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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
What are your thoughts about FREE Reports and "Warnings"?
Do they work for you? Do you get the questions in another Free Report? If you do a search on Google on "magician Free Report" (And variations) and, you get lots of posted warnings like: WARNING! ... Request Your Free Report: “6 Biggest Mistakes Event Planners Make And How To Avoid Them" "WARNING! Before Hiring An Entertainer, You Must Read This:" "9 Things You Should Know Before Hiring a Magician" "Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Children Entertainer." "12 Facts On Making Your Child's Party a Success" And many more like this. They focus on what they can provide and contradict each other. Some are scary and iIwonder why they are up there. The one's on the positive light I like, the ones who put down other magicians I don't. I have received phone calls and was asked these questions other magicians want the prospect to ask you. Most of the time I answer them well. They are designed to eliminate the competition and justify, many times, the higher fees they use. What are your thoughts on this? My initial reactions if done right is good for business.
Dennis Michael
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Hi Dennis -
I have read a few of these. I've even used one myself at some time or another (without the "Warning!" wording). I also don't like the ones that spend too much time putting down the competition. I also believe that if you run a negative campaign you draw some of the wrong customers to you, and you end up suffering for it. Many of these reports are about positioning the performer's business, and not really about the customer's needs. Some of these same positioning points could be emphasised in a phone script, instead of drawn out in the report. With many birthday customers, these free reports add confusion and delay to the customer's decision-making process. Often when they are contacting you on the phone or online, they are ready to book. If you add in the report, that may delay their decision, or add some cloudiness to their thoughts and intentions. You should strike while the iron's hot, and try to make the booking. If a customer was shooting an arrow at a target, and about to hit a bullseye, why would you move the target and say, "Here. Read this before I let you hit the target"? - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Very good point!
Dennis Michael
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TomBoleware Inner circle Hattiesburg, Ms 3163 Posts |
I think Donald said it really well.
Normally you can never raise yourself up by putting others down. It just doesn't work that way. Sure when asked in person you can throw a few punches at the competition, but to come out swinging at everybody is a very bad move. Tom
The Daycare Magician Book
https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/amazekids/the-daycare-magician/ My Blog - https://boleware.blogspot.com/ |
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KeirRoyale Special user Denver, CO 550 Posts |
Personally I cannot stand it when I see a site full of warnings and free reports. It seems so "K-Mart" to me. Recently I seem to be noticing a lot of one page websites for magicians that really seem to be full of these. They all have the same feel or appearance to them, almost like they are made by the same person and or by people reading the same book on how to market for magicians. I have seen it with magicians both here in Denver and in other cities as well.
There is no need to try talk people out of an alternative idea and "warn them" about the dangers of getting an inflatable jumpy castle or hiring a "scary clown" for their next children's birthday party when you can sell yourself instead. And I agree with Donald also that even if you do book a magic show with the callers that do find you on a site like this, they will likely fall into the "wrong crowd" category when you use this tactic. Negative campaigning seems to work very well in politics but then again nothing about politics really has a whole lot of common sense behind it if you ask me. So that having been said, stay positive and avoid the cheesy warnings and trash talk about your competition and I think you are a lot better off! Keir http://www.DenverKidMagic.com
DVD author of "The Master Prediction System Done Solo"
http://www.DenverMotivationalSpeaker.com http://www.DenverKidMagic.com http://www.LifeIsMagical.com http://www.WichitaComedyMagician.com |
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gman Special user Lancaster, pa 751 Posts |
These come from the 1990's error of marketing (at least for the mortgage and real estate inducstty). They can be traced back to marketers like Dan Kennedy, Joe Stumph, Jay Abraham and the like. These types of reports are still used in the Real Estate and many other industries and have been used recently in the magic industry.
Originally they were used to educate the consumer on the many aspects of an industry for example (and I can only speak for the mortgage and real estate industry) in the mortgage industry most of the people who call the first question would be what is your 30 year fixed rate? I guess that would equate to how much you charge for a birthday party? The lowest guy wins. Some smart marketers came up with basic questions that should be answered and then came up with different versions of a report. This is done in article marketing. Write one article then come up with 8 versions of the same article. For example...you write an article on what a perfect birthday party would be or what someone should look for when hiring an entertainer. Then take that report and make a Mistakes Report, Questions Report, Steps Report, and a Guide Report. Take standard headlines and use them to create different headlines and you go many reports. The unfortunate part is that as the reports evolve they tend to knock the competition and instead of getting someone to call they try and sell the consumer on the idea of hiring them. This is what happens when marketing incest occurs (copying what others are doing in the exact same way and not fitting it to you sort of like taking someones act and not changing one word of it to fit you) The reports can work but they need to go back to bringing value and not confusion to the consumers. George |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-06-20 23:01, gman wrote: George - Do you mean "...1990's era of marketing..."? Just asking for clarification sake. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
I just looked at a few and didn't care for the idea or the approach.
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gman Special user Lancaster, pa 751 Posts |
Yes Donald I did.
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Red Shadow Inner circle 1788 Posts |
I think these reports are also very bias. They come from know-it-all writers who have probably never even hired an entertainer before. I mean you have to think about the author - this is someone who is fear-mongering parents and writing lists that tell other parents what-to-do.
And lets be honest, how many entertainers has that writer actually hired themselves to be an authority on the subject? Maybe one if that? How many parties have they planned? They never mention there experience level before making the list. And I also think that they come at it from the wrong said of the argument. Yes, some are thinking about their child and how they perceive their own ideal of what a perfect birthday party is. But its not about the parents, its about the children and sometimes there is a big difference between the two. We as entertainers know this and understand that its our job to control the entire group of 40 children. We have to make EVERYONE happy if we want to keep a good show, and not just the mum. That means we sometimes have to do tricks and play games mum might not like, but the children love intently and remember for the rest of their lives. An example of this is a balloon fight. You make everyone a balloon sword and the kids go crazy. They are having the time of their lives, you play-fighting with them and they love it, all the children are joining in and it is a moment that child will remember for ever. But some (not all) parents won't like the fact that children are running around and screaming in laughter. They wanted a quiet and calm party where you had them sat down the entire duration so that they could drink alcohol at that back with the other parents. This was never ever going to happen, but lists like you suggested don't always paint the best picture for the birthday child, sometimes it just tries to make the mum get what she wants, and ignores the fact that its a children's birthday party. But simple check lists such as: 1. Put balloons on the front door so that your guest can find the venue. 2. Serve cold , simple food like ham & cheese sandwiches. etc. Lists like these are okay. Its the other type that scare-monger which are a problem and aren't really backed up with any research or experience (that I can see, or had been noted on the list) to justify such ideas. |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
FAQ, that make a party a success, are very good, as long as they are not negative toward other magicians.
For instance, I don't like: Ask, "Does the Magician use Music and a Backdrop?" It would be preferred if, the Content says: "As a professional, you get a theater like show in your living room with music, backdrops, stage props, your child is the star of the show." Essentially, they both say the same but one, as stated elsewhere, adds confusion. The other is a visual picture which creates that "magical moment" in the mind of the customer.
Dennis Michael
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gman Special user Lancaster, pa 751 Posts |
You know the funny thing is I went looking after I got off this board last night and did some checking on the "magician free reports" in goole and looked at some of the reports that were out there...
Some of them don't even resemble a report well ok maybe the format but they read more like a sales letter!!! I mean even in the title for example "7 reasons why you should hire [put name here] or "before you hire any entertainer--5 things you need to know about [put name here]. So ku7uk3 is right they are very biased indeed. |
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
Do you think it might be useful to have a page like this on your web site with a link like:
"Are you comparing me with other entertainment options? Here's some things you might want to think about." Ed |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
I'm not sure if this is a good or bad thing. I know I can answer most questions.
I like the idea of giving something, even a free report, however, I am not sure what I want to say, but I do know it won't be negative on other magicians.
Dennis Michael
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gman Special user Lancaster, pa 751 Posts |
Ed,
You could put that on the about me page if you want. Thinking back to the old USP section in one of the many training courses in the mortgage business...What make you different from all the rest? But do so in a positive light not a let's bash the competition if you know what I mean. Dennis if you want to give something away as a free report type deal... Think of this "What is the top 3 or 5 things that you see in Atco that parents face?" I would not worry myself about making it all about me but I would focus on what the problems are and how to solve them and then at the end put an ad if you will about your services. But you, Ed, and the others are more knowledgeable in the birthday party market than me so I leave that up to you guys to figure out. |
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Quote:
"What is the top 3 or 5 things that you see in Atco that parents face?" Taxes, Taxes, and More Taxes! Now with Obamacare, Increased medical payments on top of increased School taxes. Results: Less money to hire a magician!
Dennis Michael
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gman Special user Lancaster, pa 751 Posts |
OK let's get specific. What ways can a parent put one a birthday party on a shoestring budget and have the money to afford a magician?
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Dennis Michael Inner circle Southern, NJ 5821 Posts |
Gman,
Sorry, I was just joshing you. Yes, I understand the point you were saying. A report that could make it possible for parents to hire a magician.
Dennis Michael
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Cesar Munoz Veteran user 370 Posts |
I found a couple of magicians that were using the exact same "free report". They both started with a "true story" explaining how a client who had hired them 4 times had a bad experience when they were forced to hire another magician. It's funny that these two magicians had the same EXACT experience. You can find them by googling: "In 2001 a regular customer of the mine called to book a show for her special event".
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MagicSanta Inner circle Northern Nevada 5841 Posts |
Hey, that makes three New Jersey magicians who have the same stuff on their silly little sites. I demand to know NOW who the best magician in New Jersey working kids shows is....
I vote for Cesar cuz me's my people.... |
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