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michaelrice Loyal user Ireland 257 Posts |
I aim on putting a magic portfolio together. I want it to include newspaper clippings, references, charity work, etc. In order to get in the local newspapers I want to do volunteer magic shows for charity groups. Has anyone got any experience or advice on approaching charity groups to volunteer to do magic shows?
Mike |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Mike
Free work will only get you more free work. If you are going to volunteer for charity you should only volunteer for those causes in which you believe, because charities generally treat entertainers like dirt. HAVE FUN Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Al is right. Free work is viewed as worth every penny they paid for it. IF your going to do charity work, quote a price, get a check, and donate the amount of your fee.
Charity work is a BUSINESS, and if I may say it is a quite lucrative business. Trust me, someone is getting paid and paid well. It just won't be you. Especially if you "volunteer". Most charity organizers know they can find people looking to find "exposure" to work free or cheap. Any Eskimo will tell you that you can die from EXPOSURE!
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Danny
NO, NO, NO, NO not the "E" word (EXPOSURE)! When I hear that one word over the phone I hang up with no further conversation. It is the one word that never fails to put a chill down my spine. Eskimos, and jugglers know exposure will kill you, your career, or both. HAVE FUN Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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michaelrice Loyal user Ireland 257 Posts |
Yes I agree with you about doing free shows. I didn't even do my first children's show for free. It's just trouble.
This is the only way I can think of making the paper apart from asking for an interview. I might do one or two volunteer charity shows. Do you have any hints or tips on other ways to make the paper? Mike |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Mike
Try some old fashioned paid advertisements, which will put you in charge. Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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MrHyde Special user 810 Posts |
Mike
Wow, most of us have to beat the charity show-seekers off with a stick. I fully agree with Al's earlier comment. Only perform for charities that you fully support yourself. You can then leverege that into publicity as it gives an additional "hook" for the newspaper/TV if you are active in the charity work yourself. (I do a set number of charity shows each year.) A quick trip to the library will get you up to speed on writing a press release. Clive Court who is a brilliant PR guy wrote a series of articles for MagicCoach, (see link in my sig file) that are well worth looking up. My tip for handling charity calls is to explain to the caller that we happily do a number of events each year, donating thousands of dollars worth of work, but our available slots for the year have been allocated. If they would like to WRITE to you an outline of the charity, what they propose to organize at the event and where the money is going, we would consider helping them out next year. You come across as a nice guy and guess what? 95% of them will not bother to write back with a simple outline. Timothy |
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Reuben Dunn Inner circle Has a purple ribbon wraped around my 1592 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-14 15:34, Al Angello wrote: Have to disagree with you there Al. Two years ago I did a free gig for "Hearing Dogs for Deaf People", which is a national charity. The gig was for a 30 minute mentalism act, no pay. They were kind enough to take care of the gas expenses. What did I get in return? A rather nice letter of reference and a well written reply to an audience feedback sheet I pass out, both of which I now use on my promo material. I also got a referal to another charity more local to Coventry. This time I charged them a set fee. Further references as well as provisional booking for 2006. This year, in June "Hearing Dogs" has asked me back for two further shows, this time they are paying me a fee for my services, plus milage expenses too. All this because I made the phone call and offered my services gratis. One further comment, My area is in mentalism so I'm not too clued-in to the skills needed to perform "magic", but it seems to me that doing a freebee show just might help one in developing their performance skills,or even a new effect/routine. There's a Q&A, 8 digit random number memory effect, as well as some design duplication matreial that I am looking to incorporate into my act. Doing a free show /volunteer show seems to be for me at least, the best way to try out new material; this way if it bombs it doesn't leave too much of a bad taste in my non-paying client's mouth. If it "kills" then so much the better. The point is, you just don't know how many future paying gigs you could be missing by turning down that "freebee". IMO of course. |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
I volunteer to put on a festival in my city. I book talent (including myself, but not always performing). So it does pay off if you volunteer the right way!
And I get "exposure". I really hate that word too when people say you'll get exposure in return for doing it for free. I can get exposure standing downtown in my underwear, but I'm not the naked cowboy. |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
I think one of the problems is that folks see volunteering as you giving them something for free without getting anything back in return. I do not look at it in this light. I think a few folks above touched base on an important thought.
Danny stated nicely that he gets paid and then donates the fee back to the charity. Reuben states that from a free volunteer show, he got a reference letter, referrals, feedback forms etc. I think this shows a big difference. You as a performer have value and your value is worth something to you in regards to money. What you provide has a price associated with it. When you volunteer and get nothing in return, then you are not expressing your value to the charity. In Danny's example, the charity immediately knows exactly how much they are truly getting from him and they see the immediate value because they are seeing a fee they would have had to pay. I guess what I am trying to say is that 1) you have value and your charity clients need to see this value that you are giving them and 2) every charity and every client has something they can offer you back in exchange for what you are doing. The second point is so true. Even charities can do something for you in exchange for what you are offering. You should not have to do a free show while getting nothing in return back from them. Now what you get back does not always have to be money. In Reuben's case he got them to do a letter of reference, was able to hand out feedback forms etc. Every charity can give you something back if you just realize your worth and express your worth to them. Just my 2 cents. 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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JackScratch Inner circle 2151 Posts |
It is my personal policy to perform exactly one, carefuly chosen event, for free each year. It varies from year to year. I see who comes to me, choose from them, then write my fee off on my taxes as a donation of that value.
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Leland Stone Inner circle 1204 Posts |
May I chime in with the cynics on this one? I've found charity events to be just as difficult to book as paid gigs -- in the month after 9/11, would you believe that NO local non-profit wanted to book a FREE benefit show? I spent three days on the horn getting turned down, and unfortunately, that experience is typical. Non-profits, perhaps, are used to paying for talent, and freebies may present them with a low perceived value.
For the dozen or so charity events to which I've donated performances, I've gotten exactly one referral letter. No "thank you" cards [I'm old-fashioned that way -- a good turn that really costs the giver merits a written thank you, IMO], no write-ups in event newsletters, nada. Would you believe a gig on the DAY of a major holiday in which I wasn't even invited to stay for dinner???? Me I can understand being excluded, but my wife was there helping and she -- of undeniable cuteness and sweetness -- wasn't invited to eat. I've got to work really hard to get my gigs, and I accept that. What I no longer accept is working really hard to get snubbed. |
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RandyStewart Inner circle Texas (USA) 1989 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-04-15 15:33, mrbilldentertainer wrote: Anyone using that word gets the same reply: "I refuse to expose myself anywhere in public". Let them figure it out. |
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michaelrice Loyal user Ireland 257 Posts |
Thanks for all the advice!! I really don't get the word ''exposure'', what's so bad, can someone fill me in?
Mike |
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JackScratch Inner circle 2151 Posts |
They are talking about the use of the word that refers to telling the lay public how certain effects function. It's one of the grand-daddy taboos in magic, and is often times refered to using only the word "exposure". Do a search on the word in this forum, you'll see what I mean.
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DanielSteep Inner circle 1409 Posts |
I only volunteer every so often.. usually a hospital or old age dining once every other month. I just did two shows for charity and am volunteering at a festival this summer.
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
"EXPOSURE" is a meaningless word that people will use as a substitute for money, so if I offer you some valuable EXPOSURE I will not only not pay you, but I expect you to thank me, and volunteer every year (until you catch on). I guess it is an American thing, we just call it the "E" word, and when I hear EXPOSURE on the phone I quickly HANG UP.
HAVE FUN Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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DanielSteep Inner circle 1409 Posts |
Mike,
Depending on what type of volunteering, if you put it on a resume employers may expect you to volunteer for them too. |
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Bill Nuvo Inner circle 3094 Posts or 2742 Posts |
So is Exposure equated with Sucker?
I can't pay my bills with exposure. I agree with what Kyle says about getting something in return, be it advertising space, letters, even BOR sales, and even passing the hat. Just make it something. If not you end up with what Al says which I hear all the time, I just don't hang up but try to educate them a bit. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I think Mr. Bill has it, EXPOSURE equals gullible fool.
Al Angello
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
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