talkmagic.co.uk

This will make the pros smile! i got a phone call today asking if i could do a children's party (2 hours) for £10.00 . At first i thought it was a joke but the person was serious. Has anyone else had requests like this?

Lol fortunately not.

£5 per hour is below the National minimum wage let alone the magicians minimum wage.

I'd have recommended that they take their £10 and sit in McDonalds for a couple of hours to entertain themselves!

Forgot the best bit! I said that a pro would not work for a low fee as we need to eat. She was fine about it and said did i know any clowns that charge about £10 as she had a low budget!

I'd have replied "yes, I'm listening to one at the moment"!

That is cruel my friend! At least my clients this week are paying the normal amount. To be serious though, i would have done if it had been a children's home (good PR).

I agree that - that's a different matter

the few requests i get for sub £50 parties are usualy from charities or conartists.
i did a party for a lady who said £50 was to expensive then tried to demand a refund. (aparently a repeat offender).

when you politely inform them that your public liabilitiy and performing rights come to £30 a show they usualy change there tune.

I'm all for doing some parties at cost and i do especialy now as I'm currently in transition but i let them know that a regular party costs £300 but this month I'm having a special £40.

Hmm, i see we change the same for big parties. Yer i have some specials too. Nice to hear from you again. I have had the two months from hell

So, how much do you all charge per hour, on average?
Is there much 'competition'? i.e is there many other magicians around doing shows in your area aswell?

I was told that anyone who paid less than £50 for a complete show was taking the mickey and anyone who charged less than that would always find themselves overpriced!

I was told that £75 -£100 was the going rate for parties and social functions and that £75 was always the bottom line.

Don't know how this equates to what others charge - If I need to take lighting rig, PA, etc. this can take the overall cost into £150 - but I do let them use the sound for the rest of the party and even have been known to mix and do a bit of helping out (soft touch apparently).

What do you guys charge for how lobg?

Vic

I once had a client call and ask my price, then they ask what they could get for $10. I told them I would be happy to sing their child happy birthday over the telephone.

ok basic guide prices for uk:-

basic magic show £50 per hour or part there of.
kids show £100.
disco / magic £250.
outdoor event £300.
corporate event / office party £150.
table hopping £70.
stage performance £1000.
wedding £75.

all prices are for basic services and were current base prices when i was trading, please feel free to correct me for current trends.

Hmm baffled by those prices. £75 for a wedding or even less for table hopping but £100 for a children's party? and if a basic magic show is £50 per hour does that mean that you are refering to a 2 hour kids show to arrive at £100 or is the magic show for adults and you charge less for them than kids???

As I say baffled

prices are minimum charges for set sevices ie from £50.

childrens magic invilves a lot of prop based magic which has to be maintained hence the £100 start price.

weddings are generaly 30 mins of table hopping.

adult shows invilve mostly mentalism and manipulatiuon so not much wear and tear on props.

i used thease guide prices when someone booked a party eg if a parent wanted a childrens party for 30 kids for two hours with balloon animals it would go like this.

£100 basic.
£20 ballooons x 100
total £120.

does that make a bit more sense, (remember basic prices need to include public liability costs).