Fishbowl Marketing

You are about to enter the world known as The Stone Cold Journal. Very few people have had the honor, and most people who have usually end up a wee bit crazy when it’s all over. So what am I talking about? I’m a big fan of the concept of “write everything down” even if it’s not a fully developed thought. Usually as I write down an idea that pops into my head, it’s a bit random and rambley (I just made that word up), but the idea seems to further develop itself as I write it down.

So you are about to witness first hand what is, essentially, a journal entry. It’s an idea I had that I think has potential, but I’ve not tried it. And I’m not even sure all of the ways it could be used or its full potential, but as I make the entry here in a moment, the hope is that something will come out of this that will either become a good idea or point to an idea that is good, so here goes:

I went to a Chinese Restaurant (maybe it was Japanese . . . who knows – I’m not that cultured) for lunch today, and they had the “win a free lunch by placing your business card in the fishbowl” fishbowl. I’ve placed my card in these bowls before. What they are is a totally independent person/company that has no affiliation with the restaurant. It’s someone looking for a lead. So they pick out business cards and call the card owner to invite him/her to a free lunch at the restaurant. They are encouraged . . . nay . . . required to bring so many friends.

Next thing you know, you and a few friends are eating sushi while being pitched on the benefits of xyz company, etc. Not a bad strategy. So could this be adapted to a magical marketing mission? I don’t know, but here are a few thoughts swimming in my head. All of them assume that you work out an arrangement with a restaurant or two (or ten, etc) to place a fishbowl in the restaurant with a flier/cardboard tent/etc saying win a free lunch and/or a free magic show.

So here are the ideas – note that these are just that, ideas . . . very rough and not developed. Hopefully you guys will post some comments that will further these ideas.

Idea #1:

If you’re a corporate performer, then dig through the fishbowl and pull out a card that you suspect is a decision maker for a company that interests you as a client. Then do some research on the company and put together a brief presentation/sales pitch in the form of a magic show. Plug their product in the show (a close up magic show). Then once you’ve got the “pitch” ready, call the business card holder and invite him and a few people from his staff back to the restaurant for a free meal and a free magic show. Your goal is, of course, to land a gig at a company party or some corporate function for this particular company.

Idea #2:

Just give away a free magic show, rather than a free meal. The advantage here is that you don’t have to fork over the dough to pay for 5 or 6 people’s meals. The intent here is to basically “audition” for repeat performances. Again, since you have a bowl full of business cards, dig through it. Find companies that are bigger and maybe have an entertainment budget. Call them up and let them know that they’ve won a free magic show for their employees. Depending on the size of the company, etc, you could arrange to do a show at their office . . . more of an informal gathering.

Of course, at the end of the show, you will follow up with the manager (or whoever can rehire you for a future show). Do all of the follow up techniques that I’ve taught in other Roots and Branches articles. Of course the intent is to get re-booked, get referrals, etc. If they’ve got a big event coming up (Summer party, Christmas party, etc), then this informal show with the employees is sort of your audition for the big gig.

Idea #3:

This idea could work just as well for birthday party magicians (child birthdays). Do a free show for someone who has kids or who might refer you to other leads. Maybe when you call the “winner” you tell them that their name was drawn from the fishbowl from such and such restaurant and that they won a free magic show for their family/friends/etc. Have them invite a few friends over to their home and do a small intimate show. You could make part of the deal to get the show that they give you x number of referrals . . . or not. Either way, you are making contact with people who have seen you perform. Make sure you get these people on your mailing/email list(s) so that you can stay in touch with them.

Further Ideas:

I’ve got a few other related ideas swimming around in my head, but I want you to come up with your own. Keep in mind that the above three ideas (however good or bad they may be) came out of my head right now as I wrote them and they were all inspired by the simple fact that I noticed a fishbowl at a restaurant. Ideas are everywhere. Maybe the above three are the worst ideas in the world, or maybe they’re the best ideas, but either way, they can spark even more ideas. It’s a chain reaction that happens when you Write Things Down. So take the time and write something down in the comments below . . . let your creative juices flow, and just write. Don’t worry if it’s a lame idea or a great idea . . . just write.

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