I am very funny, are you? (What you do when someone challenges you.)
Reciently I received an inquiry for my services. The customer inqired “Are you funny? I answerd yes “Because I am very funny, I always have my children laughing. I might even be funnier then you!” I responded “Maybe we should put an act together and go on the road.” What this did was to force her to consider that she wasn’t as funny as she believed or she would be the performer and I would be the customer. And the bonus was that I accecpted her as being funny without alienating her.
My first thought was, I know I’m not getting tip because everything I do will be judged – not enjoyed. Then I tried to sell the show in a way that removed the lady’s ego so the audience would be happy and I would get paid. Here is what my sales presentastion included. Many times I’ve performed for other entertainers and even though they had an idea of what I was doing, I always recieved a nice round of applause. That’s my goal, to entertain the audience, I’m sure you want that too. So when the show is on, please watch the faces of your guests and count the number of times they applaude. That’s what I do. It’s a little hobby I have while I’m performing.
I continued with the normal sales presentation. She booked the show. At the show her two kids tried to interject some comments but I kept going and gave them lot’s of extra jokes. Actually the kids were’nt very funny and if I let them have the floor they would have embarresed themselves. Same with the dad. I just wanted to do my show without being scruitinized like at a close up contest at a magician’s convention.
I watched the lady relax after ten minutes and she even laughed at some of the jokes but she kept walking around. I suspect that part of her was envious. Why should it matter, she was living in a gated community where the houses cost several million, not kidding, each.
In the end, the audience saw a great show and I made sure to promt them to tell the host how much fun thay had. But still she had to give me a little jab. She handed me the rolled up cash and went back to the Party. I had to corner her husband explaining that she was $20 short. Always count the money in front of them even if they live in a seven million dollar house.
The bottom line, If someone challenges you during the selling process, it’s good and bad. It’s good if you get the show because you know they are discernind and you passed the test. It’s bad because you usually have to push back a little risking the possible loss of employment.
