Doug

If someone insists on a discount, run away from them. Someone who is asking doesn't understand the value of your performance. And I would also advise against working and socializing at the same time.

I haven't had any experience with magic, but did photography for a while to make extra spending money during college. I used to do photography as a gift to friends who had weddings, and these never really worked out except for folks who were also photographers, they appreciated the effort involved.

Even if the folks know you are giving them a discount when they see you taking a break, maybe eating something, or drinking something, they will likely resent you taking time off.

Sound and true advice, Marty. Sagely stated, Potty (Doug). In my earliest days many, many, many moons ago, I appeared at a huge discounted rate for a couple of charities. In both cases, the organizers treated me like dirt or as an added afterthought. I stopped discounting for all but my three pet children's charities (They never pay - my choice) and the difference was remarkable. As soon as I was viewed as a major expense, I was suddenly cast as a V.I.P. participant.

As I explained above, I believe in discounting as a means of saying thank you to long-standing clients or as a means of achieving a very specific goal. There is always a very selfish purpose behind my discounts now. For family and neighbors, it's peace and social unity. My professional courtesies (my family dentist, for exmaple) are extended when I believe that the courtesy will be returned in one personally beneficial way or another. For the clients who continue to refer and hire me and help to put lots of cash in these poor moth-eaten pockets I may return the compliment now and then...priming the cash-flow pumps, so to speak.

I just feel that there is a time, place and use for a well-planned discount or freebie. Banks offer gifts for accounts, office supply outlets offer gifts for orders, our own top online magic dealers offer discounts and deals...used wisely it is a viable business strategy. Emphasis on the wisely!

I simply don't believe that one should stand and preach the "NEVER DO THIS" principle to everyone because it doesn't fit their own personal depth of experience. What works great for one of us may fall flat for another. Search your own business souls for the answer.

I don't charge my brothers, or someone who I feel shouldn't be charged.

The one I hate the most is those who want you to do it for free but pay others for their talents, like a singer, a celebrity, etc. If someone gets paid, than all should get paid.
Rule #1: If the organization is paying someone, then I won't do it for free. (I would feel used and abused.)
Rule #2: Family is Family always! They will always be my nieces and nephews, and I am always "Uncle Denny, the Magician"
Rule #3: You must always do what you feel is right, "listen to your heart". (I know Your heart doesn't talk, so if you don't understand it, then forget this rule.)

I'd do it free for Skip if he pays my plane fare! (Wait until summer so I can go to the beach!)

Do I offer a discount, yes, however, that discount will bring in more business, not because someone tell me this, but because I know it to be true from experience.

Woo hoo!!!

First Class!

Oh...well...okay! First Class on Jersey National Airlines!! Got it!

I give my really close friends discounts...but those are the only people who get them...I only have a FEW really close friends...