Hi!

I realize that this is a hard question to answer, since the payment is different in different countries. But anyway, I need the most guidelines I can get. I'm a semipro magician in Sweden, 28.

Have been interested in magic since 20 years, practiced in youth a bit. Now, since a year back, I have taken magic up again, been doing some shows. I now have a customer coming back, and asking for another show. I take that as a sign of some level of quality

I wonder, how much would you take, if speaking in terms of ordinary salery (I don't have my own company). My thought is around $200.00 dollars for a 25 minutes show, with much mentalism in it. Above that, the costumer will have to pay another, say 32 percentages in tax for me, so his total cost would be around $260.00 dollars.

The government will take around $60.00 dollars from my $200.00, so I will have a total of $140.00 dollars to put in my wallet, when paying taxes. So, $260.00 in total cost for my client, $140.00 for me in my wallet (Swedish tax rules ARE crazy). So, you think this is to much, or to little, or just.... perfect?

please, give some feedback

yours sincerely

HÃ¥kan Fleischer

Think of a number and double it.

You have to think of the value you are offering them. From what I understand about Sweden, your country has a lot of government subsidies and specialist taxes that make it difficult to compare prices with other countries.

You might be interested in the another post about show fees in Sweden Fees for Kids shows Regional and country variations

I don't think you should be thinking about your taxes or your clients. You have to decide what a fair price for a show would be. Ask other magicians in your area what the going rate is & charge according to your skill & entertainment level as compared to theirs.

If you have no one to compare to, then just set a price that you can live with. The important thing is to get as many shows as possible. The more you get, the more you will get. If they don't say no to the price, & you get every show, then raise your price a little. If you still get all the shows then do it again. Don't stop raising the price until you get 20% no's to your price. That is when you know you are priced correctly.

As far as taxes go. While of course you pay taxes on what you take in, I think you should verify that the client also pays. In the USA (where almost everything is taxed), there is no tax on magic shows or most other forms of entertainment. The reason being that you are leaving them with nothing more than a pleasant memory. On the other hand, a photograher must charge tax because he leaves them with the pictures.

Check your country tax laws and you might be pleasantly surprised.