I would guess that most commercial close up magicians have a range of show fees which they select from based on a number of factors pertinent to the booking. So, depending on the travel distance required to get to the venue, how long a show it is, whether it is a business or private social event perhaps, numbers attending and so on.
Certainly one of the ways that I have used to establish a range of show offerings and prices, is to quote different rates for varying amounts of time required for me to work. It makes sense to me that if a booker wants mix and mingle magic for two hours, he should pay a bit more than someone having a smaller event who only requires a one hour performance.
This means that I have an established rate for various lengths of time to which I then add supplements depending on the other show factors mentioned above to arrive at the fee I quote to the booker.
I apply exactly the same principles to the generation of kid show fees too, and I like this system because I feel it helps me to be reasonably consistent in the range of fees that I quote while at the same time providing a number of options for an enquirer to select from.
However, there is a slight downside to this system which you can avoid if you are aware of it, but which might catch you out if you hadn’t thought about it in advance. This is what can happen.
A booker tells you that they are having a small event for around 60 people and they are looking for a strolling magician. Knowing that you realistically need no more than an hour and a half to work this size of crowd, you quote for 90 minutes. Normally I would also give prices for one hour and two hours of work to create a price comparison, while recommending that 1.5hrs would be best.
On the night of the booking, you do your allotted time but when you go to get paid, the booker asks you to ‘just do a little something more for that group over there’ or ‘my family have asked you to perform another trick or two for them’.
If you simply accede to this request and you end up working for 2hrs, if makes a nonsense of charging a separate rate if you are just going to perform for that long anyway for the 90 minute price. Yet to say to the booker that you will only do the extra if the higher rate is paid seems a bit money grabbing and could sour relationships between you and the booker on the night.
I suppose the reason it irritates me a little is because there are some people who you feel are always trying to squeeze a bit more out of a situation than they are really entitled to. Because they won’t pay you until you have done what they request, they have the power to make demands that you may not be able to refuse.
Although this situation is not very common, my way round it is simply to have payment in advance. All my fees are due 7 days before the event and because I have already been paid, the balance of power is returned to me. If I like the booker and don’t mind doing her a favour, I might work a bit longer, but it’s then at least my choice and I am not left with the feeling of being taken advantage of.