The "Just Checking In" Email That's Quietly Killing Your Magic Show Bookings

You sent the quote. Then nothing.

 
A day goes by. Then three. So you open a new email, type the three words every magician types, and hit send: "Just checking in."

 
Here's the hard truth. That "just checking in" email is one of the biggest reasons your bookings stall. It feels polite. It feels safe. And it gives the client zero reason to write back.

 
A good magician follow-up email does the opposite. It gives them a reason to reply, hands them something useful, and makes saying yes take about five seconds. Fix that one email and you'll turn a lot more quiet inquiries into confirmed dates.

 
I know it works because it's how I went from a handful of shows to a packed calendar — more on that in a minute.

 
Why "Just Checking In" Falls Flat

 
Put yourself in your client's shoes.

 
They didn't just email you. They filled out three or four contact forms in one sitting. When I call leads back, one of the first things they say is, "Now, which one are you?"

 
They're busy. They forgot. And your "just checking in" email doesn't remind them of anything — it just asks them to do the work of remembering, deciding, and replying.

 
Most magicians send some version of the same message: "Hey, are you going to book me?" It used to work. It barely does anymore. Nagging people to book you is annoying to them and a waste of your time.

 
The other problem is patience. Marketing folks in every field will tell you it takes six to eight touchpoints before most leads respond. One weak follow-up and most magicians quit. The gig doesn't go to the best magician. It goes to the one who stayed in front of the client — the right way.

The 3-R Follow-Up

 
So what do you send instead of "just checking in"?

 
I use a simple shape I call the 3-R Follow-Up. Every good follow-up does three things: it gives a Reason, it offers a Reward, and it asks for a Reply in one line.

 
That's it. Three R's. It works because it flips the email from being about you ("book me yet?") to being about them.

 
1. Reason

 
Give a real, specific reason you're writing today — not "checking in."

 
"Checking in" is code for "I have nothing to say but I want your money." A real reason sounds like: "I'm still holding October 17th for you, but I had another family ask about that Saturday this morning." Or: "I put together a quick idea for how the magic could tie into your fall theme."

 
The reason has to be true. When it's real, the client feels like the email is for them, not a form letter blasted to a list.

 
2. Reward

 
Put something useful right inside the email so opening it is worth their time.

 
For me, that's usually an idea, an interesting story, or one helpful tip about their event. I stay in front of clients with things they actually enjoy reading — not "Book now!" over and over. Give your prospect a little value and you stop being a pest and start being the pro they want to hire.

 
Think about the last "just checking in" email you sent. Did it give the reader a single thing? That's why it got ignored.

 
3. Reply in One Line

 
Make saying yes take one tap.

 
Don't end with "Let me know your thoughts." That's homework. End with one easy, specific question the client can answer in a word: "Do you want me to pencil in the 17th so it doesn't get booked?" or "Should I send the agreement over so you can lock it in?"

 
One clear question. One easy yes. That's the whole job of the last line.

How I Turned 3 Emails Into 22 Shows

 
Let me show you what this looks like in real life.

 
A while back I was staring down a slow October. I figured I might scrape together six shows if I was lucky.

 
So instead of nagging, I sat down and crafted three short emails to my list of past clients and old inquiries. Each one had a real reason for writing, something useful or interesting inside, and one easy next step. I set my system to send them out every other weekday for a week. Total time to write them? About an hour.

 
The result wasn't six shows. It was 22 shows for October. Fifteen came from my library list, five from past school clients, and two from an online listing.

 
That's the difference between "just checking in" and a real follow-up. Same inbox. Same clients. Completely different email.

And it's not a one-time fluke. The year I finally built a real follow-up system into my business, my income went up by $68,000. In one year. No joke. Following up the right way is one of the biggest reasons my income climbed as high as it did.

 
Why Magicians Don't Hear Back After a Quote

 
Here's the mistake to watch for once you start doing this.

 
When magicians don't hear back after a quote, the usual reflex is to follow up more often and more pushy. That backfires. Pound someone with "Book now!" emails and they'll go hunting for the unsubscribe link.

 
The opposite mistake is just as bad: faking the reason. If your "reason" is obviously made up, the client feels the pitch coming a mile away. I once replied "great article" to someone's newsletter and got hit with a $3,000 mentorship pitch two seconds later. It felt like going from a first date straight to a marriage proposal. Don't do that to your clients.

 
The fix is the middle path. Follow up several times, space it out, and make every email carry a real reason and a little value. Soft ask, every time. You're staying top of mind, not twisting arms.

 
How to Follow Up on a Magic Show Inquiry This Week

 
You don't need software or an hour to start. Do this in the next seven days:

 
1. Pull the last three inquiries or past clients you left on "just checking in."

 
2. Rewrite one follow-up using the 3 R's — a real reason for writing, one useful thing inside, and one easy question to close.

 
3. Send it. Then save it as a template you can reuse the next time an inquiry goes quiet.

 
One rewritten email this week. That's the whole assignment.

 
If you want to go a step further, this pairs perfectly with getting the first email right — why you should never quote a price in the first email sets up the follow-up to land even harder.

 
The Bottom Line

 
"Just checking in" asks the client to do all the work. A real follow-up does the work for them — it reminds them who you are, gives them something worth their time, and makes the yes easy.

 
Change that one email and watch your quiet inquiries start turning into booked dates.

Want the Follow-Up System That Does This For You?

 
The 3-R Follow-Up is the mindset. If you want the exact emails that put it to work, I've packaged them up.

 
If you want a follow-up system that turns quiet inquiries into booked dates, grab the High-Octane 3-Step Email Strategy free here: https://theprofessionalmagicianclubpro.com/3-step-email-strategy/

 
Cris Johnson is a 20+ year professional magician and host of The Professional Magician Club Pro podcast. He helps magicians book more shows at higher fees. Grab his free guide: The 3-Step Email Strategy.

To find out more how I can help you book more shows at higher fees, click the button below to see my list of services.

© Copyright Cris Johnson, Inc.