I see some folks are on both. Does anyone find one better than the other?

My experience with Gigmasters is pretty limited but I may upgrade so I can get leads from a bigger area.

I am only on Gigmasters and I have had some pretty good success with it in only the 4 months or so that I have been signed on with it. I already easily paid for my entire yearly fee on the very first gig we landed. It is pretty easy to do once you have it all set up and get used to the format and process. I just would reccomend spending the time to really make your profile shine.

Kyle

I just moved so I have been off of it for a while, but I didn't get anything from gigsalad but got boatloads from gigmasters when I stayed on top of it. Good luck!

Alexa

There was a very long discussion about Gig Masters in the Tricky Business section earlier this year in which Gig Salad also comes up quite a bit.

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=44

Grab another cup of coffee!

I found that I got more corporate work from gigmasters than anything. Shows for kids were very limited. I have not done corporate work in 6 years now so I would say that gigmasters is o.k. at best!

Hey Todd. You can send those corporate gigs my way if you like. hehe I still do them. =)

Kyle

I hate corporate work and everything about it other than the pay! Nothing worse dealing with drunks. Once I quit doing corporate adult shows and started specializing in only kid shows, I became so busy I could not fill the requesr. I am glad that others out there like it but it ain't for me.

I never heard of Gigsalad. I am on Partypop.

I was put off partypop by the cheesy phone calls. Probably not the best way to evaluate a company but I just couldn't be bothered with them, they annoyed me.

I joined both Party Pop and Gigmasters in July. I am trying to give them a good shot, through the holidays to see really how well they work.
But I will give you a little bit of my experience thus far
Before you read on, I want to be clear you will see others will have a different opinion since these sites and the success you have will vary based on
1. your location
2. the amount of competition in those locations
3. market you choose to cover.

I never had cheesy phone calls from Party Pop. I actually do not so far have much activity from Party Pop. Maybe a few calls since July and not one booking and my first month I paid for top position and still it was a low volume of calls.

Gigmasters is a strange bird indeed with many system flaws. So far the only work I have gotten was by lowering my price or giving them more for the same price. (longer show)
Many shoppers and looky sees on Gig. They are full of flaws for new members such has how you get seen and what position you will be until you get rankings/ They have a crazy rating structure, worse then how ebay figures their fees and they could care less about your opinions/
Just read some of the gig threads on such topics on their fees or any other complaint and they will eventually close and lock it so you can not even vent.
Repeated emails reach one of two people who will flat out tell you they think their system is perfect and do not plan any changes.

For example, they give you the mileage to the show AS THE CROW FLIES which I have had be off up to 40 miles. They say they are not a map quest company so I should look up the drive miles myself. However the flaw is that they use this system to also calculate what shows you are shown and you will not believe what I found out about how they use the miles you say you will work. I actually thought I was covering myself but was missing being auto added, the only way a new member really can get off of page 3 or worse, because I set the range high.
I will be explaining this and more after I give them a fair shot on if it pays for all this craziness.

I tried for more than a month to match what others were bidding but I only started to get a few shows after giving a bargain price. You need gigs and ratings and $$ to move up the list with gig.

So now my Gig membership is paid for for the year but I still dislike the fact that I pay them to join and pay them $20 each show. (Gigmasters has a fair 5% fee but they have a $20 min. So if your normal show is not more than $400 you always take a $20 hit on top of your monthly gigmasters member fee. Many agree with me if you read the Gigmasters board.

And so far I have sacrificed time and distance just to earn my place in gigmasters. I am disappointed that they are not reacting to the higher prices and that I have to settle. If you are just curious, go to gigmasters and search guys in your area. if you see quick quote, click them and see what they have bid and if they had any takers. You will see a blue star next to the gigs that took that price.
Where I am even top rated guys have very few bookings through the service.

More on this later. I can say that I learned about Party Pop and Gigmasters from Google searching for magic in my area. I wanted to see rankings and noted these two had moved to the top of the list or in the top 10. So if anything you are paying for a link that might also pay off with shows.
Since they link to your site, it only helps with your rankings.

I have not heard of gigsalad.

I believe the client pays this 5% fee.

All the best,

John

You have the option of paying this 5% fee for the customer. If you do, GigMasters presents it as a gift to the customer. Just another way to make your profile look attractive to the customer. I've choosen this option because to me, 5% is a small price to pay when you consider agents require anywhere from 10% to 50%.

Thanks Ken. Nice touch in offering to pay the fee.

All the best,

John

I also pay the fee for my clients who I get through GigMasters. It has worked rather nicely for me as well.

Kyle

Gigmasters has paid for itself every year I use it. I don't have any complaints with them.

And I have had plenty of phone calls from party pop. I can't say whether or not they were cheesy though.

J

Gigmaster does not drop the booking in your lap, you have to work for them, those who do not work for their gigmaster bookings are well represented here. Ken and Kyle live in my area the three of us have been successful with plenty of high paying bookings. It kind of makes me laugh to see how many magicians that will buy an expensive marketing coures but refuses to get up off their butts and close a deal at a place that sends the paying customers to you. If gigmaster is not working for you then I suggest you buy another marketing course.

I just joined gigmasters.....I found a 'coupon', so the first year was only $120. I figure, if I get one show, it will more than pay for itself. I also put up 2 vids. Please give me your opinions...

http://www.gigmasters.com/magician/ADavidFunnParty/

thanks,

David

David
I predict that you will have tremendous success, because what better sales tool is there than a demo video. I did not read your profile but a slick profile will make you worth more money than your competition.
GOOD LUCK

Hey David!

Good luck- I've heard Long Island is a very competitive market...

I checked out your profile on Gigmasters- maybe not a big deal, but you have a testimonial from Bob Markwood on there. I doubt anyone ever checks out testimonials, but that may not be a name you want associated with yours.

Terry

Gigmasters as a MIN. Fee of $20.
So on a $200 show you are really paying a 10% commission. And a REAL agent(not a booking agent, does more for you if they are good. So I did 5 small shows through them and jsut paid them ANOTHER $100 on top of my membership.
I bet you that a larger majority of magicians are bidding on party shows which are under $400. You have to sell $400 shows only if you want to actually pay the 5%. Otherwise people should know they are paying more than 5%

Yes the client could pay but that is not wise since MOST offer to pay it. So if you are the only one not paying it, they better want YOU.

I am sorry, I can not only look at it as paying for my membership. I have to also consider what I am loosing in profit by taking a GM show. Would another show have come in outside of GM? WIth gas and an EXTRA $20 hit, well it makes one have to consider those GM shows carfeully since MOST I have encountered really are only looking for the best price.
I understand your area matters and stated that in an earlier post.
Again, I have chosen to take the hit now just to build up some ratings.

Funny, many of the braggers I have seen in another thread for GM I have checked out and see how much they bid and how few shows, IF ANY are being booked at those prices.
To deal outside of GM after getting the lead from GM does not make much sense since your placement on GM is all about reviews and $$ brought in. You have to have a top spot not to care.

Sure one could raise their fee on GM to cover expenses but since up to 10 people could be auto added to bid, one has to consider that in how much you charge.