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threecardmonte Loyal user 278 Posts |
Forgive me for posting this. I am sure this has been discussed before, but I can't find the info I am looking for. I just bought ACT! and I am in the process of customizing it. Other than the obvious info like name, address, phone... What information do you like to have in your database?
Tim |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Hi Tim -
I shared some tips on using ACT! on this thread. I currently use an older version (still using ACT!2000), but if I could set up fields without too much trouble, I'd be sure to put fields for both home and work numbers, as well as cell and fax numbers (yes, all 4). My current version only has fields for two of these out in the open (phone and fax), so I have to mention in the "extension" box whether it is a home or work number -- a little annoying. I would also put a field for month last worked with them, and a field for month last contacted them (so I could tell at a quick glance, without looking at my notes). I would also put the field for spouse's name out in the open, as well as a field for an alternate contact name (in the case of working with a company). Maybe a field (or fields) for their child's name(s), in the case of a birthday show parent. It would be great to know everyone's name at a quick glance. I would also put a field for their own personal birthday out in the open, so I could remember to ask them that (casually), and then send them a card close to their birthday. Just some ideas off the top of my head, after using the program for a while now. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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shawn popp Veteran user Denver 313 Posts |
A while back someone mentioned a software package that another magician had created for magicians. Not magicbase. Anyone remember this?
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Jim Snack Inner circle 1338 Posts |
I also use ACT 2000 and one field that I use a lot is the ID field, but I enter a contract number for every engagement. The number is based upon the performance date, with the year first, month noect and day last. So a show on December 15, 2006 would have an ID number of 061215. If I have two bookings on a day, I just add thje letters 'a' or 'b' after the number.
By giving each engagement an ID or contract number that is based upon the date it is an easy matter to search all the bookings in a certain year or month by entering the necessary numbers on the Lookup form. Jim |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-09-29 12:12, Shawn Griffin wrote: That's the one from Ralph the Great. http://www.showtoolspro.com/ - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Sean Macfarlane Special user 880 Posts |
What about MAC users. What database program do you use or would you suggest?
Thanks, Sean Macfarlane |
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shawn popp Veteran user Denver 313 Posts |
Hey Sean what's going on?
I think the one from Ralph the Great is mac compatible shawn popp |
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Sean Macfarlane Special user 880 Posts |
Hi Shawn, nice hear from ya. No kidding. I will check it out.
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Sean Macfarlane Special user 880 Posts |
I really like ACT, I am getting the new imac which can support both windows XP and OSX, so I think I will go with ACT. Thanks.
Sean |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Sean,
ACT is the way to go if you ask me. I simply love it and still use my ACT 2000 every day. It really keeps everything running smoothly for me. I am sure you will find it working great for you also. You are also very right in that the newest Macs out on the market will run both XP and the newest version of OSX. I am a designer so have both a mac and a PC. You should have no problems running ACT on your mac. 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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Sean Macfarlane Special user 880 Posts |
Thanks Kyle,
I just downloaded a trial version of Soho for Mac. I am still playing with it. But still ACT is the best I have seen so far. Thanks. Best, Sean |
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Gordon Special user Chicago 692 Posts |
Daylite is a great Mac program that is, in my opinion, much better than ACT.
http://www.marketcircle.com/ |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Thanks Gordon for that post. I love ACT but I am always the type who likes to look at and check out other things as well. I always figure I can learn more that way. I will have to check out Daylite for the MAC. Thanks.
Let me try to get back to the original topic though. What things do we place on our database files that help us the most? Donald and Jim gave a lot of great ideas for fields that they use themselves. Obviously it has to be customized to how you work and run your business. What fields do others have and use in your databases? 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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Sean Macfarlane Special user 880 Posts |
Thanks Gordon, I am going to try out a trial version for that one too. I too would like to hear more about how others are managing their business, prospects, shows, and all related ideas. Thanks.
Best, Sean Macfarlane |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Here is some of the database information or fields I use in my own ACT database. I hope some of these may be of help to someone.
Event: Show date 1: Show date 2; Rain date: Show time 1: Show time 2: Show time 3: Show Length: Type of Show: Inside / Outside: Honored person's name: Age: Promo Packet requested: Promo Packet Sent on: Arrival Time: Referred by: Cell Phone: Alt Phone: Tracking (where they heard about us): Number of prior shows: These are just a few of the fields I have created and set up in my own ACT database. There are more, but this may give you a sense of what I use and what I track so that I can make my life easier and have my business working a lot easier for me. Also, keep in mind these are items in addition to what ACT already supplies you with as standard fields. If anyone would like me to elaborate on any of the above fields etc., I would be happy to. 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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Sean Macfarlane Special user 880 Posts |
Great! Thanks Kyle. I am having fun with Daylite. Its really good! It honestly has more than I need at this moment. I like Soho to for Mac, but so far Daylite is taking the lead. I am trying to get organized which is one of my weakest points. Thanks to you all for all your help.
Best, Sean Macfarlane |
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threecardmonte Loyal user 278 Posts |
These are some great ideas. A special thanks to Donald, Jim and Kyle. I agree that the whole point of a system like ACT is to customize it to your own business. But I have never had a legit database before and was looking for ideas for different fields. Thanks again guys.
Tim |
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threecardmonte Loyal user 278 Posts |
Another question though...
Let's say I have a list of schools. I have names for some contacts, and just titles for others. (Attn: John Doe as opposed to Attn: PTA President) Should I create a new field for this title, or put this title where the contact name should be? Any thoughts? Tim |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
In my version of ACT! the job title (field called "Title") is different than the name (field called "Contact"). I can fill in both fields, or the name only, or the title only.
It's up to the user from that point what way they set up the mail merge function, and what fields it accesses. Personally, I don't even use mail merge. I create each letter one by one (without bothering with mail merge), and hand-address my envelopes. This is because I do my mailings in smaller batches. But I use ACT to store the contact information and all of my notes. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Gordon Special user Chicago 692 Posts |
Don't forget the fields for follow-up, including "thank you sent" and "contact again next year on mm/dd/yy".
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