Going Cheap – Why You (probably) Shouldn’t Hire a Cheap Children’s Entertainer
Amazing things happen when we work together! – a blog series highlighting some of key times I’ve helped (alongside others) to organise entertainment for children and families – Issue III
As with many magicians and entertainers, in fact anyone who is in business, I often get asked if I can price match against one of my competitors. Here’s a few things to keep in mind if you find yourself thinking about asking that too.
I once heard someone say that the only difference in price between entertainers is how greedy someone wants to be. I couldn’t agree less! If you’ve hired a trustworthy, professional magician or entertainer, they should have set their price not on greed, but on value delivered. Let me explain…
When you hire Ready Steady Magic, you’ll get a professional service throughout the run-up to your event. At no point should you be concerned about what will be happening at the party or worried that I have forgotten about you. Which would you prefer? A personalised text message on the day to let you know I’m on the way, or someone who charges so little they have to rush between shows and are late for yours. Or worse they cancel on you because you don’t even have a contract with them.
I only ever have a maximum of two shows per day, and I always think carefully about travel time, before confirming a booking. If I can’t make it in good time, I pass that event to one of my trusted colleagues! As a magic mentor once told me, on time is late! A children’s party can overrun, so I build in cushioning time so I always arrive well in advance and stay behind if things run over.
I’ve never been secretive about the price I charge and if you make an enquiry with me, I’ll be happy to tell you that while I’m not the cheapest, I strongly believe that I provide excellent value what I provide. I know that it’s true because I regularly get fantastic feedback from the events I perform at. When people tell me my price is too expensive, I can feel confident that it’s not because others have paid the same price and been happy about it.
Of course, there will always be some people who want the cheapest option for everything they buy, and that’s totally fine of course. They obviously have their priorities solely on the price. But there has to be a floor somewhere! If you’re looking to hire a magician / entertainer for less than £200 then my honest advice would be to save your money and put it towards something else. Your event is worth more than hiring someone inexperienced who doesn’t know what they are doing. If it’s a children’s birthday party, even more so. When I think back to my childhood the moment that stand out (good and bad) are birthdays. Which memory do you want your child to have?
So I don’t price match. Here’s why.
I’m a professional magician and entertainer who has been doing this for a long time. Find out more about me here. It has taken me years of dedication to build up my expertise. I’m not a beginner and it’s not fair to compare my price to someone who is just starting out. I don’t price match because what you receive is not the same.
I hope this post has been useful for your party planning, but let me leave you with one final thought.
It’s worth it, isn’t it, to pay just a little bit extra and get exactly what you want rather than pay less and it not live up to what you expected.
After all, organising and planning a party can be stressful at the best of time! That’s why I often advise people to pay that little bit extra and get more for their money. And by that, I don’t mean more time, or more magic, but a better performance, a better booking process, and a better on the day service.
Want me to help out at your child’s birthday party or family celebration? click here to email me.