Low Prices

Tonight my wife and I went to rent a movie from the new, and only, video store in Rochester, MN.

The prices are unbelievably low. We rented two movies: total price 0.53! We had a 2 for $1 coupon. Since we were new members, our half price bonus was still in effect. But even when that bonus time expires, we will still be able to rent some older movies at the 2 for 1 rate.

You may wonder, like me, how Family Video can make any money. But they must be because they've opened 400 stores in the US.

Is there a lesson for us performers? The obvious one that you'll probably get more shows if you lower your prices. But will you make more money? Will you have to turn down a higher paying gig because you're already booked? Maybe. But you don't know.

This fall, I got booked at a Pumpkin Patch entertainment farm. I did 29 shows in 8 days. I had to charge just a fraction of my regular price to get the job. But, as a result, Oct was my highest paying (for performing ) month this year.

But, on my last day at the Pumpkin Patch, I had to turn down a $400 show. But I was able to sub-contract a different performer for the gig and so I still made some $ from it.

So, what's the lesson?
Well, my wife and I are going to rent more movies. They've got us hooked. I hooked a big fish with low prices too. Maybe, sometimes, there is a place for low prices. It doesn't mean that you are a low quality performer. It means that you can flex when necessary. And the end result may be that you DO make more money.

Wishing you Profitable Performance$!

- Bob Miller




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