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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
On my side of town we pay a 5% fee to Gigmasters too. But the minimum is $20.00. That means if you are doing a $200.00 show, Gigmasters get 10%. The only way they are actually getting only 5% is if your fee is $400.00 or more.
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drosenbe0813 Elite user Long Island, NY 405 Posts |
I've had a lot of success with Gigmasters...but (I shouldn't give this away)...I've gotten all of my gigs, by calling the customers, after I bid with a message that says that I need more information (which I usually do). One of my clients said that the reason she booked me is that I called her right away, and she liked that. I keep calling until I get either a 'no' or the date passes. I had one client that actually had booked somebody else (non gigmasters), who then canceled on her. She called me since I had continued to leave messages (once a week.)
Like any other marketing...you have to put some effort into it. |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Yea, that is what I did a few times. I also emailed them back directly.
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Vick Inner circle It's taken me 10+ years to make 1120 Posts |
Gigmasters does get a fair amount of Lookie Loos and some price only shoppers (often they say so in the request).
More than half requests for a quote don't book a show (at least not through Gigmasters). Some performers will work the low price shows, that's their choice. One of my biggest complaints with Gigmasters is their "Auto Add" feature, Gigmasters has a pre-checked box that will send the request for quote to 10 other performers in the category too. Also there are occasional request for free or very low paying non-profit/benefit shows. They have been very, very slow this summer and were booking nothing in Jan/Feb. Over all I would not recommend Gigmasters
Unique, Thought Provoking & Amazing Magical Entertainment Experiences
Illusions By Vick Blog of a real world working magician Magic would be great, if not for magicians |
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Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
I wish that they would pre-qualify the lead by asking them what their budget is as well. Too often you are either over or under bidding on these leads that you have been auto-added to.
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stevezany Regular user 145 Posts |
Vick, regarding the "Auto Add" feature that sends requests to ten entertainers in the category, I never knew it existed. But, now I understand why every request I receive from Gigmasters (and I do mean every) indicates that 10 performers were also contacted. Talk about depersonalizing the shopping experience. I always had wondered who these "10" other performers were.
Now I really feel like a can of vegetables on a store shelf--just part of the mix.
Steve Zany
http://www.zanymagic.com |
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Vick Inner circle It's taken me 10+ years to make 1120 Posts |
Steve - it also feeds the bottom feeders and price shoppers I have no problem explaining why my show is more but some are shopping price only and will get what they pay for. But that's another subject.
Unique, Thought Provoking & Amazing Magical Entertainment Experiences
Illusions By Vick Blog of a real world working magician Magic would be great, if not for magicians |
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AragorntheMagician Veteran user Metro-Atlanta 304 Posts |
To All,
This message is in regard to my post in Tricky Business: "Kicking Rear End on GigMaster" The following area's are taken for the test. As you can see, there are many still avail. Raleigh NC, Wichita Kansas, St. Louis, Vancouver BC, Las Vegas NV, Upstate NY, Los Angeles Ca. These people know who they are. Would like some more to test out these ideas. Yours, Aragorn
aka: I used to be BOB (It's Cellini's fault)
"All Right, Who's Volunteering to be Turned into a Frog???" www.aragornthemagician.com |
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John C Eternal Order I THINK therefore I wrote 12943 Posts |
In order to keep my competition from GM I will have to say it's no good. Waste of money. See west palm beach magicians
Again, advertising in the local girl scouts mag makes more $$ No Gigmasters, crummy, waste of time it's a fad. J |
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Acecardician Inner circle New Orleans 1390 Posts |
Honestly, I did the Gigmasters special last year in
Dec., they had a 1/2 price special for one year. I got ZERO gigs. (Maybe because I hate the word gig). I do shows, not gigs, what is a gig anyway? I put I do corporate shows, and 95% of leads they sent me were for birthdays, 300 miles from my house that want face painting.(And I do not face paint.) They send the leads to several people and let everyone bid on them, and the lowest bidder gets it. If someone asks for me, they still send the gig lead to several others to underbid me! Two other local guys who are not even magicians, but picked up a couple of tricks, and they underbid me every time. I can easily get my full price from a local client that calls me direct. I would have to give up my regular gigs to go out of town to do these for less! So I am competing with myself with gig masters. Everywhere online they were listed, I was listed also. This was a total waste and very frustrating. Once a big client called me by phone direct, hired me, and asked me to send an invoice. Later that day I saw a gigmaster request from the same person. I did not answer it, as I thought I already had the gig. They ended up hiring my friend who is not a magician, but just a clown, to do 3 1/3 hours of magic! Then he called me looking for advice! When I called the lady back, she lied and said someone else already hired someone else, but I knew it was her, as her name was on the Gig master request. I even called my friend and he verified it was her! I finally got one event as a result of gig masters after I quit! My friend who underbids me got the email for a juggler, and he can't juggle, so he gave it to me direct, and I did the job at my regular price! That was at the beginning of the month, and I still have not gotten paid yet. It was a big company and they had to go through accounting, setting me up as a vendor, and get several signatures, we'll see. ACE
My Chinese Stick Collection: https://app.photobucket.com/u/ChineseSticks?sort=6
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
ACE
A gig is a paying job reguardless of if it is a show or a walkaround gig. It is a word used by musicians. You live in the Big Easy and musicians all over (your) town will afairm my opinion.
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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magicofCurtis Inner circle Los Angeles 2545 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-12-18 15:49, Acecardician wrote: Actually this word is an acronym-for GOD is GOOD! IT was used by the old blues players and bands when they received a paid performance they would say GIG! Today we use it in reference to a performance job verses the org meaning. Regarding to Gigmasters. IT has done me WELL - actually very well this year! A trick to Gigmasters. You really have to work it. Contact the people, follow up and understand the clients budget.
Curtis Lovell II
http://www.CurtisLovell.com http://www.MagicofCurtis.com www.facebook.com/curtislovellii Los Angeles, California - U.S.A. |
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Domino Magic Special user 999 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-12-18 19:28, magicofCurtis wrote: Agreed, providing you actually get leads. This year for me - ZERO. Well yes, I did get leads for the exact opposite type of shows I do. Any leads I got were for kids shows, birthday parties, balloon twisting. I'm a mentalist! My primary listing was mentalist. My Gigmasters membership expired on the 14th and looking back at my gigs this year, I discovered that the only gig I got from them this year was back in February. So after 2 years, I canceled my account. |
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Joe S. Loyal user Los Angeles, CA 272 Posts |
Canceled ages ago and put the money toward Adwords. Good call.
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Acecardician Inner circle New Orleans 1390 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-12-18 18:22, Al Angello wrote: I was trying to be silly, of course I know what a gig is. I did not know about the God is Good, though, now I like it better. I have and do work with tons of musicians here, and I like to distinguish myself as doing shows, when they do "gigs". Just the word itself I never liked, it seemed to degrade my act, or make it less than it is. Some of the musicians here do gigs and it is more like they thank God that it is a paid gig. I don't think like that. I don't do it unless I know I am getting paid. Musicians are a different breed here, at least the ones I know, In my opinion. To some a gig is any performance, whether they get paid or not. I've seen Hot dog vendors on bourbon street, and they call that their "gig". The term is overused here, even the security guards at the Superdome call that job their "gig". I do shows! ACE Quote:
On 2009-12-18 19:57, Domino Magic wrote: Same with me, as I said, they sent me unqualified leads, things I don't do, and the ones I could, they sent the same lead to all my competition to lowball, something I will not do! They seem to encourage lowballing. The leads I did follow up on and contacted seemed to just want a generic party entertainer at the cheapest price. I've always tried to raise my prices higher than eveyone elses in the area, do a lot more, and my clients seek me out. It has been succesfull so far, my moto: call JOJO, talk to JOJO, get JOJO. Contact someone else, talk to who-ever answers the phone, and get who-ever they can find that is available. What would you rather do for your event? I find that many of the successful Gig master users broker out the work. I've talked to one guy(not in this area)he said he sends out 100 people a month. That is great. But I'm not an agent and don't want to be one. I'm an individual, and Gigmasters makes you part of that group. They also don't qualify the performers, anyone can join if they pay. And some are not that good. Even if people don't get me, I always recommend they find an individual in their area they can talk to and get that person they talk to, if they decide on them. ACE
My Chinese Stick Collection: https://app.photobucket.com/u/ChineseSticks?sort=6
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Domino Magic Special user 999 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-12-18 21:56, Joe S. wrote: For you, being in Los Angeles, Adwords is a good call. It's going to get you listed on the first page since your site isn't being listed their organically. Adwords is great for that and if you're just launching your site waiting for Top 10 results. That's what I did. After a few weeks I canceled Adwords because my sites do so well organically. I've certainly made more money from the search engines than I did from Gigmasters! |
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Joe S. Loyal user Los Angeles, CA 272 Posts |
Very true, Domino!
I'm on the second page for the most used terms... but second page only gets 10% of the traffic that the first page gets. Depending on my finances next year I'll look into hiring someone to get me on page 1. There's a few magicians on page one in LA who have HORRIBLE sites. I know if I can get there I can win more business. Good for you for being on page one! Where do you live? |
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EliTheIllusionist Regular user York, PA 191 Posts |
GigMasters and I have a love/hate relationship. I absolutely love how organized it is. I love the notification updates via email. I also love how competitive it is. Honestly, if you're a new member, it's going to take some time to get up the rankings. I started out super low in my radius when I started. I was 19th. Now I believe I am 5th ranked in 100 mile radius and 10th in a 500 mile radius. It takes a long time to get noticed. Client feedback is such an integral part to the whole system.
What I really dislike about the site is most of my leads / gigs that come to my email are kids shows, face painting, or a ton of charity shows. I have been with Gigmasters for almost a year. When I do get a lead through email I always am super excited. Then I open to read the body of the message to find out it's a church looking for free entertainment to entertain ranges 1-5 years old. I wish there was a separate category for children's events vs teen / adult events. Most of my work comes from word of mouth referrals. Gigmasters has been letting me down 80% of the time. But - when the nice shows do come through, I am always confident that I can get the show through proper communication, competency exhibits, testimonials, and feedback. Just my 2 cents. What do you bigger illusionists / adult magicians think of Gigmasters? |
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Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I got tired of the poor selection, long distance gigs, so I let my membership expire.
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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EliTheIllusionist Regular user York, PA 191 Posts |
I can understand that Al. I couldn't imagine traveling for the lower tier gigs. I learned that once you start getting great reviews, you can start charging more and more. Once your gigmasters profile exudes quality and proficiency (through client feedback) then people are a heck of a lot more likely to book with you, then you can separate yourself from the competition. It takes time.
Which package did you have? 100mile, 500 mile, 3000 mile? |
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