I am thinking of creating a coloring book give-away—not the magic coloring book, but an actual one illustrating parts of my show and magic tricks they can do. I think it would be a good upsell and keep my name in their minds when hiring magicians. For a decent number of pages, it will cost about $2 per book to print. Does anybody think this is a bad idea?

What’s the minimum you can get printed? If you can get 25 - 50, do it and see how it goes

Yes, 100 I believe is a minimum.

You could promo the coloring book in the show by using it for the Yours and Mine trick (spirit slates but where kid’s sheet gets colored and yours gets mis-colored.

$2 for your cost sounds high cause then you'll need to sell it for $3 or $4 to make it worthwhile. Some people do a single coloring page and don't charge for it, it's just a promotional give-away with a cartoon(s) of you, your logo and info. I've drawn a few of those for magicians. Where did you get the price quote from? How many pages/full color cover?

I’ve always been a big fan of coloring sheets, parents love’em, it keeps the kids busy, and the kids love’em too. But most parents understand coloring books are cheap, and that nowadays its easy to just go online and find coloring material to print out for free. So, selling higher price coloring material can be hard. Now I understand that the main purpose here is to have your name on the coloring sheet thinking it is good advertising. And that is true. But to save a lot of time and money, here is something that I would do and something others can think about:

Put your coloring pages on your website. Take a few already well colored sheets to the show and while showing it explain that anyone can go to your website and print it out for free. Also let them know the pages will change from time to time, this will keep them coming back for more.

I would also give the birthday child, or helper, a few uncolored sheets (single sheets inside a folder) Let everyone know that you only have one set with you, (its for the birthday child) but others can go online and get the same for free. Just be sure to leave your website info with them.

I see many good-looking magic websites online, some look unbelievably well, but very, very, few offer any type of incentive for the parent/child to return to the website after purchasing the show.

Tom

Years ago I bought a case of "All new MAGIC coloring Book" s (16 pages, 11x13, 6 cartoons of magicians, 7 tricks, 2 puzzels) from <> "Spotlight Graphics", 2400 N. Washington Blvd., Sarasota, Florida, 34234. fax (941)-054-5652 --- Still have many. I could have googled if they are still there -but wanted to share while on the forum. Anyone in Central Florida -contact me - see my Profile Ralph

Spotlight Graphics has moved to 6054 Clark Center Ave Sarasota, FL 34238. They are about 3 minutes from my house. I will be down that way tomorrow morning, if this storm passes and I will stop and see if they still print those up. Will get back to you all tomorrow with prices also hopefully.

Bill

Dan,
The price varies depending on the pages. I wanted a more substantial one than 16 pages. I just googled Coloring book printer. I am not having them to make money, but for advertising. IMPO Back-of-room sales doesn't add up to much and does not go over well at birthday parties and pre-schools.

Tom, I thought of that, but not sure it would work. Thanks!

Well you would have to try it to find out. (joking)

No, I don’t know of any magicians doing it.

But I do know for a fact it works well for preschools and other educational groups.
I was just throwing something out there and if others here have done it maybe they will let us know.

Honestly, I see no reason it wouldn’t work. All one would have to do is hire somebody like Dan to draw up a couple and stick’em on there. And yes, I would pass out a free one at the show, while letting them know there is even more on the site.

Parents won’t have a problem going to your website to get something free for their kids, otherwise the odds are great that they will never see your website. Wouldn’t it be great having tons of parents with children visiting your website? That’s my thinking.

Tom

My #1 popular item, in regards to BOR sales, is a magic wand with a trick instruction card. It's not a gimmicked wand such as a rising wand (some performers / magic dealers sell those BOR).

Then next most popular is my magic kit and my magic grab bag, both which contain the wand, magic trick(s), activity book, and possibly other items.

My least popular item is my magic activity book (and it's quite a good book). I include it as a part of my magic kit and my magic grab bag, but when I sell it by itself, the wand easily outsells it. Example - at some shows, I'll might sell 75 wands ($5 each), 20 magic kits ($20 each), 30 grab bags ($10 each), and 2 books ($5 each).

I think the reason is the "toy factor". It's something physical that the kids can play with. Not just a printed item, like the postcards I give away or the activity books that I sell.

- Donald

P.S. I have a file on a flash drive that I take to Staples, and I print (copy) my activity book in batches of 100. It consists of 6 pages, 11x17", double sided. Then stapled and folded in half, to make a book that's 8.5x11", with a total of 24 pages (12 double sided pages). My file has a colour cover for my book (one side of one page), but sometimes I print that page in B&W to save some money on the reprint.

Checked her spotlight graphics today and they are no longer at the new location that I listed. I have no idea where they have moved to in Sarasota. Bill

Tom, I'll try it. I do graphic design and have already made them.

Good Luck and do let us know how it goes.

Tom

More ideas to go on a performer's colouring page.

If you are looking to generate shows, you can have a discount code on the sheet for parents who book you for their child's birthday.

Another idea is to have a monthly colouring contest, and kids can send in their sheets (parents fill out info) to win a prize like a gift certificate to a toy store.

- Donald

Great ideas Donald!