The Gratis Factor: 5 Tips for Convincing Performers to Donate Shows
The Gratis Factor: 5 Tips for Convincing Speakers or Entertainers to Donate or Discount Fees (Note: The original version of this article appeared in February 2011.) Last week I had the opportunity to be part of a wonderful tradition here in Atlanta. Bert Weiss, host of Q100’s “The Bert Show,” created a foundation (along with his wife Stacey) to help children with chronic or terminal illnesses experience a magical weekend with their families at Walt Disney World. The first trip happened in 2003, and “Bert’s Big Adventure” has been an annual event ever since. One of the most anticipated parts of the Adventure experience is the huge send-off party, staged in a ballroom at a local hotel and featuring a variety of entertainment. “The Bert Show” itself is broadcast live from the event each year. This year, I was asked to be a featured entertainer at the event, performing magic for these families and helping them create magical memories that they’ll have forever. Entertainers of all kinds and at all levels are approached constantly about donating their services for charitable purposes. Even if we could perform at a different charity event every day, we would only scratch the surface. There are literally more good causes and worthy events in the world than there are days in any performer’s entire career. The 5 Gratis Factor Tips How can you get a speaker or entertainer to consider donating a show for your cause, or discounting their fee for your organization? Consider some of these keys to unlock the door to a gratis performance. 1. A little respect goes a long way. No entertainer wants to be thought of as “and we’ll have a magician, too, or a singer, or maybe a clown or something.” Having your professional services requested for free as a disposable afterthought is discouraging. Being treated as a generic commodity who is completely interchangeable with any other performer doesn’t inspire generosity of spirit. When you call a performer, have a reason that you want that particular individual at your event. As Uncle Sam said, “I want YOU!” Demonstrate the same respect that you would show to someone who was considering donating several thousand dollars to your organization, because that is what you are asking some performers to do. 2. Quantify “exposure.” As the old saying goes, you can die from exposure. Most entertainers are promised untold heights of publicity and exposure for doing charitable events. Then the story appears in the paper or organizational newsletter saying, “… and there was also a wading pool, a petting zoo, a banjo player, and a magician.” The positive PR that comes from charitable events is a great tool for attracting a variety of companies and individuals to your cause. Don’t promise some nebulous “exposure” – give the facts on how you can really get that person’s or organization’s name out. Will their logo be included on shirts, posters, and programs? Will they be considered a sponsor at a donation level equivalent to the fee they have foregone? Will the organization include their name and web site in all promotion of the event? Will their appearance be promoted on air or on the microphone at the event? Will there be someone on hand to give a real introduction to start their show? The best way to get a performer to commit to your cause is to specify that they will be included in promotion and publicity of the event, and that you will provide specific introductions and leads to them for future paid engagements. Charitable organizations are always run by people who interact with other donors, both individuals and corporations. Those are potential clients for your entertainer; help them make those connections and you may just wind up with free shows for ALL your events! 3. Be honest about the money that is really being spent. It is, at best, a faux pas to ask one entertainer to donate performances when other providers of goods or services are being paid; at worst, it is demeaning. Is the venue itself being donated, or are they being paid – even by another donor or a sponsor? Is the food being donated, or was it bought – even at a reduced rate? If you are asking an entertainer to donate his or her services, be ready to explain why his or her livelihood is of less importance to your charity than the providers you are willing to pay for, even if the rate is reduced. There may be a real reason your organization has made that decision, but you should be willing to talk about it honestly instead of trying to hide it from the performer. 4. Help the entertainer deliver the value they have pledged to your organization. Let’s say your entertainer agrees to donate a performance for your cause, and has arrived on site. Don’t make the mistake of minimizing or undercutting the value of that donation; instead, find ways to maximize the impact they can have on your event. For example, when it’s time for the performance, don’t just send them into a crowd or onto a stage with no build-up. Give them a strong introduction, preferably by the event’s host or the charity’s top official at the event. Give the attendees a sense that what is being contributed is valuable and worth their attention; it will help your event have a greater impact on everyone present. Also – don’t interrupt a performance to place attention on another person who has arrived simply because he or she is “a celebrity.” Would you interrupt someone who was in the process of signing a check to your organization? The value of the donation is undermined when the presentation is interrupted. If the show needs to be shortened or rescheduled during the event, work it out with the performer before he or she takes the stage. A working performer almost certainly sacrificed more to be there for you than the celebrity did. Please honor that.
Atlanta Magician on USA TODAY “Best in Cruise Entertainment” Team
Atlanta Magician and Speaker Joe M. Turner on Performance Team Named by USA TODAY as “Best in Cruise Entertainment” Remember that cruise I performed on in June as a member of the “Magic Castle at Sea” program on Crystal Cruises? If you’ve followed my Twitter, Facebook, or Google+ pages, you saw some photos from my cruise through Scandinavia. (If not, click here and here.) It was, of course, an amazing experience. Crystal is well-known as a premier luxury cruise line, having won top Conde Nast Traveler awards for many years in a row. You can now add an outstanding magical accolade to that list! Last week, USA TODAY highlighted Crystal Cruises’ “Magic Castle at Sea” program as part of their “Best in Cruise Entertainment” picks. Rich Bloch, the program’s creator, shared the news with all the performers on the team, along with Bret Bullock, Vice President of Entertainment for Crystal, and Dale Hindman, Executive Director of the Magic Castle. The author of the article, Art Sbarsky, had this to say: [gn_quote style=”1″] Crystal: Magic Castle at Sea I love magic shows and Crystal’s new Magic Castle at Sea show is superb. In a small venue that hosts up to 25 guests at a time, professional magicians from the famous Magic Castle in Los Angeles do things with coins, cards and other objects that are simply amazing to witness close up. The magicians rotate through regularly, so even frequent cruisers have little chance of seeing the same performers. The show has been so popular that Crystal has expanded the number of performances per sailing. The best way to enjoy the sleight-of-hand: don’t try to figure it out, just watch and be amazed.[/gn_quote] [gn_spacer size=”20″] I’m already booked for three more cruises next year, and there will probably be more between now and then. Stay tuned!
An Amazing Event for Yelp.com
Buy Latisse (Bimatoprost) online at the guaranteed lowest price https://hello-eyelashes.com. Generic Latisse (also known as Bimatoprost) is an eye drop that is used for the purpose of growing longer and thicker eye lashes. It also helps in combating the issue of glaucoma that can lead to impairment of vision if it is not treated on time. Last month I was honored to perform for staff and users of Yelp.com in their first OTP (“Outside the Perimeter”) community event in metro-Atlanta. While the Atlanta Yelpers have had their own events, this was the first for the OTP community. The “Yelp OTP Deco-Dence Party” was a celebration of food, merriment, and 1930s & 40s style. I performed mobile close-up magic as well as serving as the closing act onstage. The event, as evidenced by the multiple reviews that have appeared online since then, was an unqualified success. In fact, you might even say it was an amazing event. But what made it amazing? Using my “Five Kinds of Amazing” model, let’s take a closer look. I think this event primarily leveraged the strengths of two categories. 1. SCIENCE/PROCESS: Relating to the unexpected result of a natural law or process; an unexpected moment of delight in an otherwise familiar process or environment. The event was held at the Earl Smith Strand Theatre, a beautiful space where I’ve had the good fortune to perform on a few previous occasions. This venue has an intriguing history and is a good example of a rescued gem. Like Atlanta’s Fabulous Fox and other theatres large and small, this former movie house stood vacant and deteriorating until the community saved it. This location wasn’t new, and the renovations weren’t even all that recent. Many people were aware of it and even drive past it on a regular basis, but had never been inside. This is an example of something being hidden in plain sight. Yelp OTP amazed their audience by spotlighting the extraordinary hidden inside the ordinary. 2. CONTACT/COMMUNICATION: Relating to apparent mental interaction or influence; the efficient, effective, and excited sharing of information between people. Yelp, as they describe themselves, “is an online urban city guide that helps people find cool places to eat, shop, drink, relax and play, based on the informed opinions of a vibrant and active community of locals in the know.” It’s largely a review site, but the people who run and participate there (“Yelpers”) have a sense of community and connection that goes beyond other online review sites. As a result, they are prone to have parties. The Yelp audience is inter-connected both online and in real life, and Yelp uses that blend of communication to create demand, share information, and to prolong the effectiveness of the event after it was concluded. Before the event, RSVPs are flying in, along with comments about what is coming and who will be there. At the event, people are checking in, posting pictures, and connecting with new people. Professional photos are posted after the event, bringing everyone back to continue the conversation and share reviews. All of this communication pays big dividends in making the event take up more valuable real estate in the minds of their audience. Amazing! As for me, the event was a great opportunity to work in a beautiful setting here in my own part of town. I got to meet a lot of fun people, including the organizer Heidi P. She put together an outstanding event and I hope I get to work with her and the Yelp folks again soon. [gn_spacer size=”20″] Click here to enjoy more photos from the event. P.S. I have to share my favorite review – thanks to Lindy F. for your kind words! The most fun of the night had to be the entertainment. While I enjoyed the stage performance of the riotous Thimblerig Circus and the vocal stylings of Amy Baldwin in the lounge, my favorite and most entertaining of the night was Joe M. Turner, magician extraordinaire. I loved his stage performance, but found myself in his presence around the theatre all night being wowed by his masterful prestidigitation. Card tricks, dice tricks, coin tricks, the man does it all. As my friend stated, so matter-of-factly – this man has to perform at my wedding. ‘Nuff said. Again, this has been the most fun event to date for me.
Entrepreneurship and Magic Radio Interview
I recently sat down with Roger & Stacy Vaughn as their guest for their business radio show, “Veterans with a View” on The Better You Network. Enjoy this conversation about entrepreneurship, business, and making a career out of an unusual passion! Click here to visit the show page and listen!
Atlanta Magician, Scandinavian Cruise!
Atlanta Magician Turner to Perform on Crystal Cruise Through Scandinavia Atlanta’s most-recommended magician, mentalist, and motivational speaker is headed to Scandinavia! Joe M. Turner joins the Crystal Serenity to entertain travelers during Crystal Cruises “Northern Europe Getaway” in June 2013. Crystal Cruises is the world’s top luxury cruise line, and Joe is part of a select new team that has been assembled to provide world-class magical entertainment aboard all Crystal Cruises. This cruise is the Northern Europe Getaway. It features cool cafés, welcoming parks, contemporary design, and old-world hospitality as travelers experience the wonders of Scandinavia. The Crystal Serenity departs from Dover on June 8 and arrives in Copenhagen on June 15. Ports include: Dover, England Zeebrugge, Belgium Amsterdam, Netherlands Oslo, Norway Helsingborg, Sweden Copenhagen, Denmark “Magic Castle at Sea” is an entertainment program devised by noted magician and producer Rich Bloch in partnership with Crystal Cruises and the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Crystal Cruises all over the world now feature talent from the world-famous Magic Castle as entertainment for their guests. Turner expressed pleasure and excitement at being invited to join the team. “This program features world-class entertainers in a world-class luxury setting. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share my magic with great people all over the world.” Turner also mentioned the impact on his family, saying “This cruise is going to be extra special because my daughter is joining me for the trip – we’re going to make a lot of memories on this ‘Daddy/Daughter’ adventure!” Turner is already confirmed to perform on three additional cruises in 2014. Turner notes that he’ll be posting photos and updates on his Twitter, Facebook, and blog feeds.
Social Media Magic: Radio Interview on MileHiRadio
“Social Media Magic” was the topic of my recent interview on Denver’s MileHiRadio. Host Deb Krier and I spent an hour discussing the effective use of social media to promote small businesses. Her title for the segment – “Social Media Magic” – was based partly on the nature of my entertainment and speaking business, and partly on the kinds of results that can be generated with the effective use of social media. Deb Krier, who is now based in Atlanta but still hosts her show on the Denver-based internet radio station, is an extremely knowledgeable social media consultant and it’s worth visiting her site to get to know her better. In this radio interview, we discussed a variety of topics including: Platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter Tools and apps such as HootSuite and Buffer Tips on content and what to share A description of my speaking and entertainment business You can listen below, or click here to visit the “Deb Krier: SociaLight” page and enjoy or download the interview there. [gn_media url=”https://milehiradio.com/archives/4251274D-D5ED-DCFE-022039D8F1D39A64_20130204.mp3″ width=”300″ height=”80″]
Radio Interview on Atlanta BusinessRadioX: Building a Speaking Career
On the BusinessRadioX network, host Jim Beach interviewed me on his “School for Startups” program. The topic, “How to Build a Speaking Career,” was suggested by Jim after we met at a Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce event, and that premise formed the backbone of the hour-long talk. In this radio interview, I took a basic four-step approach to addressing the topic. Identify a problem Create a credible solution Present to an audience that want to hear In a way they like Along the way, though, Jim was very interested in the components of my “5 Kinds of Amazing” keynote, so you’ll hear about how I line up magic experiences and business competencies to teach businesses how to use lessons from the magical theatre to increase their audience’s brand engagement. 5 Kinds of Amazing Talent – Expertise (highly developed skill, deep knowledge) Science – Process (natural laws with a surprise) Magic – Empowerment (breaking the laws/process) Telepathy – Communication (how close can you get to mindreading) Predictions – Trendspotting (anticipating/creating the future) UPDATE: Alas, many years have passed and the audio is no longer available online. We shot a bonus video, too – you can watch it below or go straight to the YouTube page. BusinessRadioX features business professionals interviewing their peers, drilling down on the critical issues, and delivering practical information to an engaged audience.
Turner Magic & Keynotes Named Best of Atlanta 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Turner Magic & Keynotes Receives 2012 Best of Atlanta Award Atlanta Award Program Honors the Achievement ATLANTA July 30, 2012 — Turner Magic & Keynotes has been selected for the 2012 Best of Atlanta Award in the Party Planning & Event Consultants category by the Atlanta Award Program. Each year, the Atlanta Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Atlanta area a great place to live, work and play. Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2012 Atlanta Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Atlanta Award Program and data provided by third parties. About Atlanta Award Program The Atlanta Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Atlanta area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. The Atlanta Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy. SOURCE: Atlanta Award Program CONTACT: Atlanta Award Program Email: PublicRelations@awardprogram.org URL: https://www.awardprogram.org ###
Nailing the Punchline
Opportunity knocked again one recent Sunday afternoon. Well, actually it called my cell. My family had already left for Tennessee to visit family and enjoy Thanksgiving. I had stayed behind due to plans on Monday evening, with a flight out set for Tuesday morning. Sunday afternoon, then, found me home alone with no real plans, until my phone rang. “Joe, I’m glad I caught you!” said my friend Christian. “Are you working tonight?” “No – why?” “Well, I’ve got a situation…” Christian is a local comedy magician who was scheduled to play Atlanta’s Punchline Comedy Club that evening. Due to some miscommunication between himself and the club manager, each thought the other had booked the rest of the talent for the evening’s show. That is, they had a headliner but no emcee and no feature act. Would I be interested in taking one of those spots? The emcee spot runs about ten minutes, then you introduce the other acts. The feature spot is a 25-minute spot, then you’re done for the evening. I had never worked a comedy club before. Sure, I use humor in my act, but I don’t bill myself as a “comedy magician.” My friend assured me that I would be great and that the crowd that night was expecting strong magic. Back in April I wrote about the importance of being willing to jump into unexpected opportunities. I thought about that post as I considered this offer for a few seconds. “If I can do the feature spot, I’m in.” “Done. See you at the club.” Next thing I know, I’m headed into town to work the Punchline. On the way, I considered how I would start. I had a routine that I knew would fit comfortably into the time slot. I knew the effects would work well together, involve the audience, and generate some laughs from their intrinsic humor. My main concern was precisely how to open for an audience largely primed for stand-up comedy. I decided to take part of a humorous speech I had written for another performance and adapt it to this new venue. Basically, I set out to establish that I was on the show for contrast, to make the funny acts seem funnier. However, in positioning myself that way, I was also getting some laughs. The combination worked well, and I had the audience laughing at my ‘predicament’ before I even started the magic. As it turns out, I had a great time. Excellent comments after the show, including “You were our favorite” from a couple who didn’t know any of the performers, and “You changed our whole outlook on magic” from another couple who had actually come to see the headliner and didn’t expect to see other performers. Some of my takeaways from the experience: Take advantage of unexpected opportunities to grow. I could have stayed home and told myself, “That’s not my venue.” Instead, I now have a new venue. Are your skills or services applicable to a market you haven’t explored? Think about your opening. Find a way to position yourself for success by turning your presumed weaknesses into strengths. They’re not bugs – they’re features! Is there something about what you offer – or about what you don’t offer – that you can use as a point of contrast to others in your field? Nail the punch line. In comedy, you won’t be successful if you don’t nail your punch line. All the build up requires that you deliver the goods at the end. How do your clients know when it’s time to laugh and applaud? Are you nailing your punch line? Here we are at the end of 2011, a year that has been both amazingly challenging and amazingly fruitful. You have just enough time left to nail your punch line.
Credibility Counts – Interview on Georgia Business Directory Network
Anyone can claim anything. How are you evaluating the credibility of the speakers or entertainers you book for your conferences and events?
