The Magicanada Project

Michael Kras · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 4:19 am Post subject: Am I Being Flippin' Unreasonable?

Ok, recently I've been losing a few gigs here and there with complaints on my price. Many are fine with it, it is very fair considering my show (I charge $100 for a 45 minute kids show), however I keep losing gigs as soon as I say my price!!! Like a few weeks ago, I got a call for a gig at yet another library, for my 45 minute kids show, everything was going swimmingly until they popped the question: "How much moola are we talkin' here?"

I said "For 45 minutes of magic, some segments featuring music (for which I will provide my own sound equipment), the show is $100".

After that, the email tagging suddenly ended and I have not received an email since. Is there something wrong with my price? Am I being unreasonable here? Yes, it's a library, but I did another library show only weeks ago for $100! I have a more-than-competent kids show, what could be the problem? This is getting frustrating.

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Michael Kras
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Ben Train · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 268

Let's use a simple formula to determine if there's something wrong with your price:

They want you to do magic
+
you tell them your price
________________________________
they no longer want you to do magic

What was the factor, in the above formula, that changed "Want you" to "not want you"?

Clearly the price. So, yes, something seems to be wrong.

WHAT'S wrong is a different story, and something I can't answer. But, ask on Sunday and we'll see if we can figure it out (I imagine it's one of three things).

Ben

Reuben The Great · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 245

Jeff, (Mike knows him), my "mentor" like person for stage and shows and such, told me to always speak on the phone to the person, they can more easily just not respond in email than say no on the phone. You ask them a few questions such as other performers, place, how many people, how long etc. and then decide on your price (if it's RBC Bank would you charge 100$? they'd laugh in your face, anything under 1000$ is peanuts to a large company).

Then, you state your price. If they say "uhh I don't know" or you don't immediately get the "ok" vibe, you then say "but that includes my sound system and extended show" or soemthing along the lines of that.

Not trying to be a know-it-all, sorry if you get that impression, just saying what Jeff said!
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"I lost a bundle of hundred dollar bills in an elastic".

"I found the elastic."

BrianMillerMagic · Joined: 14 Aug 2007 Posts: 543 Location: New York State

Reuben The Great · Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Posts: 245

Yes, a median would already be established such as 100$, which is the "regular" in this case. You would only say what I said about sound system and such if they were skeptical.
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"I lost a bundle of hundred dollar bills in an elastic".

"I found the elastic."

Michael Kras · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:50 am Post subject:

Brian is very right. My set rate is always $100 for children's parties or similar venues. It's much lower than virtually any other working magician in the area, so it frustrates me when potential clients just vanish.
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Michael Kras
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Ben Train · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 268

Mike,

On sunday, after we're all done, I'm taking you ALL to a book store. It's a non-magic store that has a fantastic selection of books of all kinds. In the store there is a section for business and sales. You are going to head there first.

There are a TON of reasons you aren't getting booked (I say that because you AREN'T getting booked, so something must be wrong).

One thing that MAY be an issue is the price- because it's too LOW! If you're cheaper then everyone else in the area, guess what: you're the budget show. It's not unreasonable to assume that, in today's economy, that the cheapest thing is often the lowest quality.

On the other hand, your price may be too HIGH! You're 15, and I cannot imagine you're charging much less then other guys (most of the kid show workers I know charge beween $100-$125...). If you're all the same price who am I going to hire?- someone with 30 years of experiance, a slick promo package, and great testemonials, or you? No one expects someone as young as you (or really even Brian and me) to be as good as a thirty-year old. The truth though is sometimes we are... and sometimes we're even better. But ask yourself this: when going to see professional in any other field, who do you want?- a 15 year old or a 40 year old with 20 years experiance...

What's clearly the case is you aren't doing a good job selling yourself (or you would have the gigs). So, find out why and fix it. (then help me!).

Ben

Michael Kras · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 9:40 pm Post subject:

Is this the store that should have that book you and I were discussing over the phone? I have a lot of interest in picking that up.
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Michael Kras
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Ben Train · Joined: 03 Jul 2008 Posts: 268

it's a fantastic used bookstore, and yes, it should have the book (if not, you can get a copy new across the street for a few more bucks).

Michael Kras · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 12:54 am Post subject:

Brilliant. See you sunday! Can't WAIT!

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Michael Kras
Forum Administrator