talkmagic.co.uk

I'm a young, rising magician who works locally in Cumbria. I currently focus on close-up magic, usually table magic or walk-around. At the moment I usually charge £35 an hour but feel I'm under-selling myself.

I also agreed to do a 45minute corporate stage show which I asked £90 for.

How much do others charge (I guess this is really one for British Citizens)?

standard charge is £50 per half hour or part there of so your about right.

I thought standard charge was £100 an hour?

oops thats what Ive been charging

£50 per half hour or part there of.

I blind !

I normally would charge £50 per half hour also, depending on the type of show. If Its a large stage show or you're performing a larger venue then perhaps upto £100 per half hour. depending on the venue, what you're performing and who you're performing to (i.e - Kids school, or bussiness event)

Just my thoughts

Cheers guys. Maybe I am underselling myself. Are you talking about stage magic or table/walk-around? As I say, I mostly do Close-up magic...

£50 per half hour or part there of.

usualy refers to a starting point for strolling / table magic, weddings or closeup work.

fees for stage work / parlour or anything were you need to bring or use props / setups are charged per venue / guest number basis.

hope thats clearer, basicly if it can't fit into a pocket, topits don't count, then you charge more.

i have a printed telephone pad form that i use to ask questions, each question has a set fee amount next to it, at the end i just tot up the costs and hit them with a price, works for me.

Disco's system sounds sensible. Everyone has this 'how much to charge' thing when they start and the figures you get are often a bit daunting in that you feel a bit worried about asking people for £100 an hour for you to be there. Don't worry though you'll get over it once you start getting paid!

I did a gig recently where I was paid £200 for 2 hours minus 10% for the booker, who paid me straight away afterwards. There was also another magi there doing the tables with me. When the booker later invoiced the client for the £400 for the pair of us the client came back and said "No you've made a mistake, you've only invoiced us for one", not realising we'd 'only' been paid £100 per hour each. As a result the agent has doubled his magic fees and I've had 100% pay rise for any work I do for him in the future!

This has buoyed me up a bit into asking for more for my private stuff and so far (well, the two gigs I've quoted for since) it's gone fine. I quoted £350 for two hours for a gig in December and then £200 for one hour for another gig after that (it was on a date that I didn't really want to do so I thought I'd make it worth my while) and both have been accepted without any quibbles. By the way I'm, talking about mix 'n mingle and table hopping close up here, I've got no experience of stand up stuff.

I am definitely in the wrong line of work. Should have become a pro magician instead of a train driver.

Hmm Dini is thinking should one describe him self as up and comming? Honsetly?

surley if you have the skill, know-how and the ambition EVERYONE is up-and-coming...Deffenitaly a good advert tho..
Im due to do my first solo gig for a work Christmas party - VERY nervous about it, but They are paying me £85 to be there for an hour, not to do an hours worth of magic, but to be there for an hour, obvioulsy ill Have to throw a card trick in somwhere, but im happy with that for my first solo.

Basically the theme so far has been to rip 'em off as much as you think you can get away with... Well done guys, setting a good example.

I'll certainly be increasing my fees next year...
Hehe...

Now this is a very tenacious thread ! And to me, one which you should take many factors into account before offering your quote.

Last week I did strolling magic at a wedding and was paid £275 for an hour and a half.

How did I calculate my fee ? First, I set the ballpark being dependant on my skills and experience. Then I look at the event. Doing a private party in a house I would look at £40-£50 per half hour. Doing a wedding I would look at £50-£100 per half hour. I will take into account what area the booking is in, and where the venue is, which will give me an idea of what the booker is prepared to pay. Having taken wedding photos for over 20yrs I know that someone having a wedding reception in the local working mens club can only afford a quarter of what someone having a reception in the Ritz can afford.

So, I obtain all details of what it is and where it is, before offering a quote. I don't particularly concern myself as to what other magicians are quoting. I tell potential customers of my abilities and past record and leave it to the potential customer to decide if they want to pay my fee or go for someone cheaper and likely less experienced.

The old addage of "you get what you pay for" is quite true. I know childrens entertainers who charge £40 for a party and are quite c*** (not the best). I know others who charge 3 times that and are experienced and completely successfull at every event.

Try and work your fee to what you think YOU are worth and what the punter can afford to pay without begrudging it. My two penneth for what its worth. I'm available for genuine PM's if anyone wants to chat about this.