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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
In another thread Ken asked if and when should someone tip.
I have a friend who on more than one occasion had an organization delay paying due to the absence of an invoice. Of course, they did not state that they needed an invoice until he arrived at the show. He solved this problem from occuring in the future by re-titling his show agreements CONTRACT/INVOICE. By simply renaming the form, he now had a contract, and invoice, and (I suppose) a receipt if he signed and dated it once payment was received. What may have been a stall tactic was now circumvented. How does this relate to tipping? First off, I wonder how many people even think that an entertainer is someone that could/should/would be tipped. Perhaps a prompt may be in order ... and just like in my friend's case, perhaps a simple printed word could help. As I travel, I notice that many service businesses place a TIP item line right on their bill. Restaurants and taxis come to mind. It reads like this: Fee: Tip: Total: If you accept credit card payment, this is already on option with such services as Square. I wonder what the results would be if we were to create a bill/invoice/receipt. It could be a simple notepad size printed on 2 part carbonless paper, or one could simply stick an old-fashioned piece of carbon paper in between sheets. What are your feelings? Businesslike or seedy? Clever or crass? |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10603 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-12-22 21:00, Starrpower wrote: I do not believe that most people think of tipping an entertainer. It's simply isn't common knowledge, and booking (and paying/settling) with an entertainer is not something most are used to. It is for this reason that I believe "prompting" is appropriate, if nothing else as part of educating the client. Over the years we have done this in several ways all which have been quite successful when used properly without coming off as soliciting, asking or demanding, yet remaining professional. |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Please share! I'd love to hear other ideas
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
This is discussed in several of the marketed courses. I recall specifically James Munton sharing how he does this in a subtle way. I have not personally adopted these strategies.
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Bazinga Loyal user 277 Posts |
There's a line for a tip on the bill for our newspaper delivery.
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Quote:
On 2013-12-22 22:38, charliecheckers wrote: That's great ... but what ideas do YOU have? Let's do some brainstorming and sharing here. I offered up two suggestions: a tip line on a receipt, ans uding the visible TIP option on the Square cc reader. What else have you guys got? |
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
I was offering a reference for those who are interested in marketed strategies. I personally think you have to have the right personality to pull some of these techniques off well. There is a risk of turning your clients off.
I have not adopted any techniques, but would also like to hear strategies that work. With respect to the suggestions Starpower brought up - another step to be considered is what (if anything) to say with respect to a tip while they are signing the receipt. Nearly all of my clients pay by check, so Square is seldom an opportunity for me. I offer Square, but do not encourage it due to the processing fee. Perhaps the tip line being visible would more than make up for the fee - I don't know. I also am not sure what is customary. It seems it may vary by the client type. For example, I never receive a tip from libraries or fairs/festivals. I have from scouts, country clubs and birthday parties. I do not know if this is the norm, just my experience. One additional example of increasing the likely hood of a tip is to find a humorous way to mention a large tip from a past show during your performance.i have not tried this, just putting it out there for discussion. |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
How about putting a line in your contract near the "Fee" area along the lines of "Tipping is allowed and appreciated, but NEVER expected nor required"
I think I should add that I personally never do these things. I am satisfied with my fee and anything extra is a pleasant surprise. But I think the idea is worth exploring and is intriguing to me. |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
How much do you want to be tipped? Raise your performance fee to that amount.
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7565 Posts |
There were several ideas shared on this thread. I also put a link to this thread on Ken's thread.
--> Magic Café thread titled... Is it t......t a tip? - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10603 Posts |
Many people these days do not seem to understand what a TIP truly is. It began as a gesture in the service industry most common with waitresses, waiters bartenders, shoe shiners, hair dressers, etc. Some references claim TIP in it's modern form comes from an acronym to mean To Insure Promptness. This evolved into good and proper service in addition to promptness.
Raising your price to include a TIP defeats the purpose and the benefits of giving or receiving a TIP. From the entertainer's perspective, it isn't about speed or promptness but overall service being offered and displayed. Therefore receiving a tip must be earned. When one receives a TIP it clearly states many benefits important to a performer and more so their entertainment businesses. With all the threads about how to get testimonials, referrals, future bookings, overall relationship-building, credibility and positioning, a TIP can speak volumes and open the door to many of these benefits. - If the performer receives a TIP it's a great indicator that the person booking you was very pleased and satisfied with your performance, and likely received favorable feedback from the attending guests - enough to the point of offering you compensation to show their feelings and/or appreciation - If the person is pleased enough to offer a tip, they will likely be happy and the ideal candidate to provide you a testimonial (written or video) if asked directly - Since this person is so pleased, they are now positioned to be the absolute most likely to book you back again for future events. - These all leads to this person/company/venue being the perfect person to build a business relationship with leading to increased value per booking and typically opens the door for multiple to many future bookings, making them potentially worth thousands of additional dollars to your business. - They then become a likely candidate to refer you to their peers for similar bookings - They become the best candidates to sell other and additional services of your business to for future bookings or support - If/When they book you again, they are most likely to once again TIP you for future performances - If/when you raise your prices they are the least likely to be concerned with a reasonable price increase I could go on but you get the picture. Getting a TIP speaks volumes if you understand the bigger picture. A simple fifty or hundred dollar tip can result in thousands in future revenue, credibility, and promotional support. None of this is possible or identified if one was to follow Dynamike's suggestion of simply raising your price to cover or include a TIP Amount. These are two entirely different things. Why do that and leave so many possible benefits on the table? Back to Starrpower's original question, there are many ways to "plant the seed" that tips are appropriate, accepted and if you really want to push it-expected. His suggestion of "How about putting a line in your contract near the "Fee" area along the lines of "Tipping is allowed and appreciated, but NEVER expected nor required" is exactly one way to do so, although I would word it a bit differently, but essentially the same thing. We have used five or six different such methods that I can think of, there's probably more I'd have to check with my agents that deal with this on a daily basis, but when combined these methods work well, lead to building lasting, solid relationships, and of course the tips themselves. |
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Bazinga Loyal user 277 Posts |
Quote:
On 2014-01-03 20:28, Donald Dunphy wrote: Excellent thread. It seems among the professionals, asking, implying, or in any way suggesting (or "planting the seed") is tacky and unprofessional. I agree. Bazinga! |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
There is nothing wrong with me raising my fees. I have done it for years. I also remember lowering my fee in the past for the slow season.
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charliecheckers Inner circle 1969 Posts |
Quote:
On 2014-01-03 21:06, Mindpro wrote: This post is huge, for me. This is an aspect of my business I must get much better at. Not necessarily tips per say, but leveraging my show offering to a much greater degree. A tip can be a strong identifier for all the reasons Mindpro mentioned. Perhaps it is my age, but I feel any mention of a tip (short of having a line on a credit card receipt) is well outside my comfort zone. Even so, the post from Mindpro really has me thinking of the many ways to better leverage the joy and enthusiasm clients often express after a show. Yes, receiving a tip is perhaps the best expression of this, but there are many other ones that I can use to my advantage. I never considered most of the positive things a tip provides beyond more money prior to that post from Mindpro. |
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
For a magician to receive a tip is not just about his performance. What will be important is how he establishes himself with the client. Making the right contact before and after his performance means a lot.
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Paddy Inner circle Milford OH 1571 Posts |
Mike, I receive tips from over half my parties and repeat bookings of 80% of them. The reason is PERFORMANCE!! That and involving the audience in the act. Bring up the b'day person and involve him in an effect, bring up the oldest person and include him same with the youngest. My tips have ranged from $20 to $100, most being in the 20 range.
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Dynamike Eternal Order FullTimer 24148 Posts |
A lot of people would look at just the general, thinking it is just the performance. The professionals look deeper. Blackstone established himself well with his clients too after his shows to make a stronger relationship: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/searc......=7620810
Eric (The Great Zucchini) wears a t-shirt and shorts to his gigs. He makes contact with his clients afterwards too. It helps him to be booked solid too. |
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Jamie D. Grant V.I.P. as seen in Ripley's Believe It or Not! Twice! 2413 Posts |
I'm kind of with Dynamike on this one. When I do private parties (like weddings), it seems like I get tipped all the time. But when it comes to Corporate, I can't recall it ever happening (aside from "in the moment" tips from spectators). And I make sure my rates are high enough that I don't even think twice about it. I also don't think I'd ever include it anywhere on an invoice. It just doesn't feel "right" to me. I'm trying to think of a good financial comparison analogy...a car, maybe, lol? If someone sold me a car and included a "tip" section, I think I'd be offended, lol.
TRICK OF THE YEAR: Industrial Revelation, BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Approach, The AIP Bottle, and my new book Scenic 52, can all be found over here: SendWonder.com
Kindness takes practice. My TEDx talk |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10603 Posts |
I think Mike speaks of his performances in his performance markets and his preferences, which me be correct for him. I believe it varies for difference performance markets and different levels of performers. For example, markets such as kids parties, weddings, consumer private events (retirements, anniversaries, block parties), and some lover level corporate events (typically under $1,000 such as holiday parties, company picnics), etc., tipping is more common and appropriate, where as festivals, fairs, schools, colleges and upper level corporate levels it is not.
Same for levels of performers. Those that typically perform or speak at levels of $1,500 - $5,000 or more rarely ever get tipped and the concept is more inappropriate. This must be factored in when comparing who gets tipped, how often and how much. Paddy is probably correct about getting tips and the range for the markets he works I would believe. As far as positioning yourself for tips in the markets where this is common and acceptable, I think people are confusing two different issues here. We're not talking about soliciting for tips. There is a difference between soliciting for tips, expecting tips and simply subtly educating the client that tips are appropriate and acceptable. Part of the business of being an entertainer is educating the client. In doing so about tips is no different than any other element in the education process. Many truly wouldn't know if it's appropriate, expected or not. |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
Quote:
On 2014-01-04 15:04, Jamie D. Grant wrote: I think tips are generally reserved for services, not products. We tips food servers, bellhops, taxi drivers, and porters. A magician also falls into the category of a service provider. Quote:
On 2014-01-04 15:04, Mindpro wrote: Exactly right. Let 'em know it's okay to do without pressuring them. |
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