talkmagic.co.uk

That PR man is a cheeky **** - probably why he's so good at his job!

Can I just remind you of something Kevin - the bride has requested you! OK, you may not be her numero uno, top priority for her dream wedding, but still - she wants you, they can obviously afford you... do the maths!

Unless they are close personal friends, charge. I'm sorry - "free publicity" - unlikely. It's their wedding. The magazine will want several shots of the couple, the cake etc, then a few shots of family and famous friends. They're not going to be clamouring after you, in the same way they're unlikely to do a feature spread on the jazz quartet providing the music or whoever.

If you're lucky you'll get one photo of a nice surprised spec, particularly if they're family or famous. The best publicity you'll get is the chance to hand out your card, but again, you don't want everyone else ringing up asking for freebies either.

Regardless of the frustration that this brings out in me anyway ("free for those who can afford it, very expensive for those that can't" ), as Mr. Calthrop says - if you're services are worth paying for, don't give them away for free. And if you do well, you'll be able to ask them for a few comments for a website, recommendations etc. even if you've been paid.

It all sounds a little bit odd to me to be honest. If it'sa big wedding that's going to be covered by OK, they usually really go to town with these things. I can't really understand why they'd want to skimp on something as relatively cheap as the magician (not saying that you're cheap but you charge will be very small compared to the other costs).

I'd be very warey, are you sure the agent is who he says he is and not just trying to pull a fast one?

It's my understanding of those magazine deals that in return for the exclusive reporting, OK pay for the wedding... This would mean that while the bride is requesting him, OK don't want to pay!!!

It sounds very odd. If it is a celeb wedding then wouldn't they want a professional? Professionals charge and charge well. If other companies are bidding they are obviously expecting to get paid. Is the agent who is doing the hiring getting paid? I'm sure he is, he may have some sort of budget and if he can get you to perform for free that is more money for the agent at the end of the day, (there are some really scummy agents out there). If a magazine is covering the event they are going to decide their own content of what they print and don't print.

Please keep in mind: I don't know if you make a living off of magic. But from what you describe this could be a very high paying gig. If you go ahead and not charge and you don't perform for a living then you may be taking a way of source of income for somebody who is. Okay that is not your problem but it is something to keep in the back of your head as you make a decision.

Hi there,

I often perfrom at celebrity events, and i will be honest i did one cheap to get my foot in the door, although this did help i would not do it again as i know they do not expect a cheap
(or free) entertainer.

I treat celebrity parties or events just like any other corporate event and i charge the same fee.

Its always tempting when these situations arise, but you should always get something for your performance, as you promote yourself as you perform anyway.

unless you got a freebie off the bride - thats a different matter all together..

LOL

Is the agent making the arrangements for free? - I suspect not.

I'm with FairieSnuff - if the bride has specifically asked for you then charge the going rate. Unless the agent can guarentee you space in OK magazine - which he can't - then you'll be paying for the honour.

OK will probably have a banning order any any other photo's so you won't be allowed to take your own or to use theirs

Hold out and I think that you'll get hired - try to contact the bride and get her onside.

You have to charge or ask them to gaurantee you a shot in the magazine IMO or if it was me I would go for both

About the guarantee for the pic in the magazine. Okay so you get them to guarantee that you get your photo in there. 3 possiblities can now occur. 1)You get your write up and all is wonderful. 2) You get your write up and the reporter doesn't like magic and you get trashed in the media. 3) You don't get a write up in the magazine as guaranteed, what are you going to do? Legal action? Good luck with that. Either do it for free and hope for the best or charge a professional rate.

I would think long and hard about handing out business cards or other promotional material at such an event, that could really make you look bad, unless of course somebody asks for your information, but to just go around handing stuff out to guests? hmmm.

The real question is how much is the publicity you might possibly gain from OK worth to you? If it were me I would see it as a handy reference to add a bit of prestige in the eyes of future customers but not likely to specifically generate x amount of business.

When you start quoting cheaper prices to get your foot in the door you run into trouble. Trust me on this. I have a non-magic business which is my job and I know another guy who's in the same trade who reckons the best way to get a customer is to charge the first job quite cheaply then increase the price once you're in. In principle this sounds reasonable but in reality you're offering a product at a value which is relative to it's quality, and you shouldn't accept less than that if you have no reason to do so other than the customer wanting to pay less, ergo they've bargained with you and won. You are now accepting a position where they've put themselves in charge and all future negotiations will have that as the subtext. Which is the problem my friend has, which leads him to have to carry on doing work at a reduced rate.

So, the fact is if you do the job for free you might possibly get some more work directly from the publicity. More likely you won't. You will get at least an enquiry or two from people there who enjoy your performance but you'll get that whether you get paid or not. Do you consider the benefit of perhaps getting some more work if you do it free worth the chance of losing the gig if you hold out for a fee? No one here can really make that decision for you and it's easy to give red hot business tips from the safety of this side of the keyboard, in the end you have to consider the options and make your own decision.

P.S. I'd bloody well charge 'em.

Grab a copy of OK magazine and take a look at how many of the hired helps get into the photo's - NONE

You shouldn't be afraid of charging what you think you're worth.

I have done quite a few discos for celebrity weddings.

All of them have been in OK or Hello or some other trash like that.

Not one has ever featured even a picture of the disco, let alone my name and booking details.

Charge them - they are not paying anyway, the magazine are.

Edited to add: I have always charged between three and four times my ordinary rate to insure the celebrity has "that little extra something" - and I have always got it!

No kidding, people working for nuts ?????

You'll get the same publicity if you're working for high fees (according that your work is worth something).
Get serious publicity by winning top competitions (Mc Millan, FISM, national competition is a good start), by having "specials" revues in international magicians magazines (Genii, Magic....) and national (or international) muggles' press.
Be respected as an artist. You won't never be respected by working for free.
If an agent offers you to work for free, fire him immediately.
If you work for free, you steal the job of a professional working magician who gets paid for his performance.

well said (or written) Mr Curator.

Double your fee and then offer to do it for half price

connor o'connor wrote:Double your fee and then offer to do it for half price