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Mindpro Eternal Order 10587 Posts |
When working jobs from an agent or event planner and someone asks for your business card do you give them your business card or the agency's business card?
I am asking this because of my surprisingly recent findings. I am just ending my spring school season which includes mostly school assemblies, post-proms and graduation events. About half of these I book through several different agencies or event coordinators. Although times have changed with respect to the amount of agency bookings I receive(I used to book about 75-80% of my dates through agencies, it had dropped over the last five years or so to only about 40-50% of my dates from them) whenever I've ever done an agency gig and someone asks for my business card I ALWAYS have given them the agency's card or if I don't have any I simply jot down my name along with the agents contact info. This to me has always been standard practice. I expect the same when I also book other acts. I always believed this to be standard business practice. However I started noticing this last year (at least that's when it first started coming to my attention) and have been consciously paying more attention to this this year as it was starting to bother me that I had witnessed some entertainers or attractions that were clearly booked by an agency or middle party, were giving out their own cards along with a line something to the effect of "well I was booked here through an agency but you can book me direct, here let me give you MY card". It had bothered me to the point be being very curious so this year I started asking other entertainers and attractions (inflatables, casino nights, etc.) for their cards, especially those that I know were booked through an agency. To my surprise over 70% of those I approached gave me their own card or contact information, most of the time either with some sort of story sidestepping the original booker, or out and out lying never even stating they were booked through an agency. I always made sure to do this before they knew I was a performer myself so it was not just performers exchanging cards. Most of the time I approached them they either thought I was part of the planning committee or just a parent volunteer with interest in booking them for a future event. Now my point is not to snitch and turn these people over to the agency, that's not my style and never was my purpose in the first place. But it did confirm my beliefs that this was going on quite frequently. My question is, is it not standard business protocol when working with an agency or event planner to direct all inquiries to the booker coming from that event? What bothered me most is that many of these entertainers (or attraction operators) were younger than me, meaning in their 20's or 30's. Maybe I'm a bit "old school" but have the times and practices changed or is the newer generation of performers not properly educated on these business procedures, or is the mentality of every man (or woman) for themselves in the current entertainment market the new norm? I'd like your opinions. Is it just me or is this a problem? I regularly see many postings here about "how do I get in with an agency" or "why am I not getting more bookings through agencies" or even "agencies are not what they used to be - they seem to have less bookings and only seem to use the same handful of acts". I understand times have changed, how agencies exist and operate have changed too, but isn't proper etiquette still the same? |
ScottRSullivan Special user 874 Posts |
I agree with you. All offers or inquiries that are a result of being on the job for an agent go through the agent.
Often, I hand them my business card with the agency's info printed on it instead of mine. Business cards (good, heavy, color glossy cardstock) are as cheap as $25 for a box an so it's cheap to order custom cards. So when they call the agency, they know it's me they want and not just 'a magician.' However, there are a few agencies that I work for who prefer their own cards for their branding. In those cases, I have my name printed on clear tape on the business card. I do everything I can to help my agents out. I even provide them with my own marketing material with their contact in lieu of mine. In my mind, it's a team effort. In the end we both win. Scott |
Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
Go by whatever the agent or event planner tell you. Some will want you to hand out their cards only. Some do not mind. Some will give you their cards to pass out. Some will give you their cards to pass out with your name included on them.
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Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3660 Posts |
When working with an agency/planner, it is their card that goes out.
However, with that being said, I have had (only once or twice) a client of an agency ask me for my card. I always initially refuse, but I have had some that are very aggresive, to the point I feel they would not give the agency any other work, or give me a negative feedback. I usually skirt the issue by saying (tongue in cheek) that they have my name, and if they should happen to Google it, they will find me. This seems to content them, and I know they will more than likely take the easy route and call the agency should they need my services. (Folks are lazy!) With the thought that younger performers give out their cards more readily, I think this may have to do with the ease of access to info. via the net. Nothing is secret, nothing is confidential, if you want to search for it, or pay to get it, you've got it. It is indeed a generational thing. Another thought is that I used to do an event for an agency here in town that used my services only once or twice a year, they would call for me to volunteer my services to a large fundraiser (through them). It was a good cause, and I would have done it anyway. But after the first year or two, I started handing out my cards if one was requested. My thought on this was I was not getting any increase in work from this agency, the agency was getting the credit for supplying the entertainment, I was there to promote my services, but to who. If the agency wanted me to promote their services then they should expect pay me to do so. What are YOUR thoughts in this instance?? Blair
Visit My Facebook Fan Page At
www.Facebook.com/BlairMarshallMontrealMagician www.BlairMarshall.ca www.ShaZzamShow.com www.MontrealMagicien.com |
Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Always give out the agency's cards, unless you ask permission to do otherwise.
You do communicate with your customers, don't you? In this case, your customer is the agency. Once, I was working for a party planner, and I knew it would be suitable to give away my activity books at this show. But they had my contact info and website on them, and it was too expensive to adapt the materials for just that one event. I asked her if it would be ok to give away my activity books, explaining that they had my contact info, and she said it was ok. If any spin off shows resulted, I promised that we could work out an arrangement to funnel the shows to her, or pay her a commission. In most cases, I would have assumed it was not OK to give out my contact information, when working for an agency. This is their customer, and any spin-off shows are also their customers. If you give out your contact information without their permission, you are trying to steal from your customer (yes, I said "steal"). Asking for permission after the fact (or not asking for permission at all) is poor business behavior. It is like doing BOR sales. You always ask first, and clear it with your customer. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
My guess is if you want to work with them again, you should give out their card.
But they will probably have it in your contract if you look close enough.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
tacrowl Inner circle Maryland 1633 Posts |
Mindpro,
You know what is right or it wouldn't bother you. In the end, a good agent will find out and stop using those acts/attractions. On your situation Blair, its a two way street - you wouldn't be in a position to hand out the card had the agency not called and asked you to be there. I can also understand your reasoning. Because it is a unique situiation, I would have asked at the start what I should do when someone asks for a card. Then you could have determined if you wanted a fee to represent them at the event. |
RobertBloor Inner circle The Socialist Republic of the USA. 1051 Posts |
Our agency lost a gig once to a guy we had booked into a fair. He went around handing out HIS card, not the agency's.
I found out about it because the group that booked him was one my dad was involved with. The performer was told if he does it again he's done.
"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government,"
-The Declaration of Independence |
Blair Marshall Inner circle Montreal, Canada 3660 Posts |
Tom,
I think the one thing I did learn from the event I mentioned above, was to take pre-emptive measures. In the sense that I feel bad or "guilty" about turning down someone for a worthwhile cause, whether directly, or an agent acting for a "cause". How? By giving back to the community as part of my business model. In the next few months I will average 1 event per month for a worthwhile cause, mainly for the welfare of children (I have 3). This allows me to not feel guilty if I turn something down, I am also in control of my participation, ie. the extent and the publicity surrounding my performance, and what I hand out/put out as promotional material ie. cards etc. There is no intermediary. Blair
Visit My Facebook Fan Page At
www.Facebook.com/BlairMarshallMontrealMagician www.BlairMarshall.ca www.ShaZzamShow.com www.MontrealMagicien.com |
Al Angello Eternal Order Collegeville, Pa. USA 11045 Posts |
I give out the agencies business cards, and I tell them my name. If they want to google me I can't stop them.
Al Angello The Comic Juggler/Magician
http://www.juggleral.com http://home.comcast.net/~juggleral/ "Footprints on your ceiling are almost gone" |
Keith Raygor Special user Naples, FL 968 Posts |
The agents I work with have strong views about the practice of giving out your card on their gig. When they find out someone does it, it's the last time they'll get work through that agency.
About 10 years ago, there was an agent in this area that would regularly and secretly send her friends by to ask for your card, just to see whose card they'd get. |
Scott F. Guinn Inner circle "Great Scott!" aka "Palms of Putty" & "Poof Daddy G" 6586 Posts |
Bingo Keith! I was just gonna bring that up.
If the agent got you the gig, he should get his cut out of any gigs you get as a result of that one. It's not only good business sense, it's just the fair and right thing to do. I have had people ask me a number of times at agent-booked gigs if they can book me without going through my agent. I ALWAYS say that they need to go through him and give them a card that looks like my regular card, but instead of my contact info at the bottom it saids "Represented by Agent's Name" with his phone number and email. And I always tell him if the actual client has asked me about going around him. One time, a lady came up to me and asked about booking me and I gave her my agent's info. She pressed me about how to go around him and book me directly, but I stood firm. As it turned out, she was just testing my character and would not have hired me if I had agreed to go around him. And she told him as much when she later booked me (through him) for a gig. You might think you'll lose a show if you don't agree to go around the agent, but the reality is, you're probably more likely to lose a show (and a lot of other future work) if you DO go around him!
"Love God, laugh more, spend more time with the ones you love, play with children, do good to those in need, and eat more ice cream. There is more to life than magic tricks." - Scott F. Guinn
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ya4davecox Regular user Los Angeles 124 Posts |
It's also a very good idea to have a secondary "Agent Friendly" website that you can send clients to. All of my promo stuff is there, but none of my contact info. Agents can also send potential clients to see what you do, worry free, and your bookings can increase.
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sjbrundage Loyal user 239 Posts |
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On May 31, 2009, Dannydoyle wrote: Just booked a event though an entertainment company and they put this in the contract: "PERFORMERS WILL DISTRIBUTE *name of company's" CARDS AS PROVIDED. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN FORFEITURE OF PAY AND ALL FUTURE PERFORMANCES BOOKED THROUGH *Name of Company*. Seems absolutely fair that they get all the leads... but I do agree if someone is persistant about talking to me directly that I would be willing to give them my name and them that they can search for me. In the end if they decided to search for me and try to book me directly I would be more than happy to send over a booking fee. I also like the idea of making website pages that are not listed on google... but are specifically made for agents. |
Tim Friday Elite user 485 Posts |
When I have been booked by another magician and people ask for my card I told them to contact the magician who booked the event. I did not have any of his cards to give out.
However I prefer to book directly for a number of reasons. When someone else does the booking I feel I am held under their thumb and cannot give the client the amount of care and attention I normally would. For example, I am not able to send a thank you card but that is something I would do for client I book directly. |
sjbrundage Loyal user 239 Posts |
Quote:
On Dec 4, 2014, Tim Friday wrote: Had a pretty interesting thing happen the other day. It was my first time working with an entertinament agency. Now typically my fees for local/ nearby events around anywhere from $500 - $1500. So I got booked for the event... Got a nice 4 figure number.... but turns out that the entertainment agency booked me at $2500 for two hours of strolling magic for 80 people. While I wasn't suprised that he upsold me.. I was kinda of shocked by how much! Still kinda of amazing that "technically" my magic services where booked out at $2500 for some strolling magic. Definitely a good confidence boost to know that a client was willing to pay that much after seeing my promo video and testimonials. In all honest I am 100% percent okay in how much he upsold me. From my point of view.. You give the agent amount you want for the event. He gets you the amount you ask for... The rest is earned by him. LOL. |
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