Always Ask These Questions

This year, I did something I haven’t done in over two years.

I actively marketed for shows. Why? Because I love Halloween. The picture above is my stage set up for Halloween. I particularly love the backdrop as it sets the mood.

With a little effort on my part, I have my busiest month since the start of the pandemic. It’s been a lot of fun performing some of my favorite routines and shows.

But at last night’s show, I finally figured something out that has been puzzling me for years.

Most of my Halloween shows are at libraries, with a few held at schools as special assemblies for students.

Yesterday’s show was different. It was at a community center. There were over 1500 people at the event. In different parts of the building, there were a DJ, games, and all sorts of activities. Families paid money to attend the event.

In my room, there were tables and chairs set up on three sides of the stage where I’d be performing. I was most concerned about that, but there were other problems I wasn’t aware of and didn’t figure out until shortly before the show began.

I was concerned about the tables and chairs on three sides of the stage because of the angles. Some of the chairs were far enough behind me along the sides to allow kids to potentially see “what’s going on” for the secrets to my effect.

I wound up doing just fine. Only two of the effects I had planned had any angle issues and those were minor and easily compensated for during the show.

But what wound up being the bigger issue was that other activities were going on in the room I was presenting my show.

There were craft tables and – most troubling of all - refreshments.

In the minutes leading up to my show, I witnessed people coming and going constantly. And despite my attempts leading up to the show to make announcements urging people to sit down for the show, no one listened.

And my client even tried to do the same during her introduction to my show. Again, no one listened.

I began my show and while it went okay, it wasn’t the huge success I wanted it to be. Adults and kids alike were coming and going mostly because of the refreshments. And parents treated the refreshment area as a chance to get caught up with others, oblivious to the show going on near them.

It was frustrating, but I only have myself to blame.

Sure, the event’s organizers could have seen this as a problem and made other arrangements, especially since they’ve been holding events of this type for years.

But ultimately, I should have asked questions. I admit I’m kind of out of practice. For years, my performing career has been tied almost exclusively to schools. It was only in 2021 I started accepting private event gigs again.

If you perform at private events, you know what it’s like. The god folks at this event often don’t understand – or care – about the needs of the entertainer.

It’s up to us to gently and politely educate them.

When booking a private event, my first questions are usually “How many people?” and “Where is this being held?”

For birthday parties and smaller events, this is usually enough for me.

But larger events? I’ll now ask, “What is the room setup?” and “Is there anything else going on in the room before, during, or after my show?”  

Once I have the answers to those questions, I can then do damage control.

As I write this issue, I’m reminded of a truly awful experience at a gig on my wedding anniversary.

My wife was a hundred miles away, tending to her cancer-ridden father. I was tending to matters at home, taking care of the dogs, paying the bills, and other things.

I had booked a hypnosis show at an outdoor event for a large company picnic. I hadn’t asked the key questions above to prepare for that event either. I knew where the event would be held. I knew roughly how many people.

But I didn’t know they’d be having my show right in front of the buffet line.

While performing near buffet lines is common in the corporate market, at least they usually start the show long after the buffet has been closed down.

For this company picnic, there were dozens of other things going on that day. And the buffet line was running all day. Before, during, and after my show.

I explained to my client that doing a hypnosis show under these conditions was impossible. I wound up putting together a makeshift mentalism show.

Between the awful performing conditions and my state of mind, it was easily one of my worst shows in years.

But all of this could have been avoided if I had thought to ask the proper questions.

But let’s say you ask the proper questions and find out your conditions are going to be less than ideal. What do you do?

You have two options.

Option one, explain to your client why the conditions they have set up for you are less than ideal. Be pleasant, be polite, but make it clear that you’re trying to put on the best show possible and the conditions they have set up are not going to allow that to happen.

Some clients will make the changes necessary. Some won’t. And some can’t. A birthday mom can’t change the size of her living room if it’s not big enough for your show.

Your other option? Plan for those conditions.

Adjust your set list for the new conditions.

A popular solution among many performers is to have what they call their emergency show. A special show they have created that can play in virtually any environment.

In my case, as a primarily educational performer, I haven’t given much thought to this kind of gig in years.

But now that I am doing more private and public events, I think I’m going to start working on a show for those situations.

In any event, the big takeaway is to ask questions and plan accordingly.

Until next time, have a great week!

--Cris

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