talkmagic.co.uk

An interesting question.

Supporting a charity is always a personal choice of course but you may find that all of the entertainers at any particular event were asked to perform for free and that the only one who said yes was the magician. This of course would raise the question as to why they agreed to do so. I'd guess that most 'magicians' have a full time job or are retired so this is their hobby and most people do not get paid for their hobby in any case.

Another good point has been raised about magicians 'underselling' themselves.

My friend Gordon Astley once said to me in the early days of our Haunted House Nights when we were discussing fees:

"Don't lower you fee just to get the gig. The client may say that they have a limited budget and so you agree to a low fee of, say just £100.00, and get the gig. You become the 'cheap' £100.00 magician. When the same client has a bigger budget, for example £750.00 for the magician, they won't come back to you because you are the 'cheap' magician, they will go for a more 'classy' magician who charges more because in their eyes they must be better!"

It is better to negotiate around the peripheries such as travel costs and accommodation etc., that way you are still seen as the more 'classy' act.

Keith Hart

I do voluntary gigs from time to time. I tell the booker to ring me a few days in advance of the gig to see if I am still free. I only say this to bookings I quite like the sound of.

I did this for a lovely riverside gig in Worcestershire in September. I enjoyed it. They enjoyed my entertainment.. so much so ... they might book me next year for my full fee to be sure of my prescence!

Kevin

Hi Guys,
This is thorny subject but one point that has been missed or ignored is the potential loss of paid work. Here is my response.

I tell the charity that I support a spinal Injuries Charity 100%
For any other charities I offer a 50% reduction in my fee on the condition that should I be offered a full fee paying gig I will be entitled to take it with no conditions.

This is a win win for me and a lesson for the booker. I do this for a living, however I do respect their need to make money so offer a conditional discount.

Many years ago I had a friend call me about a charity gig he was being pressured into. A prominent local dentist was on the organising committee of a charity and wanted him to perform. The sales pitch was EVERYONE was giving their free time for no fee. I suggested that he call the dentist back and ask him if he normally consults on a Saturday night. When the guy says no, politely tell him that you do...And this is not YOUR free time. So if he wants you to perform at 10.am on a Monday morning you would be delight so long a he comes along too. Oh wait he can't make it then coz he's working. NB use a different dentist!