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10 Stupid Things That
Entertainers Do
To Mess Up Their Business by
Steve Kissell On the road to creating a family entertainment business while producing educational workshops for those in the same industry, I have stumbled upon several mistakes. These errors have been made by myself and others. I have changed the names to protect the guilty and not so bright. (10) During conversations with a potential client speak badly about your competitor. I think it was said best “Blowing out another’s candle does not make yours any brighter.” And, “If you can’t say anything nice about someone then go on a talk show!” Seriously, it makes you look bad when you tear down someone else to an individual who may want to hire your services. (9) Bother a client about your pay. Either ask ahead of time for your payment up front or be patient in your wait for it. Badgering a client about your pay will give you a reputation for being a pest. Yes, I know they promised to have it for you when you finished your program. But they will say anything to get you there and don’t seem to be in much of a hurry to pay you after the program. It is one of those “truisms” in life that we all need to learn to accept. (8) Stress the client by being late. Be a professional and show up in plenty of time of the program. If you are performing for a birthday party, then arrive 15 minutes early and park down the street and phone the parents to let them know you are nearby. If you are presenting a stage show then arrive at least an hour early to check out the sound and lights. This demonstrates to them that you are a true professional. (7) Mistreat the birthday child or volunteer you have on stage. It may seem funny at the time to embarrass them during the performance, but it will leave a bad feeling after you depart the area. Be kind, as you would like others to treat you. Make fun of yourself, the audience loves that! (6) Don’t maintain your equipment properly. Take some time to shine, dust and occasionally apply some new paint or contact paper to give your props that well maintained look. Let your audience know you care about your equipment. Do not toss your props on the floor or in a box when you are finished with them. Let the participants know that you respect the tools of the craft. (5) Under dress for the occasion. I heard it said once that the performer should dress one step up from the audience. Show respect for them by maintaining your costume and appearance. Dirty nails, greasy or messy hair and gray shirts that are supposed to be white are all tell-tale signs that the performer is not interested in the profession. They are a “getby” that is to say they do only what is necessary just to get by. Respect your audience by displaying proper attire. If you dress like a professional you will act like a professional. (4) Fail to make contingency plans. That is to say one does not play the game of “what if.” What if the funding for libraries in your area is cut? Will you have another source of income? What if the school system decides there are no more assemblies this year? Most entertainers I know perform in multiple areas such as school shows, family shows, libraries, birthday parties and day cares. In those situations, if one area diminishes then they can re-direct their efforts in another area in order to maintain their monthly incomes. (3) Fly solo as a performer. As entertainers we have something in common, we all need each other. We have a desire as outgoing people to nourish ourselves with networking. We need to consistently connect with one another. We learn by others mistakes and share our mistakes with others. I am reminded of the analogy of removing a log from a fire, it gradually burns out. (2) No interest in CEU’s. That stands for “Continuing Educational Units.” That is when folks attend classes at colleges that will sharpen their mind and help them to maintain an interest in a certain area. As entertainers, we need to keep our minds sharp and to refresh ourselves. We can do that by attending workshops designed for family entertainers. A lists of workshops is suggested at the end of this article. Remember when you are green you grow, when you are ripe you rot. (1) Last and probably most importantly not “enjoying the journey” is the biggest mistake we all can make in our careers. Sure we can do hundreds of shows a year and make loads of cash, but are we really happy with it? What is most important in our lives, is it success in our work or success in our relationships and families? Do the math and do what’s right, see you down the road and remember to bump a nose! Continuing Educational Opportunities
www.CircusMagic.com www.KidAbra.com www.BalloonAndMagicMania.com www.WorldClownAssociation.com www.ClownJubilee.com www.Comedifest.com www.KentuckyClownDerby.com www.ClownVegas.com Steve Kissell 1227 Manchester Ave. Norfolk, VA 23508-1122 757-423-3867 KissellTalks@cs.com |
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