It is difficult in this format without knowing anything about you or your market to give specific advice regarding your performance. Also, it is not the topic of this course, but it is integral to your success. So I will say something that applies to everyone and is business related. Your performance begins upon first contact with the person who books you, and it continues throughout your show and throughout your relationship with your client. They're buying you as a package deal.
The show itself is the centerpiece of the package. Never lose sight of the fact that as professional and groovy as your show might be, how you handle yourself before and after the performance will long be remembered in the same light as the show itself.
The quality of your show will have a direct correlation with the size of your bank account. You may be surprised that I say this, considering I speak about all the other elements rather than the show itself as a means to obtain higher booking fees and more bookings. Well, as excellent as your business and personal relationships may be, if your show stinks then the other stuff will not be enough to allow you to thrive as a professional magician. You have to have it all. The show part of show business is equally as important as the business part. You need to pursue excellence in both. You cannot charge high fees unless you consistently provide fantastic performances.
Now, who is the judge as to whether your show is good or not? Well the answer is obvious to you, I hope. It is your audience. It certainly isn't other magicians and definitely isn't you. Almost every show you do should lead to more shows being booked from audience members and repeat bookings by that original client. If it isn’t, you’re probably not very good at entertaining your audience. Even a poor marketer will get spin-off bookings by presenting good shows.
Your show itself is your single best marketing tool. We must create desire in the eyes of potential bookers to allow them to look good by finding and hiring you. There must be overwhelming desire by the committees and individuals that book you to have you perform for their group the next time they need entertainment. If this is not happening every time you perform then you must work on your act.
Do some free shows or low priced shows to gain more experience. Hire someone whom you respect in this industry to critique your performance. Listen to his or her advice and make changes and tweak your performance a little bit with every show. Use the sales systems that you find in this course and in some of the other excellent courses available to magicians, to help you obtain more bookings. Charge a fair price for your show at its current growing stage. Practice does make perfect. The more you perform, the better your act will be.
Feel free to contact me for assistance in developing your show:
Copyright © 2002 Randy Charach and Synergy Promotions, Inc. All Rights Reserved 100 http://www.magicianmarketing.com
I stated above that your show is your single best marketing tool. There are many things you can do at the event itself that will aid in selling your services. This does not mean to literally pitch your services before, after or during your show. The person who introduces you can do that. He or she is often a person of authority and their words will carry more weight. The following technique I am about to share with you actually triples my audience-member-booking rate.
In addition to the introduction that you provide, include a conclusion.
The person who introduced you reads the conclusion. In addition to thanking you for your wonderful performance, the audience members are invited to ask for your card, or your agent’s card, and to consider booking you for an event they may be planning. I suggest you implement this idea immediately, as this alone will more than recoup your investment in this material by greatly increasing your bookings.
Here is the wording I use. Very simple and straight forward:
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At Conclusion: Please thank Randy, and then say the following in your own words: If anyone would like information on Randy’s shows, speeches or products, feel free to speak with him before he leaves. +++
Note that one small detail can make a huge difference in the number of bookings you receive. There may just be one small detail in your show that you can tweak, that will make a world of difference in your performance. Perhaps something to do with your voice projection, your pace, your inappropriate use of insult humor, even the way you dress, can create a subliminally-uncomfortable situation for your specific target audience.
This is a crucial point; sometimes the smallest detail can make the biggest difference. Something you say in the first few moments you address your audience can turn them off and spoil your chance of success regardless of the quality of the remainder of your performance.
On the other hand, there are many ways to endear an audience to you. There is research and preparation that you can do that will aid you in building rapport while on stage. There are references that you can make during your performance that will add humor and a personalized feel to your show. While adding value to your performance itself, you simultaneously add value to your client and truly deserve your fee.
As in marketing your show, you must also test aspects of your performance itself. Test many elements of your performance while monitoring the response of your audience each and every time.