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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
I haven't seen this topic lately, or ever... but then again I didn't search.
A recent poll taken said that the average pay for a kids show in the US was $250. This is nowhere near the average around here. The problem is that too many people around here will not go up on their rates. We have magicians around here that do it for $100. And the real problem, is that they are good magicians. It would be different if they stunk, and that's what they deserve...But this is not the case. I keep raising my rate, and I still get shows, and they are still happy with my show and rate. But it's still not up to any $250, and this is due to the fact that they can get a good magician for a lot cheaper. Anyone else have this problem? Anyone else have ideas? Randi |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
Randi
There are places in this country where there are no magicians, and you can probably get more than $250 if you lived there. Have you ever considered relocating? The going price around here is lots more than $100. I wish you well.
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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WayneNZ Inner circle New Zealand 1013 Posts |
It's always been a problem.
Ive heard of guys doing a show for as little as $50. Just makes it that much harder for everybody else. It's a shame they don't think of the harm they are doing. Not only are they selling themselves short, but under value everybody else. |
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curtgunz Special user Only 99% of users have more than 784 Posts |
Randi,
Are you still having to turn away gigs because you are too booked-up? If so, keep going up on your rate. Sometimes people who charge more are perceived as worth more. All of Ft. Worth might start bragging, "I got Randi for my party. She charges $250, so she is the BEST around!" Keep going up until your bookings level out. If you can get $500 while everyone else is still getting $100 and you have all the work you want then it is all the better.
Click for Free Resources for Performers
YouTube channel specifically for family & kids show magicians. Click -- You need to subscribe. |
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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
Invite all the magicians in your area to a daytime BBQ or similar event, and use the opportunity to chat about prices and marketing strategies amongst other things. We do this in my area, and it's very valuable, also great to meet the other local entertainers.
Doug. |
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todd75 Inner circle 1277 Posts |
Randi....
As you know, I too am in Texas. I do a ton of shows and $250.00 for a birthday is what I consider to be cheap in your area. Believe it or not....I often times charge $350.00 - $395.00 in your area and they pay it and I now do a briefcase show. Of course, at that much you have to have a KILLER show. You are right...the D/FW area is full of "cheap" performers that charge $100.00 - $150.00 for a birthday show. The question is....how many shows are they really doing? Most likely not as many as they claim. At one point in time there was someone (I am sure you know) doing a briefcase show for $75.00 in your area. Don't know if that is still the case or not. I know from experience that you can get more in your area. If your show is any good at all...raise your prices and as Curtgunz suggested, keep raising them until you start getting people turning you down. If you truly are any good at all and people rant and rave about you and you get a lot of repeat business, it may be the time to be the most expensive in your area. That is what I did...raised my fee to where I am almost double what everyone else charges. Guess what? I did 2 birthday parties already today and both paid $350.00 so it can be done.... |
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Quote:
the D/FW area is full of "cheap" performers that charge $100.00 - $150.00 for a birthday show. The question is....how many shows are they really doing? Most likely not as many as they claim. Actully, a lot and I know this for a fact. These people are friends. And a lot of us have talked to them about raising their rate. Most of these people are retired. They pretty much do magic for fun. Instead of sitting on the front porch and watching cars go by, they do magic shows. They don't care that much about the money. But they get a lot of shows. I did a show this morning and I got $200 for it. The kids loved it and they had fun. So my opinion is that I am worth what ever anybody else is getting. But after raising my rate, I have got fewer jobs. But again I have worked less and got the same amount of money before. Now if I can just work more and get more money, I will be happy. But then again, I don't advertise. I guess I should start really marketing myself a lot more before I complain. But I have a show tonight for $275. But it's not a kids show, it's a fire eating show. Randi |
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TroyRoark Loyal user Springfield IL 282 Posts |
Sounds like you're working the wrong niche. Too many kids magicians, but not too many fire eaters I'm guessing.
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curtgunz Special user Only 99% of users have more than 784 Posts |
Randi,
I hope you can tweak it until you get the max pay for the exact number of shows you want. I guess that's the trick for all of us. Just remember, you are a pro and the worst customers can say is "No" I bet you could quickly fill your date book up with high paying, quality gigs since you are already doing close to that without even advertising. Good luck and keep us posted.
Click for Free Resources for Performers
YouTube channel specifically for family & kids show magicians. Click -- You need to subscribe. |
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Bob Sanders Grammar Supervisor Magic Valley Ranch, Clanton, Alabama 20504 Posts |
Several years ago at KIDAbra, we agreed that the national average for childrens birthday parties is $250.
This week I called my agent because I decided to keep a date that I thought was open, open. The negotiations were for a wedding reception thirty miles from home. My agent told me it was too late. We had the client's $600 check. It is there to get. Pick your market. Don't be afraid to say "No". Don't be afraid to ask your price. Don't be intimidated by those who work for less. They know what their show is worth. Essentially, I have two prices: mine and free. Good Luck Bob |
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TrickyRicky Inner circle TrickyRicky 1652 Posts |
Hi Randi.
How long is your performance for kids? Richard. |
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Hi Richard.
It's usually about 45 minutes long. And Troy... Fire is a tricky thing. Especially since the band 'Great White' burned down that bar and killed people. But what's weird... is my life. I woke up this morning... Put on my pink, white, and green outfit I wear to my kids shows... Drove out and did the show, all good. Came home, took a nap... Put on my goth/demonic black and red sexy outfit, and did fire eating for this heaven and he ||birthday party at some fancy club in Dallas. I had two girls dressed as angels following me around. Is it just me, or that a strange life? oh... and probably the weirdest thing... it's 3:30am right now, and I am on the Café typing this. I got to go to bed. Randi |
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todd75 Inner circle 1277 Posts |
O.K. Randi....
Here is something else you might want to consider. What are all of these other performers doing in the their show that are charging $100.00 - $150.00??? What are you doing that they don't? If you are "just another performer" than yes, it is going to be hard to get people to pay more for you. However, if you have something that really sticks out in your show that no-one else can or even will do, use that as your nich. I personally do a very original show. I also have several routines in all of my shows that people can't find anywhere else. I also specialize in working only with children. I don't do corporate or shows for teenagers...ever. I only do kid shows and people see me as an expert in that field and pay more. I am well aware of some of the performers that you talking about and yes, they are working for pennies. My advice to you is to do your own thing and don't worry about what they are doing. Let them be the "cheap" performers that worry more about quantity rather than quality. You can work less and make the same as them or even more just by having a better show at a higher price. |
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Patriot Regular user 112 Posts |
Your brand is, in my opinion, what defines your value. I'm surrounded by some of the best private-performance magicians in the business and our rates vary depending on our personal and professional needs. We each draw from our own targeted markets with just enough overlap to keep the challenge alive.
Simple "magicians" may pull more shows at simple rates (The McDonald's Principle) while the top known-by-name performers draw fewer shows at many times that rate (The Ruth's Chris Principle) based on their brand recognition. The stronger your brand the higher your perceived value. The wider spread your brand, the more shows at the higher rates will come your way. Texas-superstar Trixi Bond and North Carolina's Eddy Wade are the ideal models for this market concept. They successfully charge unbelievable "corporate-level rates" for private birthday parties bsaed entirely on their brand and service. Let the "cheap" performers have their market. Set your goals higher to excel in and dominate your own choice clientelle. Identify and saturate your unique target market. Best wishes, Randi! |
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randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
What everybody is saying, is basically what I am trying to do.
My show is very different from others. I do very little of the classic stuff. No HH rabbits, no die box, etc. These are all great tricks that work, and I used to do these. But I got tired of kids saying they have seen another magician do it. "I saw a magician at Jason's birthday party do this trick." That's not what I wanted. So basically... I took all the magic I like personally, got rid of anything too adult themed, got rid of anything too complicated, and took the rest and turned it into a kids show. I do change it a lot. I am constantly searching for the perfect show. What I need to do, is advertise for the 10+ boys show. I do great there. These kids who all watch Chris Angel on TV, and they don't want a kid show magician. Well, that's me. I can fit that bill better than anyone in the area. Randi |
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todd75 Inner circle 1277 Posts |
Randi....
You are right....lots of kids love Chris on TV and I have had many parents tell me that after watching Mindfreak on TV that they want to hire a magician for their party. However, I let them know right up front that my style in nothing close to what they see on television....in fact not at all. I do a comedy magic show that involves the children rather than street magic. If you feel that you have something to offer your clients that no one else can, make sure that you focus in on that and maybe even turn it into your USP. For many years, I charged $150.00 for birthday parties in my area. With time and years of experience I went up. Then a few new guys started doing shows at about the same price. Because I had more experience and had made a name for myself I made sure that my price was higher. Still to this day I have people that call and say, "wow, I talked with XXX and he only charges $150.00 for a show and you are $295.00????" But in the end guess who gets the gig? And it is because (A) I am good on the phone with closing the deal and (B) I focus in on what I do that no-one else does. I don't bad mouth my competiton EVER for any reason whatsoever. Instead, I paint a mental picture of what my show is and they can't resist. By the end of the conversation they know that they can spend $150.00 for a show or $295.00 or more for a GREAT show. It is just like going car shopping. You can buy a basic car for $20K or for $35K you can get the sunroof, 6 disc CD player, bigger engine, etc. etc. I truly believe that when people hear two different prices for a performer and the prices are much different ($150 vs $250 or whatever), they are automatically going to assume that you are better. Just make sure that you are! Everyone knows that you get what you pay for. When I doubled my prices, it was very hard at first but guess what? I have never been busier. Let the "cheap" performers keep doing what they are doing. In five years from now they will still be the "cheap" guy and you'll be worlds apart from them. In 10 years and beyond....same thing! If you do tomorrow what you did today, you'll get the same thing tomorrow. Here is the theory that I use....if you pay xxx and the kids are bored, you actually overpaid. If you spend a little more and the kids have the time of their lives, you got a great deal. |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-06-24 13:29, todd75 wrote: Ah, but how do you convey that message, Todd, without badmouthing the competition (even in some subtle ways)? - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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todd75 Inner circle 1277 Posts |
Actually, all I do is say YES, you can have "so and so" and I am sure that they will do a great show for you. I simply explain that my prices are a reflection of the show that I present and that you are not paying for a 45 minute show but rather for 21 years of experience. I also let them know that there are indeed other performers out there and that I am going to be the most expensive they are going to find in the area. For those that it scares off, chances are I did not want to work with them anyway....usually means doing a show in the ghetto.
I think the price difference speaks for itself. I have had many calls from people that have spoken with others and they call me back because they tell me that my show sounds better. If someone ever does bark at my price, I refer them to someone else who charges less. I let them know that their show is different than mine and keep it at that. I don't refer to performers I have not seen in action and cannot recommend. Again, I NEVER PUT DOWN MY FELLOW PERFORMERS. IF I SAY "SO AND SO" IS A JERK, I MIGHT AS WELL SAY I AM TOO. |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
When I get a mom on the phone I tell her that I do not do kiddie magic, I do magic for kids that the rest of the family will also enjoy. You do not have to bad mouth stinky, or crusty the clown to let everyone know that you're refreshingly different.
Around here we have a lot of grandmom clowns that will get all dressed up, come to your house, and do practically nothing for $100, which is why professional clowns have such trouble getting work.
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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todd75 Inner circle 1277 Posts |
In agreement with Al.
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