26 Jun
2019
26 Jun
'19
9:18 p.m.
I haven't used anything to get gigs over the years other than
word-of-mouth, but I'm not trying to do this for a living. Anyway, my
husband is an electrician and he used google ads years ago. It didn't get
him much, but we get a couple of phone calls a day from google telling us
that they want to discuss his "google business account", which he does not
have nor never did. Also, I don't know about the plumbers where you are,
but the ones I know, and the electricians and other folks I know, charge an
hourly rate from the time they reach my house. In my husband's case, if he
has to drive too far he doesn't take the job. But we're in a metro area
where you can get most everywhere within 30 minutes. I don't charge for
time related to my gigs, either - I just adjust my quote based on what I
might have to put in my gas tank. Also, more for wedding and corporate
gigs, less for non-profits or regular dances.
If you have a facebook page for your calling, you can "boost" your post
based on various things - geography, age of constituents, etc. It's pretty
cheap and folks say it's effective.
Nancy
On Wed, Jun 26, 2019 at 4:50 PM Paul Rosenberg paul(a)homespun.biz
[trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com> wrote:
Hi Otto
How do you specifically avoid paying an annual fee?
Paul Rosenberg
Albany, NY
www.homespun.biz
On Wed, Jun 26, 2019 at 1:42 PM Otto Warteman owarteman(a)yahoo.com
[trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com> wrote:
--
*Nancy Mamlin*
*Durham, NC*
I have been tied to GigSalad for years. I sent them a note telling them
not to send me leads that required flying to a gig. So you know, I have not
paid an annual fee for years. I answer and give a quote within four hours.
I pay them a commission on only those I’m booked for.
A plumber charges from the time they leave their office. I do the same,
charging for miles and time.
Otto Warteman
Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone
<https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS>
On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, 10:41 PM, karendunnam(a)gmail.com
[trad-dance-callers] <trad-dance-callers(a)yahoogroups.com> wrote:
How did she end up finding you? I would add weight to that resource.
Perhaps it's her level of google-fu.
On a forum for professional and semi-pro musicians, someone asked that
same question last week. The consensus was that GS and GM are not worth it.
I took a look at each site tonight; your answers are right there in the
listings. GM has exactly one "square dance caller" listed. If it were
working, there would be more.
GS has 48 "square dance callers" listed. Most seem to have 0 - 6
"verified bookings," suggesting that this isn't working for them. They guy
in San Francisco who says he's "led over 10,000 dances in the past 37
years" has no verified GS bookings.. This guy has 4.
https://www.gigsalad.com/elvis_tribute_artist_napanee
Looks like they've dropped their freebie listings.
A friend who runs a fire performance troupe had a very bad experience
with GS. A client wanted them to perform under an EZ-Up style canopy (I am
not making this up). Show time was early evening in the summer, and he
complained that the fire work didn't look as spectacular as he'd hoped.
There was more. On GS, you can't edit or change or delete a review..
Several of us helped her compose a reply to help ease that.
I get referrals from dance communities, other callers, other onezie-dance
party callers, and other performers. I also reach out to event venues and
other entities that could benefit from have a dance event..
True confession: I snuck a peek at the source code on your website.
Didn't see any metatags, but I did see some links that you might want to
remove.
--Karen D.