talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

So basically I've been asked to do a gig for a local Charities Annual Dinner in December. It'll be 350 people and they will want me to do walkaround.

I'm in a bit of a ruck because i haven't really done charity gigs before so I'm unsure what to charge. She's said she can pay me but hasn't given a price.

People have disagreed with me that i should charge normal prices for something like that, but i feel like i should be able to. I wouldn't say I'm a full time professional because I'm not but i have done a lot of work over the last 6 months so feel i should be ale to charge properly for my work.

It is a big do and 350 people is alot, i know shes hiring a string quartet as well as a band so what do you guys think about pricing as I'm not sure?

I'm also going to try and convince her to have a stage set after the dinner rather than me walking around as i don't think she's aware that having one magician walkaround 350 people is not going to be good enough.

SO what do you guys reckon?

Thanks,

Kroots

Its down to personal preferences.
What is the charity?
Is it one you support?
Do you have many expenses?

The thing people tend to forget, is that the reason you are booked, is to encourage people to go. If they had nothing to watch, then people wouldn't go, and the charity wouldn't raise any money.
if the organiser has offered to pay, they must have a set budget.Ask them how much they are willing to offer.

I believe I read somewhere( It may of been his twitter) that Paul Daniels will charge his normal fee, and then he donates this fee to a charity of his choice.
this may be an option worth considering, as this effectivly means that two Charities benifit from the one booking.

The charity provides people that have just been moved into accomodation, whether its a homeless person or a single mum, with furniture.

I hadn't heard of the charity before so i wouldn't say i was a supporter of the charity no.

Expenses wise, I don't think it will be far for me to travel, it would just come down to props and things needed for the event and things like that.

Guest wise, she has confirmed there should be around 350 people there all paying £35 a head.

I guess I will have to see what they offer and if i can justify the price.

£150 or £200 per hour. Walkaround, 350 people in groups of six is about 60 groups, with, say 5 mins per group that's nearly five hours, or £750. Phew, that's nearly a full day's work!

More likely you'll do three hours which is still £450 plus (less tax, NI expenses etc)

The charity is still taking nearly £12K; let us not forget that charities are as much businesses (Eton school is a charity for example) and they determine your worth by the revenue that you can deliver.

I think that corporates expect to pay more than for home parties. Start your negotiations with "my corporate rate is £200 per hour" but then you could reduce if you think it's worth it.

Charge your regular price. The only time I wouldn't is if it is a charity I'm in league with, for example I have a cousin with childhood diabeties, I'd probably work it for free. I have Crohns disease so I would probably not charge them either, I do believe we have to give back.

However they are a charity you are not. Most charities manage to pay for the food, pay for the displays, pay for music etc. Somehow they feel a magician should perform for free.

If this is the way you make your money then definatly charge because it is your livelyhood and as I said you are not a charity, they are.

If this is just what you do for fun or perhaps a little extra beer money on the side then you have to do what you feel is right for you.

I used to like to ask them how much they are being paid to put the event together. There are organizers who make a ton of money organizing charity events. Heck I knew one organizer who was given a budget and if they pulled off the event underbudget they got a big fat bonus! You can only imagine the sob stories he gave to entertainers and caterers. Meanwhile had no problem cashing the check for five grand.

As it turns out, she was expecting to have to pay me less than £100 for the gig. So i politely advised her that she would be hard pressed to find a magician who would work for that unless they were a big supporter of the charity but she seemed to think she could!

Anyway, i wasn't going to under sell myself so i stuck to my price and she said she'd get back to me.

Won't be expecting that phone call any time soon.

There was a news item earlier today, apparently one of the Musicians' Unions had reported that more and more of their members were being pressurised into performing free of charge at various charity events. There was no problem with musicians choosing to do so if they wish but the report showed that the first approach by many large charities assumes there will be no fees or expenses claimed.

Also it was in December where for most magicians that is when they either make it or break it. So for what they were asking I would have turned it down as well.

Charity work is always a difficult thing to decide upon.

I do a few but they are typically a very short distance form home so I have no expense other than time or I will sometimes work for a friend who is arranging something small.

As for fees, firstly were not Paul Daniels so whatever he does or doesn't do you're unlikely to get anything near to the same.

Work out your actual costs as a starting point. That's good common sense and if you are then turned down it's a no. If they will cover expenses, throw in a meal and you're not doing anything anyway then it's good expereince AND advertising. You have 350 potential bookings that you wouldn't have had before and which you CAN charge full price. If you turn 2% that's 7 bookings.

There is no way that a charity is going to pay you £750 so it's not worth asking and yes, there is always someone who will consider doing it for free.

You have to decide whether you're say no to all charity enquiries or consider all of them. Have a formula worked out and use it.

If I had an enquiry with 350 people and expenses were covered then I'd seriously consider doing it and expect to get some marketing photo's as well as some paying bookings and that would make it worthwhile.