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Basically im getting more and more gigs at university - some charity, others not. I have one coming up on monday and I have been trying to get the organiser (a friend of my girlfriends) to cover expenses and get 2 free tickets to bring a couple of friends so i can enjoy the event myself afterwards.

The email conversation follows (below) but they wont cover expenses. I love performing magic and as of yet do not need it to make a living, yet do feel A) that people should be paid for their talents if someone wishes to hire you and B) that I am being taken the * out of slightly.

What are your thoughts?

All the best,

Alex


8:17pm Dec 11th
Hi Alex how are you? Hope your ok and everythings going well!
Just thought I'd send you a quick message about an event that I'm helping to organise next term. It's called Glitter and basically its a massive ball to raise money for the world medical fund and another charity of our choice. It's mainly medics that go but it was amazing last year and we raised loads of money for the charities! I know that you do lots of magic stuff, is that still true?! If it is would you be interested in coming along and performing some magic tricks for us? You would be walking round doing tricks for people, really informal. Think you would get a free ents ticket to the event too which would include food, sweets, candyfloss, massage soc, live bands etc etc! Unfortunately we don't have a massive budget so you wouldn't be paid, but it is for charity and it would be awesome to have you there!
Are you at all interested?! Its happening on 18th Feb 2008 (Monday), if you are or just want to know more then drop me a message or text and I'll fill you in! Hope to hear back from you soon!

Cheers, Katie xxx

8:55pm Dec 11th
hello katie! Long time!!

Gimme a shout on msn after thursday. Have a big essay due and trying to get my head around it. Pretty sure i still have your addy saved on there from 1st year so look forward to talking!

I do indeed still do magic - but only close-up walk about stuff (i.e. no stage stuff) as long as thats what your after...?

talk soon!

A x



9:28pm Dec 11th
Cool, cheers Alex! Will do that! It is walk about stuff that we want not stage stuff. Will chat after Thurs, good luck with the essay! xx

9:51pm Dec 11th
Great! look forward to it!

A x

12:06pm Feb 11th
Hey Katie,

Hope alls going well with prep for the 18th. Im going to need to know all the info for this event asap - location, black tie? How long you'd like me for (I usually work for about 2 hours), how many people in attendance and anything else you might think that will help.

As this is a charity gig and your a mate I won't charge but I do need you guys to cover my expenses which will come to £25 which I need to collect on the night, so if you could have the cheque/cash ready that would be wicked. Also Id really like to stay on when im done working and would love to bring a couple of friends so It'd be great if I could have 2 free tickets and a couple of drinks on the night thrown in.

Look forward to hearing from you,

Alex xx

Today at 12:23am
Hi Alex, sorry I haven't been in touch sooner, have been very busy with various things! Hope you are well and things are going ok etc!

Right, because this is a massive charity event we have actually no money to spend on acts and performers, everyone who is currently playing for us is doing it for free and out of the goodness of their hearts, so I'm afraid that we won't be able to give you the £25 for expenses. I totally understand the effort that it takes for you to get to the event and perform for two hours with very little incentive from us, but it would be awesome to have you there if you can for free?! I know thats a huge commitment for you for nothing but it is for a massive charity and we raise alot alot alot of money for them every year so its all for a good cause.
On the ticket front we don't usually give out free tickets as a good proportion of the ticket money goes to charity and the rest to cover hire costs on the bar, but, we are prepared to give you a couple of ents tickets if you would be willing to waver the fee? These won't include the hot buffet, which I think you will be able to eat, but its for everything else that evening so still a pretty good deal. It is a black tie event, its massive in the medic calender!
Let me know what you're thinking and get back to me asap.

Cheers hope to hear back from you and see you soon,
Katie xx

As I don't know these people it's hard to judge but it looks to me like you can't win. You were, understandably, upbeat about appearing and seemed to be enthusiastic so if you don't appear now it'll be assumed to be just because of the £25.00. OK, the charity may be very worthwhile and so on but unless you're really committed to doing work for that charity, I feel it's a wee bit unreasonable to expect you to pay all your own expenses to entertain the guests for nothing - but perhaps I'm just being too judgmental. Very often these gigs are offered on the basis that it's publicity for you, you might get future bookings and so on but that would equally apply if they paid you so not exactly a big bargaining point. By the look of the correspondence, they approached you in the first instance, in hindsight your answer ought to have been equally upbeat and so on but on the understanding that basic expenses would be reimbursed.

we don't usually give out free tickets as a good proportion of the ticket money goes to charity and the rest to cover hire costs on the bar,

Only a 'good' proportion ? And if they understand about paying for the cost of the bar then they ought to appreciate about paying for reasonable expenses. Like I said at the start, you can't win this one without appearing to be a meeanie but you'll know for the next time anyone asks for freebies.

I say so do the gig, and see it as a learning curve for what to say next time!

You never know you could get some work out of it to cover your losses this time around! x

I'm with Chris and would say to go for it. I understand your point about the £25 but look at it at the very least as an oppotunity to practice. If it's as big a deal in the medical world as it sounds then get your cards out there and drum up some business for yourself. If you only even manage to get one booking out of it, it'll have already paid for itself.

what lomster said...network, schmooze, hand out business cards...

Rest assured you are being taken advantage of. All charities have money. And to not even extend a ticket to you is just petty on their part. It will cost them what? a plate of food? a chair? the ability to see a show? in exchange for the services of a professional magician? (doesn't matter if you perform regularly or not, that is what they are asking you to do).

I'm not sure how taxes work on your end of the world. Here I would do the gig but I would ask them for a reciept that you donated the price of your show. That way it can be claimed on your taxes, at least that is how it works on this side of the world. (at least in Canada). It costs a charity nothing to do that.

I would do the absolute best show and then next year when they approach you again I would ask say sure here is my fee.

I would reserve the right to pass out my business card when asked. I think it is tacky at any event to just be handing your card out. But if requested, sure. If you have a promo package I would reserve the right to hand that out as well. At large charity events you never know who is lurking about...and you are working for free.

I do believe we should be doing some charity work. Hospital wards especially for children, (and I don't even like children) and a charity of your choice. And usually they bend over backwards for you because they understand what you are giving.

In the end however, given your situation I would do the event.

this isnt in bristol is it...

Part of the problem may be that they know you aren't a full-time pro & thus are expecting a freebie.

That said, if you don't make your living that way then it doesn't matter too much but they need to be aware of your market value.

I would say something like - "On this occasion I will do it for free but charities usually do pay me something, even if only a small fee, and my normal cost is £200 for 2 hours close-up magic" (obviously increase or decrease the sum accordingly) OR "my normal fee is £200 fpr 2 hours close-up magic but as you are a charity I'll do it for a discounted fee of £50"

it is in bristol.

Thanks to everyone for all their advice so far

To me it doesn't sound like they are taking the p**s. She was honest (and polite) from the start, and told you they couldn't offer any payment. The choice is yours whether to accept. Anyway, all these medical students will be loaded in a few years time, so you could make some contacts.

If nothing else you get to meet a load of nurses - go for it - hand out your card, use it as a speed dating event!

Many of us have been in a similar situation over the years and they are, without a doubt, trying it on. As others have said, it's best if you do the gig to avoid looking petty and use it as a marketing opportunity to hand out your card (appropriatly, of course!). You never know, it could be a lot of fun.

Make sure they don't keep moving the goal posts on the night and expecting more and more from you though. You're already going out of your way to help them and if you don't want to do something on the night or have had enough by a certain point, stop, and stand your ground. Basically, be helpful by all means, but don't be walked over, it just lowers your value in their eyes. And I wouldn't mind betting that the band, DJ, caterers, waiting staff, etc, etc, are getting expenses, if not a reduced fee.

Have fun.

On a serious note:

The organisers are putting on an event to raise money, to do this they need to lay on entertainment - discos, bands, comedians, cabaret etc....

They will be paying for these acts, if they refuse to pay then they are devaluing your services.

Even the big name acts who work high profile events for free will earn a huge amount from spin offs (look how many artists released albums after Live Aid...)

£25 is a completely insignificant amount for a supposedly huge charity - by their own admission they raise lots and lots and lots of money - £25 is hardly going to make a dent in that.

I would hold out for your expenses - if they refuse to pay you that then they obviously don't value what you have to offer.

my psychic powers were correct! well, ok google...

http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2007/5308.html

its a fiver out of fifteen going to charity....hmmmmm...

personally i'd do it for the practice and you never know who you might meet as a contact...why not suggest free press for the event and get your face in the local paper?

If you don;t need the practice AND are close by then consider it. If not then politely reject the opportunity and recommend someone else.

Charities bank on people doing things for free but many of their staff who work at the same events get paid whilst the volunteers - volunteer. That's a fact!

If only a thrird of the proceeds of the ticket price are going to charity and the bar gives them an additional cut then I would suspect that there is some money being made somewhere and it's not going to the charity.

£8K donations in 4 years is £2K per year (even qwithout using a calculator ). Somethng's wrong somewhere with such a small amount being raised.

I think that they're trying taking you and others for a ride.

I'd much rather do some work 'directly' for a charity than through a route such as this.