The Magicanada Project

Spellbinder · Joined: 12 Aug 2007 Posts: 17 Location: East Orange, NJ

Foot in the Door Techniques:

"I charge $100 for my 45 minute full show, complete with music segments for which I bring my own sound system."

Silence.

"I sense you are hesitating. You are probably wondering if my show is worth that much. That's because you've probably never seen me perform in front of kids before. Here's what I suggest. I have a smaller 30 minute show for $75. I don't have to carry the sound system and the larger props for my big show, so you can save some money and still have an entertaining half-hour of magic that the kids will enjoy."

You can, if you are willing and able, also have a 15 minute "Pre-view" show for $50. The library can "insert you" as a "guest" on one of their story hours and see how much excitement and enthusiasm you generate in their standard audience. Sometimes, doing shorter segments convinces the library to hire you again for your longer shows (assuming you knock their socks off the first time they see you perform).

The other thing you can begin doing right now is photographing and videotaping your shows NOT to plaster on your Web site in public, but to privately share with hesitant librarians... look how much fun we had at XYZ Library last month! See how excited the kids are! Here are some of the letters kids wrote to me after the show!

Keep in mind that librarians have small budgets to begin with. Hiring you might mean not buying a certain number of new books they were hoping to get. They might also have to consult with a group of other librarians or library trustees before getting authorization to spend that money. Can you come up with ways they can use your show to raise funds with which they can buy books? If so, they will see hiring you as an investment, not as just another expense.

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Professor Spellbinder
http://www.magicnook.com

Michael Kras · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 4:16 am Post subject:

Thank you for the wonderful suggestions! As it turns out, there was slight miscommunication about the gig in question (the reason this thread was started) and I actually did end up doing it.

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Michael Kras
Forum Administrator