Home performances...

[Rneogy]

So when people come to my house a lot of them ask to see my magic. Recently, a visitor, after watching my show, took her purse and gave me 20 dollars. She was very impressed...

I do performances like this all the time, but that was the only time someone gave me money for performing. Ever. So yeah. I was wondering if anyone has any tips for getting the audience to give you money? It's not like I'm busking on the street, so hats with a few bills in them won't work. I can't just ask them for donations... that would just sound awkward... Any ideas?

 

[D ICE R]

Introduce the idea of money into you effects on the street. Serial number reveals are a great piece of mentalism. Stairway on this very site would also work well the the real secret is finding that fine line of asking for a bill they will give you at the end.

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

If you mean getting guests to pay you for performances in your own home ... Honestly I think that's tacky. I would not use any outright lines that ask for money for a performance in my own home, unless I had arranged something where it was known ahead of time. But that's me. I don't charge guests for anything, and I expect nothing from them.

You can plant the idea in their head subtly and hope, I guess, but the entire idea of trying to get your guests to pay you puts a sour taste in my mouth, honestly. If they offer, that's great and I think you should feel fine accepting that (though I would deny it once, gracefully, but that's me and my own beliefs), but I wouldn't be trying for it. Just be happy when it happens.

 

[Rneogy]

If you mean getting guests to pay you for performances in your own home ... Honestly I think that's tacky. I would not use any outright lines that ask for money for a performance in my own home, unless I had arranged something where it was known ahead of time. But that's me. I don't charge guests for anything, and I expect nothing from them.

You can plant the idea in their head subtly and hope, I guess, but the entire idea of trying to get your guests to pay you puts a sour taste in my mouth, honestly. If they offer, that's great and I think you should feel fine accepting that (though I would deny it once, gracefully, but that's me and my own beliefs), but I wouldn't be trying for it. Just be happy when it happens.

Thanks for the info. It's not that I'm trying to make them pay me. It's more like if they pay me, that hooray. If they don't, then it doesn't change anything. I just need money soon so I'm kinda hoping on the bright side..

 

[chriswiehl]

you always could put out a hat. that would get some laughs too.
that would be one way. also you can always do a bill vanish. then make them forget. haha.
ive done things like that. and if they want it back you say, oh thats for the performance, i dont do charity work. then you laugh give it back, and sometimes (being a guest in your house) they might give it back or let you keep it.
its not like a "formal" performance so you can be more jokingly around without sounding dickish.

 

[William Draven]

If you mean getting guests to pay you for performances in your own home ... Honestly I think that's tacky.

Why so? I think it's a great venue. Think about it, you're not paying rent, you know the property, you have next to no overhead, and you can easily do small intimate shows that could get really popular with a dedicated performance space.

You say it's tacky, but I see it as an opportunity. I wouldn't ask for tips if your performing randomly at your own place, but if you set it up with tickets, advertise it as an intimate show, set up a small theater setting, and brought in your own audience, then I'd say go for it.