talkmagic.co.uk

Howdy all,
I recently spoke to a few of my magic mates about recieving tips at weddings etc. They come up with pretty large figures compared to my average £5-£10 per close-up booking!! So what is the best way to get tips? What character do you need to be to recieve more tips?
Thanks

Frankly I can't see that as being wise... never heard of it, in fact.

A Wedding is just like a Corporate gig; you are paid a flat rate. You do not solicit tips or pass out your own card (if the event organizer brought you in, you are their "property" -- it's a professional courtesy)

I know it's quite the common practice but you will find that the upper-end pros NEVER stoop to such antics. They take their fee, which is typically in the $800.00 and up range (several of my friends in the Manhattan area see $1,500.00 to about $2,000.00 regularly for this kind of date).

I really believe you might want to re-evaluate things a bit; especially how you want the paying public to view you.

I completely understand your point, that is what I believed before talking to some magic friends. I have recieved the occasional fiver from a table at a wedding but NO more. I've heard of some magicians putting their top hats next to the exit at a wedding or corprate event! Cheek of it eh!!?

Personally, I do not look to receive tips.

I get paid my agreed fee by the client, then the rest is doing my job and entertaining the people I'm paid to entertain!

You are not a waiter, you are a 'professional entertainer' if you are being paid for performing!

I've NEVER been offered a tip at either a wedding or corporate gig and have never heard of a serious wedding magician receiving one either.

Ive had a £50 tip once from a very happy client who had booked me but not from a spectator.

If you are being offered tips by guests at a wedding then you are doing something seriously wrong, and you need to put some serious thought into your act. A wedding magician should carry himself with some class, and not solicit scraps like a beggar.
On the few occasions that someone attempts to tip me at an event like this, I always politely decline, explaining that I am being well paid to be at the event.
Occasionally (not often enough!) the booker will add a tip to the fee. That is a different matter. A corporate booker once added 50E to a fee because they were one bouncy castle short on the day, and I had one in my van, and was able to get them out of a spot of bother. I didn't mind taking that.