Hello Guys!!!
Well I saw this thread in the afternoon after lunch about how much does somebody must charge for a show...and I was wondering the same thing when I was starting out to get gigs...and how badly I wanted somebody to help me put a price to my show...there is nothing worst (well maybe) that hesitate when somebody ask you how much do you charge for a show...they realize you don´t have to much experience and sometimes they want to take advantage of you...
I wanted to write this guide for begginers since the pros already know how they charge depending of a lot of factors like experience, time, people and other things...I know about that...but some people here are starting out and maybe they have some offers and I really remember the first gig I got and when they pay me...Oh man!!!...It was a great feeling to get something in return for your work!!! especially when It´s an art!!!...I want that people to feel that too!!!...so this guide will help you out...at least that what I hope....since performing and getting some money really makes you work harder in your magic...it really does...
Now, this is the way I do it...and it has worked for me, but I could be wrong...but anyone that can contribute here is more than welcome...
first of all...I am assuming you have decent experience performing for strangers, and you have some decent material...I won´t be talking about "tracklists" (the name I use for a list of tricks to use in a gig) but I maybe be refering some trick or two...
first of all I do have 3 ways of charging depending of what the client wants...
Close-Up and Personal...this mode is when it´s under 10 people, like a private party, a dinner of some sort or an small event...usually this last 1 hour an usually it´s done in a living room or a small place where everybody is sit and placed around me...we are chatting and I am just making magic that is angle proof and with small objects (cards, coins, rubberbands, loops, some little gimmicks) and it looks more casual and looks impromptu....now to be honest prepare this show takes me around 10-20 minutes before the show...an sometimes I get to eat free and meet people...since this is a very friendly way of doing magic I really don´t charge a lot, since It doesn´t represent a big effort on preparing the show nor to perform it and sometimes I can do 2 or even 3 in night...however, this one is the more common kind of show when you are starting out, but be prepared to have good material
How Much?: 50$- 75$ for 1 hour...
Material: cards, coins, rubberbands, loops and Mentalism...
another tip?: usually pre-paid...and don´t spend to much in your magic like using expensive gimmicks that leave expensive souvenirs....sometimes you can even get to met some people here...
Table Hopping:Now this one is very good since you only need like 5-10 tricks to get through the gig...doesn´t require a lot of setup and you get to eat (most of the time) and meet people and you get good money!!...now this gig is very important you go well dressed and talk with the client days before the show...this must be pre-paid and you need to have at least 2 hours paid...now even though the setup is very little and you will be using mostly resetable and easy tricks, the effort is a lot more than the Close-up show since you will be performing non-stop for 2 to 3 hours maybe more...calculate 5-10 min per table...and very important...ask the client about the tips...I usually tell to the client that I won´t be asking for tips...but if somebody offers me a tip, I will take it...they usually are ok with that...but if not, don´t ask for tips or receive them...since the effort is big and also you have to dress nice an sometimes is in the night the ranking goes...
How Much?: 100$ per hour, maybe you can give a discount if they hire you for more than 2 hour...like 80$ per hour in block of 3 hours...that´s 240$
Material: resetable and usually patter simple tricks since sometimes there is a band playing and you are going against the noise,so no room for patter or even mentalism that requires psychological suggestion, since maybe they won´t hear you and are easily distracted...
any more tips?...yes, a lot of bussiness cards, and it´s very hard to give souvenirs in this kind of gigs, since you have little time and usually a signed card is all I give...
Full Show!!...now this is the biggest, hardest and more awesome kind of gig I get...it´s my full show and is usually 45 min to 1 hour long depending on how the audience is participating, it´s more like Stand-Up magic with a table...now this one requires 2 hours of setup and it´s really demanding, since I am doing all kinds of magic and the stress is bigger than the other shows...I have to get 1-2 hours early to the place and prepare everything, I have to dress acording to my style...this show is bigger and you need to check a lot of things aside from the tricks, like how much people s gonna show, what kind of people, what age, the lighting conditions and a lot of things depending on the place and your situation...
this one is really profesional and must be done as so...I am just putting it here in case some of the begginers want to take the risk and put together a show this size...it is not recommended to do it unless you have a lot of experience and have pre-tested yourself in some stand-up magic
How Much?: I charge $200 for the full show since it´s demanding...also I am the only magician of my kind on my city, so maybe it depends on the demand of your own...maybe 100-150$ could be good in some cases
Material: check other threads for suggestions since this one depends on your character and style...
any other tip?: for Pro´s only!!!
well there you go...I hope this was helpful and you could take something from here...now remember this is for begginers and feel free to leave your comments and if you want add some more tips...
thanks again for your time!!
Well I saw this thread in the afternoon after lunch about how much does somebody must charge for a show...and I was wondering the same thing when I was starting out to get gigs...and how badly I wanted somebody to help me put a price to my show...there is nothing worst (well maybe) that hesitate when somebody ask you how much do you charge for a show...they realize you don´t have to much experience and sometimes they want to take advantage of you...
I wanted to write this guide for begginers since the pros already know how they charge depending of a lot of factors like experience, time, people and other things...I know about that...but some people here are starting out and maybe they have some offers and I really remember the first gig I got and when they pay me...Oh man!!!...It was a great feeling to get something in return for your work!!! especially when It´s an art!!!...I want that people to feel that too!!!...so this guide will help you out...at least that what I hope....since performing and getting some money really makes you work harder in your magic...it really does...
Now, this is the way I do it...and it has worked for me, but I could be wrong...but anyone that can contribute here is more than welcome...
first of all...I am assuming you have decent experience performing for strangers, and you have some decent material...I won´t be talking about "tracklists" (the name I use for a list of tricks to use in a gig) but I maybe be refering some trick or two...
first of all I do have 3 ways of charging depending of what the client wants...
Close-Up and Personal...this mode is when it´s under 10 people, like a private party, a dinner of some sort or an small event...usually this last 1 hour an usually it´s done in a living room or a small place where everybody is sit and placed around me...we are chatting and I am just making magic that is angle proof and with small objects (cards, coins, rubberbands, loops, some little gimmicks) and it looks more casual and looks impromptu....now to be honest prepare this show takes me around 10-20 minutes before the show...an sometimes I get to eat free and meet people...since this is a very friendly way of doing magic I really don´t charge a lot, since It doesn´t represent a big effort on preparing the show nor to perform it and sometimes I can do 2 or even 3 in night...however, this one is the more common kind of show when you are starting out, but be prepared to have good material
How Much?: 50$- 75$ for 1 hour...
Material: cards, coins, rubberbands, loops and Mentalism...
another tip?: usually pre-paid...and don´t spend to much in your magic like using expensive gimmicks that leave expensive souvenirs....sometimes you can even get to met some people here...
Table Hopping:Now this one is very good since you only need like 5-10 tricks to get through the gig...doesn´t require a lot of setup and you get to eat (most of the time) and meet people and you get good money!!...now this gig is very important you go well dressed and talk with the client days before the show...this must be pre-paid and you need to have at least 2 hours paid...now even though the setup is very little and you will be using mostly resetable and easy tricks, the effort is a lot more than the Close-up show since you will be performing non-stop for 2 to 3 hours maybe more...calculate 5-10 min per table...and very important...ask the client about the tips...I usually tell to the client that I won´t be asking for tips...but if somebody offers me a tip, I will take it...they usually are ok with that...but if not, don´t ask for tips or receive them...since the effort is big and also you have to dress nice an sometimes is in the night the ranking goes...
How Much?: 100$ per hour, maybe you can give a discount if they hire you for more than 2 hour...like 80$ per hour in block of 3 hours...that´s 240$
Material: resetable and usually patter simple tricks since sometimes there is a band playing and you are going against the noise,so no room for patter or even mentalism that requires psychological suggestion, since maybe they won´t hear you and are easily distracted...
any more tips?...yes, a lot of bussiness cards, and it´s very hard to give souvenirs in this kind of gigs, since you have little time and usually a signed card is all I give...
Full Show!!...now this is the biggest, hardest and more awesome kind of gig I get...it´s my full show and is usually 45 min to 1 hour long depending on how the audience is participating, it´s more like Stand-Up magic with a table...now this one requires 2 hours of setup and it´s really demanding, since I am doing all kinds of magic and the stress is bigger than the other shows...I have to get 1-2 hours early to the place and prepare everything, I have to dress acording to my style...this show is bigger and you need to check a lot of things aside from the tricks, like how much people s gonna show, what kind of people, what age, the lighting conditions and a lot of things depending on the place and your situation...
this one is really profesional and must be done as so...I am just putting it here in case some of the begginers want to take the risk and put together a show this size...it is not recommended to do it unless you have a lot of experience and have pre-tested yourself in some stand-up magic
How Much?: I charge $200 for the full show since it´s demanding...also I am the only magician of my kind on my city, so maybe it depends on the demand of your own...maybe 100-150$ could be good in some cases
Material: check other threads for suggestions since this one depends on your character and style...
any other tip?: for Pro´s only!!!
well there you go...I hope this was helpful and you could take something from here...now remember this is for begginers and feel free to leave your comments and if you want add some more tips...
thanks again for your time!!