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Potty the Pirate Inner circle 4632 Posts |
My friends get a show for free, no question about it. On the other hand, if they offer me something, I'll probably accept it, whatever it is. But I'd never accept my normal fee from a friend, unless it's tacitly understood that they are significantly better off than me.
But, there is a problem with this philosophy. I've done shows for friends, who have begged me to travel a long distance at weekends, when I'd normally earn my weeks' wages in a couple of days locally. Then, I have to be firm, and explain why I'd be happy to offer a free show on a weekday, but if they expect me to take out a weekend, I need some payment. They will still get a good deal, but if they aren't prepared to accept a free show on a weekday, it's their choice to pay me my going rate for a weekend date. It will still cost me at least the price of one party, but it's a compromise. Mostly, of course, my friends are happy to organise weekday events, and even then, many of them pay the costs of my petrol (gas), or even the regular price of a show. Inevitably, I'll stay the night with them, and that means a good catch-up over dinner, and that's a really enjoyable experience. I don't refuse to accept their payment, but I often insist that it's a fraction of what I'd normally charge.....and I never ask for it, if it's a weekday. As far as I'm concerned, my friends can invite me to visit them (on a weekday, or any time I'm not working), and I will happily give them a show for free. I would be humiliated to think that any of my friends believed that they would need to pay me to perform for them, or their kids. But, for sure, if they're asking me to "take time off work" to perform for them, then things would be different..... |
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Jason Johnson New user Houston, Texas 50 Posts |
Another factor to throw into the equation is how much business one does. If you do a ton of shows, it doesn't affect one's income much. If you do this part time like I do, then it affects it substantially. I have a steady full time job so any magic shows I perform is gravy, but I want to try to get enough business to go full time into magic. I don't want to give too much advice for I may not have the right answers, but the number of shows one gets is a factor as to whether or not to give discounts.
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Julie Carpenter Regular user Watford 139 Posts |
Ive been approached about helping out with a show at a friends Scout group. I've started by telling them the full price and asking for a few more details.
If the event is at the weekend, fine, they can book me at full price, but as Potty said, ask me to pop along one evening, and a bottle of wine will do. |
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KC Cameron Inner circle Raleigh, North Carolina 1944 Posts |
Perhaps I define "friend" differently . . . but as long as they are not taking a spot I usually book, I offer the show for free. Then again, a true friend would not accept it for free, except in extreme cases. As for discounts, I don't offer them. If I feel the family that hired me is scraping up every last dime to pay me, I will just not cash the final check.
As for expecting a favor in return, friends do favors for friends. If it comes to comparing favors, they are not a friend. In my experience, people believe your value is whatever the amount of your "discounted" price. MOST people perceive that your value is in direct correlation to your price. Also, when someone discounts their price, I tend to see them as desperate for business, and I am wary. I believe many others (potential clients) have this same view. After doing a bit of research I discovered that out of the group of people that ASK for a discount, I have a MUCH higher booking rate when I DON'T offer one. On top of that, people who received a discounted price tend to be much more difficult to work with, with many more delays and much less respect. On top of all this, when you talk discount, you shift the client to think about cost as apposed to quality (shooting yourself in the foot, unless you are the cheapest!). I would much rather have them focus on quality. |
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TonyB2009 Inner circle 5006 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-04-23 17:25, KC Cameron wrote: Beautifully put.
Check out Tony's new thriller Dead or Alive http://www.amazon.co.uk/Alive-Varrick-Bo......n+carson
http://www.PartyMagic.ie |
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