FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

Steve answers questions about his trade show booth magic...

How come you get such big crowds?
SD: My act is designed to attract a crowd. That's my main function. To draw attention to the booth. And the client. It starts small, with card magic on my table, until there are a few bystanders watching. Then I do larger, more visual magic that can be seen from the aisles, and before you know it, I have a huge crowd laughing and watching, and in many cases blocking the aisles completely!!

Does that bother the other exhibitors?
Not usually. They love the crowds, too. When I stop my show, which lasts about 10 minutes, the crowd begins to filter to the booths all around my client, too. There's plenty to go around.

top

Why is magic so effective in the trade show booth?
Magic works on so many levels. First, nearly everyone loves magic. And the opportunity to watch magic up close is a rare treat. Second, as they are being entertained, I am also educating them on the features of the client's products or services. The main focus of the "pitch" is the all-important information that the client would like to get across at the show. The magic is the method of imparting that information in a memorable way.

How do you create a different show for each client?
I begin preparing by having a meeting with a client to determine what the objective of the show is. From the information I gather at that meeting, I write a script and begin to suggest special props that can used, based upon the budget guidelines.

Who do you meet with at the company?
It varies with each client, but mostly it's the director of sales, or the marketing people. Whoever is in charge of the trade show booth.

top

What are the main objectives of your clients at most trade shows?
Again, this depends on the client. Is it collecting leads? Sales? Introducing a new product? Sometimes, with a very large company, the name is well-known, like Panasonic, or Colibri, and therefore, I am there to call attention to the name, not necessarily any one product.

Is there a charge for the script?
Yes, if the act is changing in any way, such as with special props or scripted product information, there is a fee for the script.

How much does this cost?
There is a daily charge, or performance fee, for each day of the show. Normally, the shows run 3 to 5 days. Then there is a script fee, and there is a per diem for any additional meetings. SOme clients conduct all of the pre-show meeting over the telephone, and others have me visit the headquarters. I have even sat through sales meetings with clients in order to learn about the product and company objectives.

top

Do you make custom designed props?
Yes, we suggest ways of personalizing the show, with props that bear the company logo, or special tricks designed for the show. The cost of the props can range from $100 up to $10,000, depending upon the wishes of the client. Often times we have a prop in our warehouse that can we recycled and personalized.

How long is the show?
Each presentation runs between 10 - 15 minutes. The show is presented 2 or 3 times per hour, throughout the entire run of the convention.

Do you ever get tired of doing the same show over and over?
Not at all. Actually, I enjoy the challenge that the exhibit floor presents, and the wonderful reactions from the crowds. Also, each show is slightly different. I usually create 3 different shows for each client, and then I rotate them throughout the day. This is especially helpful if some people come back to the booth during the convention, they may see different tricks.

top

Where do you perform in the booth?
In a "performance area". If the booth hasn't been designed, we usually work with the booth designer to suggest the ideal spot for building the performance area.

What if the client already has a booth?
Most of my clients already have an existing booth. I perform on a platform, which has a special table on it. With existing booths, we look at a diagram of the existing booth and suggest the optimum spot for the placement of my performance table.

What if it doesn't match the look of the existing booth?
We have complete plans for the construction of a basic table for my performance. Most of the time, the client builds a table to match the look of their own booth. As for the platform, we ship it to the show location, or the client can supply one built to our specifications.

Do you use a microphone?
Yes, although in the rare case of a convention that does not allow mikes, I can easily adapt and work without one. For the record, I have only had one convention in the last 20 years that prohibited the use of a microphone.

back to main trade show booth page
Why use magic in your trade show booth? Here's why.
The Steve Dacri Story | Read Celebrity Quotes | Testimonials

top