|
|
Hart Keene Inner circle Eugene, OR 1486 Posts |
Hey guys,
I am currently working a privately owned Restaurant/Bar and two Applebee's locations. I wouldn't consider myself a children's entertainer as I enjoy working for adults and that is what makes up the majority of my outside work. However, I do get a lot of requests for children's parties, many of them for kids who are quite young(as young as 3). I think what happens is that the adults enjoy themselves so they think it will be perfect for the kid's bday party. Anyway, I pass these off to a magician buddy of mine who does balloons(I don't) and has a children's show. I pass off quite a few shows to him and although he also does adult stuff it never seems to "come around", that is he never passes along or gets me a show. So my question is should I be charging a finder's fee? If so, how much? Should I start doing the negotiating and play the agent role? That way I can get him his fee but take the finders fee that way? What do you all think? Have you had to deal with this before? |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
I get calls all the time for kid shows. TOO MANY if you ask me. I don't do the kid show much anymore...I'm priced out of the market...but if someone wants to pay my fee for a children's show...then I'll show up and do my act...no muss, no fuss!
That being said, I usually pass off most of the business to local agencies in the area who specialize in Children's Enterainment. The deal we have going is when they get ME a gig, I get my full price + the fee that they charge their client for booking the show. It's worked out pretty well. I look at it like this. Out here in Dallas/Ft. Worth, the birthday party market for Magic is about $125 - $150 for a 30 minute magic show with balloon twisting. I won't work for that little. For me to do my Cabaret Show, my overhead is about $40.00 + the cost of Gas to get to and from. Not worth it to me for that little. So knowing the market like I do, if I pass the gig onto someone else and they BOOK it, I may only get about $5-$10 for the finders fee...is it worth it to keep up with who books and who doesn't? Naaaa....not for me. I've got better things to do with my time then call 30 people who couldn't afford me and ask if they booked with the other Magician and then try and track the guy down for $10 bucks.
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Hart Keene Inner circle Eugene, OR 1486 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-06-02 13:11, lylemagic wrote: Wait, can you explain this? Do you mean the agent gets nothing? I don't understand.... How did you get an agency to agree to something like this? |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
Exactly!
Here's the deal... Let's say that I send 10 gigs to an agency. They book 5 of them. They made money! YEAH for them! Now a Corporate Gig comes along and its my turn in their rotation. They book me (my fee + their fee). I do the event and I get EVERYTHING! I provided them with 5 shows and in return, I get 1. It works out pretty well. I don't have to bother with Finders Fees, I just employeed 5 Magicians (or 1 Magician 5 times), and the agency made money. In return, I get my fee plus their mark up (which could be considered a finders fee for giving them 5 gigs that they wouldn't have had if it wasn't for me). Make sense?
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Hart Keene Inner circle Eugene, OR 1486 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-06-02 13:54, lylemagic wrote: Ok, that makes sense. Unless the agent was shady, but that never happens! lol I'm sure it works well for you though. |
Christopher Lyle Inner circle Dallas, Texas 5698 Posts |
I have a good relationship with the agencies that work with me like this. That being said...who knows???? LOL! What I don't know won't hurt me...
In Mystery,
Christopher Lyle Magician, Comic, Daredevil, and Balloon Twisting Genius For a Good Time...CLICK HERE! |
Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-06-02 13:03, Hart Keene wrote: I personally think the good will, and good name you build by acting the way you are, is worth more than the finders fee. I would not play the "agent roll" if I were you. The money for those things is not huge, and who knows, maybe KARMA will come back and bit ya in a nice way! I have dealt with this all my career as I have NEVER done kids shows. It does come back to help you in the end. It may take time, but it WILL come back. I think your doing fine. BUT that is an opinion, and it is up to you needless to say.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
Hart Keene Inner circle Eugene, OR 1486 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-06-02 15:40, Dannydoyle wrote: Good point Danny. I guess when it has been going on for a while and it never seems to come back around you have to wonder if maybe you should get a little something for your efforts... |
jimhlou Inner circle 3698 Posts |
He's a buddy of yours, right? Just flat out ask him if he can raise his fee $10 and give you a $10 finder's fee on what you throw his way.
Jim |
nucinud Inner circle New York, New York 1298 Posts |
In my neck of the woods, the finders fee is about $50. But then the show fess are higher.
"We are what we pretend to be" Kurt Vonnegut, jr.
Now U C It Now U Don't Harry Mandel www.mandelmagic.com |
jlibby Inner circle 1044 Posts |
People have raised some good points here. I would only add that if I were getting work from your referrals, I'd automatically be sending you 10% whether you asked for it or not.
Joe L. San Antonio, TX
My new FREE ebook on the classic Mismade Bill trick is ready for you:
https://funnybirthdayshow.com/mismadebill/ |
chicagoharry New user 94 Posts |
Magician In Puerto Rico got me a gig 1 hr and a half. Walk around about 3 years ago at the Hilton he told me that they would be paying me $350 and that I would owe him $75. He told me he was going to a poker tournament. He then picked up 33rd place at the World series of poker cashed for about $275,000 never saw him much after that. Ran into him once again at borders. Go figure...
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Table hoppers & party strollers » » Finders Fee? (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |