Why Ending Your Show on Time Matters

I glared at the other magician, fuming the entire time.

I was waiting to resume my own performance, shooting foam for a foam party.

I was booked for four hours of foam at an outdoor carnival event for a small town.

When planning the event, the folks didn’t consider entertainers stepping on each other during performance times.

I was asked 30 minutes into my first foam session to turn my equipment off because the sound was scaring the horses.

Not so coincidentally, the fenced-in area where the horse riding was happening was right next to me.

“No problem,” I said. I immediately shut down my equipment.

Our schedule was hastily rewritten. I’d start my foam again about 90 minutes later, right after the magician finished his act.

The magician was also right next to my foam area.

I went to watch his show…then left 20 minutes into it because it was so bad.

Besides, he was already 20 minutes into his 30-minute performance.

Or so I thought.

One of the organizers told me I could start as soon as the magician finished his act. Again, because of the noise and music my equipment puts out.

“No problem,” I again replied.

Then I waited. And waited.

And waited.

Until, when the damn magician went TWENTY MINUTES over his allotted time, I finally said, “screw it” and started my equipment.

I had to. My foam party was heavily advertised. And people kept coming to my station, wondering why there was no foam.

After I turned my equipment back on, one of the organizers told me next year they’d have everything set up differently.

That was a relief to me. I loved rebookings. I had worried that since my total foam time was lower than what I promised that I’d get the blame.

This incident happened a couple of months ago. But it wasn’t the only delay I encountered at gigs recently.

As I write this, I’m getting over a really bad cold. This week, probably my busiest all year, was exhausting.

In the middle of it all, I had an evening family show after a couple of daytime assemblies.

After my daytime assemblies wrapped, my client told me that I couldn’t be in the auditorium to set up while play rehearsal was going on.

She told me I could start setting up at 5:00pm. My show was supposed to start.

“Don’t worry,” she said. “They’ll be finished at 5:00pm.”

Which is why I was so pissed when they were still rehearsing at 5:15pm.

When I finally got the go-ahead to start setting up, I scrambled to get everything in place.

You see, at family fun nights, some people arrive 30 minutes before the show.

So I only had 15 minutes to get ready.

I never go over my allotted time.

Ever.

It’s rude to other performers. And it’s rude to your clients.

At most events, you’re not the last activity. There are usually other things happening after your show.

Birthday party? There may be cake and ice cream, pizza, presents, and who knows what else.

Library show? You’ll have people wanting to explore the stacks after your show.

Even at a family fun night in a school where your show is likely the last activity, you still need to end on time.

People want to clean up and get home.

Corporate shows? Everybody wants to get to the open bar. Or finish those awards.

Cruise ships? Gotta end on time. The cruise ship director wants those people back at the slots, spending money.

Whatever. You get the idea.

But I know what many of you reading this may be thinking.

“What if, due to reasons outside of my control, the show doesn’t start on time?”

I hear you. This is what I do.

Since I perform mostly in schools, I’m very aware of the clock.

If I’m performing in the morning, I need to be aware of lunch schedules. If I’m performing during the afternoon, I need to be aware of dismissal times.

Bump up into either of those and I’ll piss off everyone.

As the kids are coming into the assembly area, I’ll keep watching the time. If it looks like we’ll be starting late, I turn to my client and ask what time lunches (or dismissal) start.

That bit of information immediately tells me when I need to end my show.

And the client always loves it when I ask that. It shows I understand their world.

If I need to, I shave material. Ending on time is more important in this realm.

Birthdays ‘might’ be different. Or a corporate event might have you scheduled last.

So you could fill your entire allotted time even if you start late.

But should you?

I remember vividly how a corporate event went completely off the rails.

It was for a small group, just 20 people.

They’d hired me, a comedian, and a belly dancer.

The food service was SO slow. Mind-numbingly slow.

I was supposed to start my show at 9:00pm.

I didn’t go on til 10:30pm. Fortunately, I was the last act.

Even though I could have performed my entire show (it was Murder By Magic), I didn’t.

I could read the audience easily. They were tired and just wanted to go home.

Did I mention it was a Thursday night? Yup, they had to get up early the next day for work.

I wound up slicing almost 30 minutes off the running time.

Not one person complained.

So the takeaway this week is pretty obvious.

End your show when you are supposed to.

But it goes deeper than that. When booking the show, find out what is happening both before and after your show.

And understand your market. In some niches, you may be able to perform your full set even if you start late. Others, not so much.

This is even more critical if you’re performing in an event with multiple entertainers.

Make sure your act is a walk-on, no set-up or clean-up required.

Respect the other entertainers. End when you are supposed to.

Real professionals show courtesy to other entertainers. And their clients.

Have a great week!

--Cris

 
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