Birthday Party Tips
Bob Miller offers his decades-long experience performing Magic at Birthday party shows.
I haven't tried to make a career of performing for children's birthday parties, but I never say No either. And I've had good response from my clients. Here's some performing and marketing tips for birthdays:
BUSINESS:
• As soon as the show is booked, send a confirmation email. It gets your contact info in their hands, and locks in the show in their mind. No doubt that you're booked and ready.
• In the confirmation email, include your contact info, link to your website and ask your customer to share it with the attendees.
• Day of the show, send a text message stating when you'll arrive. This may help the client remind you of any last minute info they forgot (like the door code to the apartment building, or something else equally important.)
• Give every child an appropriate marketing item with your name on it. Ideas: Giant Birthday bucks with a magic trick printed on it, Magic Coins with your contact info, etc.
• Include your Venmo or other type of payment link in the first email to the customer. Maybe you can get the payment taken care of before you even arrive.
• After the show, followup with a Thank you by email (at least), and include links to your social media so they can boost you with positive reviews.
• Always charge for travel. Set a distance you'll travel without extra charge, and then don't flex. Charge per mile for anything beyond your limit. With today's high-priced gas, your clients will understand and not balk at it.
• Ask the parent to take a photo of you during the show which you may use on your website. (That's how I got this one.) Because of sensitivity about showing children in photos, ask that it's a shot with the kids backs to the camera as they watch you, or a photo of you and the birthday child that the parents don't mind having on your website.
PERFORMING:
• Get all the kids involved in some way, since they won't all be able to help up front. Wiggle their fingers and say the magic birthday words, which are ALWAYS "Happy Birthday [Name of birthday child].
• Do you ask each child their name? I often do. And I memorize them. Then I recite them all back immediately. The moms are always impressed by this feat. It shows you care about the kids. It also gives you a bit more control over any wild kids because you can call them by name and ask them to sit down, or whatever. (If you want to learn how to memorize names, check out my Memory Magic course at my store. BobMillerMagic.com
• Offer multiple packages: a regular-priced show and then a super-deluxe show that only a crazy parent would purchase. And you'll be pleasantly surprised when some do.
• For the basic birthday party package, pack small. No sound system, or large cases. My birthday show fits into one wide briefcase.
• Related to the previous one: No long setup time. When I arrive I'm ready to perform.
• Always end with a trick or two with the birthday child. Be sure to let the parents know it will be a great photo opportunity. I always end with the Cardiographic trick by Martin Lewis, using his birthday card sketch, where a rabbit rises from the hat holding a birthday card. The page makes a great souvenir birthday card that all the guests can sign.
• Do Balloon Animals. Children love them. Make a balloon animal for each child. For a great balloon pump you can wear as a belt, check out Majiloon.
In another post, I'll go into detail about my trick list for birthdays. But for now, send me any questions of tips you have about children's birthday party shows.
