talkmagic.co.uk

three chickens and some coal?

Eshly wrote:Ohhh it's not too posh at all, the reason I'm nervous is because it's the PERFECT place to work! Good tips, good atmosphere, no drunkards (give or take a few) and to top it all off the girl I fancy works there. :p

I am in the north, so not a Londonite, and I am thinking of asking for between £25-40 an hour. Think that's good?

Did you read my post?

dont think so.

But he does have a valid point about regions Lee.
Mark James bought up the subject of northern fees at his lecture the other month, and there is a difference.

Plus, we dont know how Tom's selling himself.

If he mentions that these are going to be his first gigs..( Please say you didnt say that Tom!!) then they are going to want to pay less.

My sugestion to you tom, for what It's worth, is go in and ask for what Lee is saying.
but before you do, set in your mind the lowest amount you will accept. ( 50 is probably about it.
If you are pushed into a corner, and have to accept that lower fee, you go for a meal on top...
or, if it's a pub, a couple of pints AFTER the gig.

if the venue has a hen night in, or they want you in christmas, new year, or bank holidays.. make sure that they know now that you are going to charge a little bit more..Its only fair, since they will take more covers, and you will be working more.

So you think I should ask for 50+?


I don't want to be too abitious... but I also don't want to insult myself.

(Dale I did NOT say these would be my first gigs, and by the way, where are you in England?)

Quick tip from (I think) Roger Curzon's book of Everything You Could Wish To Know About Table Hopping (or something to that effect).

Get a friend to ring up the owner a few days after your first gig & enquire when the magician would be in the restaurant again as they want to bring some friends along. You pay for their meal, manager is impressed at the extra booking & you get taken on for longer or better pay.

As the cockney's say, "BISH BASH BOSH"

ps £12 an hour is ridiculously low, what were you thinking?

Eshly wrote:So you think I should ask for 50+?


I don't want to be too abitious... but I also don't want to insult myself.

(Dale I did NOT say these would be my first gigs, and by the way, where are you in England?)

yes.

did you not read my post either?

( or my profile? Look to your left)

I think it's quite a knack to learn how much you should be charging. Different areas of the country and different types of gigs do make a massive difference to what you can charge. I've worked at some very posh places in Surbiton, Windsor and around London, these sorts of places they think nothing of prices that would be laughed at in some areas of Kent.

It takes a little while to learn what you can charge but it is always worth going in with a fee higher than what you're expecting. That way you look very reasonable when you can then offer them a "discount".

Windsor

And you didnt pop in to tea? Shame on you.

SO CONFUSED?!?!?!


My friend Steve said 25-40, Lee says 175 (!?) and Dale says 50 :s




*confused*

Far too many variables to be certain, the equation includes the age and experience of the magish, the type of venue, the sort of clientelle, the location - however a starter of £50 per gig would seem to be reasonable proved you can renegotiate if more seems to be appropriate.

Dale, Lee and the other working magii here know a hell of a lot about this so take their advice very much to heart.

Pizza Express,TGI Fridays,Frankie &Bennys and most other franchised restaurants normally pay £100 for 2 hrs.I dont know of any of them paying any more than this,if they book you on a weekly basis.
I know this is well below your average wedding fee or corporate fee but im afraid this is all you will get,However tell some of your friends you are on £50 per hour,and see what they say.
If you get offered any other work from these places,please price accordingly and dont be seriously undercutting full time pros,i understand there are different prices for different areas of the country,but anyone that gets offered weddings/corporate work should know the going rate for their area.
Hope this has helped,and good luck

Deano

I have no wish to undercut anyone. And don't think I'd conplain about £50 an hour! If I got £50 an hour I'd be over the moon. To me thats a lot of money :p

I'm thinking of saying "Well if you like I'd be more than happy to do a trial week first, so you can get an idea of what I can do for you, and we can talk about payment after that, but usually its between 40-60 pound an hour."


Sound like a good speech?

(and don't dare tell me not to plan things. I plan things, its my way)

First of all, big well done for getting yourself out there, it's the hardest step.

Eshly wrote: we can talk about payment after that, but usually its between 40-60 pound an hour

Maybe something more like "but usually it's around £60 an hour"

When you do start talking money, they'll remember the lowest amount! And then when you mention £50 or something, they'll wonder why you're charging them more. If they've got £60 in the back of their head from the first conversation, in their mind they're getting a discount at £50.

The first hurdle is over, you got yourself out there. Congratulations! I am very happy for you.

Price is always tricky. I don't live on your continent so I can't advise as to what. But here is some advice.

Charge professional prices. Why? You are working you are a professional. If you charge the professional price you will be treated like a professional.

Be confident in your negotiations. To do that take Dale's advice figure out the lowest price you are willing to go and if they want to pay lower, walk away. (there are other avenue's)

If they are already willing to pay you don't back off by saying you will work the first week for free and see how it goes. That is the opposite of professional.

Figure out a price, and go with it, I don't care if it is 25 or 50, work a month and see if people are warming up to you, see if people start coming in to see you, if so, if it is all working out, then you can re-visit with the manager (who ever and re-negotiate a price).

Do your best and have fun, and don't worrry so much.

Good work, I can't tell you how happy I am for you, it really is a good step forward.

So you think I SHOULDN'T offer a free week?