Re: Getting work performing I get quite a bit of work through an agent and I really prefer to do it that way. They do all the leg work and call me and ask if I want to do this show for $XX and I say yes or no. I have no idea what they tack on as their cut and don't really care. They have always been really fair with me and they push the hell out of my act. I have nothing but praise for these guys...
The other gigs, I book myself. I have done mass mailing to promoters and have done ok with that. I have gotten gigs through my website. I have recently been getting calls based on an article that ran on my act in Tattoo Savage magazine. I booked 2 nice shows last week through that. Word of mouth brings in more and I have a network of other entertainer friends who recommend my act to promoters when they hear they need something unusual.
That is the way I do it...
SideShow Bennie
Re: Getting work performing If I had to break it down I would say about 50% of my work comes from self-promotion. I do alot of this. I do cold mailings and such. The majority of my work has come from my sending out promo fliers to clubs, festivals and bands directly.
Probably about 15% has been generated through the net for me. My website (though needing desperately to be updated) has drawn much attention. Webrings I have found are also a great resource.
About 30% comes through word of mouth and the support of other performers has been immeasurable for me, though these are mostly in the Ren Faire and Fire communities. I am new to the side show community on the whole.
The rest is from agents. I have worked with agents and have about a 50/50 success rate with them. Being stiffed a couple of times, a few have tried to have me sign exclusivity rights to them. I am very wary of them.
In University I had a professor who said something that has stuck with me through the years...
"You are your own best advocate. No one will ever stand for you the way that you will stand for yourself." It has been one of my credo's ever since.
