Profitable Performances Newsletter #10

In this issue:
1) R U Ready for 2007?
2) Marketing Tip for Birthdays
3) Dancing Doughboy
4) Free Gift for you
5) MagicBase tip: Mailing birthday brochures video.

1. The Big Tip: Getting ready for Your NEW Year

Are you ready?
The new year is here!
Are you making any steps to Have a Better Show and Make More Money?
Last December, I set a financial goal. I set a certain amount as my goal. It was more money than I'd ever made in a year. And... I accidentally acheived it!

I say 'accidentally' because some things just fell into place: Like more restaurants/week than I'd ever had before ( 5 a week). But, maybe all of it wasn't accidental. After all, I did set a goal last year. And I really did make much more money this year doing Birthday parties because I worked a plan. (In fact, the rest of this newsletter tells you exactly how I increased my birthday party business by more than 40% this year. 40% increase!

What about you? Do you have a set plan?
May I make a polite suggestion?
Get organized! One of the best things to do is organize all of your customer records. And consolidate all of your marketing plans into one place. Here's a tool to help...

2. Marketing Tip for birthdays:

Here's a great tip that was shared to me on how to collect names for birthdays:
Collect the names and birthdates of children that come to the restaurant or other venues that you perform. Then send them a birthday brochure, or whatever marketing materials you use, a few weeks before their birthday. So they will receive your information just when they need it.

I've started implementing this idea, and here's what I've learned about how to do it:
1. Create a pre-printed form that asks for the information that you need. I just created a two-up form that fits on a 4x6 index card. If you want a copy of it, you can download it here... It's in Word format.
The card asks for the adult's name and address and the children's names and birthdates (including the year.)
Then there is an additional line at the bottom that says "Email address for eNews".
I've discovered that about 20% of the people will fill this out. So this is a good way to build your eNewsletter list.
2. The Pitch: First, the clients at the restaurant need to be in the proper state of mind to want to get information from me. I've found that I get a better response if I've performed tricks at the table before I ask for their information. (Sometimes my time is limited, or the children are too young to watch a magic trick, so I only do balloons at the table. But my response rate from these types of situations is always lower than if I have a chance to perform first.)
Second, the prospects have to understand the need for getting information from them, instead of just giving out your card. So, just before I'm about to give the kids balloons, I say, "Is it OK, if I give the kids some balloons?" This let's the adults know that I'm going to give the kids something valuable. Then I ask, "Did you know that I do children's birthday parties?" Whatever they say, I continue. "Sometimes people ask me for my business card with the intention of calling me to ask about a party. But then they lose it or forget by the time the child's birthday arrives. So I have a new service: I'll mail you a brochure a month before your children's birthdays. Then you'll get all the information that you need right when you need it. Would you like that?"
95% of the people that I say this to, give me their information. A few say, "Just give me your card."

So, how's it working for me? Here's the stats for the first ten months: I collected 950 CARDS. This equalled 1350 children's names and birthdates. - IN TEN MONTHS. (Five days a week I perform in restaurants and one of them is a kid's pizza place.)

What do I do with these names? I put them into MagicBase, of course. Then I set the pop-up reminder to notify me a month before the kid's birthday to send out a brochure. After I mail out the brochure, I just set the date on the pop-up reminder to one year later. So the families will get at least one brochure from me every year, for each child that they listed on the card.

Do this - it works! It will make money for you!

3. FUN BOX: Dancing Doughboy Cards:
   I've had great fun with this. You can make the Pillsbury Doughboy dance. Create a customized dance and send it to someone as an eCard. Here's the link: http://www.pillsbury.com/AALL/default.aspx

4. FREE GIFT FOR YOU: If you'd like a free software to keep track of books, CDs, DVDs, tricks, or whatever, then read the next section:

MagicBase News: The MagicBase Library is FREE for you!
Use it to keep track of your magic library. Track, sort, search and print any list: books, CDs, DVDs, collectible items, props, or whatever.
THIS IS NOT DEMO SOFTWARE. It's fully working and completely
re-distributable. Go to:
http://www.magicbase.biz/demos-downloads.html#freegift


5. MagicBase Tip: You've read how I collect birthday names. Now watch this video to see how it's done with MagicBase.

Click, or paste this into your web browser:
http://www.magicbase.biz/Videos/BdayReminders.mov

If you're looking for more detailed lessons on using MagicBase, then subscribe to the MagicBase Power eCourse.
CLICK HERE to subscribe.
http://www.magicbase.biz/NEW/MB_Power_eCourse/PowerSubscribe.html

Wishing you Profitable Performances,

Bob Miller