Hey guys, I need some help giving a quote to a client.. Fundraiser event for around 400 people

2 and half hours of magic...

1 hour stage show
45 min of balloons,
45 min of strolling magic

What are you thinking is a fair price? I am thinking around the $450 price range but I am really not sure on this, this would be the biggest show I have done so far..

So any advice would be great!

I might make the line work a full hour based off of purely the number of guests or the full hour and half not sure

Impossible to answer.

What would you pay for a Piccasso versus a painting by me?

Without knowing quality, hard to judge an appropriate price.

Ah good point... thank you

A good place to start is to ask if they ever had a magician before. From there you can possibly figure-out if they have a budget or not. If they started the conversation with "We're a non profit charity and are looking for someone who want some exposure" - and that should be a hint.

If you look at past events on their website and see other performers you could call them and ask if they charged or not. It might seem tacky to some but I've always phrased it this way. "I know they have a budget for this and I don't want to ruin it for everyone else by grossly undercharging. It would be better if we all were paid an equitable amount considering it's for a charity. I was thinking of 300 (or whatever) Do you think that's too low.?'

Then shut-up and listen.

Fundraiser usually take a percentage of the ticket sales if you are the main attraction. If not, then go for a fee that is acceptable in your area. Can be as much as 60% of gross sales.

We know nothing about you, where you live, how long you have been performing professionally, if you are a draw in your area, in other words does you name draw people to the events you perform at.

Today you go to theater, usually pay around $7 to see a movie. So $7 times 400 equals $2,800, so that would be a good fee to change for your services.

Bill Hegbli is close.....

I'll let you in on a tip that I got many, many years ago from my friend Dick Oslund....tell them that "I'm worth the price of a drink."

What are drinks worth in your area? $3.50...? $4.50....?

If so, multiply that drink dollar amount times number of attendees and voila!....There's your quote.........So...If it were me, I would charge $1,800 based on the $4.50 figure above, and then negotiate from that point by either adding/substracting add-on services.......but either way, in my neck of the woods, Green Bay, Wisconsin, I will tell you that that that figure is realistic for that type of show.

Works for most banquet shows too.........do the math.......depending on how generous you are and on your read of the market in your area (and your experience)